There are moments in life when the familiar suddenly feels too small — when the job, relationships, and routines that once defined you no longer bring meaning. That’s when something deep inside begins to whisper: it’s time to change.
For me, that whisper grew louder each day until it became impossible to ignore. It led me far away from the noise of the modern world — into the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, where I would experience something that would completely reset my mind, body, and purpose: an Ayahuasca retreat.
The Global Rise of Healing Travel
In the past decade, a quiet revolution has been taking place. People from all over the world are leaving behind conventional vacations in search of something more meaningful — a form of healing travel.
Instead of luxury resorts, they are choosing jungles, mountains, and sacred lands. Instead of cocktails by the pool, they seek silence, connection, and transformation. This is the essence of an Ayahuasca retreat — a journey that heals not just the body, but the soul.
Ayahuasca, a sacred plant medicine from the Amazon, has been used for centuries by Indigenous healers to restore balance and help people reconnect with themselves and the natural world. Today, more and more individuals are discovering that this ancient tradition holds answers to modern suffering — anxiety, depression, burnout, addiction, and a loss of purpose.
What Makes an Ayahuasca Retreat Different
Unlike a one-night ceremony, an Ayahuasca retreat is not about a single experience — it’s a carefully structured process of preparation, deep inner work, and integration. It requires humility, openness, and courage.
At Amayas Ecuador, our retreats take place deep in the Amazon rainforest near Cotundo — a region known for its pristine rivers, waterfalls, and the Kichwa communities who have lived here for generations.
Before participants arrive, they receive detailed preparation guidelines: dietary restrictions, journaling prompts, and mindfulness exercises to calm the mind and purify the body. Once on-site, they are guided through several Ayahuasca ceremonies by experienced Indigenous shamans — healers who understand the language of the jungle and the wisdom of the plants.
But these ceremonies are not psychedelic parties. They are sacred rituals — guided spaces where participants safely explore their consciousness under the protection of centuries-old tradition.
Inside the Jungle: The Power of a Sacred Setting
The Amazon is not just a backdrop — it’s a teacher. Every sound, scent, and color seems alive, carrying messages from something greater.
Each morning begins with the sound of birds, the smell of fresh rain, and the gentle rustle of the forest. Participants gather for yoga, meditation, and sharing circles. These practices help balance the intensity of the ceremonies with stillness and reflection.
The Ayahuasca ceremonies themselves take place at night, under the stars, inside a traditional maloca. Candles flicker as the shaman begins to chant sacred icaros — songs that guide the medicine and help participants travel safely through their inner worlds.
During these ceremonies, many describe visions, emotional releases, or a sense of being reborn. Some cry, others laugh, and some simply sit in silence, feeling peace for the first time in years.
It’s not about escaping reality — it’s about seeing it clearly, often for the first time.
Guided by Indigenous Wisdom
The heart of every retreat is the shaman — a bridge between the human and the spiritual.
At Amayas Ecuador, we are blessed to work with Shaman Louis, a 77-year-old healer from the Ecuadorian Amazon who has guided ceremonies for more than five decades. He drank Ayahuasca for the first time at age seven, following the lineage of his father and grandfather.
What makes Louis extraordinary is not only his knowledge but his presence. Despite his age, he has no grey hair, walks barefoot through the jungle, and radiates vitality and calm. His deep connection to the forest and its spirits reminds us that true wisdom doesn’t come from books or screens — it comes from listening to nature.
Through his guidance, participants are reminded of what it means to live in harmony — to be both strong and humble, to heal not through control, but through surrender.
Transformation Through Nature and Ceremony
The first night I drank Ayahuasca, I expected visions, colors, or something mystical. What came instead was silence — and then, emotion.
For hours, I felt wave after wave of memories, tears, and release. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was real. By the end of the night, I realized that healing isn’t always about light — sometimes it’s about allowing the darkness to speak.
Over the next few days, each ceremony went deeper. One night, I saw the faces of people I had hurt or who had hurt me — not as enemies, but as teachers. Another night, I felt the jungle breathe with me, as if my heartbeat and the forest were one.
Ayahuasca doesn’t give you what you want — it gives you what you need.
And in that truth lies the real magic of this work.
By the final day, I no longer felt like the same person. The anxiety that once ruled my life was gone. The endless inner chatter had quieted. What replaced it was clarity — a sense that I was exactly where I needed to be.
Balancing Healing and Exploration
Healing doesn’t always have to be intense. At Amayas Ecuador, the retreat programs include activities that help ground the experience and reconnect participants with joy and curiosity.
Days between ceremonies often include excursions:
- Rafting on the Misahualli River
- Hiking through the jungle’s Grand Canyon
- Visiting Indigenous Kichwa communities
- Soaking in natural hot springs
These experiences remind us that healing is not just about introspection — it’s also about laughter, movement, and play.
Each retreat is designed to balance the spiritual with the physical, the stillness with the adventure. Participants can choose between 7-day and 11-day retreats, both offering 3–4 Ayahuasca ceremonies and guided plant-based rituals for cleansing and renewal.
Every moment — from meals to meditations — is curated to create a safe and sacred space for deep transformation.
Safety, Integrity, and Respect
The word “retreat” can sometimes be misunderstood. This is not tourism — it’s a sacred process that requires trust.
At Amayas Ecuador, guest safety and preparation are treated with the highest respect. Every participant completes a health and intention form before arrival to ensure they are ready — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
During ceremonies, a full support team is present: the shaman, facilitators, and assistants who hold space for every person in the room.
This structure of safety allows participants to surrender completely — to face whatever arises without fear, knowing they are supported by skilled and compassionate hands.
Healing with Ayahuasca is not a game. It’s sacred medicine, and when approached with respect, it can bring life-changing results.
Why the World Needs Spaces Like This
Modern life is louder, faster, and more disconnected than ever. People scroll endlessly, trying to fill an emptiness they can’t name. We’ve built cities, technologies, and economies — but in doing so, we’ve lost touch with the earth and with ourselves.
Ayahuasca retreats are not about running away from the world. They are about remembering what it means to belong — to nature, to community, to love.
When people heal, they return to their families and communities with more compassion, patience, and understanding. The ripple effect is real — healing one person helps heal the world around them.
That’s why spaces like this matter. They remind us that healing is not a luxury — it’s our birthright.
A Call to Those Who Feel the Call
If you’ve ever felt that quiet voice inside saying there’s more to life than this, maybe it’s time to listen.
The jungle doesn’t call everyone — but when it does, it’s for a reason.
Through this journey, I learned that Ayahuasca isn’t about escaping pain; it’s about meeting it with courage. It teaches you how to love again — yourself, others, and life itself.
If you feel ready to begin your own path of transformation, I invite you to explore the programs at
— held in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, guided by Indigenous shamans and supported by a team who truly care.
Because sometimes, to find yourself again, you need to go where the world still whispers — and where your soul can finally listen.