Vikara’s location is also vastly unique from other retreat centers in Ecuador. We are right on the beach in Olon, which makes our ceremonies have an extra special magical sensory and energetic element. Our brand new retreat center is luxurious and upscale, with private suites, emperor king-sized beds, private bathrooms, air-conditioning, hot showers and wifi. Our property also features a swimming pool, ceremonial Maloka, sweat lodge, garden, an amazing yoga shala overlooking the ocean and a community area featuring our dining area and lounge space to relax in. With a spa-like feel to your retreat, you’ll feel like royalty on your journey towards joy, relaxation, clarity, and personal growth.
Each plant medicine retreat features a Shaman from a different region of Ecuador, offering diversity in ceremonies that no other retreat center offers. Every ceremony is different, and each shaman has a particular way of guiding these sacred journeys. All of the shamans we work with are incredibly skilled and experienced, and have performed countless healing ceremonies with many people from all aspects of life.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Healthy, nutritious meals catered to your dietary needs.
As Hippocrates said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” At Vikara, food is art and central to our well-being.
“There are corporeal, organic things that need to be cleared before you can see the essential,” Jan Kounen says in the book The Psychotropic Mind: The World According to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism. His words poetically sum up why it’s important to physically prepare your body for taking ayahuasca. Most of our bodies are cluttered with all kinds of stimulating, sensational foods from our modern diets — foods filled with salt, sugar, and caffeine. To open yourself up to receive the messages of Madre Ayahuasca, you need to first clear yourself of these toxins.
With the chef’s flair in design and knowledge in healing foods, you can expect during your stay that your plate will look as attractive as it does deliver on taste and nutrients.
*If you have special dietary requirements please let us know
Getting Here
Vikara Healing Center, Vikaralifestyle: Ayahuasca, Surf & Yoga Retreats, Calle Rosa Mistica, Olon, Ecuador
Directions
We are located directly on the beach in Olón, an authentic and quaint village in Ecuador-off the beaten track.
Olon is an easy 2.5 hour bus ride from the Guayaquil (GYE) airport. Here in Olon you will find the perfect balance of nature, people and culture. You can swim with dolphins, practice Spanish with the locals and walk the beautiful 7.6 km beach. Surf is year-round and the beach break is both friendly for beginners and challenging enough for more advanced surfers. The sunsets are epic, and because we are beachfront, you will fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore.
To come from Guayaquil you have 2 options:
· We can arrange for our driver to pick you up at the airport for an extra charge (some of our retreats include transportation)
· You can take a bus from the bus station.
Taking a bus from Guayaquil:
Take a taxi from the airport to central bus station in Guayaquil (may cost between 3 to 5 dollars ).
At the bus station, you have to go to the C.L.P (Cooperativa Libertad Peninsular) and ask for a ticket for a bus DIRECT to Olón. There are many buses to Olón, but only de Direct one could bring you faster.
The bus ride ends exactly at the Olón´s bus station. There we will be waiting for you :)
Customer Reviews
5.00 out of 5.0 average rating
5.0
Great transformation
Vikara retreat center is a unique place where true healing can take place. I came there for their 9 days plant transformation and plant medicine retreat in February 2020 and it exceeded all my expectations. Roey and Lindsy have created a unforgettable program focused on spiritual growth, meditation, breath work, healthy food,and of course the scared plants: Ayahuasca & Sanpedro. Each member of the team that works in this center is dedicated to support you in your process of healing and transformation. I have enjoyed the integration circle after every ceremony. These sharing circles have truly contributed a lot to my personal growth and understanding better my own situation and also understanding my experience in the night. The shamans Amalia and her sister Diana were animating selflessness, and care to every individual who took part of this retreat. Their voices and songs during the entire night were comforting and restoring a feeling of calmness and serenity. I truly recommend you look no further! This is a place of true transformation.
5.0
Beautiful!
I had the honor of participating in Vikara’s 9-day Yoga, Surf and Ayahuasca retreat this past August. I am not sure if I can put into words how grateful I am for Vikara. From the very beginning, when Roey picked me up, I felt like he was family. Roey is so sweet and welcoming and you can talk to him about anything. The retreat was very well organized. We started our mornings doing yoga. For someone who has only previously dipped her toes in yoga, these yoga classes were amazing. Roey put so much thought and love into his classes. It made me start to love yoga and want to practice it more. We also had the honor of meeting Elba, her mother and mother-in-law during one of our yoga classes. Our meeting was way too brief, due to Elba about to give birth. But her presence is beyond amazing. She has such a beautiful and peaceful soul!
As for the ceremonies held by Aime and Hwaneetah, I do not think I can do justice in words on how beautiful they were. Aime and Hwaneetah put so much extraordinary energy into these ceremonies! Their intuition is unlike anything I’ve seen before. They genuinely care and want the best for everyone. I felt very safe and at peace in their presence. It was such a resplendent and transformative experience.
The days I spent in Vikara were amazing and life-changing. I will be forever grateful to all the people I met - my new family. Thank you Roey for making this organization happen. I can’t wait to see the new retreat center. It’s going to be awesome! Thank you, Ellie, for throwing it down in the kitchen! Every meal was incredible. Thank you, Elba, for blessing us with your presence. When I come back, I can’t wait to meet Padme. Thank you Aime for your advice, guidance and sense of humor. Thank you Hwaneetah for being so beautiful and a goddess and making me want to be one too! Also, thank you Aime and Hwaneetah for those beautiful icaros and for being #relationshipgoals. And thank you to my wonderful sisters Claudia and Rebecca for going on this amazing journey together.
Thinking about Vikara and the time I had there just fills my heart with so much love, gratitude and joy. I would without any hesitation, highly recommend coming here. I hope one day to also come back.
5.0
Truly transformational
I rarely come with expectation but Vikara has exceeded any I could have had.
Vikara is a place I will go back to (hopefully) so that shall tell you enough.
For me, what makes this place so special is all the people working there, who give their heart at what they are doing which creates an incredible experience for the end client. You can feel their intention.
Truly caring vibes, amazing healthy food, a wonderful deep yoga practice and last but not least a truly exceptional holding of medicinal plant ceremonies – which will leave you enriched towards a better understanding of yourself.
Can’t recommend this place enough!
Oh and Olon and the beach is just ever so charming!
5.0
Fantastic
Every part of this tailor made retreat was fantastic. From the homemade food cooked by Roey, to the accomodation, surging lessons and company I was surrounded with. Roey is attentive, kind and a pleasure to be around. Like Elba the yoga teacher, when Roey gives a surfing lesson he critiques technique in a gentle but directive way which means that the lesson is challenging but fun at the same time. I was also offered the chance to join in on personal training sessions and we took a bike ride around Olon. The retreat gave me time to reflect, rest and I came away feeling like a new person. This feeling has lasted until now months later and it influences my daily life and decision making frequently. The retreat came at somewhat of an emotional cross roads for me and it inspired me to live a more active life style and I can definitively say I’m so much happier now in the way that I appreciate roach my life. There was no pressure to do the activities in terms of if you needed rest then you could easily say that to roey. The massage was again wonderful and I have recommended the massage parlour to several friends that have visited Montanita. If you’ve not decided yet I would say just do it, you will not regret it, say yes to every opportunity offered to you and enjoy the time you spend in Olon.
5.0
Fitness, Bliss and Elightenmnet
Vikara, is honestly what you make of it. My wife had sent me for two whole weeks,
I did not want to leave!.
Life is a journey and along the way we need time to reflect and grow and sometimes even get healthy and physically fit.
Everything is available and more at this retreat.
I went over to Ecuador with no expectations and found this cute little villa with a beautiful team of people who are there just for you and your experience. Situated on the majestic beach of Olan it doesn't get much better.
So many things to do or do nothing at all.
I chose to Surf, Yoga and Box most days with Spanish lessons and delightful Massages in between.
Besides the sound of a luxurious retreat it really is a simple, humble and beautiful experience that you get out, what you put in.
Totally up to you and each time it will be different.
Its has changed my life in many ways for the best reasons and I will be back as much as I can.
Roey is an incredible and tireless host, Elba is an amazing spirit who will fill your life full of energy and light and work you through your Yoga. I did not do Yoga before this trip I now do it most days.
I couldn't recommend this experience more if I tried.
Everyone needs to experience Vikara once in their lives at least.
Oh and the ayahuasca medicine ceremony is legit and a must. It will be different for everyone and is not any where as scary as people write about on the internet. I will continue to practice this for life also.
Thank you Roey and your team. I will see you soon.
BC
Mission & Vision
We offer one-of-a-kind, Transformational ayahuasca retreats on a beachfront location in Olon. Our retreats are designed to help those who seek healing, clarity, overcoming traumas, awaken your inner memory, and connect to your true self .
The healing properties of the ocean, combined with your intention, the transformative powers of the fire, and the medicines, offer profound healing and a life-changing experience. We work with experienced medicine men and women who have dedicated their lives to work with the master plants, moving energy, and guiding people in their transformational healing process.
We work with small groups up to 10 people in order to allow personal attention, and the security and saftey of our guests.
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