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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Caroline Flynn
July 10, 2017 at 12:19 amA Nigerian Shaman advised me to go to Spirit Vine six years ago to embrace Mother Ayahuasca, with specific instructions to see Sylvia, I didn’t listen and went to Peru instead much to my regret. After numerous bad experience in other centres I finally went to Spirit Vine. I can not recommend this centre enough, it is most definitely the best and safest centre I have experienced. You can not find fault with Spirit Vine, from the food, the workshops, the sharing, the comfort, the accommodation, the magical surroundings, the full time support, the respect, the ceremonies ,the understanding and wisdom shared by Sylvia enables each participant to find enlightenment in their own way. Sylvia is truly a magician, and very Wise Woman. 10/10.
stefano
July 1, 2017 at 6:25 amA journey in the Cosmic Counsciousness – May 2017
I was travelling Brazil deciding day by day what to do and I was reminded by chance that Brazil is the land of ayahuasca.
I was interested in ayauhasca already since few years, when I heard beautiful stories on how you can reach deeper state of counsciousness, heal from your wrong patterns, get to your next evolutionary step. I needed to clean myself, I needed to get to the next step in life and I felt ayahuasca could be a booster.
The idea I had about ayahuasca was to be an intense psychedelic experience allowing expansion of consciousness. That was my aim and the answers I got were exactly in that direction, but with a strength I would have never considered.
Ayahuasca itself is a magical plant that allows you to take out your divine part.
It amplifies your senses, it amplifies your comprehension, it gets you deeply into your consciousness, it makes you access other dimensions. It makes you extremely vulnerable. You become like a child when it is born and in that moment the forces of the Universe can take you over. You are just in the hands of the divine.
What I could not expect before the experience, it was the importance of the environment, the people around you, the place and most of all, the intentions.
Ayahuasca is a powerful plant. Put it in the wrong hands and it can potentially create serious damages or at least very bad experiences. Put it in the right hands and it will take you to your next step of development as a human being.
I realize how lucky I was to have this occasion, in this environment that was built with extreme care, deep love and wide knowledge from a person who has dedicated her life to give other people the possibility to move to the next step of evolution.
This was an essential factor, as another essential factor was to be together and share the experience with other people, who are the reflections of your own existence and allow you to feel we are all connected.
I was very lucky to meet a wonderful group of people from different parts of the world, each person from a different country!
Many thanks to all of you.
Many thanks Sylvia and Rohan.
colormepurple
June 27, 2017 at 5:39 pmThis is the best place to step into the magical world of ayahuasca!
I had my 2nd retreat in March 2017, and this was an 8 day retreat with 3 ceremonies. My previous experience few years back with 4 ceremonies. Both retreats were exceptional in what I discovered about myself through and the transformations that followed in my life with the help of ayahuasca and also the workshops conducted by silvia. The only thing I will recommend is if you have the time then it is completely worth going for the 9 day retreat, the last ceremony is in the day and it is the most beautiful experience ever to be had. Going out into nature and connecting with everything, swimming, and just watching the sky, the whole time and space is beyond words.
The facilitators at this center have the utmost care and respect for each person, they talk privately if required and also spend a lot of time with the group throughout the retreat which gives a very welcome and safe feeling. The facilities are immaculate and the natural beauty is a trip in itself. The beaches, the food, the yoga and massages, the whole retreat is so well thought out and executed that it enhances the whole experience to get the most benefit and have the maximum enjoyment.
Lots of love to the whole group and all who choose to visit <3 :*
Matthias
June 25, 2017 at 9:41 amDON’T LOOK ANY FURTHER!!
Preamble
When my husband asked me to come with him to an Ayuhasca Retreat in Brazil I was first quite reluctant. Brazilian Jungle? Me? At my age? Hmmm….. Traveling across the Atlantic to get eaten up by mosquitoes while I could enjoy myself in a Fife-Star resort somewhere in France or Spain? I thought my „wild years“ where gone long time ago and therefore was not particularly interested in a revival. However, since my husband was already going for the third time I trusted him and went with him. As a matter of fact the two previous retreats at SpiritVine had changed his life in such a profound and positive way that was almost miraculous and I was a speechless witness of that change. I will be eternally grateful to him for insisting for me to come with him since my experience at SpiritVine has opened my eyes and heart, has changed my perception of myself and the world in a way I would honestly not have expected at all. That is why I am writing this review.
The Compound
First things first: The beauty of the center and its setting has blown me away. The Spirit Vine Center is located near the surf town Itacaré in Bahia, Brazil, with all its pristine beaches. It is harmoniously nestled in the „mata atlantica“ – a jungle-like forest. The compound is secluded enough to cut you from all man made noises so that you are able to immerse in the odors, sounds and magic of the jungle but is still close enough to all amenities of civilizations should a need arise. Arrival and departure is therefore easy and very comfortable which was important to me. You arrive with the plane in Ilheus, take a taxi and 1 hour later you are at the gate of SpiritVine. The whole trip from Europe has not taken more then16 hours.The Center itself is nestled in a forest clearing. It is composed of 7 to 8 private wooden bungalows each of them separate enough to enjoy privacy, all with their private bathrooms and hot water, a meeting and restaurant center, a ceremony temple and a pond with a deck, where you can swim and relax. You have access to WIFI if you need to communicate with the world. Everything is very well maintained and clean. The food is mouthwatering and the service impeccable.
The Hosts
Silvia and Rohan are very experienced hosts. They are loving, supportive, friendly and caring but never overbearing. They would be there for us when we needed them but otherwise let us be when we needed space. They would attentively listen to us, let us express our emotions but never interfere in our private process unless we wanted them to. They would make us feel at home and welcome us in their family but never impose on us. Thank you very much to both of you for this elegant mix of presence, care and discretion.
The Experience
Ayuahasca is an age-old medicinal and visionary plant, used by the native tribes for hundreds if not thousands of years. The ceremonies in the beautiful temple accompanied with mind- and heart opening music has brought me deep insights about questions like who and what I am, has shown behavioral patterns of mine of which I was not aware, has given me a new perspective to life itself and my relationships with other persons and last not least … has shown me how real bliss feels like. Thank you.
Conclusion
I will come again to SpiritVine simply because I could not imagine making this deep and intimate experiences in a better setting and with kinder hosts. I can warmly recommend it to everyone.
Matthias, 53
Zurich, Switzerland
Davidh
June 22, 2017 at 10:36 amif you feel like trying Ayahuasca, you found the right place ! I m going back every year to this same place not because I don’t want new adventures or discover new places , it is simply because it is THE perfect setting . You are in the jungle , surrounded by magically colored butterflies twice the size of the local hummingbirds , light up by the infinite stars and fireflies , lift up by the incredible soundtracks of the ceremony and the symphony of the jungle animals , fed by this delicious local grown organic food , rested in these confortable and beautiful eco bungalows , you will be few steps from dream like virgins beaches and waterfalls and helped and directed by two specials individuals Silvia and Rohan that ayahuasca choose as facilitators . This June retreat was my fourth time in 3 years and my experiences there helped me to live a life I would never dreamed of before I took these first step towards pure happiness. Thank you again Silvia and Rohan for making our lives magical . If you feel the call to try ayahuasca just go there , everyone I meet want to go back , everyone that tried other places say this place is the best …. much love … david