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

El Retiro: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Retreats in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

El Retiro is a small ayahuasca retreat in a private villa with a pool in Las Terrenas, on the Samaná peninsula of the Dominican Republic, 30 to 45 minutes from Samaná El Catey airport. It is run by co-founder Nelson Pereira, who says he has served plant medicine ceremonies since 2013 and hosted retreats since 2015, and yoga teacher and Reiki Master Alina Toporischeva. Retreats of two, four or six days include one to three ayahuasca ceremonies with rapé, sananga, cacao and optional kambo, for up to six guests, at $350 to $2,700. Guests rate it 4.92 from 49 reviews on BookRetreats. Against that, no shaman, lineage or medical staff is named, no contraindication list or emergency plan is published, kambo is offered with no named practitioner, the refund terms differ on each booking site, and the Dominican Republic has no provision allowing ayahuasca. No legal entity was found. We found no incidents.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A private villa in the Parque area of Las Terrenas, Samaná, with the address sent after registration, according to its Retreat Guru page.
• Approach: Ayahuasca ceremonies led by Nelson Pereira, with rapé, sananga, cacao, a sadhu board, daily yoga, meditation, breathwork and integration circles; kambo is offered to “eligible participants.”
• Suitable For: Adults wanting a small, comfortable, yoga-focused ceremony retreat in the Caribbean who accept that no shaman or medical staff is named. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: $350 for two days; $1,100 shared to $1,450 private for four days; $1,450 shared to $1,900 private for six days, according to its booking page. Retreat Guru refunds deposits until a day before; BookRetreats lists non-refundable or tiered deposits. Transfers and kambo cost extra.
• Overall Assessment: Warm reviews, small groups, published prices and a required health screening, offset by no named shaman, lineage or medical staff, no emergency plan, kambo without stated credentials, conflicting refund terms and an unclear legal position. Directory evaluation: B-.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

The positive picture. Reviewers praise the hosts’ warmth and personal attention, small groups, healthy vegetarian food, Alina’s yoga, the villa and its views, outings to beaches and a waterfall, and feeling safe, including as a solo woman; some have returned several times.

The negative feedback. A one-star Google review from May 2025 warns young women to “use caution” at remote retreats and says the location cannot be verified as secure; it describes no specific incident. Others call the ceremonies and debriefs very intense.

Who is writing the reviews. One January 2025 review begins with leftover chatbot wording (“Sure! Here’s a polished version…”), and every BookRetreats category scores a perfect 5.00. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English and Spanish-language news for reports involving El Retiro, Nelson Pereira and Alina Toporischeva.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found; one general warning review describes no incident.
• Theft and fraud: No complaints found.
• Legal action: No police action, raids or lawsuits found.

Our earlier profile also found no theft, sexual misconduct or crime.

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

🔍 Critical Notes

Who leads ceremonies. Nelson Pereira leads ceremonies; no shaman, curandero or tradition is named, and no one’s ayahuasca training is described.

Kambo. Kambo is offered after “individual screening,” but no practitioner or certification is named.

Refund terms. Retreat Guru says deposits are refundable until a day before the start; BookRetreats pages say deposits are non-refundable or refundable on a sliding scale from 30 days. Get the terms in writing.

Who runs it. No company registration (RNC) was found. The founder also sells a $597 online “RETIRO Method” mentorship.

Dominican Republic’s legal picture. Controlled substances fall under Law 50-88, according to the WTO legislation record, and DMT is controlled internationally. No provision permitting ayahuasca and no enforcement against retreats was found. Our earlier profile said the country permits plant medicine in wellness settings; we found no source for that.

Corrections to our earlier profile. Prices are public, from $350 to $2,700; our $285 sidebar figure and $500 to $1,500 estimate were wrong. The founders are named, and rapé, sananga, cacao and kambo are also served. We found no source for “pioneers,” shaman-led ceremonies, a brew recipe, silent days, pineal gland activation or “inner temple access”; those remain unverified.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

An application and health screening are required, with a private intake on medications and contraindications and a call before arrival, but no list of excluded medications or conditions is published. No medical staff are named and no emergency protocol is published. Las Terrenas has a private clinic; serious cases go to Santiago, about two hours away, according to Expat Exchange. 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

The center does not publish its recipe or source. Ayahuasca usually combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with chacruna leaves, which supply the DMT, as Erowid explains. Rapé (tobacco snuff), sananga eye drops, cacao and optional kambo are also used.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: A hillside tropical villa with a pool, garden and yoga deck, with mountain and sea views, near Las Terrenas town.
• Rooms: Shared or private air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi and housekeeping.
• Style: A yoga and wellness-oriented ceremony retreat for up to six guests, with private formats.

Practical guidance: Fly to Samaná El Catey, Santo Domingo or Punta Cana; a driver can be arranged for a fee. Meals are vegetarian, with no dinner on ceremony nights.

Should You Book?

It can suit guests who want a small, comfortable retreat, with care. Ask who trained the facilitator, who administers kambo and with what certification, which medications exclude you, what happens in an emergency, which refund terms apply and how the retreat views local law, and get the answers in writing. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Nelson Pereira describes himself as a retreat facilitator, author and mentor and says he has guided guests from 13 countries. Alina Toporischeva says she worked at an ashram in Thailand and teaches yoga, Kundalini and Reiki. 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: Use the integration support if helpful, and 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

Retreats are booked through Retreat Guru or BookRetreats, with dates through May 2027. Before paying, confirm the screening, emergency plan and refund terms in writing. Best Retreats does not take bookings; learn more about our mission.

Last reviewed October 2026.

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