What Is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally prepared by indigenous communities in the Amazon basin. In Colombia, it is commonly referred to as yagé (pronounced yah-HEH). The brew is typically made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine combined with the leaves of Psychotria viridis (chacruna) or Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga), though preparation methods and plant combinations vary between traditions.
The vine contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) — harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine — while the leaf plants contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The MAOIs prevent the body from breaking down DMT in the gut, making it orally active and producing effects that typically last 4 to 6 hours.
The experience commonly involves intense visual and emotional states, nausea and purging (vomiting and diarrhea, which indigenous traditions consider a form of cleansing), and profound introspective or spiritual experiences. Reactions vary enormously between individuals and between ceremonies.
Why Colombia?
Colombia occupies a unique position in the ayahuasca landscape. Unlike Peru and Brazil — the two most established ayahuasca tourism destinations — Colombia offers the intersection of legal protection, living indigenous tradition, and growing but less commercialized access.
Ayahuasca use is protected under Colombian law as part of indigenous cultural and spiritual heritage. The Cofán, Inga, Kamsá, Siona, and Coreguaje peoples of the Putumayo and Caquetá regions have used yagé for centuries as a core element of their spiritual and medicinal practice. This is not a recent import or a new-age adaptation — it is deeply rooted in Colombian indigenous identity.
Colombia also offers significant geographic diversity. Ceremonies take place in the Amazon lowlands of Putumayo, the cloud forests of the Andes, rural retreats outside cities like Bogotá and Medellín, and coastal settings near Santa Marta. Each region has distinct indigenous traditions and ceremonial styles.
Who Should Not Participate
Ayahuasca is not for everyone, and responsible retreat centers will screen for disqualifying conditions. The following are situations where participation carries unacceptable risk:
Anyone taking SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, TCAs, or other serotonergic medications — without adequate washout under medical supervision. See our complete drug interactions guide.
Serious cardiovascular conditions — ayahuasca can significantly elevate heart rate and blood pressure. Uncontrolled hypertension, heart disease, or a history of stroke are contraindications.
Epilepsy or seizure disorders — MAOIs can lower the seizure threshold.
Pregnancy — effects on fetal development are unknown and the physical intensity of the experience (purging, elevated heart rate) presents direct risk.
Personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder — psychedelics can trigger psychotic episodes, particularly in those with predisposition. This is one of the best-documented psychological risks.
Active suicidal ideation or severe untreated PTSD — while some clinical research explores psychedelics for treatment-resistant conditions, this must happen in controlled clinical settings, not retreat environments.
Acute emotional crisis — ayahuasca intensifies existing emotional states. Entering ceremony during a period of acute grief, relationship crisis, or emotional breakdown can produce overwhelming and destabilizing experiences.
How to Evaluate a Retreat Center
Not all retreat centers are created equal. The difference between a responsible operation and a dangerous one can be difficult to assess from a website alone. Here are the concrete questions to ask and what the answers should tell you.
Medical Screening
Ask: "What is your medical screening process?" A responsible center will have a detailed intake form covering medications, psychiatric history, cardiovascular conditions, and substance use. They should ask about your current medications by name — not just "are you on any meds?" Some centers work with a medical professional who reviews submissions. If a center doesn't screen at all, walk away.
Facilitator Credentials
Ask: "Who leads the ceremonies, and what is their background?" In Colombia, the most culturally authentic ceremonies are led by a taita — a traditional healer from an indigenous community, typically from the Putumayo region. However, there are also experienced non-indigenous facilitators who have trained extensively under indigenous teachers.
What matters more than the label is the depth of training, the years of experience, and whether the facilitator has a verifiable track record. Be cautious of anyone who claims to be a "shaman" after a few months of study or a single apprenticeship trip.
Sober Support Staff
Ask: "Will there be sober staff present during the ceremony?" This is non-negotiable. There must be at least one person — ideally more, depending on group size — who is fully sober and trained to handle both physical and psychological emergencies. The facilitator leading the ceremony cannot be this person, as they may also be in an altered state or focused on the ceremony itself.
Group Size
Ask: "How many participants are in each ceremony?" Smaller groups receive more individualized attention. As a general guideline, there should be at least one sober staff member for every 5 to 8 participants. Ceremonies with 20+ participants and minimal staff are a red flag.
Emergency Protocol
Ask: "What is your emergency medical plan?" The center should be able to describe their protocol clearly: who calls for help, how they transport to a hospital, what the nearest medical facility is, what supplies they keep on-site (first aid, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter at minimum). If the retreat is in a remote area, ask how far the nearest hospital is and what transport options exist at night.
Red Flags to Watch For
These are warning signs that a retreat center may not be safe. Any single one should give you serious pause. Multiple red flags together should disqualify the center entirely.
Signs of a Responsible Center
What a Safe Ceremony Looks Like
While ceremonial styles vary between traditions, certain safety elements should be present regardless of the specific cultural framework.
Before the ceremony begins, the facilitator or staff should have a brief conversation with each participant — confirming they've followed dietary preparation, checking in on their mental state, and reviewing any concerns. First-time participants should receive additional orientation about what to expect physically and emotionally.
The ceremony space should be clean, well-ventilated, and arranged so that each participant has their own mat or sleeping area with a bucket or basin nearby for purging. Bathrooms should be accessible and well-lit. The space should be secure from outside intrusion.
During the ceremony, sober support staff should be visibly present and periodically checking on participants. Participants who are having difficulty should receive calm, grounded support — not being left alone in distress. Anyone who asks to leave should be allowed to, with a sober person to accompany them.
Dosing should be conservative for first-time participants, with the option to take a second, smaller cup later in the ceremony if the initial dose was insufficient. No one should be pressured to drink more than they're comfortable with. The facilitator should have a clear sense of how strong the particular batch is.
After the ceremony, participants should have time to rest and be monitored until the acute effects have subsided. A group sharing or integration circle the following day is common in many traditions and is valuable for processing the experience.
Understanding the Physical Risks
Beyond drug interactions — which are covered in detail in our drug interactions guide — ayahuasca carries several physical risks that every participant should understand.
Purging is the most common physical effect. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration if fluids aren't replaced. Electrolyte drinks and water should be available throughout the ceremony and the following day.
Cardiovascular effects include elevated heart rate and blood pressure during the experience. For healthy individuals, these changes are typically manageable. For anyone with underlying cardiovascular conditions, they can be dangerous.
Aspiration risk exists if a participant vomits while lying on their back and is too disoriented to turn over. Sober support staff should monitor for this, especially with participants who appear deeply sedated. This is one of the most important reasons for having sober staff present.
Falls and injuries can occur when participants attempt to walk while disoriented. The path to the bathroom should be well-lit, and sober staff should offer assistance to anyone who is unsteady.
Understanding the Psychological Risks
Ayahuasca can produce intensely challenging psychological experiences. This is not limited to people with pre-existing conditions — even psychologically healthy individuals can have profoundly difficult experiences.
Difficult emotional content — suppressed memories, grief, fear, or other intense emotions can surface during ceremony. This is often described as part of the healing process in traditional frameworks, but it can be overwhelming and destabilizing without proper support.
Persistent psychological effects — in rare cases, participants report lingering anxiety, depersonalization, or difficulty reintegrating into daily life for days or weeks after a ceremony. This is why integration support matters.
Psychotic episodes — for individuals with a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, psychedelics can trigger episodes that require psychiatric intervention. This risk is well-documented and is one of the primary reasons for thorough psychological screening.
Re-traumatization — for individuals with trauma histories, the experience can re-activate traumatic memories and emotional states. Without skilled facilitation and follow-up support, this can worsen rather than help post-traumatic symptoms.
The Issue of Sexual Abuse
This section exists because the problem is real and documented. Sexual abuse by facilitators during or after ayahuasca ceremonies has been reported across multiple countries, including Colombia. Participants are in an extremely vulnerable state — physically incapacitated, psychologically open, and often trusting the facilitator implicitly.
There is no ceremonial tradition — indigenous or otherwise — that involves sexual contact between a facilitator and a participant. Any facilitator who initiates or suggests sexual contact, physical intimacy, or private "healing sessions" involving physical touch of a sexual nature is committing abuse. Full stop.
Protect yourself by attending ceremonies with at least one person you trust, ensuring sober staff are present at all times, being cautious of private one-on-one sessions with facilitators, and trusting your instincts — if something feels wrong, it is wrong. If you experience or witness abuse, you have the right to leave immediately and report it to Colombian authorities.
Emergency Preparedness
Before attending any ceremony, you should have your own emergency plan in place — independent of whatever the retreat center provides.
Know the nearest hospital — its name, location, and how to get there. Have this information written down, not just stored on your phone.
Tell someone you trust where you are going, when you'll be there, and when you expect to return. Give them the address of the retreat center and a contact number.
Have travel insurance that covers your situation. Standard travel insurance may not cover events related to voluntary ingestion of psychoactive substances. Some specialized policies do — research this before you go.
Keep your phone charged and accessible. Any center that confiscates phones is showing a red flag. You may choose to keep it on silent during ceremony, but you should always have access to it.
Know the emergency number in Colombia: 123 for general emergencies, 132 for ambulance.
Aftercare & Integration
What happens after the ceremony matters as much as the ceremony itself. Integration — the process of making sense of your experience and incorporating insights into your daily life — is where lasting benefit comes from.
In the first 24 to 48 hours, rest and gentle activity are recommended. Many participants feel emotionally raw, physically tired, and mentally open. This is a normal part of the process. Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, and stressful social situations during this period.
In the first 1 to 2 weeks, journaling, meditation, time in nature, and conversations with trusted people can help process the experience. Emotions may continue to shift and surface during this time.
Working with an integration therapist — a mental health professional experienced with psychedelic experiences — can be enormously valuable. This is particularly important if the experience brought up traumatic material, produced confusing insights, or left you feeling destabilized. Many integration therapists work remotely and can be accessed from anywhere.
Read our Drug Interactions Guide for life-critical medication safety information. See our Preparation Guide for practical steps before ceremony. Check our Legal Status Guide for information about Colombia's legal framework.
Solo Ceremonies vs. Group Retreats
In Colombia, you'll encounter both options. Group retreats — typically 3 to 10 days with multiple ceremonies — are the most common format for foreign visitors. Solo ceremonies with a taita are more traditional and sometimes arranged through local contacts or referrals.
Group retreats offer more structure, typically include meals and accommodation, and are easier to research in advance. The trade-off is less individualized attention and the influence of group dynamics on your experience.
Solo or small-group ceremonies with an indigenous taita can offer a more traditional and intimate experience, but they may have fewer safety infrastructure elements — less likely to have dedicated sober staff, less likely to have formal medical screening, and harder to verify in advance. If you go this route, do your due diligence thoroughly and bring someone you trust.
Neither format is inherently better or worse. What matters are the safety practices of the specific facilitator and the specific setting.