I had an amazing experience at a 7-day LaWayra retreat! The staff is so loving, professional, caring, and supportive. I felt like I was part of a family and I didn't want to leave. Taita Fernando and his medicine and music had such a powerful impact on me. I went through a major transformation at LaWayra and I am forever grateful. Don't hesitate to choose LaWayra for your deep healing journey!
I had an 11 day retreat at LaWayra and had a profound, amazing experience there thanks to the caring facilitators, thoughtful events structuring, beautiful space, and authentic traditional rituals. I can't say enough good things about LaWayra! Now having experienced what it can be like at other retreats, I have a newfound appreciation for how well the whole experience is curated there. Not all retreats are the same! I would recommend LaWayra wholeheartedly to anyone trying to select the ideal setting for their first ayahuasca experience. You will be in very good hands there.
I can’t recommend LaWayra enough!!!
I was very picky about where I wanted to do ayahuasca for the first time and spent a lot of time researching different retreats. LaWayra’s name kept coming up - now I can confidently say it’s not for nothing.
From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcomed, safe, and cared for. The volunteers and staff create such a warm and supportive vibe that it quickly felt like home.
A special thank you to Taita Fernando, who is truly incredible. His guidance, knowledge and his (and Nico’s!) music during the ceremonies was absolutely beautiful. It added so much to the experience.
I loved my time here so much that I ended up staying five extra nights because I simply didn’t want to leave. Being able to integrate in such a peaceful setting while spending more time with the amazing volunteers and staff was one of the best parts of my stay.
I’m so grateful to everyone at LaWayra for making my first ayahuasca experience so special. I have a feeling I’ll be back.
I came to Lawayra and didn't know what to expect. I went in blind, intentionally. I've struggled with interpersonal relationships for as long as I can remember and I came here 80 percent for the group word circles and 20 percent for the medicine.
I can't say enough about the kindness of the staff and volunteers: Sam, Mark, Claire, David, Mckenzie, Marcus, Taita Fernando, the kitchen staff, the grounds workers, and Nico (chief hugs officer).
The music, the yoga, the food, the nature, the fellow group members, all divine and amazing. Of course it's up to you to put your phone down and truly engage. Seriously, Mark wears many, many hats and he's brilliant in all of them. Listen when he speaks.
The shaman or Taita has been on training since he was seven. He's not some random who went and trained for a few months to learn how to give medicine.
I'm certain you won't find a more affordable retreat that will provide you with as much value. I think it was $800 for 7 days and 4 ceremonies. That includes a shared room and food. You can also choose to sleep in the maloka where the ceremonies take place. The weather is divine and the bugs don't eat you up. I didn't spend a single night in the shared rooms. They have showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, massages to book.
Connecting with the medicine will be your own experience. Lawayra provided everything I needed to feel safe and secure.
The shaman or Taita has been on training since he was seven. He's not some random who went and trained for a few months to learn how to give medicine.
Edit: July 5, 2026. I came back for another week and 4 more ceremonies. My experience is written below:
I came back to La Wayra hoping to learn more about myself. I left with something much deeper.
The facilitators created an environment that felt incredibly safe, loving, and grounded. At no point did I feel like I was being told what to believe. Instead, I was encouraged to surrender to my own experience and trust what arose.
Through the ceremonies, meditation, yoga, music, and group integration, I gained a deeper understanding of my own fear, shame, and the ways my nervous system has been shaped by childhood experiences. More importantly, I left with a greater sense of self-trust and a clearer understanding that love, service, and presence are the path I want to live.
The staff genuinely care about every participant. Their kindness, humility, and selfless service are felt in everything they do.
If you're looking for a place that approaches this work with respect, integrity, and compassion, I can't recommend La Wayra enough. I'm deeply grateful for the experience and know I'll carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life.
Incredible retreat. Very welcoming no matter where you come from in the world. The friendships that happen in just a week will last a lifetime. The ceremonies and the music are top notch. You will not regret your decision coming to Colombia and visiting LaWayra
An absolutely amazing place with competent and extremely kind and compassionate staff. This is a beautiful oasis in a beautiful country where you can be spiritually, mentally, and physically uplifted. I highly recommend LaWayra!
The land, the surrounding, the flora and the mountains all over around the retreat centre is something that literally blows your mind, and most of all I truly enjoyed the waterfalls nearby with its natural clay.
I was staying in a female shared dorm, which there is what you need while your staying, however I visited one of the private cabin from a friend I met there, and it was looking very comfortable.
The food was good, as well the kitchen staff very friendly and welcoming, greeting you with a ‘bienvenido’ at every meal.
The experience with the medicine has been mostly mild, yet gentle and profound, but I believe that each of us has different experience with the medicine in a different way.
The team, from Monica to all of them, offering integration, compassion and understanding. Taita, a gentle and knowledgeable Maestro. Oh and the music. Nico’s one too! Still resonating in my ❤️
If you are looking for a plant medicine retreat in Colombia, I would not hesitate to go to LaWayra.
I had a few experiences in different places and this one it has been the most gentle I’ve experienced.
Thank you LaWayra. Grateful to have been part of this journey with you.
I whole-heartedly recommend LaWayra for those looking for a life-changing and deeply transformative medicine retreat. I felt seen, safe and supported throughout my 7-day retreat. The staff and volunteers are wonderful people and well-trained facilitators, who demonstrate deep empathy and compassion both in and out of ceremony. They leave you enough room to have your own experience, but appear instantly if you enter some difficult territory, with a tissue, water, or just sitting with you while you are going through a rough patch. They provide a super-helpful prep course to get you ready for your retreat, and there is integration work and community to stay connected to afterwards. Taita Fernando and the staff set up a safe container for the work and hold space amazingly well in the comfy maloka. Taita is available for short meetings, if you have questions about your process. The food is tasty and nutritious, and the service staff was congenial and always helpful. It’s a lovely location in the lush mountains outside of Medellin. The grounds are beautiful, with great landscaping, flowers all around, a running stream that can be heard throughout the property, and plenty of hammocks and spaces to chill and enjoy the sounds of nature and the amazing views. Did I mention the pool and sauna? I’d recommend going for the private cabin, if you can spend the extra cash – it was a great refuge when I needed privacy and time to recover, integrate and rest. Could it be true that this place is deserving of so many 5-Star reviews (especially when I had read some haters on Reddit)?... Absolutely, yes!! Viva LaWayra!
Von der ersten Minute an absolut professionell und super gemacht. Es fängt schon an mit dem Survey und dem online Vorbereitungkurs. Man fühlt sich direkt gut aufgehoben. Ich habe das 7 Tage Retreat gemacht und ich kann es nur jedem ans Herz legen. Zuerst fande ich es etwas teuer aber als wir an dem Ort ankamen und ich gesehen habe wie schön und luxuriös es ist habe ich sofort verstanden dass der Preis absolut gerechtfertigt ist. Es ist nicht möglich zu beschreiben wie schön die Erfahrung war. Man muss es erlebt haben ❤️
Lawayra has been a transformative journey, exceeding my expectations and guiding me toward healing and growth, allowing me to confront past traumas and forge a path forward. I've formed profound bonds with the staff, volunteers, and clients, and been nourished by the chef's delicious food. Though I'll miss this place, I carry its lessons, gratitude, and love with me, empowered to continue evolving. I love my Cohort is an understatement.
Just not good vibes. Bathrooms were messy and smelled like sewage. They really really really crowded us in the space and barely got guidance. Just kind of felt like a mill to churn us through. The leaders were very condescending and super fake.
Derek and Suann Riviera maya travel assistant2026.05.08
I had the opportunity to experience LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat and it was honestly one of the most profound and beautiful experiences of my life.
From the moment I arrived, the staff and facilitators made me feel welcomed, safe, and genuinely cared for. The entire environment is peaceful, grounding, and deeply connected to nature, which really helps you disconnect from the outside world and focus inward.
The ceremonies were conducted with a great deal of respect, professionalism, and heart. You can feel that the people involved truly care about healing, personal growth, and creating a safe space for everyone there. Even through challenging moments, I always felt supported.
The accommodations, food, and overall organization were excellent, and the sense of community that forms with the other participants is something very special. The experience gave me a lot of reflection, gratitude, and inner clarity.
If you are considering this path and are looking for a retreat that feels authentic, welcoming, and well organized, I highly recommend LaWayra. It’s an experience I will never forget
Lawayra is an incredible retreat center for first timers and the experienced. The facilities are fabulous. the Maloka is spacious and serene with plenty of toilets for the patients. The cabins are well done, common areas are inviting, the pool is clean and refreshing and the recently installed sauna a special treat. The abundant flowers and trees create a garden like atmosphere. The real treasure of the center is the community of volunteers and staff who are understanding, competent, nurturing, experienced and create a safe welcoming environment. Taita Fernandez is special, tailors each ceremony for every patient, is quite approachable and he is an incredible musician. I recently completed a week long retreat and recommend this center for anyone interested in an amazing ayahuasca experience.
I had a vision to seek out a shaman and he happed to be at Lawayra
Now I have very bad memory I have not left my house in 15 years. Let alone go-to Columbia.
I've had a lot of pain in my life. And I have went throw colon cancer 16 years ago. And my shaman and I did a spirit quest 2 years ago. So I made up my mind.
Then I finley had the money to go on a 7 day retreat. Now it was scary at first. But I book the Taxi and holte. I felt very safe.
On my arrival I was treated with kindness. And after a very short time I felt Loved. Sam has gone way out on the limb. To make one of the best Ayahuasca experience. To make you feel safe.
The security there was amazing. I felt like I was home. And OMG the view. Sam is all in on this dream of his. And it's done amazing job on me.
And Sam even let me Beta test his spa with him. A very clean place. And the food is amazing.
This is not a place you go-to get high. It's one of the best healing retreats. They slowly give you medicine. To see how your body will react. At the same time monitor your blood pressure. They
Take notes on how they can help you.
Me myself I had spinal meningitis in 1988 and my mind is messed up my memory is shot. And my life was at it's end.
This retreat made me hole again. I gain so much insite. Even my stop hurting. My bowl movement went back to normal on the 3 night.
The pool was perfect. And the staff was supper good. O did I tell you about the clay bath. You be so invigorated by it. Then on the last Ayahuasca ceremony we did a herbal bath. My skin never been this soft.
My metal state has improved a great deal My overall body has improved a great deal I would suggest anyone having personal problems to addiction to feeling lonely or not loved or don't know how to love this place is for you if you've been raped or been beaten this is the place for you.
And with all this Sam working on adding a ice bath.
And they have a great store. You got to try this place.
And if you see a bad review on this place. Some times people come with a chip on there shoulder. And not with a open mind. Sam has went all out. And he not doing it for him self or money. He doing it to heal people.
I came here a broken hearted man. Ready to die. And I left a totally new person. Loving life.
And I want to thank all the Staff. I never felt so loved in my life.
And by the way. Go with a 7 day + retreat and get the most amazing body massage.
This is a honest review. I was not bribed on anyway to leave a good review. If you look at my reviews counts. I have aways told the truth. They get 5 STAR review. A must go place for a Ayahuasca retreat to HEAL.
I am looking for the proper words to explain my journey in Lawayra ! professional volunteers, amazing people, beautiful environment, safe place to get the experience, full of LOVE and humanity … reasonable cost, proper behaviours, right attitude, oh my GOD , all together … this was my experience with them for 2 ceremonies. Nicko , Taita, Monica and others provided such a wonderful experience for each of us. If you are looking for a unique experience in your life, don’t hesitate to register for this journey. I am planning to visit them again next year and actually it was very hard to say goodbye to this amazing team. I am blessed I simply googled them and found such an amazing place to experience the medicine . I am open to share my experience with you in case you would like to know more about my journey. Highly recommended … you can trust them from the first minute you start your journey with them …
I went for an 11 day retreat at LaWayra and, summed up in one sentence it was the best decision and most profound experience of my life thus far. I felt safe immediately. The team is nothing short of miraculous. The volunteers and facilitators the care of everyone with so much kindness and respect that I had tears of joy in my eyes at times. They are all very responsible, mindful and are always immediately, quietly, and unobtrusively at your side if you need any help.
Taita Fernando (the shaman) is an extraordinary, kind and wise man for whom I have the highest respect and love. You are in very good hands with him. The best hands in fact.
In terms of facilities I found LaWayra wonderful as well. All that was important was there. Excellent food. I had a cozy cabin. The location is breathtaking with a view of the whole valley that I could never get enough of.
To sum it all up: if you ever want to get away from everything for a while to venture inside of yourself, learn, grow, and work on whatever it is you feel you need to work on, I can think of absolutely no better and safer place than LaWayra.
Many thanks to the entire staff, to Taita Fernando, and to the founder, Sam, for creating this wonderful space and for holding it with such heart and soul. I'll definitely be back.
If you received the call from mother Ayahuasca THIS is the place to go. No words can decide what paradise and safe place Sam and his team have created here. Come, trust, heal. With love.
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