Why Costa Rica Is a Top Destination for Ayahuasca Retreats
Native plants, world-class medical care, effortless travel and some of the most biodiverse landscapes on Earth: here is why so many travelers choose Costa Rica for their ayahuasca experience.
Ayahuasca Grows Naturally in Costa Rica
Some species connected to ayahuasca grow naturally in Costa Rica, including Psychotria species such as Psychotria alba and Psychotria cartagenensis, as well as the red vine type of ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis muricata.
Even if the tradition was not born here, ayahuasca represents something more than shamanism and more than any single culture. It is a plant that is free to travel wherever it wants, and it seems to have chosen Costa Rica for a reason.
The question of tradition remains open to debate. We have met Indigenous people in Costa Rica who recognized the taste of ayahuasca and told us that a concoction made from Banisteriopsis muricata is traditionally used for other purposes, such as emotional and mental balance and vitality. This makes sense: the harmine in the vine is known for bringing stability, calm and focus, and it gives energy to the whole body.
Top-Level Medical Attention and Peace of Mind
Costa Rica is one of the most advanced countries in Latin America in medical care. Many travelers come for dental treatments, surgeries and other procedures, and find specialized, professional and bilingual attention.
That matters for ayahuasca. If anything were to go wrong, which is not common, guests can be sure they have access to excellent hospitals and quality medical care. That is not something you can count on in the Peruvian jungle, and in Colombia it is neither as strong nor as easy to reach.
It is one of the reasons the best-known retreat centers here offer on-site medical and even psychological attention, which brings a real sense of responsibility and integrity to the practice.
Easy to Reach, Easy to Enjoy
Costa Rica is a small, highly educated country where people speak many languages, including English, German, French and even Chinese. Locals are friendly and hospitable, dollars are accepted almost everywhere (as are euros and credit cards), and private transportation is reliable. Public transport is also an option, just slower.
You can reach most retreats by Uber, and that is exactly how many of our guests arrive and leave, whether they are heading to the airport or their next stop. Reaching a retreat deep in the jungle, cut off from everything and sleeping in a hut, has its own beauty, but it is a very different experience. Imagine trying to order an Uber into the Amazon. Maybe an Uber boat?
A planned passenger train linking the Alajuela / San José area with the Pacific coast city of Puntarenas promises even more ways to travel in the future.
One of the Most Biodiverse Countries in the World
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, if not the most. Rainforests, volcanoes, canyons, rivers and two coastlines give you endless nature to appreciate and to help you integrate your experience. So many rivers run through the country that some people call it "Costa Rivers."
Is It "Authentic" Outside the Amazon?
Peru, where the Indigenous tradition comes from, remains the world's number one destination, and Brazil and Colombia are also very strong. In our experience Costa Rica has become the second most popular destination to drink ayahuasca, followed by Colombia, and there is a reason for that.
There is no need to feel that ayahuasca belongs to one specific area, or that you won't have an authentic experience anywhere else. All experiences can be authentic when you find responsible guides and a very experienced place that knows what it is doing, not only with Indigenous facilitators. Some centers bring shamans to Costa Rica for those who wish to drink with them, which shows a desire to keep the tradition close to its roots. At other centers, facilitators come from backgrounds such as psychology or medicine, which is also valuable.
Your Ayahuasca Retreat Vacation: Things to Do Around Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known worldwide as an exotic, paradisiac destination. Before or after your retreat you can:
Go to the beach, rent an ATV, explore canyons and volcanoes, hike, zip-line through the canopy or cross hanging bridges. The La Fortuna area is famous for its hot springs, where thermal mineral waters come directly from Mother Earth. Pools of different temperatures (hot, warm and cold), each with its own benefits, make a natural therapy: soak for a while in each one for a beautiful, restorative experience.
If you stay at an Airbnb afterwards, you will probably be hosted by a kind local family, which adds another layer of richness to your trip.
Final Thoughts: Plan Your Ayahuasca Retreat in Costa Rica
Costa Rica brings together everything a safe, responsible and beautiful ayahuasca experience needs, plus everything a memorable vacation deserves:
- Native plants connected to ayahuasca grow naturally here.
- Excellent medical care, bilingual and professional, for real peace of mind.
- Easy travel: airport transfers, Uber, dollars accepted and friendly people.
- Extraordinary biodiversity: rainforests, rivers, volcanoes and two coastlines.
- Adventure and relaxation: zip lines, hanging bridges, ATVs and thermal hot springs to help you integrate.
If you are looking for an ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica, we invite you to give it a try. Come for the medicine, stay for the country, and leave with an experience you will carry for life. We hope you enjoyed this post about traveling and about why Costa Rica deserves a place on your list as an ayahuasca destination.
Thank you for reading. Our blog is receiving a lot of views, and we are truly grateful to everyone who visits and reads our posts. We will keep sharing more articles like this one.
If you enjoyed this, you may also like our previous post: Is Everything We See During Ayahuasca Real?
With gratitude,
Andrés & the Casa de la Luz team