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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mfiorini
September 10, 2016 at 1:33 pmI had been researching ayahuasca retreats for over a year and finally pulled the trigger and chose New Life. I was not disappointed at all. The property itself was bountiful. It gave me the chance to escape the everyday grind that is society, and truly relax and reconnect with nature. Matt and Jeanae are excellent hosts. They truly believe in what they do and put their hearts into it which shows. One of the reasons I chose New Life was because they limit the ceremonies to just six people. I believe for my first time this was the best. It allowed the group to connect more and allowed Matt and Jeanae more personized attention if needed. The ceremonies themselves I can’t put into words. Nothing I had read really prepared me for my own experiences. Matt led each one with music and icaros and Jeanie was in a support role throughout going around making sure everyone was ok. I left each ceremony gaining new insight into my life, and maybe not exact answers I was looking for, but the ayahuasca I feel has given me a different perception on life that I can see helping me even a week after I left. I look forward to going back to New Life next year and being able to learn even more.
Gailb
August 25, 2016 at 5:32 amI did a lot of research before choosing a centre to work in and found nothing like New Life. It’s a special place. It’s beautiful and nourishing on every level. The food was amazing and things like that really matter. I wanted to find a place I felt held both medically safe and ceremonially held. They take both aspects really seriously. You need space and a place to be, with folks who are mindful and on hand if needed, without feeling crowded out. All of these subtleties are beautifully done. The hosts Matt and Jeanae were supported by a doctor (for my iboga journey) and a chef Derek, for the Aya week with Vicky providing Kambo and reiki. An amazing team with experience, dedication and humility. I had very high hopes for my retreat and they were surpassed. My gratitude is hard to express.
hd4kix
August 25, 2016 at 12:24 amWow, what can I say about my week long experience with Matt and Jeanae at New Life Ayahuasca? There aren’t words to do it justice but I feel compelled to show my appreciation for them and their plant healing capabilities. The environment was everything and more than I expected. The views alone will change you and the facilities are warm, loving and conducive to truth and healing. Their personal stories inspired me and their wisdom guided me to a place of peace that I’ve never known. I know that our paths are destined to cross many more times as I feel drawn to help others as I grow and improve myself. Thank you guys so much.
tareq12
August 24, 2016 at 11:29 pmThis place is simply amazing! Matt and Jeanae do an incredible job and put so much love and care into everything they do from administering the medicine, to facilitating to preparing the food, there is a great deal of love and care that’s goes into everything at New Life. The grounds and views are also breathtaking and are very conducive to the entire experience. I am very grateful to you guys for everything you did for us and will never forget you or my time at the center. Love and light to you and I hope to see you again one day 🙂