If you’re searching for an ayahuasca retreat in 2025, it’s easy to be drawn in by lush jungle photos, glowing testimonials, and words like “healing,” “safe,” and “sacred.” But not every retreat lives up to those promises – and in some cases, the wrong choice can lead to lasting harm.
This guide breaks down the 10 biggest red flags to watch for when evaluating ayahuasca retreat centers. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning guest, these signals will help you avoid unsafe, unprofessional, or exploitative retreats.
đźš© 1. No Medical Screening Process
A safe retreat will ask detailed questions about your physical and mental health before accepting you. If a center lets you book instantly with no intake form or health interview, that’s a major red flag.
What to look for:
- Health intake form
- Questions about medications (especially SSRIs)
- Screening for trauma, bipolar, schizophrenia, heart conditions
đźš© 2. Overcrowded Ceremonies
Many centers pack 20–40 people into one ceremony room, making it difficult for facilitators to support everyone.
Safer ratio:
1 facilitator or shaman for every 4–6 participants is ideal. Fewer than 12 guests per ceremony is a good sign.
đźš© 3. No Female Staff or Support Presence
Retreats that lack female facilitators – or have a male-dominated leadership culture – may fail to address gendered safety issues.
Bonus: Centers with women-only retreats or female-led teams often have stronger boundaries and ethics.
đźš© 4. Glossy Marketing, No Substance
Beautiful Instagram pages don’t guarantee integrity. Some of the worst retreats have the slickest branding – but offer little transparency about who runs the retreat or what their experience is.
Check for:
- Bios with real names, not just spiritual aliases
- Training or lineage information
- Transparent pricing and schedules
đźš© 5. No Integration Support
What happens after the ceremony is just as important as what happens during it. If the retreat offers no group integration or follow-up support, your healing may feel incomplete – or destabilizing.
Minimum standard:
At least one post-ceremony group discussion + resources or referrals for post-retreat care.
đźš© 6. Pressure to Take More Medicine or Add-On Ceremonies
Facilitators should respect your boundaries. Some unsafe retreats push guests to keep drinking even when they feel unsure – or upsell Kambo, Bufo, or other substances without adequate screening.
Warning sign: “You’re not purging enough” or “Your ego is resisting” used to justify pressure.
đźš© 7. No Emergency Protocol or Medical Plan
What happens if someone faints, has a psychotic episode, or stops breathing? If the staff can’t answer this clearly, it’s not safe.
Ask directly:
“Do you have an emergency protocol? Is there a nurse or EMT on-site?”
đźš© 8. Reviews Are Hard to Find – or Suspiciously Perfect
Just because a retreat has glowing reviews doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Many centers filter testimonials, pressure guests for 5-star ratings, or bury negative feedback by moving or rebranding. Many review platforms farm fake reviews to get traffic – to then sell ad space to the centers. Reviews can be great tools, but remember that every single review platform can be gamed, including Google, Tripadvisor, and Reddit.
Warning signs:
- All 5-star reviews with vague language (“life-changing,” “so healing”)
- No mention of staff names, safety protocols, or actual guest concerns
- Review sites that don’t share much value beyond a review section
- The gut feeling that you’re being sold to from people on Reddit
Remember: The problem isn’t necessarily no reviews – it’s reviews that can’t be trusted.
đźš© 9. Vague Refund and Cancellation Policies
If you can’t get a straight answer about what happens if your plans change, don’t book. Some retreats take large deposits and ghost you when you ask for a refund.
Look for:
Clear policy on deposits, cancellations, and rescheduling – ideally published on the site.
đźš© 10. Cult-Like Language or Behavior
If a retreat promotes one shaman as “the only true healer,” encourages blind loyalty, or unreasonably limits your privacy and free time – it may be crossing into coercive territory. Odd dress codes and requests for deep time/money commitments should be approached with caution.
Healthy retreats encourage autonomy, critical thinking, and respect for your pace.
🧠Final Takeaway: Trust Your Gut – and Do Your Homework
Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine. In the right hands, it can be life-changing. But in the wrong setting, it can retraumatize or destabilize or worse. If something feels off, it probably is.
Before you book, ask hard questions. Compare competitors. Look beyond the marketing.
âś… Use Best Retreats to:
- Spot safety flags and incident reports
- Compare trust grades and infographics
- Make decisions with confidence – not just the calling
Related Guides:
- Medical Risks of Ayahuasca: Interactions & Fatal Cases
- What Happens If Something Goes Wrong at a Retreat?
- Women’s Safety in Ayahuasca Retreats
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