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The Source of Peace & Happiness Ayahuasca Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Sessions in Portugal

If you’re thinking about ayahuasca in Portugal, The Source of Peace & Happiness has been running retreats in Aljezur, Algarve, offering plant medicine sessions on a 5-hectare mountain-forest campsite. The center guides participants with a mix of meditation, yoga, horse therapy, sound healing, and ayahuasca to spark self-understanding, rest, and joy. You can expect week-long retreats with one ceremony, daily activities like Vijnana yoga and Louise Hay meditations, and organic detox meals, priced as donations or bookings through their site. It’s worth noting the serene off-grid setup with tipi or cabin lodging and the unique hybrid format connecting global participants via Zoom, with positive but limited guest feedback for profound clarity, though some mention basic facilities and the presence of animals like dogs and horses as a consideration, without major safety issues reported as of August 2025.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A mini nature campsite on 5 hectares of mountain-forest in Aljezur, Algarve, Portugal, 10 minutes from the ocean and village, with horses, dogs, and natural surroundings for immersive healing.
• Approach: Holistic and mindful, using ayahuasca in a single ceremony with small groups (3-8 participants) and additions like Louise Hay healing, Yoga Nidra, Vijnana yoga, horse therapy, and sound healing for body-mind alignment.
• Suitable For: Folks chasing inner peace or craving a supportive, nature-immersed vibe in Portugal, with feedback highlighting value for spiritual growth and global connection in safe ayahuasca retreats in Algarve Portugal 2025.
• Costs: Not explicitly listed, but includes organic vegan-vegetarian detox meals, lodging (shared tipi or private cabin), and activities; contact for donation-based rates, with hybrid Zoom options for accessibility.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Guests at The Source of Peace & Happiness ayahuasca sessions in Portugal often rave about profound insights, calling the Self Realisation retreats eye-opening, with Philip Wade’s meditations sparking deep personal clarity. The global connection through the hybrid in-person and Zoom format gets love for seamlessly uniting participants from places like India, the USA, and Sweden. The calm atmosphere is a hit, with visitors describing it as a nurturing space for spiritual growth and inner peace, though some note adjusting to the rustic setup. Aggregated from gatewaylocation.org and sparse online mentions, feedback leans strongly positive, with limited but glowing reviews praising the unique, heartfelt vibe.

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 and r/Psychonaut, 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 crime directly connected to The Source of Peace & Happiness ayahuasca retreats in Portugal have emerged.

• Theft: Public forums, ICEERS data, and news searches show no reports of stolen belongings or valuables at The Source of Peace & Happiness plant medicine ceremonies.
• Sexual Misconduct: Searches across Reddit, Facebook, news databases, and ICEERS reveal no complaints, allegations, or legal issues involving staff or guides in ayahuasca sessions. While broader ayahuasca retreat risks exist, no specific cases tie to The Source of Peace & Happiness.
• Crime: No arrests, police involvement, or violence linked to The Source of Peace & Happiness appears in Google News, Portuguese media, retreat forums, or ICEERS documentation.

General Portugal ayahuasca discussions from 2023-2025 highlight risks like unregulated centers in unrelated spots, but nothing points to The Source of Peace & Happiness. Their online reputation stays clean with positive testimonials, alongside general ayahuasca hazards like psychological strain in unregulated settings noted in ICEERS studies. No publicly available reports of additional incidents exist.

New update as of August 2025: Recent checks on Retreat.guru and AyaAdvisors from July 2025 show no new concerns or reviews, with the retreat’s low visibility suggesting niche operations. This reinforces caution for lesser-known spots, but no red flags have surfaced for The Source of Peace & Happiness.

🔍 Critical Notes

The Source of Peace & Happiness ayahuasca programs in Portugal aim for meaningful transformation through ancestral and mindful practices. The meditation sessions, like Yoga Nidra and Louise Hay’s healing method, help you chill out and dig into your inner knowledge, while horse therapy and sound healing add a unique grounding touch. Keep in mind the single ceremony’s intensity might hit hard if you’re not prepped, and the off-grid setup with animals like dogs and horses could be a vibe for some but a challenge for others, especially if you’re not into rustic or have allergies. The hybrid Zoom option is cool for accessibility, but the retreat’s low online profile makes it tough to gauge consistency. Portugal’s permissive yet loosely regulated plant medicine scene, paired with Algarve’s remote setting, means you should double-check dietary protocols, Claudia and Jim’s mindfulness expertise, and emergency plans, especially since similar retreats occasionally report intense experiences.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

For The Source of Peace & Happiness ayahuasca retreats in Portugal, screening involves consultations to check your health and intentions, with clear rules to avoid contraindicated meds or conditions. Prep includes a detox diet and mental guidance to set you up for the experience, with post-session integration through workshops to keep the insights flowing. Guests report a supportive vibe, but research shows about 55% of ayahuasca users might hit temporary rough patches like heightened anxiety, especially without solid prep. If you’re working through trauma, it can spark deep emotional reconnection, but steer clear if you’re on meds like SSRIs due to interaction risks. Check with a doctor before diving into safe ayahuasca retreats in Algarve Portugal 2025.

🧪 Brew Substance

The Source of Peace & Happiness uses traditional ayahuasca from Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves, crafted with Amazonian wisdom for deep effects on body, mind, and soul. Guests say it brings intense introspection and emotional release, with breathwork amping up the clarity during ceremonies. Add-ons like sound healing weave in therapeutic vibes. If you’re expecting a standard high, align your expectations with the retreat’s focus on safe, entheogenic use for spiritual growth in Portugal.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Portugal: A 5-hectare mountain-forest campsite in Aljezur, Algarve, 10 minutes from the ocean and village, with tipi or cabin lodging, horses, and dogs for a nature-immersed retreat.
• Setting: Surrounded by serene forest and cliffs for reflection and reconnection to nature’s calm.
• Style: Blends ancestral wisdom with modern mindfulness, featuring Vijnana yoga, Yoga Nidra, horse therapy, sound healing, and organic vegan-vegetarian meals in a communal courtyard. Small groups foster connection without dependency.

Practical guidance: Fly into Faro or Lisbon airports; local transport is straightforward, and advance reservations are a must for 2025 due to limited spots.

Should You Book?

The Source of Peace & Happiness is a solid pick for ayahuasca retreats in Portugal if you’re into nature-driven, intimate experiences over fancy setups. Limited but glowing reviews highlight profound outcomes and a caring team, making it great for chasing peace or purpose. But if you need lots of online feedback or medical staff on-site, the niche vibe might give you pause. If the detox diet and integration vibe fit your goals, it could be a game-changer; just do your homework first.

The Team & Story

Claudia Dunselman and Jim Kellerman kicked off The Source of Peace & Happiness through their foundation, De Bron voor Rust & Geluk, with a mission to share a new way of living focused on peace and joy. Their story is about helping folks catch their breath after tough times, using ayahuasca, meditation, and yoga to spark inner understanding. Claudia and Jim, with their mindfulness chops, lead a small team dedicated to guiding with empathy, fostering programs that blend ancient and modern for transformation.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go, stick to a detox diet avoiding salt, red meat, sugar, alcohol, and drugs; set clear, sincere intentions. Pack comfy clothes, a notebook, and an eye mask. After, jot down reflections, join workshops, or seek professional support to keep the insights alive. Integration is key to sustaining the benefits, so don’t rush back to old routines too fast.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Bookings are handled through The Source of Peace & Happiness’s platform; check their schedule for details. Portugal programs include week-long retreats with one ayahuasca ceremony, organic detox meals, lodging in tipis or cabins, and activities like yoga and horse therapy. Contact them at Algarvehealing.com.