Sacred Plant Medicine and Introspection Retreat
Atmosphere
Features
Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Sacred Plant Medicine and Introspection Retreat submits its own information.
Sacred Plant Medicine and Introspection Retreat: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Retreats in Acapulco, Mexico
Sacred Plant Medicine and Introspection Retreat was a one-off ayahuasca retreat listed in Acapulco, Mexico, with two ceremonies over four days for $900 to $1,400, led by facilitators German Virguez of Venezuela and Lupita Castro of Mexico, according to its AyaAdvisors listing; the couple, who also perform as the medicine music duo Ayahuapu, now run retreats as Kawsay Vida in Valle de Bravo, Mexico and near Cusco, Peru, per their website. Against that, no Acapulco venue was found, no screening, medical staff, prices or refund terms are published for their current retreats, and no reviews exist anywhere.
🎯 At a Glance
- Locations: Acapulco, Guerrero, per the listing only; the couple’s current retreats are at Espacio Khungi in Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico, and in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.
- Approach: Two ayahuasca ceremonies with group integration in the listed event; current retreats of 4 to 7 days with two or three ceremonies, Tibetan yoga and meditation, and vegetarian meals.
- Suitable For: Adults interested in the couple’s current retreats, after confirming screening and medical support in writing. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
- Costs: $900 to $1,400 for the listed event (unverified); no prices, deposit or refund terms are published for current retreats.
- Overall Assessment: Named, long-practicing facilitators with current retreat dates, offset by an unconfirmed Acapulco location, no published safety information and no independent reviews. Directory evaluation: C-.
💬 What Guests Are Saying
No reviews exist on AyaAdvisors, Retreat Guru, BookRetreats, Tripadvisor, Google or any other platform searched. 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 this retreat, German Virguez, Lupita Castro, Ayahuapu and Kawsay Vida.
- Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
- Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
- Theft and fraud: None found.
- Legal action: None found.
If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.
🔍 Critical Notes
Who runs it. German Virguez and Lupita Castro, a married couple, say they began working with plant medicines in 2007 with teachers in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico, without naming them, per their about page and Retreat Guru profile. No company was found.
Screening and medical support. No medical questionnaire, contraindication list, medical staff or emergency protocol is published for the listed event or the current retreats, and no hospital distance can be given for Acapulco without a venue.
Status. No activity in Acapulco was found, and the listing’s only date clue is a 2019 image. The couple list retreats in Valle de Bravo for December 2026 and February 2027 and near Cusco for March 2027. This is not a formal rebrand, since no Acapulco center appears to have existed.
Legal context. Ayahuasca is not named in Mexico’s drug schedules, but DMT is, and authorities arrested eight people and seized 161 kilograms of ayahuasca in 2022, per Wikipedia.
Corrections to our earlier profile. Our earlier page said the retreat was potentially closed and being monitored for rebranding; it was a listed event rather than a center, and its facilitators now run Kawsay Vida. The Acapulco location matches the listing only. The 900 price matches the low end of the listing. Our earlier grade was C; the grade is now C-.
🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks
No contraindications are published. 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 of undisclosed recipe and source. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf such as chacruna, as Erowid explains.
📍 Location, Setting & Style
- Setting: Acapulco’s Pacific coast for the listed event; mountain forest at Valle de Bravo for current retreats.
- Rooms: No information.
- Style: Ceremonies built around live medicine music, with Tibetan meditation and yoga.
Practical guidance: Valle de Bravo is about two hours west of Mexico City.
Should You Book?
Not under this name. For Kawsay Vida, ask in writing for prices, refund terms, screening and the emergency plan before paying. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.
The Team & Story
The couple say they have facilitated since 2007, and their duo has performed at medicine music festivals. 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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Named, long-practicing facilitators | No Acapulco venue found |
| Current dated retreats | No screening, medical staff or emergency plan |
| Small, music-centered ceremonies | No prices or refund terms published |
| No incidents found | No reviews on any platform |
Book Your Ceremony
No dates are listed in Acapulco. 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.