Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews
Private Ayahuasca & San Pedro Retreat in the heart of San Pedro de Vilcabamba, in Loja, Ecuador. Casa Del Sol works with small groups to optimize the quality of your experience, and share the space as a family. Blessed with a beautiful location within the Valley of Longevity, we integrate ourselves with its powerful medicine; our retreats include walking through its mountains, cleansing ourselves in the waterfalls and in the river in front of our home. We make offerings, meditate, practice yoga, hold sweat lodges and plant medicine ceremonies to encourage this integration.
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Wem
February 6, 2019 at 2:57 pmI would definitely recommend a retreat at casa del sol. For some days you are part of a lovely family, where Ximena and Santiago work fully dedicated with the plants and the clients. They feel what is important, have a lot of experience, are able to connect as well to nature as to the deeper levels within yourself and they do not hesitate to give everybody the attention one needs. Another big advantage is the choice for groups with maximum 12, and mostly less, people. In this way you get real contact with each other, are able to share your intention, which was helpful to be focused and open up yourself.
The dedication and love which Ximena and Santiago put into the ceremonies is great! I’m very thankful for this intense and beautiful experience :).
gjlaldee
February 5, 2019 at 10:58 amI ‘ve just returned from an eight-day retreat at Casa Del Sol in the majestic mountains of Vilcabamba, Ecuador.
It was facilitated by Ximena and Santiago who are a pair of the purest souls I’ve had the honour and pleasure of meeting and they have left me feeling blessed to have walked this part of my spiritual journey with them.
It took me three flights and 22 hours of travel, to get to Vilcabamba from Toronto and I would say that it was worth the journey there. Casa Del Sol is in beautiful mountains and it feels like stepping back into a time of peace, serenity, innocence and love. The lush landscape of the forests, filled with all forms of life and flowing rivers, radiates a positive inviting energy that we from the western world have lost and is missing from our lives.
Upon arrival at Casa Del Sol, I could feel the warmth, caring and love from Ximena as she welcomed me to their place. On the first day, both Ximena and Santiago started the pre-ceremonial blessings and group facilitated process of ensuring that our intentions are in the right place to embark on the many ceremonies that we had ahead of us.
Of course, spiritual healing begins from within us and not from the external, however, with positive intensions that are directed in the right direction, we are more likely to succeed.
After having San Pedro, Ayahuasca, Kombo and Ximena and Santiago’s guidance, I must say that I’m now equipped with the tools to start the real healing journey as I return home.
There aren’t words, that exist to describe how lucky, honoured and blessed I feel to have been guided through all these ceremonies with Ximena and Santiago. They are both gifted with pure unconditional love.
For the eight days I was with them, each day was exciting and a new adventure in the path of spiritual growth. I would recommend their retreat to anyone interested in accelerating their path to spiritual enlightenment. You will not be disappointed.
I love they both dearly!
Gerry
Imadi
January 31, 2019 at 9:39 pmAmazing. Rare.Transformative. A beautiful expression of ceremonies, prayers, healing, and connectedness. Situated in one of the most beautiful settings one could imagine themselves in. Vilcabamba was the final standing grounds of the Incas, also known for it’s Vilca tree, for which Vilcabamba was named after, a plant who’s bean-like pods are said to take you to the stars and back. Add to this, mountains, rivers, lush valleys, waterfalls, birds, relaxed local beauty and you have located Casa Del Sol.
The medicine ceremonies were powerful, healing, very personal and rooted deeply in the ancient traditions of the high Andes. You will learn a lot and return to yourself the lost knowledge of what these scared traditions teach. I have had the fortunate opportunity over the years to experience other medicine retreats, from Peru to Ecuador, and this one is truly special and something you can’t put in into monetary terms or comparisons. You really should be asking yourself when you can go, not if, and I say that sincerely and without reservation.
Santiago and Ximena hold beautiful ceremonies that you won’t soon forget, to try to put it into words would only take away. They are experienced shamans, holding to a long and powerful lineage of ancient shamanic traditions and customs. They are caring, compassionate wonderful medicine people, they are also husband and wife with four beautiful adoring children. The eldest son Mateo, initiated and working alongside in support. Santiago and Ximena have received some of the highest initiations in relation to this work. Very few people will ever have a chance to experience a retreat like this, so all I can say is follow your heart, you’ll be glad you did.
-In joy, healing & gratitude. -Imad
Al Kaib
January 30, 2019 at 4:56 pmIt was truly an amazing week of healing, reconnecting with my spiritual side, reviving of energies and remembering who I am. Santiago and Ximena went above and beyond pouring loving, kind and caring energies to myself and all the participants who attended the retreat with me. I loved the location and nature, even though it takes long time to get to Vilkabamba – it was worth the time spent getting there. The retreat located in the beautiful lush green side of a mountain, there is a stream running through the property that turns into a river depending on amount of the rain.
I had attended medicine ceremonies before but I never witnessed so much sincere care and genuine kindness provided as Santiago and Ximena do. They gave exact individualized healing to each of the participant needed at that time as per our conversations at the daily sharing circle; and all benefitted from what was done and said in the ceremonies. Santiago and Ximena always facilitated heart-centered discussions amongst the participants to promote friendly and loving environment, where all felt welcomed, included without pressure, despite your spiritual knowledge, race, sexuality etc.
Every day was filled with a ceremony or healing circle; and I had a chance to get out to the near town- Vilkabamba for several outings: laundry, crafts shopping etc.
Food was healthy, vegetarian (with optional fish and chicken on some days) and in plenty amounts, 3x per day, except when required to fast for medicine ceremonies.
Rooms were simple and beds comfortable, I had couple suggestions to the owners – they were open and flexible to accommodate my requests.
Everything was healing and caring about this retreat, even scary-looking guard dog – Floky was always attempting to lick my knee that I injured just before arriving to the retreat; I looked up that some dogs do that to help humans to facilitate healing injuries.
I am deeply grateful to the Shaman-Santiago, Ximena, their beautiful 4 kids (that occasionally popped at the retreat), Mateo-Shaman assistant and made-Nati for this amazing time I had at the retreat.
I am highly recommending this place if you are looking for a deep healing and spiritual growth.
adamaszczos
January 19, 2019 at 5:06 pmMy experience with Casa del Sol was deep, emotional, challenging, spiritually charged, fantastic! Santiago is an amazing shaman, and most of all he is an amazing human being. He was the reason why I decided to come back to Ecuador to experience Ayahuasca and San Pedro once again. (I was at another retreat centre before.) I trust him with all my heart. Santiago and his family became my family too. Thank you to Ximena for your amazing, loving, emotionally charged feminine energy. Thank you Mateo for your openness to experience, strength, you are a brother to me! Thank you Titi for your positive energy and your strength manifesting in such a delicate way.
At Casa del Sol you will be connecting to nature, to your nature as well. You will experience what it means to be part of it. You will see what it means to truly appreciate things we often take for granted.
I really enjoyed Santiago and Ximena’s place. The room (shared) was very comfortable, clean and surrounded by nature. The food was amazing. I felt like a god after couple of days of eating that healthy (and I’m a vegan who really takes care about his diet). Delicious veggie soups, fruits in the morning, light, tasty and nutritionally supercharged diet. Fantastic!
Also, I really enjoyed the late evening meet-ups at the table where we exchanged our experiences and opened up to each other fully.
The ceremonies were very intense to me. Especially the sweat lodge ceremonies turned out to be very challenging and healing. Santiago and Ximena put an amazing amount of work to make sure as much healing is done as possible. Wasn’t easy but was totally worth it. The drums, the singing, all the little details… it’s just mind blowing how dedicated they are in their hearts to do this kind of healing to the people of this world. Thanks for that Santiago, Ximena and Mateo.
I came back different. I now have a different relationship with my body and soul. I also, met my power animal which was super exciting to me. Finally I understood the power that was sleeping in me.
Lots of love to all of you brothers and sisters!