Nada Brahma Healing Center Ayahuasca Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Sessions in Costa Rica

Nada Brahma Healing Center is a small, intimate ayahuasca retreat in the mountains of Alajuela, Costa Rica, founded and led by Carlos (spiritual guide) and Fanny (holistic health coach). Operating for several years with groups limited to 4-8 guests, the center emphasizes total disconnection from the outside world — phones, watches, books, and devices are surrendered on arrival. The retreat includes ayahuasca, kambo, temazcal, rapé, and optional San Pedro or yopo ceremonies, with all meals, airport transportation from SJO, and integration support included. Reviews are sharply divided: Google reviews are overwhelmingly positive (4.8/5 stars, 48+ reviews), while Aya Advisors (not a verifiable source) shows a 2.5/5 rating with serious complaints about the facilitator’s conduct and living conditions. No verified safety incidents have been reported, but the mixed feedback and lack of currently scheduled retreat dates warrant caution.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A private property in the mountains near Alajuela, Costa Rica, featuring cloud forest, a private waterfall, and panoramic mountain views. Approximately 1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport (SJO).
• Approach: Carlos serves as the sole spiritual guide and ceremony facilitator, choosing which plant medicines to administer based on the group’s energy and individual needs. Fanny provides holistic health coaching, nutritional guidance, and aromatherapy. All electronics are confiscated for the duration. Retreats run 7-8 days.
• Suitable For: Experienced seekers comfortable with a spartan, deeply immersive environment and strict facilitator-led structure. Not ideal for first-timers who need flexibility, structured daily activities, or yoga/meditation programming.
• Costs: Starting from approximately $1,250 (per Aya Advisors listing). Previously reported at approximately $2,200 for a 7-day retreat. A $1,500 deposit is required to hold a spot. Contact the center directly for current pricing.
• Overall Assessment: High praise for Carlos and Fanny’s personal warmth and the stunning natural setting, offset by notable negative reviews alleging ego-driven facilitation, bed bug issues, insufficient food, and rigid rules. The scheduled retreats page currently shows “No data was found,” raising questions about active operations. Directory evaluation: B (strong positives tempered by concerning patterns in recent negative reviews and unclear current scheduling).

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Across Google, Trustindex, and the center’s own testimonials page, the majority of guests describe Nada Brahma as a profoundly transformative experience. Recurring themes include deep emotional healing, the intimate family-like atmosphere created by small group sizes, and Carlos’s spiritual insight during ceremonies. Multiple guests report returning for second or third visits, and several describe the retreat as life-changing. The food, prepared with care, receives consistent praise, and the mountain setting is described as stunning and conducive to introspection. One reviewer on Trustindex noted their 2025 visit was their second, calling it an experience they would recommend unconditionally.

However, Aya Advisors paints a starkly different picture with a 2.5/5 rating across 4 reviews (50% one-star). One detailed 2023 review from a return visitor describes a dramatic decline in quality after staff changes — reporting that Carlos became confrontational with guests, food was insufficient with guests going hungry, bed bugs infested the rooms with no remediation offered, and previously available activities (hot springs visit, workshops) were eliminated. Another reviewer noted the extreme boredom between ceremonies with almost no structured activities, and that if guests requested their phone, the only option was to leave. A separate review states the reviewer would “absolutely not recommend” the center, describing Carlos as self-centered in his role as guide.

The contrast between the Google reviews (overwhelmingly 5-star) and Aya Advisors reviews (majority negative) is notable and suggests experiences may vary significantly depending on timing, group dynamics, and expectations. Earlier reviews (2018-2021) consistently mention Jessica and Harold as beloved staff members; their apparent departure coincides with the negative feedback.

We encourage sharing your perspective through our submission form to maintain current insights.

🚩 Incident Report

Following a thorough review of online sources including Reddit subreddits like r/Ayahuasca, r/Psychonaut, and r/WellnessHive, 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 Nada Brahma Healing Center have been identified.

• Theft: No reports of stolen belongings or valuables at Nada Brahma appear in any public forums, ICEERS data, or news sources.
• Sexual Misconduct: No complaints, allegations, or legal actions involving Nada Brahma staff or facilitators have been documented across Reddit, Facebook, news databases, or ICEERS resources.
• Crime: No arrests, police involvement, or violent incidents linked to Nada Brahma appear in Google News, Costa Rican media, retreat forums, or ICEERS documentation.

While no safety incidents have been verified, the Aya Advisors reviews raise quality-of-care concerns: reports of bed bug infestations without remediation, insufficient food during fasting periods, and confrontational behavior from the lead facilitator toward guests. These are not criminal incidents but represent meaningful welfare concerns for prospective guests. A Reddit post from 2022 noted the high cost relative to comparable Peruvian retreats but raised no safety issues.

New update as of March 2026: No new safety incidents have surfaced. The retreat’s scheduled retreats page currently displays “No data was found,” and no upcoming 2026 dates are publicly listed. Facebook activity is minimal (301 followers, last post January 2026). Prospective guests should confirm the center is actively operating before booking.

🔍 Critical Notes

Nada Brahma’s strongest asset is the deep personal connection many guests report with Carlos and Fanny. The small group format (4-8 people) allows genuinely individualized attention, and the enforced technology detox, while polarizing, creates an immersive environment that many guests credit with breakthrough experiences. The mountain setting near Alajuela provides natural beauty and privacy. Carlos’s background as a Costa Rican engineer who transitioned to plant medicine work gives him a unique perspective, and Fanny’s certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York adds a professional health dimension. Multiple plant medicines are incorporated (ayahuasca, kambo, rapé, temazcal, and sometimes San Pedro or yopo), with Carlos choosing the protocol based on the group’s needs.

The concerns are worth careful consideration. The stark divide in reviews — near-perfect on Google versus harsh on Aya Advisors — could reflect different audience expectations, but the detailed negative accounts are specific enough to warrant attention. The departure of previously beloved staff members Jessica and Harold, mentioned across multiple reviews, appears to coincide with a shift in the retreat experience. The strict no-phone policy, while philosophically consistent with the retreat’s approach, becomes problematic when combined with reports of guests feeling unable to leave. Additionally, the fasting protocol (24-hour fasts on ceremony days) combined with reports of insufficient food during non-fasting periods is a nutritional concern.

Costa Rica permits plant medicine use in wellness settings with variable oversight, providing no formal regulatory framework for ayahuasca retreats. Direct communication with the center about current protocols, food arrangements, and accommodation conditions is strongly advised before booking.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Nada Brahma requires prospective guests to complete an application form that covers medical history before acceptance. A $1,500 deposit is required after the application is reviewed. Guests are asked to follow dietary restrictions for at least 7 days prior to the retreat, and last-minute reservations require at minimum one week’s notice to implement the dietary protocol. Post-retreat, the center offers 1-2 additional private integration sessions at no additional charge, scheduled approximately one month after the retreat.

The enforced technology disconnection and intense ceremonial schedule (2-3 ayahuasca ceremonies, plus kambo and other plant medicines over 7 days) represent a significant psychological commitment. The lack of structured activities between ceremonies — noted by multiple reviewers — means guests spend extended periods in solitude with limited outlets for processing difficult emotions outside of formal ceremony and integration sessions. For individuals managing active mental health conditions, the combination of psychedelic intensity, isolation from communication tools, and limited activity structure could amplify distress. Consultation with a healthcare provider is essential prior to participation.

🧪 Brew Substance

Nada Brahma works with traditional ayahuasca alongside multiple supplementary plant medicines. Carlos serves as the sole ceremony facilitator and determines which medicines are used based on the group’s energy and individual needs. The standard retreat includes 2-3 ayahuasca ceremonies (with a third optional based on the guest’s condition), one kambo ceremony, a temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony, and rapé (sacred Amazonian tobacco). Additional medicines such as yopo and huachuma (San Pedro) may be incorporated at Carlos’s discretion. The center also offers separate holistic detox retreats that do not include ayahuasca.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Costa Rica: Located in the mountains near Alajuela, approximately 1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport (SJO). The property sits in a cloud forest setting with panoramic mountain views and a private waterfall accessible by nature walks.
• Setting: A small, family-run property with simple accommodations (private rooms available), a main ceremony space, and surrounding natural areas including a private forest reserve. Facilities are modest rather than luxury — this is a healing center, not a resort.
• Style: Retreats are deeply immersive and stripped-down. All technology, books, watches, and outside distractions are surrendered upon arrival. Days alternate between ceremony nights and rest/activity days. Activities include visits to the private forest reserve, waterfall hikes, and temazcal. Meals are organic and vegan, prepared on-site. The week concludes with a departure shuttle back to SJO airport.

Practical guidance: Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. The center provides private shuttle transportation to and from SJO, included in the retreat price. Guests gather at 2:00 PM on Day 1 for pickup. Plan to arrive in Costa Rica the day before if your flight lands in the afternoon or evening.

Should You Book?

Nada Brahma is best suited for experienced seekers who thrive in minimal-structure, deeply immersive environments and are comfortable surrendering control to a single facilitator’s judgment. The small group size and beautiful mountain setting are genuine assets. However, if you need structured daily programming, yoga or meditation sessions, flexibility with electronics, or extensive food options, this retreat will likely frustrate you. The conflicting review profiles demand that you contact the center directly, ask detailed questions about current operations and staffing, and verify that upcoming dates are scheduled before committing your deposit. The absence of publicly listed 2026 retreat dates is the most immediate concern.

The Team & Story

Carlos, the center’s spiritual guide and ceremony facilitator, is a Costa Rican-born engineer who left his career after a transformative encounter with an indigenous medicine woman. He has facilitated plant medicine ceremonies for hundreds of guests over multiple years. Fanny, the holistic health coach, brings over 16 years of experience in integrative nutrition and wellness. She graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York and is described as one of the first certified Holistic Health Coaches in Costa Rica. Her role focuses on personalized nutritional guidance, aromatherapy, and holistic support throughout the retreat. Earlier reviews also mention staff members Jessica (who managed food and logistics) and Harold (ceremony assistant), though more recent reviews indicate they are no longer with the center.

Prep & Integration Tips

Prior to your retreat: Follow the MAOI-compatible diet sent by the center for at least 7 days before arrival — avoid aged cheeses, fermented foods, alcohol, caffeine, and certain medications (SSRIs are particularly dangerous). Disclose all medications and health conditions completely on the application form. Pack comfortable, simple clothing (white or light colors recommended for ceremonies), a notebook for post-ceremony reflections (though it will be held until after ceremonies), and insect repellent. After your retreat: The center offers 1-2 free integration sessions approximately one month post-retreat. Maintain the dietary principles as long as practical, journal your experiences, and consider working with an integration therapist at home. Allow yourself a gentle re-entry into daily life — avoid scheduling demanding commitments for the first week after returning.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Bookings are managed through Nada Brahma’s website at nadabrahmahealingcenter.com; however, the scheduled retreats page currently shows no upcoming dates. Contact the center directly via email (nadabrahmahealingcenter@gmail.com), WhatsApp (+506 8864 3241 Costa Rica / +1 754 816 7553 USA), or through their website contact form. Retreats include all ceremonies, meals, lodging, airport transportation, and integration support.