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Iboga Wellness Center: An In-Depth Review for Sessions in Costa Rica

If you are considering iboga in Costa Rica, Iboga Wellness Center has operated as a Bwiti-informed psycho-spiritual retreat in the Southern zone of Costa Rica for more than a decade. The center is led by Levi Barker, who trained with Gabonese Bwiti elders and has worked with iboga for 15 plus years. The property is small and private, roughly 3.5 to 6 acres depending on source, with lush gardens and wildlife that guests cite as part of the healing container. The center has historically run 8 day retreats focused on deep introspection and Bwiti ceremonial traditions. In 2024 the center published a notice that operations in Costa Rica are paused due to an unrelated incident at another iboga provider, and they now offer limited retreats or offsite events internationally. Public pages remain active and regularly updated with blog posts and podcasts.

🎯 At a Glance

• Location: Southern zone, Costa Rica (Perez Zeledon / San Isidro area referenced in listings). Exact meeting details provided after booking.
• Approach: Bwiti tradition informed iboga ceremonies, psycho spiritual focus, breathwork, meditation, and integration support.
• Suitable For: People seeking a Bwiti framed psycho spiritual journey rather than a medicalized detox program.
• Costs: Historically mid to high range for Costa Rica iboga retreats. Public program pricing varies by year and package; request a written quote.
• Overall Assessment: Deep ceremonial experience in a lush setting with an experienced Bwiti trained provider. Operations paused in Costa Rica since 2024 while the team offers limited offsite or private events. Directory evaluation: B (strong tradition and care, transparency limited by pause).

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Guests frequently describe iboga as a “soul reset,” reporting clarity around trauma and renewed purpose. One Retreat Guru reviewer called their experience clarifying and life changing. Retreat Guru is a commercial review site where centers pay to play. Testimonials highlight Levi and the team’s warmth and presence, noting the staff created a safe setting for intense ceremony. Posts on the center site and interviews with Levi reinforce his long practice and training under Gabonese elders. Guests praise gardens, wildlife, and nearby waterfalls as integral to integration and surrender. Guest feedback on ayaadvisors and retreat directories echoes this. Ayaadvisors is a commercial review site where centers pay to play. We encourage sharing your recent experience through our submission form to help keep public records current.

🚩 Incident Report

Following a thorough review of online sources including Reddit subreddits like r/Ayahuasca and r/Psychonaut, Quora threads, Facebook groups such as Psychedelic Healing and Ayahuasca Experiences, news outlets, retreat discussion boards, ICEERS safety reports, and public records, no confirmed cases of theft, sexual misconduct, or criminal activity directly connected to Iboga Wellness Center retreats in Costa Rica have emerged.

• Theft: Public forums, ICEERS data, and news searches reveal no accounts of stolen belongings or valuables at Iboga Wellness Center plant medicine ceremonies.
• Sexual Misconduct: Searches across Reddit, Facebook, news databases, and ICEERS show no complaints, allegations, or legal issues involving Iboga Wellness Center staff or guides in iboga sessions.
• Crime: No arrests, police involvement, or violence linked to Iboga Wellness Center appears in Google News, Costa Rican media, retreat forums, or ICEERS documentation.

That said, general iboga discussions on Reddit from 2024 highlight emotional challenges in retreats, but no unverified stories tie to Iboga Wellness Center. The center’s reputation remains clean, with positive but dated testimonials and ICEERS-aligned hazards like cardiac strain in unregulated settings. No publicly available reports of incidents exist; searches returned no confirmed events.

🔍 Critical Notes

Iboga Wellness Center’s iboga programs in Costa Rica seek to provide meaningful transformation through Bwiti frameworks and supportive integration. Positive aspects include meditation practices that assist in applying insights to daily life. However, considerations include iboga potency posing cardiac risks, and group sizes varying possibly limiting attention during peaks. Regulatory contexts: Costa Rica operates in gray area with iboga not explicitly legal yet sessions persisting. Direct confirmation of protocols is advisable, given sparse reviews.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

For Iboga Wellness Center iboga retreats in Costa Rica, screening lacks public details. Preparation encompasses readiness, complemented by post-session discussions. Reports indicate variability in rigor from broader iboga contexts. Research suggests challenges like cardiac risks, particularly without groundwork. For addiction, benefits may include reset, yet avoidance recommended for heart conditions due to risks. Consultation with a healthcare provider is essential prior to engaging in iboga sessions in Costa Rica; no specific screening updates found.

🧪 Brew Substance

Iboga Wellness Center employs iboga root bark and total alkaloid extracts for psycho-spiritual retreats. Participants report profound effects. Supplementary elements like music aid healing. Those expecting mild potency may find it intense, so alignment with preferences is key for plant medicine engagements in Costa Rica. No changes noted in 2025.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Costa Rica: Southern zone, mountain and jungle setting near Perez Zeledon or San Isidro. Property size listed variably from 3.5 to 6 acres across directories and the center’s descriptions. Exact coordinates and meeting logistics are provided after booking.
• Style: Bwiti tradition, small group or private format when active, integration focused with nature immersion. Ceremonial elements, fire talks, and community sharing are emphasized.

Practical guidance: Fly to SJO. Confirm transfer logistics and on site cooling for climate. Ask for packing list and written safety plan before travel.

Should You Book?

If Bwiti lineage, deep ceremonial work, and an intimate jungle container are your priorities, Iboga Wellness Center remains a historically strong option. Given the pause for Costa Rica operations and national safety scrutiny, only book after receiving written confirmation of current staffing, on site medical capabilities, screening criteria, and an emergency plan. If you require medicalized detox or a published clinician roster, consider alternatives.

The Team & Story

Iboga Wellness Center is led publicly by Levi Barker who presents training with Gabonese Bwiti elders. The center has produced interviews and podcasts documenting Levi’s training and approach. The center describes itself as a longtime Bwiti based psycho spiritual provider in the Western hemisphere. They report over a decade of operation and a long history of participant work.

Prep & Integration Tips

Full medication disclosure and physician clearance are essential. Request ECG with QTc, electrolytes, and written exclusion criteria. Plan at least 4 to 8 weeks of integration with therapy or coaching. Bring comfortable clothing, journal, and a sober support contact post-retreat.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Contact Iboga Wellness Center directly via ibogawellness.com to request dates, written screening criteria, and medical protocol documents. Confirm whether a current offering is in Costa Rica or an offsite/international format. Retreat Guru and directory listings exist but are commercial platforms where centers may pay to list.