Find Authentic Retreats in Naranjos Colombia

"I have attended three retreats at this centre now, each an amazing and transformative experience. I have had profound insights that have enriched my perspective on life and have met amazing, open-minded and curious people. The retreat centre is situation in a area of outstanding natural beauty, which provided the perfect backdrop for our journeys. I felt very safe and supported in the hands of the team, who have years of experience. The shaman and facilitators really guide you through the ceremonies, keeping an eye on you at all times and offering guidance during challenging moments. The ethereal melodies of the musicians really helped me to connect to the medicine. The post-ceremony sharing circles were a highlight for me, with invaluable insights offered from the team and fellow participants that helped me process my experiences and fostered a sense of communal growth and healing. Staying in the retreat center is a delightful experience. The facilities are clean and comfortable, the food is healthy and delicious and there are a variety of other wellness activities available. Throughout the whole retreat I felt loved and care for. Thank you for everything! "

"I recently spent a week at this ayahuasca retreat in Medellin, and it was an amazing experience. The retreat's location in the middle of nature brought a peaceful atmosphere that really enhanced our sessions. The staff was wonderful—very kind and helpful throughout our stay. We had three ayahuasca ceremonies and a cleansing session, each guided professionally and thoughtfully. The facilities were comfortable and the food was delicious, adding comfort to our transformative journey. Extra activities like ice baths and breathwork made the experience even more rewarding. Everything was well-organized, allowing us to focus on our healing and growth. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone looking for a profound spiritual experience. Thanks to all the team 🙏🏻❤️"

"This retreat was very "

"I'd highly recommend going on your Ayahuasca journey at this retreat centre. For me the entire retreat was well organised, offering activities which helped me bond with the rest of the group I was with so quickly, and also helped me personally look within - particularly with the holotropic breathwork session - and the ice bath showed me my courage. I found both of these very useful to have experienced before the first ceremony to help me when I felt nervous in the ceremony and also breathing tools to fall back to if I felt overwhelmed. Oliver and the rest of the facilitators created a very safe environment for me to really "go there" and I was able to go very deep within and find some answers I was looking for, for which I am eternally grateful. I also noticed the attention to care for the other participants in my group if they were having a difficult time or needed help - amazing. Other things to note: the food was so delicious, the site it is hosted on is incredible with lots of nature to connect to and very close to Medellin so easy to get to. And the ceremonies were magic within themselves, particularly the music!! The time I spent here I felt so safe and well looked after, thank you so much."

"The integration space Jo holds is incredibly powerful. She challenged me to go deeper and deeper within the medicine process of the week, exactly what I needed. It would be a lot easier to hold a more passive sharing circle like a lot of retreats do but I feel what sets Ayayni apart is the unconditional truth that is shared by Jo and the other facilitators."

"There is no way to describe how humbling, loving and life changing an experience it was. From the facilitators loving energy and sharp intuitions, to the structure, group therapy and beautiful settings plus the fantastic people I met there has made for a weekend I will never forget. The level of therapeutic work done in one weekend is nothing short of amazing. I cannot recommend it any higher."

"The most incredible voice I have ever heard. Her music to guide us through the ceremonies was incredible and on the night off she put on a concert for us, she went above and beyond the whole retreat."

"There is not a ratings system in place that would do Ayayni justice. The energy throughout the retreat was truly magical. From the moment of arrival, guests are treated with love, honesty and truth. The team are incredibly open and supportive, each bringing their own special gifts to the otherworldly proceedings. There is a deep respect and understanding amongst the facilitators for each and every process, each and every individual. There is humor, there is sadness, there is trauma, grief, reflection and empathy. The scale of emotions experienced throughout the retreat is nothing short of spellbinding. Each emotion accepted, nurtured and facilitated by the fantastic team. Breakfast and lunch each day is provided each day made with love (by the team) and one day we had a beautiful Paella from the restaurant down the road. Very fresh and tasty food all week. The communal meals are at a huge wooden table beside the kitchen, where conversation flows and silence is present. The all-important integrations each morning are without doubt the best I have ever experienced. If you are open and willing to work on yourself and listen to others, Ayayni will give you a glimpse into what is achievable... if you hold the mirror up and honestly look at your reflection, and that of others. The breath-work and fire ceremony are both invigorating and reflective, allowing each person a chance to open wide before the beginning of ceremony. Every participant is naturally guided toward their healing path, and by the time the end arrives, there is not one who is leaving without a more intuitive understanding of their self. If you are looking for a place without judgement; a place to connect with yourself and others. If you are open to the possibility of change and the often difficult path that leads to it, I highly recommend Ayayni, a unique and extraordinary experience."

"Oliver and the staff at the retreat center are known for their kind and caring energy, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all participants. They are attentive and responsive, ensuring that each visitor feels heard and cared for throughout their stay. This nurturing atmosphere is crucial, especially given the intense nature of the ayahuasca experience. Oliver, in particular, is praised for his empathetic approach and deep understanding of both the spiritual and practical needs of the guests. The team's dedication to providing a safe and respectful setting is a cornerstone of the retreat, making it a trusted place for those seeking profound personal transformation. The retreat center is conveniently located close to Medellín, allowing for easy access while still being nestled in the tranquility of the Colombian mountains. Guests are treated to breathtaking sunrises, which paint the sky in vibrant hues as a backdrop to the rugged landscape—an inspiring start to each day, especially after the profound journeys of the night before. The surrounding flora and the natural beauty of the area contribute significantly to the peaceful atmosphere, helping participants to ground themselves amidst the intensity of their experiences. Additionally, the retreat offers unique wellness practices such as breathwork and ice baths. These practices not only complement the ayahuasca ceremonies but also introduce a level of physical and mental growth that distinguishes this retreat from others. The combination of these elements creates a holistic experience that is both nurturing and transformative. I don’t hesitate to recommend this experience to those who seek it. Thanks Oliver and Guacamayo community <3"

"I am so deeply grateful to have experienced a retreat with Ayayni. I can’t thank the team enough for facilitating such a loving and compassionate environment where I could allow myself to be at my most vulnerable whilst still feeling completely safe and understood. The experience was truly life changing and I look forward to continuing my journey to healing and power in future Ayayni retreats. The whole weekend was truly magical!"

"I will hold this experience in my heart forever. Everything was great, the organisation, the ceremonies, the medicines, the breath-work, the integration, the depth of the emotional work, the music and the accomodation. There were moments of grief, pain and rage and there was also a lot of laughter. We formed a fantastic tribe over the days that we were together and I look forward to the on-going group support. "

"This retreat was out of this world! I had many expectations about my first medicine retreat, and Ayayni completely exceeded them. The ceremonies were so harmonious, with the live guitar and percussion throughout the night and into the early hours. The medicine was deep and challenging, and yet at other times nurturing. I discovered the depths of my soul during those ceremonies, and I will be eternally grateful for Olimpia's voice, which guided me through. The integration sessions were beyond what I imagined they would be, as Jo's intuition hit the nail on the head every time and with every participant. Uncovering so much of my hidden truth in one retreat was not what I had expected, and I know that I will be able to use these insights for years to come. I highly recommend this experience."

"There are truly no words for how amazing this retreat truly is. The location is perfect. I stayed in one of the private rooms; it was beautiful and peaceful, and the bed was super comfortable. The food was to die for! YUMMY! The facilities are relaxing and nestled in nature. I was surrounded by beautiful foliage and amazing views—so many stars in the sky at night out here. Oliver is so personable and easy to talk to. The Shaman Sergio and his assistants and musicians were amazing. The ceremonies were in a beautiful space with comfortable seating. I cannot say enough about the Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo! I will be coming back over and over again. Don't hesitate to book your life-changing experience now, you will not regret it."

"This weekend spent with Oliver and his team far surpassed any expectations I had. From the clear communication leading up to the event to the promotion of a safe and nurturing environment throughout, every detail was meticulously attended to. The retreat location itself was stunning, offering both a serene backdrop for reflection and ideal space for the ceremonies. I appreciate so much the care and attention provided by the team throughout the entire weekend, fostering genuine connections with each participant. Despite initial nerves about embarking on such a retreat for the first time, I found myself immersed in an experience that exceeded even my loftiest hopes. The ceremonies themselves were profoundly individualized, for me evoking a range of emotions—from difficulty to power and profound meaning—over the course of both nights. Overall, this experience was transformative, unlocking layers of love and emotion within me that I hadn't previously realized existed. The music was also a key part of the experience for me, which was shared after the retreat and I am still listening to now. Though I choose to remain anonymous due to employment considerations, I enthusiastically recommend the Ayahuasca and Guacamayo retreat with Oliver to anyone. I fully intend to return when the call of Ayahuasca beckons once more!"

"I recently had the privilege of attending this Ayahuasca retreat, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with warmth and compassion by Oliver, who made me feel welcome and supported throughout my journey. The setting of the retreat was serene and beautiful, surrounded by nature, which added to the overall peaceful ambiance. The ceremonies themselves were conducted with utmost respect and care, with experienced shamans guiding us through the process. The integration sessions provided after the ceremony was incredibly helpful in processing the experience and integrating the lessons learned. Thank you to the entire team for this incredible journey; the food was incredible. I am forever grateful "

"I spent about 7 days at the Ayahuasca Camp in November 2023. It was my first experience. Even before I confirmed, the organizer took his time to clarify all my questions in a video call. In my case, I had high blood pressure and had to take medication. he double checked it with a doctor, to make sure everything is alright. I already contacted another retreat before, but here I felt they really made sure everything is okay. From the beginning to the end i found it was not only well structured but also organized. this was very good to know, because the ayahuasca ceremonies can be very intense. to know yourself at a safe place, was very good. All in all, I have very good memory of the experience and can recommend it."

"Where do I even start. I had a truly life altering experience here. I am so incredibly blown away by everything. For me, psychological/emotional (& physical) safety were top priority (as I have anxiety and also this was my first time with the plant medicine) and I felt extremely safe with Oliver, the Shaman, and the entire team. The ceremonies were truly authentic, the energy was powerful (unlike anything I’ve felt before), the musicians (playing guitar, flute, drums, instruments I’ve never seen before, at one point there was even a proper soundbath in the middle of the night/ceremony(!)) were extraordinarily talented and went on ALL night throughout the ceremony. The music is a BIG part of the experience as the lyrics and the otherworldly sound hold you with unconditional love throughout the ceremony. The food was great and always ready on time, and the house, wow the house was beautiful on top of a breathtaking mountain outside of Medellin in Colombia. It was perfect for this, from the interior art and setting to the beautiful views and nature outside. It was also very clean and was thoroughly cleaned every morning before everyone woke up (so you woke up to a brand new house every day!). Not to mention, I did connect very powerfully with Mama Aya each night and I think it’s thanks to the shaman’s work and power, ingredient/plant quality, team’s guidance & prep.. And I did get the answers I needed from Mama Aya (and every person in my group did too). If you are being called by Ayahausca (and you are if you’re here), this is the place to do it. Thank you Oliver, Kevin, Daniel, Sergio, Julian, Richard and so many more. And thank you to the amazing new life long friends I’ve made. With so, so much love. "

"When it comes to find the right setting and shaman for something as personal and vulnerable as an ayahuasca journey it is a blessing to find a good shaman who has the best intentions for you. It was not my first aya retreat but the one I resonated the most with. Oliver, the faciliator and Sergio, the Shaman, Kevin as doctor for medical questions, who also plays and sings lovely as well as Maria who's also a gifted singer and musician during the ceremonies and all the rest of the team, clearly are whole-heartedly into what they are doing, to me this was felt and brought my experience to a whole other level. "

"Sergio te debo mil gracias por mi experiencia en enero. La verdad que no sabía nada de como iba a ser o pasar. Y ustedes me dieron la bienvenida como familia y eso fue muy agradable para mí. Gracias por los consejos y la experiencia que ofrecieron. La vida es más alegre ahora. Sergio I owe you a thousand thanks for my experience in January. The truth is that I didn't know anything about how it was going to be or happen. And you welcomed me as family and that was very nice for me. Thank you for the advice and experience you offered. Life is more joyful now. "

"Thank you so much for being who you are. You truly have restored my faith in humanity. You're a great man, friend and person and you will continue to guide others on their paths for many years. It was an honor staying at your retreat and I can't wait to book another. In the meantime I've sent a few people your way. Mil gracias."

"I came across this website while looking for things to do in Medellin and this retreat came up. Now i had never heard of Ayahuasca, but my spirit had been needing something new, something different. I did my research and thought it seemed like a sign. I must have read the reviews a million times before I booked it. One review mentioned it being a sign that this was the place for me. This was the first thing I've done for myself in a long time, so I had lots of emotions going in. Once I arrived and met Oliver and his team, plus my family (other participants) I knew this would be life-changing. From the location, to the ceremonies and everything in between, this was the best experience I've had in my life. I felt heard, seen, safe , loved and cared for the entire time. My soul is happy. I've made lifetime friends and most of all I met my inner child and have healed myself like never before. If you're looking for a sign to book this place, this is it. Thank you Oliver. "

"You are on this website for a reason. You will get what you are looking for here. The ceremony itself will exceed your expectations. The food/accommodations are great as well. Enjoy!"

"Somehow the retreat exceeded my expectations. Oliver is an amazing host, filled with kindness and a lot of patience. He helped guide all of us through the experience with calm and assured demeanor resulting in life changing lessons. Sergio's presence alone is enough to assure and calm your soul and every other person involved in the process is there to help and contributes wonderfully to the event. If you are looking for a change in your life, look no further (and being nervous about it is a natural part of the experience, don't worry :) )"

"I had an amazing life changing experience thanks to everyone working with Ancestral Retreats. They have all showed nothing but kindness and compassion , while guiding us through our own personal journeys. Being a solo traveler , in a foreign Country , it took a lot of courage to be able to do this kind of spiritual experience on my own , and they have made it easy for me. It’s been over 3 weeks since the retreat now , and I sleep naturally every single night (after being dependent on THC or pharmaceuticals for 10+years ) thanks to finding peace within as a result of this retreat. Palomino was absolutely beautiful, so serene and we were lucky to have the BEST cooking team .. I’m still daydreaming about the experience !!! 😍"

"I went there hoping to grow, to learn, and find peace. It ended up being so much more. The retreat leaders were all really cool. They complemented each other quite well. I left there with new spiritually, self awareness, happiness and a bond with the leaders + other participants. I can’t recommend them enough. "

"Oliver is a very wise man and has big heart. The way the retreat is set up works out great. The music is the most beautiful thing to your ears and your soul. Sergio can play like 14 different instruments, and sing at the same time. Julian has such an amazing voice. I literally got my blanket n sat next to Jaime while he was playing his guitar and singing. Oliver has such great energy and has so much wisdom to share. Defensively a life changing experience. Blessings to all of the Guacamayo Fam. I will be back soon brother "

"I decided to wait a while before leaving a review. There is often an afterglow effect with hallucinogens and I wanted to wait for things to settle a bit before making any comments on my experience at Lawayra. It seems more honest that way. I'll also add that the former facilitator and a volunteer left a few months ago, and things are a lot less structured and professional now at this retreat than in the past. With that being said, my experience overall was just okay. There were a few circumstances that really reduced the quality of the experience. And some things came across as a bit disrespectful to the medicine and the seriousness of this ancient tradition. Lawayra is cheaper than many other retreat centers. That itself doesn't make the place bad, but I do think that a cheaper price does invite SOME people who may take things a lot less seriously. You can end up with people who do things such as talk during ceremonies, people who bring processed junk food to the center because they refuse to stick to the diet, people who spend all their free time on their phones, etc. As a participant I had no say over other people's actions, which I accept. But as a paying customer, I expected the environment to be a bit more strict and rigid and to hold the guests accountable so that everyone can get the most from their experience. The people who are a part of your group can really affect the atmosphere at the retreat. The place is quite small for the amount of people who are there at any given time. Ayahuasca opens you up to other energy which is why it's so important to have a solid environment to drink the medicine and work through the processes. Lawayra was a place full of distractions. WiFi stays on full time and I often saw people occupying their minds with Facebook and Netflix and whatever else. It was frustrating that the people running the facility aren't more strict with such things. Phones and social media can easily be as addictive and harmful as drugs or alcohol. Some people might go to an Ayahuasca center in the hopes of disconnecting for a little while. Socializing was overly encouraged, rather than quiet introspection and taking time to self reflect. There were times when it was difficult to find a quiet place to rest due to all the loud conversations, music, construction noise, etc. It became more of a social event or party than anything else. People were even playing rap music on a speaker at one point. Something I never expected to experience at an Ayahuasca center. I'm also not sure how we were expected to be able to relax and be well rested, when the ceremonies would often keep us up until 1 or 2am and then construction workers show up at 6am and immediately start using grinders and other loud equipment. I am not writing this review to trash talk Lawayra or the people who own and operate the place. I only want those who are considering this retreat to have the opportunity to see both sides. I think that it is common for these retreats involving plant medicine that most people who have a less than optimal experience remain quiet rather than say anything bad or negative most of the time, but I'd rather speak my mind. I didn't walk away from my experience completely empty handed. The medicine is strong and the music is beautiful. The taita is a good guide. But the retreat just didn't really seem optimized for deep work and healing. They appeal more to the crowd who want to experiment or want a cool story or pictures for Instagram. If you're searching for a more authentic experience or somewhere to do deep healing, I would recommend going elsewhere. They often said at the retreat that there are many different traditions related to consuming Ayahuasca and that everyone does it differently. But to me they seemed overly dismissive of getting negative input from the guests (or seeming offended by it honestly). There was a strong my way or the highway type of attitude and that's fine. The inability to handle negative criticism in an empathetic and constructive manner is what made me decide to never return to Lawayra. Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope it was helpful. Good luck on your journey."

"This was my first time encountering Ayahuasca, and I couldn't have felt in better hands, starting with the generous, sweet soul of our host Oliver, the loving, nurturing spirit of Clara, who fed us every meal, and the rest of the crew that came in and out, led by the shamans who, at the start of the ceremony, make you feel comforted and safe. They carry the ancient knowledge by an ancestral mamita from the Amazon region. The ceremonies felt very sacred. You'll know you're in a safe space. The journey is yours, but you will be supported and cared for. If you've been wondering about experiencing this mother plant for a while, and you feel you're ready, I wholeheartedly recommend this loving place as a first experience. I'm eternally grateful that this is where I met this sacred, ancestral medicine. GRACIAS MADRE."

"The experience at this retreat was fantastic, with ice bath and breathing exercises on top of 2 amazing ayuhasca ceremonies. The teachers were very supportive and approachable and guided everyone through the retreat. Everyone on the retreat was from a wide range of ages and backgrounds successfully, but all managed to have a very positive experience after the two ceremonies with the guidance from staff. Also in a beautiful location on a hillside 1 hour outside of Medellin with transport included from the city."

"Oliver & team are experienced and will guide you through your personal journey. I felt comfortable and safe from the moment I got to the retreat and every part of the experience was fantastic from the ceremonies to the heathy delicious meals. Highly recommend. Thanks Oliver!"