Ayahuasca Retreats in Colombia: How to Choose Responsibly

A date should not be treated as acceptance. Camino al Sol's intake asks about medical history, current medications and mental health background. The team reviews the form, follows up where needed and decides whether to approve, request more information or decline participation. Dr. Marta Turpin supports medical review. A traditional practitioner's role and a clinician's screening role are different responsibilities.

Ask any retreat how it handles contraindications and what it tells someone who is ineligible. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to qualify. For specific risk and medication information, read our ayahuasca safety guide.

Camino al Sol caps its standard public retreat at 12 participants. That number helps you compare scale, but it does not describe the care by itself. Ask who is present during and after ceremony, which languages they support and how they respond when one person needs something different from the group.

Andrea Díaz, who supports participants and women's care at Camino, describes her role as observing, being available and accompanying. She notices that first-time guests may arrive uncertain. In her practice, care also means explaining activities gradually, keeping the space clean and calm, and respecting someone who says they need to sleep or sit out. She does not try to talk that person into taking part.

A schedule of ceremony nights is only part of a retreat. Camino's standard format includes preparation, three ceremonies, rest, Circles of Word and support during the retreat, followed by aftercare. Ask who provides that support and what follow-up looks like after you go home.

Andrea says a participant does not have to describe or justify what happened in ceremony during the Circle of Word. Listening can also be participation. She calls attention to leer los tiempos: if a person has already had a full day, a plant bath or body therapy may be better another day. This is her approach to pacing, not a promised schedule of treatments for every guest. Read more about integration and aftercare.

Diego describes traditional medicine as work with plants, elders, families and territory beyond ceremony. In field walks, he says elders show plants and explain their uses; some are collected for reproduction when possible. At Camino al Sol, his role includes caring for the land, planting medicinal species and preserving knowledge. He says he has established a seed bank of plants that have become scarce.

Ask other retreats how their traditions remain connected to people and place beyond one night. See yagé in Colombia.

Compare the travel day as carefully as the ceremony schedule. Ask for the pickup point and timing, journey to the site, duration, languages, room arrangement, meals, transport back and a written inclusion list. Ask about private accommodation and its price if you need it. The lowest headline price may not be the lowest total travel cost.

Camino's standard retreat is five nights in El Retiro, Antioquia, about 45–60 minutes from Medellín. It includes shared accommodation, meals, three guided ceremonies and transport from Medellín or the airport; Spanish and English support is available. Private cabins may be available at additional cost, subject to availability. Check exact pickup and room details on the Medellín retreat page and compare inclusions in our cost guide.