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

Sacha Wasi: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Retreats near Puyo, Ecuador

Sacha Wasi is a Kichwa community near Puyo, Pastaza, on an island in the Puyo River reached by canoe, that hosts ayahuasca, psilocybin and San Pedro retreats with yachaks Jesus Dagua, Yusu Dagua, Byron Santi and Mama Marlene Guatatuca, according to its Retreat Guru page; the community has received tourists since about 2011, per El Oriente. Programs ran from $475 weekends to $975 to $1,895 weeks and dietas up to $7,500. Against that, its kambo page says kambo helps cancer, diabetes and HIV, no contraindications are published for ayahuasca, psilocybin or changa, its claimed jungle medical clinic is unverified, 2026 payments go to individuals’ personal bank, Zelle and crypto accounts with no legal entity, and no retreat is listed after February 2026.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: Vía Pomona km 9, Parroquia Tarqui, about 25 km from Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador, per its listing and an independent travel blog.
• Approach: Ayahuasca with Kichwa yachaks, psilocybin, San Pedro and changa, kambo, rapé and sananga, master plant dietas, cultural activities and yoga.
• Suitable For: Guests wanting a community-based Kichwa setting, after getting medical cover, contraindications and payment terms in writing. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: Weekend $475 to $749; seven days $975 to $1,895; 14 days $2,095; dietas $3,000 to $7,500; a 2026 yoga retreat $1,600, per its program pages. Refunds, stated only for kambo: full 30 or more days ahead, half at 15 to 29 days, none after.
• Overall Assessment: Kichwa healers in an authentic community setting, offset by unsupported medical claims, no published screening, opaque payments with no legal entity, disorganized listings and an uncertain status. Directory evaluation: C+.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

The positive picture. Reviewers praise the rustic, authentic setting, friendly Kichwa hosts, plentiful food, small groups, caring staff, waterfalls and dances.

The negative feedback. A three-star review describes a driver and a taxi demanding extra money, overpriced crafts, cards not accepted despite being advertised and most staff leaving after the second ceremony began. A four-star review says there was no translator for most of the stay, the lead facilitator was in hospital, integration was ineffective, schedules were wrong and a partial refund was disputed. Unverified.

Who is writing the reviews. Only five reviews are visible, mostly undated, on one platform. 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 Sacha Wasi, its yachaks, its claimed medical director and its past and current organizers.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found involving guests. Integration psychologist Dr. Scott Irwin died in Ecuador in July 2024 “following a longstanding illness,” as VICE reported; no source links his death to a ceremony.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: Single reviews allege overcharging and a refund dispute. Unverified.
• Legal action: None found.

Irwin was earlier a board member and minister at Soul Quest in Florida, which lost a wrongful-death case in 2024, as Filter reported; he was not a defendant, and that case does not involve Sacha Wasi. 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. One page requires a medical intake form after booking. No contraindication list is published for ayahuasca, psilocybin, San Pedro or changa; only the kambo page lists exclusions, and it claims kambo helps “Cancer,” “Diabetes,” “Hepatitis” and “HIV & AIDS.” A “Sacha Wasi Jungle Medical Clinic” with a medical director, Dr. Mayra Prado, is claimed but unverified, and a review mentions a Gerson protocol for guests with cancer. Puyo, with the nearest hospitals, is about 25 to 30 minutes away, and the island is reached by canoe.

Who runs it. The operator says the center is “100% owned and operated by the indigenous tribe.” Retreats were organized by Dr. Scott Irwin until 2024; by 2026 the contact is Mario Lemuria, a yoga teacher offering changa. The 2026 program takes payment by transfer to a team member’s personal Ecuadorian bank account, Zelle to another team member, or USDT cryptocurrency. No company, foundation or tax number (RUC) was found.

Status. The latest dated program ran February 4 to 9, 2026, Retreat Guru shows no upcoming retreats, and a 2024 fundraiser said guest numbers fell sharply after Irwin’s death. No closure has been announced.

Legal context. Ecuador protects Indigenous ancestral medicine under its constitution, and Constitutional Court rulings limit drug-law enforcement against traditional practice, per a 2025 legal review. Psilocybin, San Pedro and changa are not traditional Kichwa medicines, so that protection is weaker for them.

Corrections to our earlier profile. Weekends cost $475 to $749, not $499; no source shows $1,595 for ten days or our $1,195 price. Dr. Scott Irwin was the retreat organizer and integration psychologist, not a volunteer, and died of a longstanding illness. Indigenous ownership is the operator’s own claim. A 2024 review of a 12-year nasal wound healing, Reddit testimonials, a two-week MAOI diet excluding aged cheese and caffeine, an eye covering on the packing list and the 55% figure for difficult experiences remain unverified. The Puyo location, Kichwa yachaks Jesus and Yusu, rainforest ceremonies, ayahuasca with psilocybin or San Pedro, bamboo casitas, river access, groups of up to ten, cultural dances and crafts, Quito transfers on some packages and the on-site clinic claim are confirmed.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

No contraindications are published for the main medicines. 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. Do not combine ayahuasca with psilocybin or changa without clear medical guidance. Never stop a psychiatric medication to qualify for a ceremony without your prescriber’s guidance.

🧪 Brew Substance

Ayahuasca served by the Kichwa yachaks; the recipe is not published. Ayahuasca typically combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf, as Erowid explains. Psilocybin, San Pedro, changa (smoked DMT), kambo, rapé, sananga, guanto and mapacho are also offered.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: A Kichwa community on a river island in the rainforest near Puyo.
• Rooms: Private or shared bamboo casitas; power and hot water depend on rainfall, and the center says it is “not a spa.”
• Style: Kichwa ceremony and culture mixed with yoga, kirtan and Western add-ons.

Practical guidance: Quito airport is several hours away by road; most packages exclude the transfer, so agree any driver’s price in advance.

Should You Book?

Only after confirming current dates, the medical staff, contraindications, refund terms and a payment method to a named entity in writing. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Jesus Dagua is described as the tribal president, Yusu Dagua as a yachak of 25 years, and Mama Marlene Guatatuca as an elder and community midwife. A “Tribal Learning Center” opened around 2022. 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: 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

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Last reviewed November 2026.

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