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Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Ayahuasca Sydney submits its own information.

Ayahuasca Sydney: An In-Depth Review of an Ayahuasca Retreat Website in Sydney, Australia

Ayahuasca Sydney is an anonymous website advertising three to ten-day ayahuasca retreats with unnamed Shipibo shamans at a bush retreat outside Sydney, with private rooms and airport pickup for $1,000 to $3,000, per its booking page. The retreat property it names, Yanada Retreat in St Albans, New South Wales, publicly calls it “an overseas scam site that has stolen our details” and asks people to report it, per Yanada’s own notice. No operator, company or real address is shown, no deposit or refund terms exist, no screening or medical safeguards are described, and no evidence was found that any retreat has run. Treat this listing as a warning (unverified).

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: Claims a bush retreat in the Hawkesbury region about two hours from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; the property named says it has no connection to the site.
• Approach: Advertises ayahuasca ceremonies with unnamed Shipibo shamans, plus San Pedro, Bufo (5-MeO-DMT), peyote and rapé.
• Suitable For: No one. Do not send money or personal details. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: $1,000 for three days up to $3,000 for ten days, currency not named, including private rooms and pickup. No deposit, payment or refund terms are published.
• Overall Assessment: A probable scam site, by the account of the venue it names, with no identifiable operator, no safeguards and illegal substances on offer. Directory evaluation: F.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

No reviews were found on Tripadvisor, Retreat Guru or BookRetreats. The site’s only testimonial is described as a video but contains no video, its blog consists of unrelated template posts, and it displays logos of research and veterans’ groups with no stated connection. If you have dealt with this site, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and news for reports involving Ayahuasca Sydney, its domain and its contact details.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: The venue named on the site calls it an overseas scam using stolen details and images (unverified). The main risk is losing an advance payment and personal data entered in its booking form.
• Legal action: None found.

No people behind the site are named, so no individual could be searched.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.

🔍 Critical Notes

Who runs it. Unknown. The site shows no names, company, Australian Business Number or real address, only a messaging number and email. Its about page describes unnamed “indigenous Shipibo shamans from Peru”. The named venue, Yanada, is a wellbeing and corporate retreat property that does not mention ayahuasca on its own site.

Screening and medical support. The about page claims a pre-retreat medical screening, but the booking form asks only for a name, email, phone and dates. No contraindications, medical staff, emergency plan or hospital route are described, and the site promotes Bufo and peyote alongside ayahuasca.

Status. The site is live in November 2026 with dates listed into 2027; it appears to have been built in late 2025, and no evidence of a completed retreat was found.

Legal context. DMT is a prohibited Schedule 9 substance in Australia with no religious or therapeutic exemption, and supply in New South Wales can carry up to 15 years in prison, or life for large commercial quantities, as a Sydney criminal law firm explains.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Any genuine retreat should identify its facilitators and screen for medications in writing before taking payment. ICEERS notes that ayahuasca’s MAOI component makes it dangerous with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs and that it is contraindicated for people prone to psychosis. Never stop a psychiatric medication to qualify for a ceremony without your prescriber’s guidance.

🧪 Brew Substance

Advertised as ayahuasca brewed by Shipibo shamans; no source is given. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: Claims a bush retreat beside a national park north-west of Sydney.
• Rooms: Advertises private rooms, which contradicts its program pages.
• Style: A templated booking site with no verifiable team or history.

Practical guidance: If you have paid or shared personal details, contact your bank and report the site to Australia’s Scamwatch.

Should You Book?

No. The venue it names disowns it, and nothing identifies who would receive your money. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

The site presents itself as bringing Amazonian healing traditions to Sydney. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go: Disclose every medication and condition in writing and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: Arrange support from a qualified therapist at home. Our guide on how to research ayahuasca incidents can help you check any center.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

We do not recommend booking. Best Retreats does not take bookings; learn more about our mission.

Last reviewed November 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified medical professional.