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By Maja Krauss (M.Sc. Nature-based Therapy, trained psychedelic facilitator) and Willak (seventh-generation Kichwa Otavalo Yachak), co-founders of Kinti Yaya Quick answer: The cost of an Ayahuasca retreat varies widely, and the price alone tells you little. What matters is what it covers: who holds the ceremonies and how well they are trained, how small the group is, and what happens on the days between and after ceremonies. At Kinti Yaya, the fee includes the ceremonies, accommodation, local food, excursions to sacred sites, daily practices and teachings, and preparation and integration. Current prices are on our retreat page. How much does an Ayahuasca retreat cost? It is one of the first questions people ask, and the honest answer starts with another one: do you want an Ayahuasca experience, or a healing journey? The two can look alike from the outside, but they ask very different things of the people who hold the space, and that difference explains most of what you see in the price. If you are new to the medicine itself, our article What is Ayahuasca? An Honest Introduction explains where it comes from and how it works, from both the Andean and the scientific side. Why is it

Quick answer: Ayahuasca is a sacred plant medicine from the Amazon basin, brewed from the Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the chakruna plant. Indigenous peoples have used it for healing and guidance for a very long time, and some elders now share it with people from around the world. Research shows measurable effects on brain networks, mood and inflammation, but the studies are small. Drinking Ayahuasca is not a cure-all and not safe for everyone, and it belongs in the hands of experienced guides after careful screening.

If you ask the question “What is Ayahuasca?”, the answer will vary widely, depending on whether you ask a Yachak (traditional Kichwa Shaman) or a Western-trained therapist. This article aims to fill you in on both perspectives.