Atmosphere

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

Mahanse Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Retreats near Barcelona, Spain

Mahanse Retreats is a Barcelona-area organizer led by ceremony guide Fransie Garcia that runs four-day retreats with three ayahuasca (“yagé”) ceremonies at an unnamed Catalan farmhouse about an hour from Barcelona, for up to ten guests at €900 shared or €1,300 private, per its Retreat Guru page. BookRetreats shows 4.96 from 35 reviews praising the team’s care, music and food. Against that, it has no website or legal entity, the venue’s town is not disclosed, no contraindications, medical staff or emergency plan are published, its reviews arrive in same-day batches, and its team previously ran retreats as another brand.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A renovated farmhouse (masía) in nature in Catalonia, about one to one and a half hours from Barcelona airport; the listed address is in Barcelona city, not the venue.
• Approach: Three night ceremonies with live music, rapé, sananga, breathwork, movement and a one-to-one integration session, with optional kambo at extra cost.
• Suitable For: Travelers wanting a short, music-led retreat near Barcelona who can screen themselves. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: €900 shared or €1,300 private for four days, or €600 for two nights, per its program page; BookRetreats lists US$1,219 to US$2,065 with the balance paid on arrival. Kambo, massage and transfers are extra. Retreat Guru refunds full payment until 30 days before, while BookRetreats says the day before.
• Overall Assessment: Well-reviewed small retreats near a major city, offset by an undisclosed venue, no published medical safeguards, review patterns that need caution and an unexplained split from its earlier brand. Directory evaluation: C-.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

BookRetreats shows 4.96 from 35 reviews on its main listing, with all ten visible reviews dated 25 October 2026, and 5.00 from 15 on a second listing posted in two July 2026 batches, two nearly identical. Retreat Guru shows one review. Guests praise the team’s care, the music and the food. No reviews of 3 stars or lower were found. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English, Spanish and Catalan-language news for reports involving Mahanse Retreats, Fransie Garcia, Raúl González and Marcelo.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: None found.
• Legal action: None found.

Some facilitators give first names only, which limits this search.

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

🔍 Critical Notes

Who runs it. Fransie Garcia describes himself as the main ceremony guide and “guardian of the yagé”, with several plant dietas and many years of retreats, per his teacher profile; an earlier, undated profile at Master Plan Retreat said he began the path about two years earlier (both unverified). Raúl González offers Reiki and sound healing and Marcelo bodywork and Theta Healing; the “therapist” for integration sessions is unnamed. No company or tax number is named.

Earlier brand. The same core team appears in Master Plan Retreat’s 2025 reviews and teacher pages, and Fransie was also listed by Holistika Center. Both Mahanse and Master Plan remain live, so Mahanse appears to be a 2026 spin-off rather than a rebrand (unverified).

Screening and medical support. A “personal screening process” is mentioned, but no medical questionnaire, contraindication list, medical staff or emergency protocol is published, including for kambo. Because the venue’s town is not disclosed, the nearest hospital is unknown.

Listings. Group size is given as up to ten, up to 12 and six to ten, BookRetreats tells guests to fly to Málaga, one Retreat Guru event is titled “in Málaga”, and amenity tags show a spa and sauna the text does not describe.

Status. Operating, with retreats listed for 26 to 29 November and 10 to 13 December 2026; the earliest Mahanse retreat found was in February 2026.

Legal context. The legal status of ayahuasca in Spain is uncertain while DMT is controlled, per ICEERS, and police raided an unrelated ceremony in Barcelona province in 2022, per The Olive Press.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

With no published contraindication list or medical staff, guests must screen themselves. 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

Ayahuasca (yagé) served by Fransie Garcia; its source is not published. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf such as chacruna, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: Mediterranean countryside with vineyards and olive trees, per a guest.
• Rooms: Twin rooms for two or private doubles with air conditioning; a pool is listed.
• Style: Spanish-led yagé ceremonies with live music and modern wellness practices.

Practical guidance: Fly to Barcelona (BCN); transfers are not included, and the team arranges car-sharing through a group chat.

Should You Book?

Possibly, with care. Ask in writing for the venue’s town, the screening questions and contraindication list, who on site is trained in first aid, the emergency plan and nearest hospital, the integration therapist’s name and credentials, the refund terms that apply, and the legal entity you are paying. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Mahanse presents itself as a small, music-centered ceremony team. 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 session and group call, 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 listed on Retreat Guru and BookRetreats. 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.