Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews
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Since 2014, New Life Rising has been in service to the ever-growing community of truth seekers. With over a decade of experience, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise that has enabled us to carefully create a retreat program that encompasses a balance of complimentary healing modalities, time for reflection, and community support. Through the years, we have witnessed incredible transformations through ayahuasca. Our reputation as the highest-rated retreat in Costa Rica is a testament to these life-changing experiences.
Our therapeutic journey is designed to support healing, release, and restoration through honest self-reflection and by fostering a profound connection to spirit. After more than a decade of working with ayahuasca, we have fine-tuned our ayahuasca retreat Costa Rica program to offer a variety of complementary healing modalities. From our ayahuasca ceremonies guided by Ayahuasqueros trained in the Peruvian Mestizo traditions to Hatha yoga sessions, massage therapy, group sharing circles, nature therapy, nutritional meals, and airport transfers, we have considered every element to best support you on your journey.
Connect with your higher self through our transformative ayahuasca Costa Rica retreat. Ayahuasca is a powerful sacred plant medicine that helps us reach our full potential by freeing us from self-limiting beliefs and destructive thought patterns. She invites us to confront and integrate all aspects of ourselves by embracing the light and dark energies within each of us. By acknowledging these contrasting energies we practice radical self-acceptance that is the catalyst for profound growth and the foundation for self-love.
Whats Included:
Medical Safety Screening via Phone Call
1pm Airport Pick-up from Liberia International Airport
8 Days of Retreat Programing
7 Nights Accommodation in our cozy Eco-cabinas
3 Traditionally guided Ayahuasca Ceremonies led by facilitators with over a decade of experience each
3 Hatha Yoga Sessions that include guided meditation with a focus on ceremonial intention
3 Group Integration/Share Circles
1 Therapeutic Massage
3 Beach trips
All meals – Nutritious and following the ayahuasca diet
Intimate group setting of 12 participants
10am Checkout with Airport Drop-off at Liberia International by 12pm
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Heath Jenson
Jan 19, 2026Where do I start?
My wife and I were celebrating 30 years of marriage. We wanted to create a new foundation for our next chapter together. After researching many retreats in Peru and Costa Rica my wife and I chose New Life Rising. I personally had some reservations about Matt and Jeanae being westerners but realized that I was prejudging them. After reading their biographies, I felt they respected and honored the shamanic practices of plant medicine. Their continued dedication to plant medicine and education is what convinced us to book our retreat with New Life Rising. We wanted an intimate setting with a small number of participants with a traditional ceremony and we both feel they delivered beyond our expectations.
Matt and Jeanae created a beautiful atmosphere that was warm and inviting. Their combined male and female energies felt well balanced. My wife and I felt very safe and well taken care of by them and the other facilitators (Eliza and Saul). The experience was very powerful and transformative.
I am extremely grateful to Jeanae, Matt and our new family to share this whole experience. I surprised my wife by renewing my vows at the opening of our second ceremony. The Maloka ceremonial space felt sacred. It couldn’t have been more perfect! The ayahuasca ceremony itself was incredibly special. I felt guided throughout the experience through song, music, and dance. Jeanae brought a beautiful feminine energy with her voice and Matt brought an amazing sense of mastery with his masculine energy.
We enjoyed the grounds and they provided wonderful meals. Very loving atmosphere and we enjoyed having their golden retrievers running around. Howler monkeys swinging in the trees and iguanas throughout . This place was rooted in nature and delivered a serene peaceful experience!
No matter where Matt and Jeanae plant their roots, I personally know they provide a safe and life changing plant medicine experience. My wife and I will definitely be doing ayahuasca with them in the future. Absolutely grateful for them and our experience!!! Soooo much love, Thank you 🙏🏾 -
Mason Jansen
Jan 19, 2026HIGHLY RECOMMEND ❤️!!!
My husband and I got back this week from Costa Rica, what an amazing experience! The grounds were beautiful, the family that runs it and the dogs that also run it ☺️, so much love. The home cooked meals were delicious, I never felt hungry, each meal was just right. Our group was perfect. Everyone came from different places, all of us ‘in’ different places yet created a bond so personal. And then Matt and Janae… They create and deliver such an intimate, safe, loving, balanced, authentic experience from start to finish. From traditional feeling ceremonies to casually hanging out, they are INCREDIBLE!!!
For my personal experience also my first experience with ayahuasca, it was great. I was so scared going into it, and i felt instantly Comforted after drinking my first cup. I typically don’t use hallucinogenics with so many people so close, and even with some struggling it still felt so intimate and safe.
And a shout out to my amazing husband who read a 30th wedding vowel renewal right before our second ceremony, started it off with such love in the miloko ❤️🥰. -
laura nicolescu
Jan 19, 2026My life is forever changed because of New Life Rising, and that’s heavily thanks to Matt and Janae. I have so much respect for their work and could not imagine going through this experience with any other shamans. I had extended my stay after the retreat ended for my integration and each time I shared with someone that I went to New Life Rising for my aya experience, relief and joy would always be the response.
The people on my retreat were amazing. They each showed up with so much openness and vulnerability, making my time there feel like I was surrounded by people I had known my whole life. I came alone as a 29 year old female and felt incredibly safe and cared for. Everything was done with love, from the home-cooked meals to the yoga sessions and share circles.
I loved every conversation and moment spent with Matt and Janae. If life ever brings me back to ayahuasca, it will be with New Life Rising. They set a new pace for my life filled with so much love, gratitude, and magic ❤️ -
T. Jackson Keenan
Jan 14, 2026️This was a very positive experience and also one of the hardest things I have done. I am grateful to have had Matt and Jeanae as our guides. They provided an atmosphere that was both safe and inviting.
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Noemie Thibault
Dec 24, 2025️A huge thank you to Janae and Matt for their profoundly human welcome and their perfectly balanced presence. You guided us with such kindness through one of the most transformative and enriching experiences of my life.
We were a group of 12 people—a perfect, intimate, and safe size that I couldn't have imagined any other way. Everything was thoughtfully planned: the safety, the comfort of the mini-cabins, the soothing beauty of the gardens, the professional massages, the outings to the beach… not to mention the absolutely exceptional food.
Every detail contributed to creating a space of trust, gentleness, and grounding, allowing us to fully let go and experience the three ceremonies with openness and serenity. These days will remain etched in my memory as a rare, aligned, and profoundly transformative experience. Plus, our group was fantastic.
A huge thank you to Travis and Eliza!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this invaluable support!
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Tim
December 18, 2017 at 11:33 amMatt and Jeanae are very dedicated to their work with this sacred medicine and tend to every detail throughout your stay so that you can focus solely on your own personal work. I’m basically speechless as to the talent and dedication with which Matt conducts the ceremony and I felt safe the entire time. The food is incredible and just what you need, when you need it and the retreat centre is privately located on the top of a mountain overlooking the ocean. The house is perfect for accommodating the group size and is conducive to both alone time or interaction with the other members of the retreat. I felt I could be completely honest about my personal reasons for being there and found everyone to be incredibly accepting and of course non-judgemental. They also have safe high quality medicine that can be trusted. Deciding to work with Ayahuasca in your life can be a tough decision but I can assure you that Matt and Jeanae will take care of you and guide you through the experience. With so much going on I was glad I chose New Life Ayahuasca for my first encounter with this sacred plant medicine. May I wish you all the best on your journey!
-Tim, 33, British Columbia, Canada
ML
October 24, 2017 at 7:13 amI had a truly life changing experience. Matt and Jennae are truly professionals in their craft; the experience they provide at NLA exceeded my expectation and I have already suggested to all of my open-minded friends and family to visit NLA. The ceremonies were intimate (less than 8 people) and absolutely well-guided.
No matter where you decide to visit, definitely do your research on where to take your journey because this type of experience can be exceptional. In my opinion, this experience is best held in an intimate and sacred manner like NLA.
Mishay
July 28, 2017 at 1:19 amI live in Japan and decided to make a trip out to Costa Rica to try ayahuasca. Mainly out of curiosity, and some personal-development issues I wanted to work on.
This was my first ayahuasca experience.
Everything I read beforehand pointed to the importance of putting yourself in a great environment (especially the first time) and with a shaman or guide that you can trust.
I was super happy with the experience at New Life. I can personally vouch for both Matt and Jeanea who run it — they are wonderful people and have a beautiful, secluded retreat. You’re surrounded with a small group of like-minded people so it’s intimate, but you don’t have to socialize the whole time and can enjoy a lot of quiet/personal space. Also, there is a badass swimming pool and some of the best cooking I have ever had.
Honestly, I would pay to stay at their place even if they didn’t have ayahuasca — it’s that good.
A little bit more about the actual trip:
Taking ayahuasca isn’t some tourist attraction like seeing the Eiffel Tower or visiting the petting zoo— this is the real deal. It isn’t even like a fun mushroom trip. It’s a lot more difficult than that, but it can be very eye-opening.
I definitely recommend having an “intention” or point of focus for each ceremony is so you can maintain a sense of purpose.
Ayahuasca will transport your mind to a whole different dimension, make you think you’re a tree frog, and kill your ego 1000 times over. It will crush you and bring you back to life.
Really, it will put you through the gauntlet, but it’s well worth it.
I’m excited to see how my life unravels over the next few months after my experience, and I can’t wait to make another trip out in a year from now! 🙂
durtfoot
November 25, 2016 at 11:08 pmI am extremely grateful for the experience that I had during my 7 day retreat at New Life. This was my first experience with ayahuasca. After spending 3 years exposed to combat in the Middle East I had been struggling with depression and PTSD for years afterwards, seeking counseling and really trying to pull myself back on my feet. I was desperate and stumbled upon New Life and something about it just felt right. Within 24 hours of having the idea to even try ayahuasca I made the reservations with New Life, and now believe it was the best decision I ever made. I received healing here like I could never have dreamed of, and feel like a huge burden has been lifted off of my chest. I will absolutely return once I put into daily practice the personal lessons that I received while I was there. What an experience for the soul! Jeanae and Matt are truly doing something special here. And Randy the cook is doing special things everyday too. The environment is so peaceful, and allows you to truly relax. They are really great hosts, and Matt is legendary during the ceremonies. The view is wonderful, and looking at the stars after ceremony was certainly one of my personal highlights of the week. These guys really built a paradise and are the kind of people that just make you feel at home when you’re there. I can’t brag about it enough, if you’re thinking of going I really recommend this place and didn’t hear a single complaint from anyone the entire time I was there so it’s not just my opinion.
jdykhuis
October 17, 2016 at 11:20 amWhat an experience!
My wife and I recently flew to Costa Rica to participate in a five day retreat with Matt & Jeana at New Life Ayahuasca and we are already planning our return visits. Make no mistake – ayahuasca itself is an intense, sometimes painful, often beautiful and overall very healing experience. We were first timers and felt like since it was also our honeymoon we would probably be most comfortable with a few nice amenities like flushing toilets and private bedrooms. New Life Ayahuasca exceeded out expectations a hundred-fold.
We were picked up by a driver at the airport with our other retreat compadres. It was great to see Costa Rica for the first time without worrying about driving or navigating! The drive was about an hour and a half and we had the opportunity to stop on the way at an American friendly grocery store for any snacks or last minute provisions we needed. We arrived at the retreat center and Matt & Jeanae were so welcoming. We ate a gorgeous fresh dinner and had the evening to get to know one another and explore the grounds.
The home is beautiful – each guest has a private room with a private bathroom. It is decorated adorably and feels like home instantly. There is plenty of common space indoors and out for socializing and the rooms are spacious enough to be a nice place to go and reflect or nap as the days roll by. Meals are provided and they are delicious, fresh and in line with the Ayahuasca Dieta you are encouraged to begin about a week before arriving!
You can enjoy the large pool, the hot tub, the daily yoga and meditation, hiking the 20 acre property or get a massage. It was a very luxurious place to do some really hard work!
The ceremony evenings have a more serious feel to them – some nervous energy lingers all around. Matt & Jeanae are so available and kind and patient and knowledgeable with all the participants. It is easy to get the reassurance you may need before partaking in the Ayahuasca journey. They have this great ability to make you feel safe even when facing the unknown.
The flower ceremony/intention setting is such a beautiful way to collect yourself and prepare for the night’s experience. It is important to surrender yourself to the journey – physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The ceremony itself is AMAZING! Matt’s gong ability is awesome and when he is singing you are transported by the sound of his voice. The experience is very intense but so healing and educational. Jeanae stays in the room and quietly and lovingly watches over everyone as the night goes on. It feels great to know she is there.
We can’t wait to come back!