Oka Center Ibogaine
Atmosphere
Features
Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Oka Center Ibogaine submits its own information.
Oka Center Ibogaine: An In-Depth Review for Ibogaine Retreats in Yucatán, Mexico
Oka Center Ibogaine is an ibogaine and iboga retreat at a 19th-century hacienda in Yucatán state, Mexico, run by founder David “Okukwe” Stetson and program director Robert “Bovenga” Payne, both of whom describe Bwiti initiations in Gabon, according to their Retreat Guru page. The operator advertises seven to 14-day flood-dose ibogaine programs with en-suite rooms and Mérida airport pickup for $2,500 to $8,000, and a 2017 article by Stetson says it also worked with ayahuasca, kambo and 5-MeO-DMT. It rates 5.0 from three reviews on each of Retreat Guru and AyaAdvisors. Against that, Payne pleaded guilty in 2012 to federal possession charges after a 2011 DEA ibogaine sting in Seattle, no doctor, nurse, cardiac screening or emergency protocol is named for a drug with known cardiac risks, no legal entity or address was found, and no dated activity was found after 2017.
🎯 At a Glance
- Locations: A hacienda in Yucatán state, Mexico, with pickup at Mérida airport, per Payne’s Retreat Guru bio. No town or address is published.
- Approach: Flood-dose ibogaine HCl or total alkaloid extract, optional iboga root bark, Bwiti-style music and prayers, and excursions to cenotes and ruins.
- Suitable For: No one until the operator names its medical staff and publishes cardiac screening and an emergency plan. Not suitable for anyone with heart conditions, liver disease or a prolonged QT interval, or taking interacting medications.
- Costs: $2,500 to $8,000 for seven to 14 days, per its AyaAdvisors listing from about 2017. No deposit or refund policy is published.
- Overall Assessment: A small, likely dormant ibogaine provider with a program director’s federal drug conviction, unverifiable medical claims for flood doses and a tiny review base. Directory evaluation: C-.
💬 What Guests Are Saying
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retreat Guru | 5.0 / 5 | 3 | June 2016 to January 2017 |
| AyaAdvisors | 5.0 / 5 | 3 | January to February 2017; one by a volunteer |
The positive picture. Reviewers describe caring staff, strong visions, the ceremony music, the isolated hacienda and day trips, and our earlier profile cited guests describing a clean slate from cravings. Unverified.
The negative feedback. None found beyond the Yucatán heat.
Who is writing the reviews. Only six reviews exist, all from 2016 and 2017, two Retreat Guru pages share the same ones, and one AyaAdvisors reviewer was a volunteer. 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 Oka Center, David Stetson and Robert Payne.
- Deaths and serious injuries: None found involving this center.
- Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
- Theft and fraud: None found.
- Legal action: In March 2011 Robert Payne was arrested in a DEA ibogaine-treatment sting in Seattle; in November 2012 he and his co-defendants pleaded guilty to federal misdemeanor possession and were later sentenced to 45 days of house arrest, as KOMO News and the Village Voice reported. His own bio discloses the case.
A patient died at a different ibogaine clinic in Cancún in 2022, as Rolling Stone reported; that case does not involve Oka. Our earlier profile found no incidents.
If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.
🔍 Critical Notes
Screening and medical support. The operator says nurses are present and vital signs are monitored, and Stetson has written that medical prescreening and supervision are “of utmost importance,” but no medical staff are named and no ECG, liver test, QT monitoring, contraindication list, resuscitation equipment or nearest hospital is published. Neither founder lists medical credentials.
Who runs it. Stetson says he was initiated into Bwiti in Gabon in 2007; Payne claims “nearly 1000 safe iboga ceremonies” and has run Oka’s program since 2009, including years in Costa Rica. No Mexican company, tax number (RFC) or health-authority (COFEPRIS) record was found.
Legal context. Ibogaine is unregulated in Mexico, with no licensing pathway, while DMT and psilocybin are controlled substances, according to Blossom.
Corrections to our earlier profile. No current activity was found: reviews stop in early 2017 and no events are listed. The “medically supervised” claim is the operator’s own, with no named staff. Ayahuasca, kambo and 5-MeO-DMT were also offered per a 2017 article. Flood doses of ibogaine HCl or extract, Bwiti-influenced ceremonies, airport pickup, private rooms, seven to 14-day programs at $2,500 to $8,000 and limited third-party reviews are confirmed from the operator’s listings.
🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks
Ibogaine can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems; at least 33 deaths had been publicly reported by 2021, according to a study cited by Rolling Stone. Any ibogaine program should require an ECG, liver tests and a full medication review with cardiac monitoring on site. Never stop a medication to qualify without your prescriber’s guidance.
🧪 Brew Substance
Ibogaine is the main alkaloid of the Tabernanthe iboga root bark used in Bwiti ceremonies in Gabon; Oka offered purified ibogaine HCl, a total alkaloid extract or root bark, per its listings.
📍 Location, Setting & Style
- Setting: An isolated colonial hacienda in hot, lowland Yucatán.
- Rooms: Private en-suite rooms with air conditioning.
- Style: Bwiti-inspired ibogaine ceremonies with live music and day trips.
Practical guidance: Fly to Mérida; airport pickup was offered.
Should You Book?
No, unless the operator confirms it is running and puts the names and licenses of its medical staff, its cardiac screening, monitoring equipment and hospital plan in writing. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.
The Team & Story
Stetson describes three trips to Gabon and playing the mougongo; Payne describes working with ibogaine treatment providers in the US before moving into Mexico and Costa Rica. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.
Prep & Integration Tips
Before you go anywhere similar: Get an ECG and liver panel, disclose every medication and condition in writing and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: Arrange support from a qualified therapist or addiction specialist at home. Our guide on how to research ayahuasca incidents can help you check any center.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable hacienda setting | Program director’s federal drug conviction |
| Experienced Bwiti practitioners | No named medical staff or cardiac protocol |
| No incidents found | No legal entity or address |
| No activity found since 2017 |
Book Your Ceremony
No current programs are listed on its Retreat Guru page. 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.