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Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if The Source of Peace & Happiness submits its own information.

The Source of Peace & Happiness: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Retreats near Aljezur, Portugal

The Source of Peace & Happiness (Fonte de Paz e Felicidade) is a small Dutch-run retreat near Aljezur and Odeceixe on Portugal’s Algarve coast, where Jim Kellerman leads a single ayahuasca ceremony he says he brews himself, within a 7-day week of yoga, meditation and horse therapy run with his partner Claudia Dunselman, according to its BookRetreats listing. Weeks cost $957 to $1,098 for up to eight guests, a detailed contraindication list and antidepressant washout are published, and it rates 4.96 from 79 BookRetreats reviews, with retreat dates listed into 2027. Against that, no medical staff or emergency plan is named beyond first aid, the ceremony leader states no ayahuasca lineage or training, the claimed Dutch foundation and other credentials are unverified, the listing claims to address depression, trauma and addiction, and serving DMT-containing ayahuasca to paying guests carries legal risk in Portugal.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A large rural plot in forest near Aljezur, with a Retreat Guru address in Odeceixe, Faro District, Portugal, about 80 kilometers from Faro airport; beaches are nearby.
• Approach: 7-day weeks with one ayahuasca ceremony day and one integration day, plus Vijnana yoga, Yoga Nidra, meditation, Louise Hay work, one equine therapy session, sound healing, sharing circles and hikes.
• Suitable For: Adults wanting a gentle, single-ceremony week in a small group, after confirming medical cover and emergency plans in writing. Not suitable for people with the conditions on its exclusion list, including psychotic and bipolar disorders, heart disease and hypertension.
• Costs: $957 in a shared tipi or $1,098 in a private cabin, with a $287 deposit, per BookRetreats. The deposit is refunded in full 60 or more days out, 50% at 30 to 59 days and not at all within 30 days, despite a “free cancellation” badge. Pickup from the Aljezur bus station is included.
• Overall Assessment: A small, well-reviewed week with a published exclusion list, offset by no medical staff, no stated ayahuasca training, an unverifiable operator, therapeutic claims and Portuguese legal exposure. Directory evaluation: B-.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

The positive picture. Reviewers describe warm, experienced hosts, a calm single ceremony with few side effects, forest, horses, tipis, nearby beaches, healthy food and emotional release.

The negative feedback. None published; three reviews give four stars.

Who is writing the reviews. All reviews sit on one platform, with none on Google, Tripadvisor or social media. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English, Portuguese and Dutch-language news for reports involving The Source of Peace & Happiness, Jim Kellerman, Claudia Dunselman and the foundation De Bron voor Rust & Geluk.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: None found.
• Legal action: None found.

No ayahuasca raid in the Algarve from 2023 to 2026 was found. Two Dutch ayahuasca death cases from 2019 involved other organizers and are not linked to these hosts.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.

🔍 Critical Notes

Screening and medical support. An intake list is sent in advance, and the listing excludes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, epilepsy, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and other conditions, and asks guests to stop antidepressants four to eight weeks before. Both hosts list only first-aid training, and no medical staff, emergency protocol or nearest hospital is published. The listing calls ayahuasca “not a drug” and markets the week to people tackling depression, trauma or addiction.

Who runs it. Kellerman, a former social worker, lists NLP, voice dialogue, breathwork and “shamanic courses,” says he has led and brewed for large ayahuasca retreats, and names no lineage, teacher or school, per his teacher profile; ceremonies use a recorded playlist rather than live icaros. Dunselman lists 18 years of meditation and horse therapy, an 850-hour yoga training and Louise Hay teacher certification. The Dutch foundation De Bron voor Rust & Geluk and any Portuguese registration were not found, and neither host has a website or social accounts.

Legal context. Portugal decriminalized personal possession in 2001, but DMT remains controlled, possession for distribution such as at a ceremony can be unlawful, and authorities often treat ayahuasca as prohibited, per ICEERS; police seized ayahuasca shipments in 2023 and 2024, per DN.

Corrections to our earlier profile. Prices are fixed at $957 to $1,098, not by donation. No source supports a hybrid Zoom format, participants joining from India, the US and Sweden, Self Realisation retreats, meditations by a Philip Wade, reviews on gatewaylocation.org, a 5-hectare off-grid property or dogs; these remain unverified, as does a 55 percent figure for difficult experiences. The Aljezur location, tipis and cabins, horses, week-long retreats with one ceremony, Vijnana yoga, Louise Hay work, horse therapy, sound healing, detox meals, the hosts and their foundation as described by them, screening against contraindicated medications and no incidents found are confirmed.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

The center publishes an exclusion list and a 4 to 8-week antidepressant washout. 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 brewed by the host, recipe and source undisclosed; no other medicines are listed. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf such as chacruna, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: Forest on the Algarve’s Atlantic coast near Aljezur, with horses on site and beaches nearby.
• Rooms: Shared 36-square-meter tipis with two beds, or a private wooden cabin.
• Style: A Western wellness week built around one ceremony, without a traditional lineage.

Practical guidance: Hosts collect guests at the Aljezur bus station; a return transfer from Faro costs extra.

Should You Book?

Possibly, after confirming in writing who serves the ayahuasca, where it comes from and how emergencies are handled. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

The hosts say they founded the retreat through their Dutch foundation to share a way of living focused on peace and joy; Dunselman previously ran a family bakery and tea room in Amsterdam for 25 years. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go: Follow the preparation diet and medication guidance, disclose every medication and condition in writing, and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: An integration day and one online session are included; arrange support from a qualified therapist at home as well. 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.