No one wants to think about worst-case scenarios when booking a retreat. But if you’re putting your physical and mental health in the hands of a retreat center, you deserve to know: What happens if something goes seriously wrong?
This guide explains how reputable retreats handle emergencies, what protections you should have in place before you arrive, and what to do if a death or serious injury occurs during a ceremony.
⚠️ Why This Matters More Than Most People Think
Ayahuasca affects your mind, body, and nervous system in unpredictable ways. Accidents, medical reactions, or psychological breakdowns are rare, but they do happen. The most dangerous centers are not the ones that make mistakes – they’re the ones that hide them.
📉 Real Incidents: What We Know
Guest injuries and deaths have occurred in multiple countries:
- Peru (2015): Canadian man killed a fellow guest during a ceremony. Retreat staff attempted to cover it up.
- Colombia (2021): Multiple reports of untrained staff failing to respond to seizures and blackouts.
- Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador: Documented cases of psychotic breaks, drownings, and negligent deaths.
These events are often underreported or minimized in retreat marketing.
“The center didn’t even have a first-aid kit. When a guest collapsed, no one knew what to do.” — Verified report, 2023
🧯 What Emergency Protocols Should Look Like
Ethical retreat centers prepare for the worst. They should have:
- On-site medical personnel (nurse or paramedic)
- Emergency response plan written and visible to guests
- Clear contact with local hospitals or clinics
- Evacuation transport options (especially in remote areas)
- Staff training in CPR, seizure response, and mental health de-escalation
- Liability insurance and legal protections for guests
If your retreat can’t answer how they would respond to a medical emergency, that’s a red flag.
🛡️ Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not
Most retreats do not cover medical bills or evacuation costs. You may need:
- Travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage
- Medical coverage that includes alternative healing or plant medicines
- Trip cancellation insurance in case of early departure due to injury or illness
Call your insurance provider and ask them clearly: “Am I covered if something goes wrong during an ayahuasca retreat?”
❓ Will You Even Know if a Death Happens?
One of the most disturbing patterns we’ve seen: retreats staying silent after a major incident. In some cases:
- Staff are instructed not to talk
- Social media and guest groups go quiet
- Centers continue operating without addressing the event
This culture of silence is what Best Retreats is working to end. We use incident tracking, social listening, and anonymous guest submissions to ensure critical safety information reaches the public.
👣 What to Do If You’re Involved in or Witness an Incident
- Get to safety and seek medical help immediately
- Document everything – names, times, what happened, how staff responded
- File a report with your local consulate if you’re abroad
- Submit an incident report on Best Retreats so we can alert others
- Consider posting in retreat-focused communities like Reddit’s r/Ayahuasca for support and awareness
✅ What Ethical Retreats Do Differently
They don’t just prepare for emergencies – they acknowledge that problems can happen and respond with integrity. Look for centers that:
- Publish their safety protocols publicly
- Share incident response procedures with guests
- Offer insurance recommendations upfront
- Have a history of transparent communication when something goes wrong
Final Word: Safety is a System. Nothing More, Nothing Less.
If you’re trusting a retreat center with your mind and body, you deserve more than just good intentions. You deserve structure, training, transparency, and a plan for when things go wrong.
Use Best Retreats to check for guest safety reports, trust grades, and how centers have responded to past incidents. We believe every retreat should treat your safety just as sacred.
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