Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing

Antigua, Guatemala
Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing

 

Atmosphere

Features

 


💬 Guests Say

 

  • Deep Healing: Guests on safeceremonies.com call the ceremonies “amazing,” praising the maestro’s loving guidance for creating a “safe space” to heal.
  • Nature’s Balance: Many on retreat.guru describe the Antigua setting as “perfect,” with nature enhancing their spiritual journey, earning a 4.8-star average.
  • Caring Staff: Reviews on Facebook’s “Ayahuasca Experiences” group highlight the team’s focus on individual needs, with one guest feeling “truly supported.”

🚩 Incident Report

 

After an exhaustive search across the web—Reddit (r/Ayahuasca, r/Psychonaut), Quora, Facebook groups (“Psychedelic Healing,” “Ayahuasca Experiences”), news sites, retreat forums, ICEERS reports, and official records—no verified incidents of theft, sexual misconduct, or crime specifically tied to Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing were found.
  • Theft: No reports of stolen items or valuables in public posts, forums, ICEERS data, or news.
  • Sexual Misconduct: No allegations, complaints, or legal actions against Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing’s staff or maestro surfaced on Reddit, Facebook, news archives, or ICEERS resources. While broader ayahuasca retreat risks exist, no AyaCenter-specific cases were documented.
  • Crime: No police reports, arrests, or violent incidents linked to Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing appeared in Google News, Guatemalan media, retreat discussions, or ICEERS findings.
Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing’s online reputation remains free of such incidents, though general ayahuasca risks (e.g., psychological distress, unregulated settings) are noted in the community at large, including ICEERS research on retreat safety. If incidents occurred, they’re not publicly reported or accessible online.

 


🔍 Critical Notes

 

Ayahuasca and Alternative Healing’s $650-$1,800 retreats near Antigua offer a transformative experience, with small groups and a nature-rich setting earning praise on safeceremonies.com for safety and care. The accessible location suits North American travelers, but Reddit concerns about no on-site medical staff and unclear maestro credentials raise minor safety questions that could lead to risks during ceremonies. Ayahuasca’s legal status in Guatemala is ambiguous, and the lack of transparency on medical support amplifies concerns—verify facilitator experience, emergency protocols, and legal clarity directly, and approach with caution.

 

Man showing overflowing happiness as he hugs Maestro Marcial after retreat

Our Mission 

To provide a safe space for deep spiritual, physical, and mental healing through connection with plant medicine like Ayahuasca,  San Pedro (Huachuma), other plants, and healing practices. Bringing a connection with the natural setting, and a personal relationship with the medicine facilitators. 

Our Method

Ayahuasca Retreats Guatemala | San Pedro Retreats Guatemala

Intention Setting & Preparation

Your journey with Ayahuasca or San Pedro begins from the moment you set an intention to sit with us in ceremony. We will guide you through preparing your body and mind to most effectively receive this healing medicine. Everyone will be required to follow the dietary requirements. 

Toxin Release & Connection

For most people the first ceremony with Ayahuasca is all about releasing what is no longer serving them. It is like hitting a spiritual and physical reset button.

Though uncomfortable, purging is both a physical and a spiritual detox. However, letting go, and connecting to Maestro is the gateway to letting in the healing and life you are looking for.

Expansion of Awareness

After the medicine has taken you through a cleansing process, the next ceremonies are often a journey of connecting with the Earth and with the sky – or the physical and the spiritual dimensions of life. 

Integration

Ayahuasca and San Pedro are powerful medicines for healing the body, mind, and spirit. It is not a magical pill to swallow and forget, but a guide to meet and walk with into a new way of life.

One of the reasons we keep our retreats small is so that you have a community of people to go through the experience of integration. If you choose to follow the Ayahuasca or San Pedro diet carefully before and after the ceremony, the effect of the medicine can powerfully support your intention to change. However, it does not work alone. That is why we offer ongoing community and support to help you integrate your experience by letting go of what no longer serves your life and healing your body, mind, and spirit. This final step may be the most important part of your whole experience!

Sasha, Ana Sofía, and Maestro Marcial smiling for the picture

Our Team

The Ayahuasca & Alternative Healing Center (AyaCenter) is a collaboration between Sasha (Alexsandra), a Russian-American artist and medicine facilitator; Ana Sofía, a Guatemalan musician, as well as a life-long spiritual seeker; and Maestro Marcial, a third-generation shaman from the Shipibo tribe of Peru. Together, we have walked life seeking to honor the healing of the soul, and also finding an opening to share this Amazonian medicine with people from all over the world in an accessible location.

Sasha

Onsite Retreat Integrator, Artist

My journey with Ayahuasca began with my personal healing.

I never thought of working deeply with the medicine, dieting for spiritual growth, or opening healing center. But once my heart was cured and my soul started to reflect the universal light, Mother Ayahuasca asked me if I would like to share the knowledge of Her powers with others. I said Yes.

We have opened this alternative healing center/Ayahuasca Retreat here in Guatemala for people who cannot take big trips to Peru but need the help of Ayahuasca for healing and growth.

Retreat integration expert, Sasha standing in front of Fuego Volcano at the summit of Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala

I am very passionate about helping others to be fully free of pain, or simply get more universal knowledge of who we are and what we are here for. I know each and every one of us has history we want to learn or rewrite.

After being an artist all my life and speaking to others through my paintings, this feels like another form of communication with each person.

I’m going to be next to you, full of love, share it with you. The walk you have to do it yourself. I’m going to make sure you are going to be okay. I’ll be right there with you and you’ll be just fine. Even if you have to go through some purges.

Retreat meditation coach, Ana Sofía smiling and sitting at the top of an Inca ruin with a town of the Sacred Valley in the background
Ana Sofía
Retreat Facilitator & Meditation Instructor

I have dedicated over five years to practicing and exploring meditation, especially Mindfulness.

My spiritual journey was shaped by a rigorous two-and-a-half-year mentorship. During this, I was guided through diverse meditative practices from various traditions, such as Christian prayer, earth-rooted rituals, mystic Kabbalah, focused meditation, and Buddhist forms like Vipassana and Dzogchen.

I enjoy teaching and guiding the exploration of meditation, aiming for the core objective: breaking through the layers of ego to attain an experiential understanding of our True Nature, and what better than an Ayahuasca Retreat in my own country, Guatemala, to water the seed of Divine contemplation and understanding.

Maestro Marcial

Curandero

In my family, being a shaman is a tradition passed down through generations. Since a young age, I learned from my grandparents and cousins, who were medical shamans, to work with medicinal plants. Faith in this natural medicine gives us the healing power to become medical shamans.

Ayahuasca is not a drug, it is a sacred healing medicine that has to be treated with respect. When we start the ceremony we ask the mother Ayahuasca for spiritual guidance.

We wanted to open an Ayahuasca retreat center here in Guatemala because there is very good energy. I see that the same nature that exists here is the same nature of the jungle. The nature and energy that Guatemala has is perfect to work with medicinal plants and with the medicine of Ayahuasca.

Our Retreat

Location: Antigua, Guatemala

The Ayahuasca & Alternative Healing Center (AyaCenter) provides a unique and spiritual experience. Located in the beautiful town of Antigua, Guatemala, the location offers a perfect balance of nature and art, architecture, and tradition. 

There is so much love and peace in this area…

Here, you will be surrounded by flowers and feel the tranquility of the mountainous landscape. The weather is always like spring. 

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Enjoy your Ayahuasca or San Pedro retreat without having to travel any further, and don’t forget to get your favorite beverage once out, at any of the enchanting, picturesque spots around town. 

 

3-DAY AYAHUASCA OR SAN PEDRO RETREAT

Includes:

  • 2 Ayahuasca or San Pedro ceremonies with Shipibo Shaman

  • 2 one-on-one integration sessions

  • 1 intention-setting workshop

  • 2 meditations sessions

  • 1 sauna session with healing herbs 

  • Vomitivo for extra cleansing

  • Vegetarian meals

  • Private room with bathroom and shower 

  • Tea and fruit after the ceremony

  • Flower ceremony

  • Supportive plants added to diet, if necessary

Check-in time: 3:30 pm
Check-out time: 1:00-3:00 pm

Group size: Up to 5

USD $650 / Deposit $325

 

5-DAY RETREATS (AYAHUASCA/SAN PEDRO)

OPTION ¨A¨

3 Ayahuasca ceremonies or 3 San Pedro ceremonies ​​

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OPTION ¨B¨

2 Ayahuasca ceremonies + 1 San Pedro ceremony​​

Includes:

  • 3 Ayahuasca or San Pedro ceremonies with Shipibo Shaman

  • 3 one-on-one integration sessions

  • 1 intention-setting workshop

  • 1 meditation workshop by mindfulness coach

  • 3 meditation sessions by mindfulness coach

  • Vomitivo for extra cleansing

  • 1 sauna session with healing herbs 

  • 1 deep tissue massage (60 min)

  • Vegetarian meals

  • Private room with bathroom and shower 

  • Tea and fruit after the ceremony

  • Flower ceremony

  • Supportive plants added to diet, if necessary

​​

Check-in time: 3:30 pm
Check-out time: 1:00-3:00 pm

Group size: Up to 5

USD $1,200 / Deposit $600

 

7-DAY RETREATS (AYAHUASCA/SAN PEDRO)

3 Ayahuasca ceremonies + 1 San Pedro ceremony​​​​​

Includes:

  • 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies with Shipibo Shaman

  • 1 San Pedro ceremony outdoors with Shipibo Shaman

  • 3 one-on-one integration sessions

  • 1 intention-setting workshop

  • 1 meditation workshop by mindfulness coach

  • 3 meditation sessions by mindfulness coach

  • 1 Acupuncture session by Japanese Energy Healer

  • Vomitivo for extra cleansing

  • 1 sauna session with healing herbs 

  • 1 deep tissue massage (60 min)

  • 1 yoga class

  • Flower ceremony

  • Vegetarian meals

  • Private room with bathroom and shower 

  • Tea and fruit after the ceremony

  • Supportive plants added to diet, if necessary

Check-in time: 3:30 pm
Check-out time: 1:00-3:00 pm

Group size: Up to 5

USD $1,650 / Deposit $825

Reviews

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flora.dove

I arrived at this retreat during a season of deep personal upheaval and left feeling as if I’d been reborn. From the first ceremony, every ritual felt like an intimate dialogue between my inner self and ancient wisdom. I remember a particular evening when the ambient glow of soft candlelight merged with the distant sounds of nature—the medicine unlocked memories and emotions that I’d long buried, releasing a torrent of healing energy that reshaped my understanding of who I am. The facilitators encouraged a gentle surrender, allowing us to navigate our own emotional landscapes at our own pace. In small, heartfelt sharing circles, the raw vulnerability of fellow seekers created a community of genuine support. I now carry a newfound clarity and inner strength that continues to guide my daily life. This journey was a profound renewal, a transformative pilgrimage that touched every fiber of my being.

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earthbound.santiago

This retreat offered a remarkable opportunity to explore the depths of my inner landscape through both ayahuasca and alternative healing practices. The ceremonies were powerfully evocative, stirring up emotions and memories that demanded to be acknowledged and healed. The atmosphere was one of raw authenticity, with every detail designed to facilitate deep introspection. Yet, I occasionally found that the integration phase was a bit too generic for the intensity of the experiences. While the group sessions provided a sense of community, I longed for more personalized support to help weave the insights into my everyday life. Overall, the journey was transformative and has sparked ongoing personal growth, but with a bit more tailored guidance, it could have been even more impactful.

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TheRealShamanX

There are rare moments when you truly feel the universe speaking to you, and this retreat provided exactly that—a cosmic encounter that awakened a part of my soul I thought was long lost. The ceremonies were an artful blend of ancient ritual and modern healing, inviting us to shed our layers of fear and embrace raw truth. One night, under a canopy of stars, I experienced a surge of emotional clarity so powerful it left me speechless. The energy in the space was palpable, a seamless fusion of nature’s beauty and heartfelt intention. What made the experience even more extraordinary was the open-hearted connection among participants; our shared stories became a living tapestry of transformation. I left with a sense of purpose and an inner light that has since illuminated my path—a truly unforgettable journey of healing and soulful connection.

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breathwork.andres

My time at the retreat was marked by a series of emotionally charged ceremonies that forcefully invited me to confront my inner truths. The natural surroundings, vibrant and unyielding, set the stage for rituals that were both raw and deeply moving. I experienced powerful breakthroughs that shattered old patterns and opened up new avenues for self-reflection. However, I did encounter moments where the transition between the intense rituals and group integration felt abrupt, leaving me to piece together some of the insights on my own. Although the communal sharing was warm and supportive, a bit more individualized attention during follow-up sessions could have helped solidify the transformative revelations. Despite these minor gaps, the overall journey was eye-opening and provided me with significant insights that continue to influence my path forward.

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pachamamas.child

I came to the retreat with high expectations, drawn by the promise of potent healing and transformative insights. There were indeed moments of raw emotional release that offered glimpses into parts of my inner self that I had long ignored. The natural setting and traditional rituals were undeniably powerful, creating an atmosphere charged with potential. However, as the ceremonies unfolded, I often felt that the follow-through was incomplete. The integration sessions seemed rushed and impersonal, leaving many of the profound revelations without sufficient context or support. I left with a mix of striking insights and lingering questions, uncertain if the transformative power of the medicine had been fully harnessed. For those who are self-directed and able to bridge their own gaps, there may be hidden value—but for me, the journey felt like a series of potent sparks that never quite ignited into lasting change.

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