Ayahuasca in France: What to Know Before You Travel
There is no legal ayahuasca retreat in France. Since 2005 the plants used to make ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis among them, have been on the French list of narcotics (stupéfiants), and in February 2026 the French regulator ANSM added the word "Ayahuasca" itself to that list. That is why many people in France who look for ayahuasca en France travel abroad: to an ayahuasca retreat in Spain, about two and a half hours from Paris by direct flight, or to Peru, where the tradition comes from.
This guide explains the French law, what to know about a "retraite ayahuasca" advertised in France, and how to choose a retreat abroad, with flights, prices and the questions to ask before you pay.
- Since 2005Plants banned in France
- Feb 2026"Ayahuasca" listed by name
- 1 year, €3,750Maximum penalty for use
- Is it legal in France?
- "Retraite ayahuasca"
- Spain or Peru
- Europe by country
- Travelling from France
- Five questions to ask
- Cost
- FAQ
How ayahuasca became a narcotic in France
- 1990DMT listedDMT goes on the French list of narcotics.
- April 2005The plants listedA ministerial order lists the ayahuasca vine, the leaves and their alkaloids.
- February 2026"Ayahuasca" by nameThe ANSM puts the word "Ayahuasca" at the head of the entry.
- June 20265-MeO-DMT listedThe molecule in many "ayahuasca vapes" is banned too.
Sources: ANSM list of narcotics, Annex IV; order of 20 April 2005; ANSM decisions of 6 February and 9 June 2026. Full links are at the end of this article.
What Is Ayahuasca, and Why Is It Banned in France?
Ayahuasca is a brew from the Amazon made from two plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which contains harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, and leaves that contain DMT, usually Psychotria viridis. The compounds of the vine block the MAO-A enzyme in the body, which is what lets the DMT take effect when you drink it. Without the vine, the leaves alone have no effect.
Most countries control DMT and leave the plants alone. France went further: it lists both plants, the other plants used in similar brews and the alkaloids of the vine. So in France ayahuasca is a drug (une drogue, in the words of most French headlines) whether or not anyone measures the DMT in it.
Is Ayahuasca Legal in France?
No. To the question many people type in French, "ayahuasca, légal en France ?", the answer is non. Annex IV of the French list of narcotics names these plants and compounds:
The plants and alkaloids were added by a ministerial order of 20 April 2005; a decision of the ANSM of 6 February 2026 put the word "Ayahuasca" at the head of the entry. DMT itself has been on the list since 1990.
Using a narcotic is an offence in France, with a maximum of one year in prison and a €3,750 fine, and since 2019 the police can also issue an on-the-spot fixed fine of €200 for use or for a small quantity. Importing, transporting, offering or selling narcotics carries much heavier penalties.
Ayahuasca, DMT and 5-MeO-DMT
Ayahuasca is a brew of two plants. DMT is one of its active compounds. 5-MeO-DMT is a different molecule, and products sold online under names such as "ayahuasca vape" often contain it. Since 10 June 2026 5-MeO-DMT is also on the French list of narcotics: its production, sale and use are banned, whatever the label says.
How France compares with the rest of Europe
Under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, pure DMT is controlled, but the International Narcotics Control Board confirmed in 2010 that plant preparations such as ayahuasca are not under international control. Each country decides for itself, and France has chosen the strictest rule.
In Spain, ayahuasca is not listed as a controlled substance: neither the brew nor the plants are on the national lists, and in the published rulings of Málaga in 2021, Madrid in 2025 and Almería in 2026 Spanish courts acquitted the people charged. In 2025 the High Court of Justice of Madrid stated that ayahuasca, under that name, is not a controlled substance in Spain. See the court rulings on ayahuasca in Spain.
Ayahuasca Ceremonies in France: What a "Retraite Ayahuasca" Really Is
Despite the law, ceremonies are advertised in France under names such as "retraite ayahuasca", "retraite chamanique" or "cérémonie ayahuasca", often for a weekend in a rented house in the countryside. Because the plants and the brew are narcotics in France, possession and supply are offences, so neither organisers nor guests have legal protection.
French courts apply the law to these ceremonies. On 2 May 2018 the criminal court of Vesoul, in Haute-Saône, convicted a Peruvian shaman and the French organiser of a ceremony of importing ayahuasca and sentenced each to twelve months in prison, ten of them suspended. Customs officers had stopped their car in October 2016 and found five bottles of ayahuasca on the day the shaman was due to lead a ceremony for about 25 people in the Vosges.
In a private house nobody checks the people who run a session: there is no required health questionnaire, no one asks which medications you take, and when the weekend ends you are on your own.
Many listings for a "retraite ayahuasca France" do not say in which country the ceremonies happen. Ask before you pay: a serious retreat tells you exactly where you will be, who will lead the ceremonies and how you will be supported afterwards.
Where Do People From France Go for an Ayahuasca Retreat?
From France, two destinations come up again and again: Spain, which is next door and keeps you in your own time zone, and Peru, where the Shipibo tradition comes from. Both programs at APL are run in English, from the screening questionnaire to the sharing circles, so fluent English is needed for either.
Spain or Peru: how the two compare from France
- ParisOrly or CDG
- Seville or Málaga≈ 2.5 h flight
- Retreatgroup transfer
- ≈ 2.5 hFlight
- 0 hTime difference
- 7 daysLength
- ParisCDG
- Lima12.5–13 h non-stop
- Pucallpadomestic flight
- Campgroup transfer
- 12.5–13 hLong-haul flight
- −6/7 hTime difference
- 8–12 daysLength
| Compare | Spain (Andalusia) | Peru (Amazon, near Pucallpa) |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Direct flights from Paris to Seville (about 2.5 hours) and to Málaga | Air France non-stop from Paris to Lima, about 12.5 to 13 hours, then a domestic flight to Pucallpa |
| Time difference | None | 6 to 7 hours behind France |
| Visa for French citizens | None (Schengen) | None for a tourist stay of up to 90 days; passport valid for 6 months |
| Format | 7 days, four ceremonies | 8-day retreat or 12-day master plant dieta |
| Group | Up to 15 guests | 6 to 12 guests |
| Price from | €2,650 (dates and rooms) | $2,900 (dates and rooms) |
| Legal status | Not listed as a controlled substance; courts have acquitted people in ayahuasca cases | Traditional use declared part of the National Cultural Heritage in 2008 |
Spain: a short flight, same time zone
APL's 7-day ayahuasca retreat in Spain takes place at an oceanfront venue in Andalusia, in groups of up to 15. Peruvian maestros of the Shipibo lineage lead four ceremonies, and on-site therapists work alongside them in a non-clinical role. For most guests from France it fits into one week of holiday: fly out on the first day, take the group transfer in the afternoon, and be home seven days later.
Peru: the full Amazon setting
APL's 8-day ayahuasca retreat in Peru and the 12-day master plant dietas take place at our own camp in the forest near Pucallpa, in the region where the Shipibo live, in groups of 6 to 12. In Peru the traditional knowledge and use of ayahuasca by Amazonian communities has been part of the National Cultural Heritage since 2008. Expect heat, a long journey and the forest all around you, and plan well over a week away from work, travel days included.
Which one fits you?
If this is your first ceremony, if you have one week, or if a long-haul flight is not an option, Spain is the easier choice. If you want the forest itself, more time with the maestros, or a dieta with master plants, Peru is worth the extra travel.
Ayahuasca Retreats With the Shipibo Tradition
Ayahuasca Retreats in Europe: What Is Open to Travellers From France?
The law differs from country to country, and most of Europe controls the brew through DMT. France goes further and lists the plants. Spain is the exception that matters: ayahuasca is not listed as a controlled substance there, neither the brew nor the plants are on the national lists, Spanish courts have acquitted the people charged in published rulings, and it is where Peruvian maestros of the Shipibo lineage most often hold ceremonies in Europe.
| Destination | Legal status of ayahuasca | What this means for a retreat |
|---|---|---|
| Spain (Andalusia) | Not listed as a controlled substance; Spanish courts have acquitted people in ayahuasca cases | Ceremonies can take place openly; Peruvian maestros of the Shipibo lineage hold retreats here. Ayahuasca retreat in Spain |
| Portugal | Possession for personal use is decriminalised; ceremonies are not regulated | Some retreats operate, but there is no legal framework for them. Ayahuasca retreats in Portugal |
| Peru | Traditional use declared part of the National Cultural Heritage in 2008 | Retreats take place openly in the Amazon. Ayahuasca retreat in Peru |
| France | Illegal: the plants, their alkaloids and, since 2026, the word "Ayahuasca" are on the list of narcotics | Not a legal option |
| Netherlands | Illegal: DMT is on List I of the Opium Act; the Supreme Court upheld an import conviction in 2019 | Not a legal option. Ayahuasca in the Netherlands |
| United Kingdom | Illegal: DMT is a Class A drug | Not a legal option. Ayahuasca law in the UK |
Legal status as of November 2026. Details and sources for each country: ayahuasca legality by country.
Travelling to Spain From France
- FlightsTransavia and Vueling fly direct from Paris Orly to Seville in about two and a half hours, and there are direct flights from Paris to Málaga too. Schedules change by season, so check your dates on the airline's site.
- Getting to the venueOn the first day a shared group transfer leaves Málaga (about 2 h 30 min to the venue) or Seville (about 1 h 40 min to 2 h). The car is paid by the group: about €280 from Seville or €320 from Málaga for up to 8 people, shared between the guests in it.
- When to bookWait for your application to be approved, then book your flights.
- DocumentsA valid French passport or French identity card is enough for Spain.
- Coming homeLeave yourself at least three quiet days before you go back to work.
What Participants From France Say
"You are in good hands with very professional and experienced people, who deeply know what they are doing. They have at heart to do it in the pure Amazonian tradition and spirit… The shaman and the crew deeply take care of you during the ceremonies, you are in a totally safe space."
"When my journey got bumpy and scary I was guided and supported with kindness and patience… I am truly grateful for all that had happened there."
"The kindness and compassion that was provided to every single participant was amazing… It was the most profound, life-changing week of my life."
Verified reviews from REVIEWS.io, shortened.
Can I Bring Ayahuasca Back to France?
No. The brew, the plants and their alkaloids are narcotics in France, so bringing them into the country, in your luggage or by post, is an offence. The 2018 Vesoul case was about exactly this: bottles of ayahuasca brought into France for a ceremony.
The brew stays at the retreat. What you bring home is the experience itself, and the group chat and group call with the team that continue after you are back in France.
Choosing a Safe Ayahuasca Retreat From France: Five Questions to Ask
Ceremonies are easy to find from France; the hard part is telling a serious retreat from a weekend in a rented house. Before you pay anyone, ask these five questions.
- Where exactly do the ceremonies take place?Only a country where they can happen openly gives you legal protection.
- Who leads them?Ask for the names of the maestros, their lineage and how long they have trained. A real shaman (chaman) belongs to a living lineage and can tell you who taught them.
- Will someone read your health questionnaire before accepting you?Antidepressants and some other medications can interact with ayahuasca, so a serious retreat asks about them. Talk to your doctor (médecin traitant) before you change anything.
- What happens after you are back in France?Look for group calls, a chat with the team and integration support at home.
- Can you read reviews from guests from France?Look for them on an independent platform such as REVIEWS.io or Google.
A longer checklist is in our guide to the best ayahuasca retreats, and how APL handles screening and support is on our safety page.
How Much Does an Ayahuasca Retreat Cost From France?
The full cost of a retreat abroad is the program price, a return flight, any transfer and travel insurance.
Per person in a shared apartment; €3,300 in a private room and €3,500 in a larger private apartment with a private terrace. Accommodation, meals, four ceremonies, preparation and integration support are included. On top: your flight and your share of the airport transfer.
The 8-day retreat starts from $2,900 and the 12-day dieta from $3,800, with the group transfer from the Pucallpa hotel to the camp included. The long-haul flight to Lima and the domestic flight to Pucallpa come on top.
Typical retreat prices in 2026, for comparison
- Weekend, 2 to 3 days, 1 to 2 ceremonies (Europe)€400 to 1,000Cheap, but rarely includes screening, preparation or integration.
- 5 to 7 days, 3 to 4 ceremonies (Europe)€1,500 to 3,500The usual format for a full retreat.
- 8 to 12 days in the Amazon (Peru)from about $2,900Plus long-haul flights.
A weekend "retraite" in France may look cheaper, but the price leaves out what makes a retreat safe: screening, preparation, support afterwards and legal protection. How prices compare worldwide: see our guide to ayahuasca retreat costs.
About APL Journeys
APL Journeys has held ayahuasca retreats in Spain since 2017 and runs its own camp in the Peruvian Amazon. Every application goes through a screening questionnaire and a review before acceptance. Before the program, accepted guests join a group chat and a call with the team; afterwards the chat stays open and a group call with a therapist is included.
Questions about which program fits you? Email us or message us on WhatsApp.
