An Ayahuasca ceremony is a transformative, sacred ritual that has been practiced traditionally for centuries by indigenous tribes in the Amazon Rainforest for holistic healing and spiritual purposes.

This guide will answer the most common questions about Ayahuasca ceremonies, helping you prepare and understand this life-changing experience.

What is an Ayahuasca Ceremony?

An Ayahuasca ceremony is a traditional spiritual healing practice of the Amazon Rainforest involving the consumption of Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves. The leaves contain DMT, a powerful entheogen, and the vine contains MAOIs, which activate the DMT.

The ceremony should always be guided by a trained shamanic healer who provides guidance, protection, and healing chants through what are called ikaros – the songs of the plants. During the experience, participants often seek healing from emotional and psychological trauma, spiritual clarity, or personal transformation.

How to Choose Where to Do an Ayahuasca Ceremony?

There is no shortage of places to drink Ayahuasca. There are ‘underground’ ceremonies happening all over the world. In Peru, where Ayahuasca is legal and recognized by the Peruvian government as a cultural heritage, there are a plethora of centers and people offering ayahuasca ceremonies, with new centers appearing seemingly every month.

The popularity of Ayahuasca has skyrocketed in recent years. Unfortunately, along with this surge in popularity comes a dilution in the quality, genuine training, experience, and good intentions behind those who offer this medicine. Many are involved solely for the potential of commercial gain and sadly do not honor or practice the traditions that have held this medicine sacred for countless generations.

Finding the right location for an Ayahuasca ceremony is critical to ensure a safe, responsible, and authentic experience.

Some of the places to attend an ayahuasca ceremony include:

Peru: The best place to experience authentic Ayahuasca ceremonies, the birthplace and source of the Ayahuasca, with reputable retreat centers located in the Amazon rainforest in areas like Iquitos or Pucallpa.
The Sacred Valley, Peru: This is a mountain location where ayahuasca is not traditionally practiced. However, many Western-style retreat centers have been established, offering touristic ayahuasca ceremonies.
Costa Rica: Outside of the Amazon and often in luxury retreats catering for less authentic, touristic ayahuasca experiences.
Brazil: Known for its ayahuasca churches that synthesize rainforest ayahuasca traditions with Christian forms of religious practice such as Santo Daime and UDV.
Europe & North America: We strongly believe that taking part in Ayahuasca ceremonies or ayahuasca retreats in the Amazon Rainforest is the most respectful, safe, and powerful way to experience ayahuasca. We therefore do not recommend these modern, Western ayahuasca ceremonies due to the lack of authenticity, training, tradition, and experience of Western healers.

Always research and choose facilities with experienced shamans, clear safety and screening protocols, and positive reviews. Be curious; ask around in communities like Reddit, FB groups, and your yoga/breathwork studio if anyone went to an Ayahuasca retreat and would recommend any.

Note: Don’t trust all the reviews you see on the internet; some are paid for, many retreat centers pay for backlinks to rank higher on Google, and the owners and their friends write the reviews on sites like Tripadvisor…)

We also noticed that if an accident (death) happens at the retreat center, the same team continues to operate and perform Ayahuasca ceremonies and retreats just under a new name.

We wholeheartedly recommend you conduct comprehensive research before choosing your Ayahuasca Retreat. Be careful and thorough while choosing the safest and most professional ayahuasca retreat. It’s your health and safety at stake.)

Is One Ayahuasca Ceremony Enough for Healing?

Attending at least four Ayahuasca ceremonies is important for deep healing and fully benefiting from working with this sacred plant. Ideally, six ayahuasca ceremonies allow the healer to perform deep, focused healing and provide the necessary protection and completion of their shamanic work.

The Temple of the Way of Light has held ayahuasca retreats for over 15,000 people over eighteen years. Due to this level of experience, we have learned how to provide safe, responsible, and powerful ayahuasca healing.

Participating in one ayahuasca ceremony is strongly not recommended as it can stir up energies that are brought to the surface without being cleared by the healer. Then problems will arise during integration following the ayahuasca ceremony.

And as with any medicine, the effects will be short-term and impactful if you take it only once.

What Happens During an Ayahuasca Ceremony?

Traditional ayahuasca ceremonies are always held at night in a ceremonial maloka, where participants sit together in a sacred space led and protected by the shaman.

Here’s what you can expect:

Opening Rituals: The shaman sets the intention with prayers, chants, blessings, and protections.
Drinking the Brew: Participants are served medicine individually by one of the healers holding the ceremony.
The dosage should be low in the first ayahuasca ceremony so that participants can build (or re-establish) a relationship with the medicine and for the healers to connect with them to diagnose what work needs to be carried throughout the retreat.
Effects Begin: It typically takes 45 minutes for the healers—and generally the participants—to begin to feel the medicine’s effects.
Guided Journey: The shaman’s ikaros are the most essential aspect of an authentic ayahuasca ceremony, providing spiritual guidance that helps you to navigate your inner experience safely.
They sing to call in the plant spirits, ensuring the maloka is protected and free of negative energy. This is a standard and essential practice in every traditional ayahuasca ceremony.
During the ayahuasca journey, you may experience vivid visions, emotional releases, or physical purging (e.g., vomiting or sweating).
Closing Rituals: After the healers have completed singing to every participant, they often sing a few more icaros to close the ceremony. The facilitator announces when the ceremony is complete.

What is an Ayahuasca Ceremony Like?

An Ayahuasca ceremony is deeply personal, often challenging, and frequently enlightening. No two experiences are the same.

Many describe it as:

Emotional: Uncovering suppressed feelings and releasing emotional blockages.
Spiritual: Connecting with your higher self, spirit guides, or universal consciousness.
Challenging: Facing fears, past traumas, or difficult truths about oneself.
Healing: Emerging with renewed clarity, purpose, and peace.

What to Eat Before an Ayahuasca Ceremony

Preparation is key to having a safe and meaningful Ayahuasca experience. Dietary restrictions, known as the Ayahuasca Dieta, often include:

Foods to Avoid: Meat, dairy, processed foods, salt, sweets, chocolate, or refined sugar, junk food, fermented foods, caffeine, seven other stimulants, and excess salt.
Recommended Foods: Fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
No Alcohol or Drugs: Refrain from any substances that could interfere with the ayahuasca medicine.

This diet helps cleanse your body and reduce potentially negative interactions with Ayahuasca. Diary restrictions are also in place after an ayahuasca ceremony to ensure optimal integration and the healing effects of ayahuasca.

What to Wear During an Ayahuasca Ceremony

Comfort is essential during the ceremony. Wear loose, breathable clothing, such as:

Lightweight cotton pants and a long-sleeve shirt.
A sweater or shawl in case the room gets cold.
Avoid tight or restrictive clothing, or clothes that are hard to go to the toilette with (e.g.jumpsuits)

What to Bring to the Ayahuasca Ceremony

Pack the following essentials to stay comfortable, focused, and grounded during the ceremony:

Flashlight/torch with a red-light setting
A jacket or jumper and a blanket
Lighter/matches
Bottle of water
Pusanga (the flower water that is in a good retreat center given to you)
Meditation cushion

An Ayahuasca ceremony can be a powerful, transformative experience when approached with respect, trust, good preparation, and an open heart.

Whether seeking healing, clarity, or spiritual growth, this sacred medicine can unlock new levels of understanding and connection with yourself and the universe.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to embark on your Ayahuasca journey, making it as safe and meaningful as possible.

To learn more about an ayahuasca retreat read What to Expect at an Ayahuasca Retreat: A Guide to Safety, Deep Healing and Choosing Wisely.