Sacha Wasi

In December 2024, I embarked on a three-day retreat that forever changed my life. I waited a couple of months before writing this review to truly absorb and understand the impact of the experience. Looking back, I can say with certainty, the plant medicine worked.​

Before arriving in Ecuador, I was in a dark place, trapped in the cycle of pushing forward, staying busy, and trying to "stay strong." Even with talk therapy, I never fully released the weight of my emotional pain—I only kept it contained. But deep down, I was on the verge of collapse. I came to this retreat seeking relief, seeking guidance, and what I found was something far more profound than I ever expected.

Through the ayahuasca ceremony, I confronted and purged the deepest trauma that had been silently consuming me. It was intense (mentally, physically, and emotionally) but it was necessary, and I unearthed a newfound peace and clarity that words cannot fully capture. The plant medicine worked in ways I never imagined possible. I wake up every day feeling lighter, freer, and profoundly grateful. This retreat was a turning point, a sacred journey that set me on a path of healing and renewal.

Beyond the ceremony itself, every aspect of the retreat nourished my soul:
- The Amazon rainforest, alive and powerful, offered a healing environment.
- The indigenous community welcomed us with warmth and generosity. Their wisdom, expertise, and guidance through the ceremony and after were invaluable.
- The food was fresh, healthy, and prepared with care.
- The accommodations were comfortable, allowing space for reflection and rest.
- I was surrounded by a small, supportive group of fellow participants who embraced the experience with openness and courage. Their presence made the journey even more meaningful, and I think of them often.

I cannot recommend Sacha Wasi enough. If you feel called to this experience, trust that call. It may challenge you, but on the other side, you just might find the freedom you have been seeking. Read More

At the very beginning, of course, I was wary of my trip. This is the first experience for me, I have never tried it before. I was worried about safety and people.

As soon as I arrived, I was met by two girls - Maya and Ola. They were very friendly, open and natural. Without any "magic" or ego regarding their stay here. They said that they also learn something here every day. Later we met the group, there were 6 of us at the beginning (three came for the weekend, and three others stayed for the whole week, I was there the whole week). The two girls gave us a tour of the whole wonderful place, and then we had an integration session. That same evening, we had our first ayahuasca.

At the integration, we met several members of the Kichuwa (not sure if i write it correctly) tribe, they were also simple and natural. At the first and second night ceremony, there were many people who were present to help if anything happened.

All 7 days went great. There were 2 ayahuasca ceremonies, 1 San Pedro and 1 of your choice. Three times a day delicious and pure food, in our free time we went to a waterfall, to an observation deck in the mountains, to a chocolate and coffee farm. All this was in a group with locals from the tribe. They were with us when needed - on excursions, ceremonies, integration sessions; communicated in Spanish (there is a translator).

Regarding the ceremonies themselves

1) Ayahuasca #1 went just without incident
2) Ayahuasca #2 was a mind-blowing experience for me. I experienced what is called a bad trip (about which you can find a lot of impressions on the Internet). But! In addition to the fact that the trip was bad, the realization itself was simply supernatural. I study philosophy and religions, and in this trip I saw all the mythological, religious and philosophical patterns, and how they manifest from the indescribable THAT into material conceptual units of this being.
But not everyone experiences a bad trip. We had one girl crying during the integration from love she felt during Ayahuasca.
3) Psilocybin - I came for it (i wanted to do this mostly), not knowing who it was and what it was. It was a life-changing experience. It led me by the hand to the problem that I did not even suspect. Compared to Ayahuasca, Psilocybin is very kind and gentle. I was very lucky that there were 4 more people next to me who took San Pedro. As Byron, the head of the Kichawa tribe (he accompanied us at the ceremony and then we talked with him during the integration), said: San Pedro is a grandfather, and Psilocybin is a child. Therefore, what happened to me was right. It so happened that I experienced my birth. Anew, and in a new way. Having been completely rejected at my own birth, not knowing my parents, I saw that I had this problem: no connection with the world and with myself. And then I experienced my birth with these people next to me, two of whom suddenly became my parents, and two - my ancestors (of course, they did not know this, but what Psilocybin showed me, and how others behaved with me - all this was indescribably correct). I was born into a perfect world full of love, a paradise. I lived my grief fully, even enjoying it. I couldn't believe, it is at all could be possible. Later, i lived LOVE. Whole my existence was immersed and absorbed into LOVE. I felt in by every cell of me, every particle. If with Ayahuasca i saw some beyond-the-word existential philosophical patterns, with Psilocybin i saw beyond-the-word LOVE. Fraternal and MAternal patterns. And i understood, you can study philosophy million of years, but if you don't have LOVE LIVED within you, you cannot achieve Father. Unfortunately, so many ppl live without this love. I wish, ppl with depression, suicidal intentions etc etc, could have this experience. It costs million of hours of psychotherapy.
4) San Pedro. It did not affect me in an obvious way. But, probably, I lived with it all the emotions when I was a psilocybin child. San Pedro gave me some kind of meditative state literally for an hour and that's it.

Everything was good. People are kind, the local tribe is kind, helpful. Everything was safe, soft. Yes, there was a bad trip, but it ended well. I think with Ayahuasca, everyone should decide for themselves. It works straight and sometimes in an unpleasant way... I can't answer for everyone... Be careful.

I don't want to try anything yet, but if I suddenly wanted to try medicine again, I would come to these people. I was very lucky to choose this place for my first experience. Read More

Unlocked so many parts of my mind and body that haven't been seen or felt in so many years. Wonderful people and a truly amazing place. So much to unpack from this and I am noticing so many things now being back home. The Amazon is a truly wonderful place and the people are so in touch with it. Thank you again so much for having me there and one day I will be back. Read More

I attended the Sacha Wasi weekend retreat in December 2024 and it was everything I hoped for. They definitely know what they are doing. The whole process, starting with booking and having all my questions answered, having a pre-retreat call, getting support and information during the retreat itself thanks to Maya who volunteers there and the local community, and finishing with the ceremonies themselves and the post-retreat integration was great and smooth! It was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend Sacha Wasi to seekers who are interested in this type of experience. Read More

There is a distinct magic to Sacha Wasi. It is located on a small island in the Puyo River and accessed by canoe. I came here because I wanted an authentic, rustic experience not a "gated community" with all the bells and whistles. The sound of the river is always with you as are the calls of the various birds dwelling in the lush canopy. Accommodation is surprisingly comfortable and, as long as there is power, the internet and hot water work well. Ecuador is very dependent on hydro electricity so the more it rains, the more power there is.
The Kichwa are an incredibly friendly and gentle people who always greet you with a smile whilst their little children will jump up for a hug or play games with you. Spanish is the common tongue and a translator is available for the integration sessions.
Food is both plentiful and nutritious and served three times a day with a smile. The extra curricular activities are nearby and great fun and, for me, the afternoon trip into the heart of the jungle was a highlight and the abundance and variety of food producing plants was amazing. Pineapple, papaya, sugar cane, bananas, yuca, cacao, all growing in close proximity to each other.
Jungle time is "slow" and you will have ample time to relax and digest the fascinating internal experience that occurs as you dive into the plant medicines.
It is a matter of "trusting the process" as the plants link naturally together. Ayahuasca allows an inner "cleansing" to take place before one's heart opens to the world of spirit. For me, at 70, it was an experience like no other as years of "set patterns of thought and beliefs" loosened up and I looked into the mirror at who I was. The space created allowed for new light to shine and each day brought fresh epiphanies. In between "plant ceremonies" there was always a rest day and through journaling and contemplation a different way of being emerged for me and when the day came to leave I felt refreshed, rejuvenated and with a clear path forward for my 8th decade!.
Sacha Wasi is not a "spa".....it is the home of deeply spiritual, indigenous, people who are committed to the sharing of their wisdom regarding natural plant medicines. If you are ready to be vulnerable, to "work on yourself" and explore your inner world then I would strongly recommend making your way to this little gem in the Ecuadorean jungle. Jesus, Byron, Michelle, Andrea, Jessica and many others make you feel at home right away and are always available if you need anything while you are there. Namaste, Charles
PS If you fly into Quito I suggest that you get Andres to pick you up and transport you to Sacha Wasi. A delightful, soulful, young man who is full of interesting information on the local culture and a pleasure to spend time with. Read More