How Much Does an Ayahuasca Retreat Cost in the U.S.?

At Pachamama Sanctuary, a weekend retreat currently runs $947 to $1,247 for a 3-day, 2-night program that includes two ceremonies, lodging, meals, and integration support. The fee depends on the date, location, facilitator and sleeping arrangement. Some upcoming Maine dates are listed at $1,197, and Orlando’s special-guest weekend with Keneihu and Shawma Yawanawá starts at $1,247. Always check the upcoming retreats page for the current fee. Because the retreat is domestic, there’s no international flight or multi-leg ground transport to add on top, which is often the single biggest hidden cost of an ayahuasca retreat abroad.

At Pachamama Sanctuary, the sacrament itself is never sold; it is offered as a gift of the church. The retreat fee covers. Two ayahuasca ceremonies led by an experienced facilitator; Lodging for the full retreat (shared or semi-private, depending on the tier you book); All meals, prepared according to dieta guidelines; A required medical and psychological intake before you attend; Integration Circles during the retreat, plus unlimited free online Integration Circles afterward. It typically does not include your travel to the venue, lodging the night before if you’re arriving from out of state, or long-term therapy once you’re home.

Retreats advertised in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, or Brazil are often longer, a week or more instead of a weekend, and are priced against a different local cost of living. A basic weeklong program abroad can be quoted anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over $3,000 at higher-end lodges, depending on ceremony count, amenities, and length of stay. The number that matters isn’t the sticker price on the retreat page. It’s the all-in cost once you add flights, any visa fees, and local transportation. A domestic weekend retreat at $947 to $1,247 plus domestic travel often comes out cheaper, or at least comparable, to a “budget” international retreat once travel is factored in, and it requires far less time away from work or family. For a side-by-side look, see our comparison of an ayahuasca retreat in Peru vs. the U.S..

Some U.S. ceremonial communities periodically offer partial scholarships or reduced-cost spots for people who want to attend but for whom cost is a barrier. This isn’t universal or guaranteed for every retreat date, so it’s worth asking directly rather than assuming the listed price is fixed. At Pachamama Sanctuary, scholarships are offered periodically, and the Vines & Valor program funds free retreats for eligible veterans.

Ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. That said, following the 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal, certain religious organizations operate under Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) protections that allow the sincere religious use of ayahuasca as a sacrament. Sincere religious communities can hold ceremonies lawfully within that religious-freedom framework, which is distinct from unregulated recreational use. This is general information, not legal advice. If legal status matters to your decision, confirm the specific standing of the organization you’re considering before booking.

Not necessarily. Price tracks trip length, location, and accommodation tier more than it tracks safety. What actually matters is whether the retreat requires a real medical and psychological intake, screens out contraindicated conditions and medications (certain heart conditions, uncontrolled high blood pressure, seizure disorders, psychotic disorders, and interactions with SSRIs or MAOIs), staffs trained facilitators during ceremony, and offers structured integration afterward. Those standards should hold whether the retreat costs $950 or $3,000. See what research shows about ayahuasca safety.

Plan for round-trip transportation to the venue, a night of lodging beforehand if you’re flying in from out of state, time off work, and, if you want it, post-retreat integration coaching or therapy. For a U.S. retreat near a major airport, these add-ons are usually modest compared to what international travel would add to a retreat abroad. Our refund and cancellation policy explains what happens if plans change.

The intake screening itself is typically built into the retreat price and required of every participant. If it surfaces something that needs a supervised medication taper, such as coming off certain antidepressants ahead of time, that process runs through your own physician and sits outside the retreat fee. Review our Medical Guidelines for the details.

A 3-day, 2-night retreat with two ceremonies is a complete, standard format and the one most first-time participants choose. Longer retreats add more ceremonies and deeper immersion, which some repeat participants value, but length alone doesn’t determine how supported or complete the experience is.

Cancel at least 45 days before the retreat for a full refund, or 30 to 44 days out for a 50% refund. If you need to move to another date, rescheduling at least 15 days out carries your full value forward, with one free move within 12 months. Credits last 12 months and work at either location. Our refund and cancellation policy has the full details, and travel insurance is recommended.

Weekend retreats start at $947 in Maine and $997 in Orlando, and the ceremony structure, facilitators, and standard of care are the same at both locations. Orlando offers a warmer year-round climate and easier access for guests in the Southeast, while Maine sits in a quiet forest setting about 40 minutes northwest of Portland. Learn about our Maine retreats or our Orlando retreats before you choose.

Yes. Pachamama Sanctuary is a church, and its ceremonies are not open to the general public, so people register as members to take part. The Church Status and Federal Compliance page explains how that works.

Often, once the full trip is counted. A U.S. weekend retreat has no international airfare or multi-leg travel to add, while a retreat abroad is often advertised at a lower base price that grows with flights and ground transport. See our comparison of an ayahuasca retreat in Peru vs. the U.S. for a side-by-side breakdown.

Ayahuasca carries real risks, and it isn’t right for everyone. Heart conditions, psychosis-spectrum conditions, pregnancy, and certain medications, including SSRIs and MAOIs, are common reasons a person is asked not to participate or to wait. Every guest completes a medical and psychological intake first, and the outcome is go, not yet, or conditional, never a silent rejection. Ayahuasca is not a cure, not a treatment, and not a substitute for mental-health care. Read the full answer in Is Ayahuasca Safe? and review our Medical Guidelines.