top of page
Search

The Ayahuasca Retreat Checklist

What to Ask, What to Watch For, and How to Stay Safe in Ceremony Spaces


Ayahuasca vision painting by Maestro & artist Moises Llerena
Ayahuasca vision painting by Maestro & artist Moises Llerena

Let’s be real: the world of plant medicine is beautiful, but also messy. With ayahuasca becoming more popular, not all retreat spaces are built with the safety, integrity, or sacredness this work truly deserves. Before you book that flight or send a deposit, here’s a must-read checklist of what to ask a retreat center, what red flags to watch for, and what green flags signal a trustworthy space.


✅ 10 Questions to Ask Any Ayahuasca Retreat Center:


  1. Who is facilitating the ceremonies, and what is their lineage or background?(Look for direct training or initiations, not just self-study or tourism.)

  2. Is medical screening part of the intake process?(They should ask about medications, mental health history, and contraindications.)

  3. What integration support is offered before and after the retreat?(This is just as important as the ceremonies themselves.)

  4. How many participants are in each ceremony?(Under 15 is ideal for deeper care and attention.)

  5. What is the emergency protocol if someone has a medical or psychiatric crisis?

  6. Is there a dieta or preparation protocol you’ll be expected to follow? (This shows respect for the medicine and your body.)

  7. What’s the ratio of staff to participants?(There should be enough trained staff to safely support everyone, ideally 1 facilitator for every 3-4 people)

  8. Are the plants harvested ethically, and is the brew made on-site or imported?

  9. What are the sleeping and sanitation conditions like?

  10. Are you encouraged to listen to your own intuition throughout the process? Are all treatments offered including rituals and other plant medicines optional? (Any space that overrides your inner knowing or forces you to partake is a no.)


🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For:


  • “You don’t need to prepare. The medicine will do everything.”(No. Preparation matters deeply.)

  • No screening or intake process.(Skipping this puts everyone at risk.)

  • One person running everything: cooking, guiding, brewing, facilitating.(That’s a burnout recipe and a safety concern.)

  • Vague or evasive answers about the medicine’s source or their background.

  • High-pressure sales tactics, spiritual superiority, or “I’m the only one who can help you” energy.

  • More effort is going into their Instagram aesthetic than the ceremony container.(If it feels like a spiritual influencer brand more than a sacred practice… trust that.)

  • Facilitators and the maestro have never worked together before. (A lack of energetic trust or familiarity between the team can make the space feel chaotic, disconnected, or unsafe.)

  • No support or resources for integration.(Healing doesn’t end when the retreat does.)

  • Sexual energy, flirtation, or inappropriate touch from facilitators.


🌱 Green Flags That Signal Safety & Integrity:


  • Clear boundaries, rules, and community agreements.

  • Transparent facilitator bios with real training or indigenous connection.

  • Deep respect for the plants, the lineage, and your autonomy.

  • Trauma-informed staff and grounded presence.

  • Opportunities for pre- and post-retreat connection and integration.

  • A sense of humility and service, not ego.

  • Spaces that empower you to stay sovereign and connected to your truth.


Closing Thoughts

Choosing to sit with ayahuasca is one of the most intimate and powerful decisions you can make. But the container matters just as much as the cup. Ask questions. Listen to your gut. And never override your own knowing in the name of spirituality.


🌿 Need support preparing for or integrating after a retreat?I offer 1:1 integration coaching to help you make sense of what came up, ground your insights, and reconnect to your voice and truth. You don’t have to navigate this alone.



🦋 Coming February 2026: I'm hosting a trauma-informed ayahuasca retreat in Peru. a safe, intentional, and deeply reverent space for healing, truth, and connection. We’ll be working with my trusted maestro and a fully aligned facilitation team. Details are coming soon, and space will be very limited to 10 people to keep it intentional.


Want to be first on the list?Send me an email at Jenna@jennadreams.com with the subject line “Peru 2026” and I’ll make sure you’re the first to know when doors open.

Comments

bottom of page