Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews
We are an ethical, non profit ayahuasca retreat center, based in the Sacred Valley, Peru. Our passion is helping humanity heal and giving back to Mother Earth from which we come. We only work with healers who come from a long tradition of shamanism. Our core group of healers are of the Shipibo lineage, the oldest known lineage of the medicine. The Shipibo have been working with Mother Ayahuasca for centuries forming an unbelievable bond with the plants and spirits of the Amazon Rain Forest . Having honed the skills of their ancestors, their healing is truly profound. The Shipibos are masterful healers indeed, but they are not the only ones. We will also be hosting special retreats with healers from all over the globe bringing their ancestral medicine giving you the opportunity to experience the healing of the world.
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Nate Behr
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 pmMy experience at Anahata Ayahuasca Retreat was truly life-changing. I was initially drawn to their intimate group size — there were only four of us — and the fact that Anahata offered more than just ayahuasca. What really set them apart even before I arrived was Mike. He was the only retreat owner who responded to my questions, and even though I didn’t have many, his warmth, clarity, and presence were immediately felt.
The retreat space itself is stunning — surrounded by mountains on all sides, incredibly peaceful, and filled with a deeply spiritual energy. The environment is warm, grounding, and inviting in a way that’s hard to describe. My room was very comfortable, with its own bathroom and a hot shower, and the food was fresh, nutritious, and absolutely delicious.
Every ceremony was more meaningful than the last. Mike is an exceptional facilitator — truly a master of his craft. He guides with experience, intuition, compassion, and unwavering presence. I felt safe, supported, and deeply cared for throughout each journey, and the way he holds space is something I will always be grateful for.
One of the most unexpected blessings was the group I shared this journey with. The four of us became incredibly close — we did everything together for ten days, and they now hold a very special place in my heart. The same goes for Mike, Sami, their family, and every person involved in creating the Anahata experience. The care, love, and support they all brought to the space — especially through the integration process — played a huge role in how deeply the retreat impacted me.
I went in with no expectations and came away with an open heart and an extended family. Anahata is sacred. It’s transformative. And it’s held with so much love. I cannot wait to return — hopefully in fall 2026.
Love you all.
Sagie_H
May 13, 2025 at 11:36 amWow!
I’m so grateful a friend told me about the Anahata retreat and that I actually made it here.
It was honestly such a powerful and uplifting experience! From the facilities, the comfort, the food… to the incredible, deep ceremonies that helped me work through some really profound stuff and come to a place of acceptance and peace with many parts of myself.
Michael, who leads the retreat, is just an amazing, multi-talented human. Super intelligent, deeply intuitive, he really sees everyone, and holds the space with charisma and a ton of empathy.
His partner Sam, who’s also a therapist, brings such gentle, nurturing support.
Together, they created a space where I felt totally safe to just be myself and that allowed me to dive deep into my own inner work.
I highly recommend this place!
The medicine is strong, the maestro who comes from the jungle carries the energy of the source, the variety of ceremonies all complement each other beautifully, and amazing people.
balaji
May 1, 2025 at 11:18 amSo much gratitude for all I received from Anahata Ayahuasca family, the maestro and the medicines themselves.
I had the privilege to learn about the medicine in such a safe container.
Micheal and Sam love truly beautiful people who wish to serve the guests to the best of their abilities.
The medicine is strong and profound and the combination of shipibo maestro with instrumental medicine music is truly remarkable.
I can tell they care about all past participants as they keep staying in touch with so many along the years, and as a result many come back, so did I, Anahata family.
Im forever grateful for the space and all the ways i feel supported by this family, way beyond the retreat space.
Highly recommend for those who wish to work with the medicine in authentic way, intimate and safe container, in the beautiful mountains of the sacred valley of Peru.
Balaji
chloeallison
April 12, 2025 at 8:38 amI made the unfortunate decision to leave this retreat early after a deeply distressing experience. It’s taken time to regulate, reflect, and make sense of what occurred. I share this not to condemn, but to offer feedback for growth, safety, and integrity.
Instead of receiving the post-ceremony integration and sacred communion I had long envisioned — sitting deeply with the spirits after a journey I had invested so much into — I’ve been left spending even more time, energy, and money trying to make sense of what happened and how to move forward. What was once a dream I held for over 15 years now feels deeply tarnished. I know the likely response from the facilitators will be: “You manifested this, it’s all for you, your experience serves your growth.” But this narrative bypasses real harm. Fighting to have my voice heard — to simply be acknowledged — is not what I came for, and it has never been the root of my healing path.
Gaslighting & Misattunement
Phrases like “I’m a Reflector, it’s all you” bypass ownership of behaviours and accountability. After sharing past trauma involving narcissistic abuse, my pain was dismissed and my ex-partner’s side was taken. This lack of attunement and empathy was retraumatising and, ironically, reflected narcissistic tendencies within the facilitators themselves — including control, invalidation, and lack of emotional accountability.
Integrity in Support: Most importantly, participants should never be gaslit or made to feel wrong for how their experience unfolds. Open, non-defensive communication is key to cultivating trust, especially in a space meant to offer safety and transformation.
Respecting Individual Process
We co-created a plan of support after I disclosed past ceremony trauma, yet this was not honoured. I clearly communicated my need for expression throughout the week, but during ceremony, I felt overpowered and my boundaries ignored. Telling someone how not to process — or demanding silence — is harmful.
Trauma-Informed Gaps
There was little awareness of nervous system states like fight/flight/freeze. In my dysregulated moment, I was threatened with police involvement rather than being offered co-regulation or space to self-soothe. As someone who has worked with trauma for over 15 years, I can confidently say this revealed a significant gap in both training and attunement.
Healing Is Not the Only Path
Not all participants are in the “healing loop.” Some are working with the medicine for activation and awakening. My intentions were clearly stated and not honoured. Please honour this by listening when participants clearly communicate their intention — and stop projecting your framework onto every journeyer. If you offer both healing and immersive retreats, be discerning and clear about your focus, and match participants accordingly.
Integration & Energetic Hygiene
There was a noticeable lack of integration support, somatic understanding, and containment. Facilitators’ personal wounds appeared to bleed into the space, along with a rigid, overly masculine approach that left little room for flexibility or softness.Energetic and emotional hygiene is vital. Personal pain, projections, or unprocessed emotions from facilitators should never enter the ceremonial space. Continued personal healing and professional supervision are necessary for anyone guiding others through vulnerable and expanded states.
Respect for Participant Experience: I found moments where my personal truth was met with resistance or subtle invalidation. I encourage the team to hold space for participants’ experiences without interjecting or assuming a “guru” role — allowing people to process in their own unique way.
Be mindful of contradiction. Dismissing emotional reactions and medicine experiences as “just ego” while simultaneously referencing synchronicity and magic creates confusion. Allow both humanity and mystery to coexist without judgment. Referring to your centre as a “cult,” while demonstrating controlling behaviours, is concerning and not in integrity with my perception of sacred work.
This experience impacted me deeply. I continue to heal with trusted support and share this with respect for the path. I hope this is received as a call to accountability and evolution — for the sake of all who walk this sacred journey.
— Chloe Allison
Kristen G.
December 31, 2024 at 2:15 amI stayed at Anahata Ayahuasca in November 2024. I’m a female in my 30s and I traveled solo to Peru for this retreat. It was my first time using Ayahuasca. I felt safe and comfortable from the moment I arrived at Anahata. The couple that runs the retreat, Michael and Sami Love, are beautiful souls. They are incredibly inspiring and I’m so grateful for the time that I spent with them. There are other kind souls who help within the center, and they are all such a blessing to be around.
The Ayahuasca ceremonies at this retreat are life-changing. The space where the ceremonies take place is peaceful and spacious, with vaulted ceilings and comfortable mattresses. I appreciate that Anahata only has six attendees per retreat, it creates an intimate experience and helps the group form a special bond. It is apparent that the ceremony facilitators have an extreme respect for the plant-medicine. They truly care about creating the best experience for everyone. If needed, there is always someone available to assist. The live music that is produced during the ceremonies is indescribably mystical! Taylor Rose’s singing voice is transcendent – she is another beautiful soul within their community, an angel on Earth. The Shipibo Shaman sings powerful personalized Incaros to each individual. One of my favorite parts of the experience was right after each ceremony, there is a group discussion with fruit and tea, where reflections are shared along with insight, love, laughter, and connection.
My time at the retreat flew by! We went on a breathtaking hike with multiple waterfalls, explored an Incan ruin site, and visited the wonderous markets of Pisac. The food in Peru is healthy and delicious. The outdoor yoga class that Michael leads at the retreat is the best! If you go to Anahata, I recommend trying Bufo and I also recommend visiting the city of Cusco for a few days before or after your stay at the retreat. If you are experiencing the call of Mother Aya and you’re ready to make changes in your life, Anahata Ayahuasca is an excellent choice for your journey.