Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat

Name: Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat
Rating: 5

Santo Domingo Ecuador

5.0 (127 reviews)

Room Features

Property Features

Overview
Reviews
Add Review

Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat

A Sacred Journey with Indigenous Roots

Only Retreat Certified by Ecuador’s Ministry of Health | 100% Indigenous-Owned & Operated.

Why Choose Awakenings?

• The only retreat in Ecuador certified by the Ministry of Health

• Located on sacred Tsáchila ancestral land

• 100% Indigenous-owned and operated by the Tsáchila tribe

• Medicine is prepared on-site and you are invited to participate in the process

• Small groups & personalized retreats — you choose your dates

• Your money helps local indigenous and some of the money supports the local elementary school as well; supporting many minorities in need.

Medicine and Ceremony

At Awakenings, we work with authentic ancestral medicines and offer the opportunity to participate in the preparation of Ayahuasca and San Pedro; allowing you to deposit your energy and intentions from the very beginning.

Our healing team includes:

• 4 experienced male Tsáchila shamans

• 1 female Tsáchila shaman (available upon request)

These are four generations of wisdom, born into the sacred path of medicine.

What Makes Us Different

• We live on the land, unlike other retreats that rent properties or hire outside shamans

• We run year-round with flexible dates

• No large groups — we keep it personal and safe

• Confidential integration support before and after ceremonies

• Wi-Fi available, but we encourage you to disconnect and reconnect with Mother Nature

Our Most Popular Package: 8 Days / 7 Nights – $1600 however you can do shorter or longer stays. Every journey is personalized for your needs on your time.

Includes:

• 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies

• 1 San Pedro ceremony

• 1 Kambo, 1 Sananga, and Rapé

• Private accommodations & meals

• Massage, Temazcal, reiki, sound healing

• Cultural immersions, waterfall hike, 1

Massage, preparation of cacao and more.

Additional: Cacao Ceremony, Bufo, Mushrooms, Xanga and Cannabis ceremonies available upon request.

Transport from Quito and laundry service available upon request but are not included on the packages.

Learn More About the Medicines

What is Ayahuasca?

“Ayahuasca” is the Quechua word for both the vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the sacred tea made from it, traditionally combined with Chacruna leaves. It contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine. Used by Amazonian tribes for centuries, it opens portals to emotional and spiritual healing. Our vine grows on the property, and we prepare the medicine in the traditional way.

What is San Pedro?

San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi) is a sacred cactus native to the Andes of Ecuador. It carries masculine energy and helps us open our hearts and expand our connection with all life. We also grow this cactus on the land, and ceremonies are done with great reverence.

What is Kambo?

Kambo is a powerful healing ritual that uses the secretion of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). Applied through small burns on the skin, Kambo detoxifies the body, boosts the immune system, and clears emotional blocks. It’s used for deep physical and energetic purification.

Your Healing Begins Here

We don’t just host retreats; we offer a path to rebirth, in harmony with Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the ancestral spirits of our land. You will not be asked to share in vulnerable settings, and everything is done with respect and care.

You are not here to escape. You are here to remember who you truly are.

USA: +1 (646) 300-9646

Ecuador / WhatsApp: +593 98 044 0627

Website: awakeningsayahuasca.com

We look forward to walking this sacred journey with you.

You are the medicine. Welcome home.

Reviews (127)

5.0 out of 5

Overall 5.0

evancrommett
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 pm

I had never tried psychedelics and had always felt like I was waiting for the right moment. My gut told me that Awakenings was the place to finally give it a try and I was right to think so. It’s run by kind, open-hearted, indigenous people who clearly care for the traditions that they’re maintaining and the grounds that they live on. The premises are beautiful– not far from the city yet still nestled in nature and teeming with animal life. The shamans shared stories from their rich, oral history with me, inviting me to appreciate the context in which ayahuasca and other medicinal rituals became part of their culture. The actual ritual and subsequent discussion/analysis with the shaman felt safe and caring; I was able to engage with some pretty heavy emotions while also sensing that I was being looked out for. I didn’t feel like my vulnerability was being taken advantage of at any point. Just remember to bring bug spray and maybe a flashlight since some of the paths are a little dark at night. Also don’t do dumb things like dress up in your nice jeans to do the ceremony (I did this); there are other ways to show respect for the ritual and, as it turns out, ayahuasca does stain
aliciajamey
September 21, 2025 at 5:51 pm

This was my first solo trip to South America, and I want to emphasize how safe I felt at Awakenings Ayahuasca. For anyone new to international travel or new to ayahuasca, this is a place where you can truly feel at ease in an authentic, respectful environment.
I am deeply grateful for the kindness, respect, and care shown to me by the indigenous Tsáchila community in Ecuador. I stayed three nights and participated in two ayahuasca ceremonies. This was my very first experience with ayahuasca, and although I didn’t know how I would react, I wasn’t afraid. I knew I was in good hands with shamans Juan and Manuel, whose unique approaches and energy made each ceremony meaningful. I was truly impressed by everyone. Huge thank you to Stephanie for assisting with the coordination of my trip and for translating!
I also chose to participate in the temazcal (with Tiwi) which was calming, grounding, and well worth adding to the experience. The cultural experience was one of the highlights for me and was informative about their culture and heritage. The retreat provided the perfect setting for self-reflection and connection.
Overall, I can wholeheartedly recommend Awakenings Ayahuasca to anyone seeking a safe and authentic place to work with ayahuasca. I did go into ceremony with a specific intention, but I also feel that—as they often say—I received what I truly needed from the experience.

PS The food was terrific, and my specific nutritional requests were fully accommodated.
jlmaldonado82
September 18, 2025 at 1:48 am

I absolutely love this place and I will return. Everyone was amazing and the meals were perfect. I was able to relax and clear my mind in many ways such as relaxing on the hammocks, swing chair, in the pool, lift weights in the gym, or just walking around the area. What really made it easy to pick awakening ayahuasca retreat was the flexibility to pick my dates.

The video I added was taken about 6pm, just wanted to share how peaceful it was.
Fi McGrath
August 14, 2025 at 10:06 pm

Stephanie and Juan run an incredible retreat. I attended two ayahuasca ceremonies both led by Juan who is an amazing Shaman and guide throughout the whole process. Each ceremony was unique with my second ceremony being just me and the Shaman which was truly an incredibly personal experience and something I hadn’t encountered at my previous retreats.

This truly is a centre for healing and they care deeply about the process to ensure you are getting the most out of it and also provide guidance on how to continue on your healing journey moving forward. The facilities are very high quality with healthy food and fully equipped huts with hot water. I would 100% recommend this centre for anyone on their healing journey. Incredible place with incredible people!
dsamaroo
August 12, 2025 at 10:01 am

My experience at Awakenings was like a homecoming. From the very first enquiry I sent to Juan and Stephany up till my departure I was attended to with utmost care. At Awakenings you are not simply going to have a memorable retreat you will be welcomed into a community/ family and form a healing connection. Unlike other retreats , every plant medicine here is administered with a Ceremony involving in depth explanation , protection, cleansing and safety guidelines for your most beneficial experience. Prior to arriving I was hesitant to try Kambo, Sananga and San Pedro but after 1 day I was swayed after witnessing the love , expertise and attention to detail the Shamans handled everything with. They provided a safe , sacred space in which I was confident that if I couldn’t endure the process I would be guided out without harm. From the peaceful, and safe environment surrounded by nature with access to a river, and comfortable huts ,it is the ideal place for rest, rejuvination and healing. I can’t recommend it enough. Look no further for one of the most authentic Ayahuasca and Plant Medicine Retreats in the world.