Ayahuasca Retreats in Portugal: Best Ceremonies for 2025

Ayahuasca (or «iowaska» / «ayawaska») retreats in Portugal are spread across some of the country’s most beautiful and culturally rich regions, making the journey as much about the environment as the ceremony itself. Around Lisbon, the capital, many centers and private groups host ceremonies in the surrounding countryside, taking advantage of secluded villas and nature spaces just outside the busy city. In the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, retreats often combine the power of the medicine with the calming atmosphere of the ocean, offering a setting that attracts international visitors seeking both healing and relaxation.

Moving north, the Porto area and the lush landscapes of northern Portugal provide a different kind of retreat experience, often set in traditional estates or countryside camps surrounded by vineyards and green valleys. The Alentejo region, with its vast rolling plains, cork oak forests, and slow pace of life, is another favored spot for plant medicine work, known for its stillness and sense of grounding. Together, these hubs, Lisbon, Algarve, Porto, and Alentejo, represent the main destinations where seekers can access ayahuasca ceremonies, each offering its own unique atmosphere and energy to support deep inner work. If you plan to drink ayahuasca in Portugal, below you will find our recommendations about this medicine drink in this region

Portugal has a relatively flexible approach to psychoactive substances, and this softer stance extends in part to the shamanic tea of ayahuasca. Thanks to the presence of groups like the Santo Daime church, which have helped normalize its ceremonial use, ayahuasca has found a small but steady place in Portugal’s alternative healing landscape. As a result, several retreat centers now operate in the country, offering guided ceremonies within this legal area.

Ayahuasca retreat prices in Portugal span a wide spectrum, ranging from relatively budget-friendly options for curious souls to ultra-luxury experiences for those seeking premium care.

• Affordable and mid-range experiences or «weekend retreats»: Some retreats begin at around €640 for packages that include plant medicine sessions like aya, Kambo, or Sananga, often spanning 5 days. Another example is a 7-day retreat in the Algarve featuring ayahuasca, yoga, meditation, and horse-assisted therapy, starting at approximately US$996 (around €900–€1,000 depending on exchange rates). This will probably be more of an eco camp than a truly comfortable retreat place.

• Moderately priced introspective retreats: Another retreat center offers a deeply introspective 9-day tour with prices beginning at about US$2,199 (approx. €2,000).

• Ultra-luxury, all-inclusive experiences: At the high end of the market, Behold Retreats commands a steep investment of about US$7,800 (approximately €7,200–€7,500) per person for a weeklong, all-inclusive ayahuasca journey, including pre-retreat preparation, airport transfers, private consultations, multiple ceremonies, meals by a chef, yoga, breathwork, and integration workshops.

If you’re considering joining an ayahuasca retreat in Portugal, you probably have some practical questions in mind. Below we answer the most common ones, covering safety, legality, costs, and what to expect during your experience.

Ayahuasca is not officially legal in Portugal because it contains DMT, a controlled substance. However, possession for personal use is decriminalized, creating a legal gray area where some retreats operate discreetly.

Ayahuasca ceremonies can be found across Portugal, especially in areas known for wellness tourism and natural retreats. Many centers operate around Lisbon and its surroundings, while others are located in the Algarve with its tranquil coastal setting. In the north near Porto, retreats are often hosted in quiet countryside estates. You can also find gatherings in the heart of Alentejo, famous for its rolling hills and peaceful landscapes. While ceremonies remain discreet due to the legal gray area, these key regions, Lisbon, Algarve, Porto, and Alentejo, are the main hubs for ayahuasca in Portugal.

Yes, many people find that choosing an ayahuasca retreat for their holidays can be one of the most meaningful and transformative ways to spend that special time. Instead of a typical holiday focused only on rest or entertainment, an ayahuasca retreat combines relaxation with deep personal growth, healing, and cultural immersion.

If you are seeking more than just another holiday at the beach or in the city, this experience can turn your holidays into a journey of self-discovery. Many participants share that their holidays at a retreat helped them return home with a new perspective, more balance, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Of course, whether a psychedelic retreat is the right way to spend your holidays depends on your personal goals. If you want your holidays to be both restorative and transformative, then this can be a life-changing choice.

The recommended protocol for preparation involves caring for your body, mind, and spirit before the retreat. Traditionally, this is called the dieta and it helps create the best possible conditions for the ayahuasca experience.

• Dietary preparation: It is recommended to follow a clean diet at least 1–2 weeks before the retreat. This usually means avoiding pork, alcohol, recreational drugs, processed foods, very spicy or fried meals, and excessive salt or sugar. Lighter foods like vegetables, rice, fish, and fruit are preferred.

• Medication review: Certain medications, especially antidepressants (SSRIs, MAOIs, etc.), stimulants, and some painkillers, can be dangerous in combination with ayahuasca. Always consult with the retreat facilitators and, if needed, your doctor.

• Emotional and mental preparation: Journaling, meditation, and setting clear intentions are highly recommended. Entering with respect, openness, and clear goals often makes the healing process deeper and more meaningful.

• Physical well-being: Getting enough rest, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding heavy stressors before arrival will help your body adjust smoothly.

Overall, the recommended protocol is to approach preparation with discipline, humility, and self-care. This ensures that your ayahuasca retreat becomes not only safe but also profoundly transformative. Learn more in the complete preparation guide carefully prepared by APL Journeys Center. Click here.

No, they are not the same. While both ayahuasca and DMT involve the powerful psychoactive molecule dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the context and experience are very different.

• Ayahuasca retreats are based on an authentic traditional Amazonian brew that combines DMT-containing plants with others that make the experience orally active. Ceremonies are usually guided by experienced healers (gurus), often following Shipibo or other indigenous traditions, and include ritual, music (icaros), and a structured setting for healing and self-discovery.

• DMT retreats (sometimes called “DMT ceremonies”) usually involve inhaling or vaporizing synthetic or extracted DMT. The experience is extremely short and intense (about 10–20 minutes), but it lacks the long process, integration, and ritual context of an ayahuasca retreat.

For those seeking deep healing and a transformative journey, an ayahuasca retreat is generally recommended over a DMT retreat, as it provides more time, structure, and support for integration.

Ayahuasca often brings about deep psychological transformation by creating a safe space to face and release unresolved emotions, memories, or patterns. Many participants describe feeling as though layers of old pain or trauma are lifted, giving way to clarity, self-acceptance, and a renewed sense of purpose. It can also help reduce anxiety, depression, and repetitive negative thinking, while fostering compassion for oneself and others.

Unlike a medical clinic that focuses mainly on symptom management, an ayahuasca retreat offers a ceremonial and holistic environment where emotional healing is supported on multiple levels - physical, mental, and spiritual. That said, many retreat centers now integrate elements of clinical safety, such as thorough health screening and professional support, to ensure participants are cared for responsibly.

Psychological change does not happen only in the ceremony itself. True transformation unfolds through integration therapy - the ongoing process of applying insights from the retreat into daily life, often with therapeutic or community support. In this way, the retreat can feel like both a sacred space and, in some sense, a compassionate “clinic for the soul.”

Ayahuasca is called the Mother of Amazonian plants because indigenous traditions see it as a nurturing teacher that guides, protects, and reveals what a person needs for healing. It is also considered the central plant of the jungle, opening the path to work with other medicinal plants and offering wisdom much like a caring mother.

No, ayahuasca retreats are not medical rehab clinics. However, many people struggling with addiction or emotional pain report that it helps them uncover root causes and begin healing. When combined with therapy and continued support, it can complement traditional rehabilitation approaches.