We have been hosting ayahuasca retreats since 1996. Our center is based in the midst of the beautiful Atlantic Rainforest along the coast of Bahia in Brazil. We facilitate a safe and comfortable space for you to achieve harmony in your everyday life by aligning your mind, body, and heart with your true self.

Our 9 day and 11 day ayahuasca retreats are designed to give you a balanced experience. We have ayahuasca ceremonies every other night and in between there are activities to integrate your experiences and insights. There is also ample free time to reflect, to enjoy the beauty of the jungle, to visit the gorgeous beaches, and just to relax, let go, and enjoy the pure bliss of the moment.
Calendar and prices on our website
We have extensive experience integrating ayahuasca, psychology, shamanism, self development, modified states of consciousness, and various other modalities. We are present at all times and are dedicated in supporting you with loving care, attention, safety, and respect.The activities include workshops focused on spiritual development. The techniques covered in the workshops can be practiced even after the retreat to continue the journey of personal growth. Some of the topics include inner child integration, life progression, discovering the source of your blockages and the resources to overcome them. Another very important part of the retreat are the Yoga sessions in the morning which greatly enrich the ayahuasca experiences at night.
Spirit Vine & TheVine Center previously known as Ayahuasca-Healing have been created by Silvia Polivoy. She received her license in clinical psychology and had a private practice in Buenos Aires, Argentina for several years until she began to feel the need to make a transition from studying and healing the mind to exploring the worlds of Spirit. This took her away from the busy city streets to the more tranquil life in the jungle, moving to Brazil where in 2004 she co-founded the TheVine Center, a trans-denominational and inter-faith spiritual center located in the state of Bahia.
The nature of our nonprofit center is philosophical, religious, mystical, spiritual, educational, and cultural. All the retreats’ income’ serves to maintain the center grounds, create employment for the local community, and help preserve the jungle, having replanted thousands of native trees over the years to give but one example.
The retreats take place inside of 39 acres of lush preserved area. It is about 7 miles from Itacaré on the coast of Bahia. Our location is only minutes away from beautiful coastal beaches, which back onto the Mata Atlántica, the second largest rainforest in Brazil.


The experience of sacred tea ceremonies can be challenging for some, deeply religious for others, but profound all around. Please note that we have several programs to offer and the plant ceremonies are always optional and not required to partake in during any of our retreats. The plant ceremonies begin in the evening and go through the night. The group dynamic is very important and there will be facilitators to look after participants throughout. There will be plenty of time for group discussions and also time alone to reflect on the experiences elicited by the spirit vine tea for those that wish to partake in the plant ceremonies.

At the retreat center we grow our own ayahuasca vine and chacruna plants organically! We also have an organic garden to source vegetables for the food prepared during the retreat. We have pure spring water for drinking and also coconut water, juices, and a variety of teas.

During all our programs we follow a strict (though delicious) diet. The meals are completely vegan, gluten-free, and nutritionally balanced, prepared by our in-house chef who has specialized in vegan cuisine and has a post-graduation in functional nutrition. They include plenty of fresh vegetables cooked with delicious herbs and spices, luscious fresh tropical fruits, salads, and grains.
A note about sexual abstinence: this varies from culture to culture; some recommending as long as 30-40 days while others as little as one day or none at all like here in Brazil. For energetic purposes we recommend sexual abstinence during the retreat as well as 3 days before it begins and 3 days after the retreat concludes. As well, a drug free and no salt diet with no red meat, pork or heavy alcohol use for the same amount of time is optimal.
We fully expect you have questions about the retreats, programs and the facilities we offer. Please feel free to explore our website or watch our videos and write to us to come to one of our retreats.
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Surfing the Matrix
November 28, 2023 at 1:14 pmI just finished my 6th retreat here 4 days ago, and the impact of the beauty and miracle of Spirit Vine is still reverberating through my whole mind and body. Never have I felt any “ been there, done that” from the retreats here; I just keep attaining higher levels of gratitude and love and understanding of so many things I previously knew nothing about. Everyone that comes here will tell you about the magnificent Garden-of-Eden-like setting, the delicious food, the roomy bungalows. But it’s the workshops that Silvia puts together, with her decades of experience as a psychotherapist, and her extensive expertise and knowledge of ayahuasca, combined with sacred plant medicine that sets SV apart from the others. Silvia’s love and seemingly boundless insight is the icing on the cake.
Before coming to SV the first time, I did much research on the abundance of retreats around the globe, hoping to sort out and avoid any retreats that may have duplicitous intentions. I feel I’m so very lucky to have found SV. I’m a very different person since coming here, and I’ve seen how SV has helped so many others.
It is also wonderful having Miro there helping out and being so caring and thoughtful.
If you’re looking for a safe place to experience the efficacy and sanctity of plant medicine, this is it.
alexallard
November 3, 2023 at 3:07 pmThis my truly the best experience of my life. If you are looking for growth and a safe space to try ayahuasca, this is the place for you. Coming out of this retreat, I feel like an all new person. My depression is gone, my anxiety is much lower and I feel more calm than ever. It’s not only because of the ayahuasca, but also because of Silvia and the knowledge and tools that she shared during the workshops and group sharing. Silvia is so insightful and inspiring! I would definitely recommend this retreat to anyone who is looking to learn and grow!
Before going to this retreat, I was skeptic about all the 5 stars review, but I assure you that those are all real. There is absolutely no way that you can come out of this experience without it being one of the best experience of your life, believe me!
DanSquared
October 24, 2023 at 4:07 pmIt’s difficult to know where to begin, but i’ll start by saying this trip easily exceeded my expectations in every way, and that’s saying something because they were quite lofty.
The entire experience was beautiful and magical. I am in awe and gratitude at the magnitude of healing I experienced. A little background, I struggled most of my life with addiction. I’ve been in an out of treatment centers for much of my adult life and have had lots of various therapies.
While I understood intellectually, the various reasons for my pathologies, this understanding alone was never enough to bring about true change in my life.
Through the workshops (shadow work, inner child, etc) and ceremonies, I am able to bridge the gap between the mind and the heart and feel certain truths in my being vs just understanding intellectually. This has made a world of difference. I was able to let go of a lot of guilt and shame that I carried around since childhood.For the first time that I can remember, much of my anxiety has lifted and I am excited to live life.
What a beautiful gift!
Last thing I will mention is that the group was in such good hands with Silvia and Miro. Everything is thought out to meticulous detail.
The things that struck me most about Silvia are her passion for her work, sense of humor, but above all how she embodies the ideals she strives to instill within the retreat attendees (ie healing, passion, creativity, etc.)
Someone in the group remarked how the Spirit Vine model should be the future of psychotherapy and I would tend to agree..
Guy
October 24, 2023 at 1:45 pmIf you are thinking about doing an Ayahuasca retreat, make Spirit Vine your first choice and you will not be disappointed. It is the perfect place for first-timers as well as a favourite of many returnees and it was easy for me to see why from the moment I arrived. Silvia’s warm welcome is followed by a continuous loving, nurturing energy which offers as much space or intervention as you require. The organisation and care is executed effortlessly and puts you at ease the entire time. The surrounding nature is spectacular and provides such a serene environment for your stay. There are so many hidden treasures to this experience that are not only about the Ayahuasca. Miro is such a wonderful addition to the spirit vine team, he was always so thoughtful and helpful whilst also providing great banter at meal times. The food is excellent and plentiful, the chef manages to make it feel like a treat even without salt and sugar. Silvia has a wealth of experience and wisdom and I would recommend seeking some one to one time with her to get further clarity on yourself. At Spirit Vine you are never in any doubt that you are safe and cared for and if you are open to it, it can be a life changing experience.
norsey563
October 24, 2023 at 8:19 amThrough and through, this was incredible. I had so many moments of awe for the curated, guided experience that Silvia and her team provide. A cutting-edge mix of group psychotherapy workshops and ayahuasca ceremonies and sharing. This was my first time using the medicine and what could have been scary was beginner-friendly. The lodging and food were excellent, as were the grounds in a beautiful slice of Brazilian rainforest. The photos on the website don’t do it Justice. I had just the breakthrough that I needed after feeling severely depressed and blocked this year. Silvia also curated such a great group of diverse people, I made friends for life and it was easy to be intimate and open up with the group. I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. As I told friends and family after, the retreat made me realize I’d been sleepwalking for 20 years and it woke me up. A big fog has been lifted. Thank you Silvia.