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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.
Contact Us:
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.
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Bigheartonfire
July 3, 2025 at 1:57 pmMy husband and I recently attended a retreat at Awakenings Ayahuasca, and it was so much more than just a retreat! My husband recently retired and we were also celebrating a landmark wedding anniversary. We had a beautiful experience and enjoyed every moment.
The whole family is fabulous and made us feel so welcome! Stephanie did a great job of orienting us, helping us plan our stay there, and making sure we had what we needed. She is also an incredible interpreter. Don Manual, Juan and Tiwi, true Tsachila healers, were key in making our plant medicine ceremonies and experiences so memorable. All plant medicines are made by hand on site, and we even got to make our own San Pedro. Their knowledge, expertise, wisdom, reverence and loving hearts made me feel safe and well cared for. We spent the day of our anniversary lying underneath a mato palo tree doing San Pedro medicine. I will never forget it.
Fernanda and her daughter Nury were the beautiful icing on the cake. I loved spending time with them, and Nury even played her violin for us on our anniversary.
The family even surprised us with a little party on the eve of our anniversary!
If you are looking for an authentic, indigenous owned and operated spiritual retreat in a safe, loving environment, I would highly recommend Awakenings Ayahuasca to you!
mountain-grl
June 27, 2025 at 10:12 pmI wanted to give a review for Awakenings Ayahuasca retreat in Santo Domingo, Ecuador. This retreat is owned by a member of Ecuador’s indigenous Tsachila tribe. This was my second ayahuasca retreat in Ecuador. I’ve also attended Gaia Sagrada.
This place was fantastic and exceeded my expectations in every way. Juan, the owner of the retreat, oversaw two of my ayahuasca ceremonies and a San Pedro ceremony. Yanina, a female Tsachila shaman, oversaw a third ayahuasca ceremony. Both shamans were talented and possessed deep understanding of plant medicine and working with people through vulnerable experiences. Before each ceremony. they did blessings of the medicine and cleansings to prepare me to receive the medicine. They sang icaros and played instruments throughout the ceremony. I had the good fortune to be the only per at the retreat for my first few ceremonies and received personalized attention and care while I worked through some very deep material. My last ceremony had one other participant, and when he struggled at the beginning of the ceremony, Juan provided care and support, and the participant ended up having a good experience despite a difficult start.
I travelled here as a single female from the U.S., and felt extremely safe and comfortable with all members of the tribe and everyone on the property. I had a private hut with its own bathroom and shower. There was a large swimming pool to cool off in each day outside my hut. The food was fresh and delicious and followed the dieta for ayahuasca. Each day there were activities to participate in, such as learning about Tsachila culture, going for a hike to waterfalls, or reiki and massage (I attended an 8-day retreat). After each ceremony, Juan or Yanina did integration where we discussed my ceremony experiences, and they shared shamanic insights. At the end of the retreat, I received materials to help me continue to integrate my experience at home and a promise that I could contact Awakenings for the remainder of my life to ask question.
Juan’s wife, Stephanie spoke perfect English and served as a translator to help me understand the shamans (my Spanish is minimal). She helped arrange transportation to and from Quito and answered all of my questions before and throughout my stay. I found her and the shamans to be caring, kind, and professional. Every activity and ceremony started on time and was clearly communicated each day.
If you are thinking about attending an ayahuasca retreat, this is a great one to go to. It is run with love and a deep knowledge of plant medicine by shamans who have spent their entire lives studying this knowledge. I wholeheartedly recommend this place and would love to return in the future.
Ohad
June 26, 2025 at 1:23 pmI recently spent two nights at Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat in Santo Domingo. During my stay there I did two Ayahuasca ceremonies, in which I had an experience that I can describe as deeply emotional and perspective-shifting. Juan, the shaman, gave me a sense of security and personal support, which felt truly essential inside the turmoil I felt. Overall it was a profound experience, that I believe will affect my life for years to come.
Other than that, the retreat is managed professionaly by Stephanie, Juan’s wife, that takes care for all of your needs. Food is good and healthy, beds are comfortable, mosquito nets are effective and in general the place is beautiful and pleasent.
I highly recommend anyone who is interested in Ayahuasca and other plant medicines to visit this amazing place!
lfc
June 23, 2025 at 2:18 pmAwakenings was transformational for me. It’s the real deal. There were only 3 of us doing ceremonies while I was there. The ceremonies were lead by Tsachila shamans who have trained since they were children. They provided a safe container and wise and intuitive guidance and cleansing. I was also given guidance on how to continue the healing once I left. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
paige
June 17, 2025 at 12:37 amI had such an amazing stay while at Awakenings Ayahuasca. The word transformative is what I would choose to best describe my week long experience.
After doing much research I was thankful to find a retreat that offers a sense of community. This having been my first experience with plant medicine I wanted to be sure I was making the right choice that aligns with my values. I wanted something intimate, personalized and the ability to work with shamans who were trusted and experienced. I was happy to be working alongside the beautiful indigenous people where profits would go directly to the community that live on the land. The healers were passionate and knowledgeable about their medicine. I felt safe while there and a part of the family. Through the duration of my week long stay I felt welcome, safe and included. Nestled beautifully on ancestral land, the moment you arrive healing begins. Having the ability to unplug and step away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and get back to the basics was not only much needed but provided the perfect space for me to rest, process, and heal. Stefany was paramount in arranging our transportation and anything we needed while there,
I enjoyed 3 beautiful ceremonies with plant medicines
Massage
Reiki
Natural sauna
Flower bath
Hikes to waterfall
Free roam of the property
Cultural activities / education
Prepping my medicines
And more
Everyone you work with on your journey will do their absolute best to help you see your self: or help shed light on whatever you’re working towards. I’ve never felt more seen. I left saddened that this time was coming to an end but with certainty that I would be returning. I left part of me in Ecuador with my new found family, and in return I gained so much access, acceptance, and understanding of myself,
The shamans were sensitive to my individual needs, caring , and available. The ceremonies were beautifully done and extremely moving. Their intention is felt with all that they do. The medicine is pure and potent, and you will feel supported every step of the way, even once home.
Stefany , Fernanda, Manuel, Juan, Tiwi, nury, gata, each and everyone of you will forever hold a special place in my heart.
If you are having seconds guesses about plant medicine here is your affirmation that this is the place to go.
Give yourself a chance to re connect with yourself & Mother Earth- you won’t regret it.