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8 Day Trauma Informed New Year’s Huachuma (San Pedro) Retreat in Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Name: 8 Day Trauma Informed New Year’s Huachuma (San Pedro) Retreat in Playa Grande, Costa Rica | December 28, 2026 - January 4, 2027
Start: 2026-12-28
End: 2027-01-04
Location: Ananda Lodge
Rating: 4.99

4.9983 reviews

952F+X29 Provincia de Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

Up to 8 in group

December 28, 2026 - January 4, 2027

Retreat Highlights

We invite you to experience the new paradigm of plant medicine care at Ananda Lodge. Supported by a medicine carrier trained in somatic trauma plant medicine facilitation, guests will experience 3 sacred ceremonies in luxury accommodations. San Pedro or also known as Huachuma, is a cactus revered as a sacred plant medicine for over 3,000 years in Peru. Despite being sometimes overlooked, Huachuma possesses profound healing properties, facilitating deep exploration of self-imposed barriers and limitations.
Ceremonies Led by Somatic Trauma Informed Medicine Carrier
Max 8 Participants
Honoring Authentic Sacred Traditions
3 Medicinal Plant Ceremonies for Holistic Healing
Supportive Integration for Personal Growth & Healing
Safe Space for Self-Exploration and Transformation
Nurturing Community Connection
Serene Environment Promoting Comfort and Ease
Daily Yoga and Meditation Classes to Rejuvenate Mind and Body
Enriching Workshops to Deepen Your Experience
Nourishing Meals Showcasing Local Costa Rican Flavors and Traditions
All-Inclusive Package (Taxes, Fees, and More as Detailed on Main Retreat Page)

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Nikki

Nikki Szeghalmi

Nikki grew up just outside Toronto, Canada and currently lives nestled amongst the Andes in the Sacred Valley of Peru. As a teacher dedicated to working with people with special needs and at-risk youth, she has devoted her life to being a support to others. Coming from a background of addiction and depression, she was called to Peru in 2018 to start working with her teachers Bernard Karshagen and Chase Moore for a deep dive into her healing. Wanting others to experience the grace of the medicine as she has, she offers a safe space of presence and love, weaving in various mind, body, and energetic practices. She is a balance of grit and softness, embodying permission for each guest to explore their unique experience with the medicine. With deep reverence for the magic that unfolds in ceremony and thereafter, she meets each individual where they’re at. She loves to play with life and you’ll often find her cracking jokes and laughing, seeking lightness and joy amidst the challenges of life.

Testimonials:

“Nikki is a rockstar! I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of different people in the psychedelic/plant medicine world. I’ve met good ones, average ones and terrible ones. Nikki is one of the best. She’s easy to work with. Kind and generous. She knows how to listen without inserting her own narrative or story. And she doesn’t give unsolicited advice (a sign of a pro). The emphasis has always been on me figuring my own shit out. No gurus. No high and mighty vibes. Nikki’s there if I truly need help… but otherwise, it’s between me and the medicine. That ability to step back is quite rare, and it’s why I think she’s one of the best people I’ve worked with. It’s where the magic happens, where I’m free to learn in my own way. If you’re looking for a psychedelic experience, with lots of crazy visuals and a peak experience, as well as someone to tell you what to think, believe and feel (a guru, in other words), Nikki’s not for you. But if you’re looking for the truth, about yourself and about life, and you’re willing to work for it, come what may (whether it’s beautiful, terrifying or somewhere in between), Nikki is a wonderful guide to the medicine. I trust her completely.” ~ John “Nikki is an incredible facilitator - she is simultaneously a wise sage and salt-of-the earth in a beautifully balanced way. During ceremony, I felt really safe and cozy in her presence, like I had total permission to be myself and show up however I needed. I have historically had a difficult time purging, and I was finally able to purge in my ceremony with Nikki and that was a huge relief. She has a really solid foothold and connection to source and what is sacred, which helped me orient over and over again in ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am deeply appreciative of my time with Nikki.” ~ Melanie It is such a joy to be in a Huachuma ceremony with Nikki. She brings in so much love and light to her work... lots of laughs too. Her medicine has helped me tremendously in working through my past traumas and my overall mind-body-spirit alignment. I always feel safe and comfortable in Nikki's ceremony space. Nikki is a true professional, and her passion for her work and medicine comes through in all aspects of her life. I can't recommend her highly enough to those called to work with Huachuma. ~ James

Details of this retreat

Sacred New Year's Eve Experience

We invite you to experience the new paradigm of plant medicine care at Ananda Lodge.

Designed as a holistic, trauma-informed approach, we are here to guide and support you throughout the entire process. At Ananda Lodge we stand behind a duty to provide a space and a level of care that is attuned, empathetic, and rooted in the knowledge of trauma’s neurobiology. We believe this level of presence and care is essential for our guests to realize the full healing benefits of the medicine. We invite you to come experience the difference.

Experience the magic of intimacy, safety, and Huachuma in this all-inclusive 8 day/7 night retreat hosted by our somatic, trauma-informed medicine carrier, Nikki Szeghalmi. Trained in Peru, Nikki embodies a compassionate and grounding approach to working with the sacred medicine of Huachuma. Held in a stunning private location, surrounded by the enchanting magic of Mother Nature. Limited to only 8 people, this retreat is a gift to ring in the New Year.

Intimacy, Somatic Wisdom, & San Pedro
Supported by a medicine carrier trained in somatic trauma plant medicine facilitation, guests will experience 3 sacred ceremonies in luxury accommodations. Each guest will enjoy single, king bedrooms with open-air showers, Guanacaste wood finishings, and private balconies with a stunning ocean view.

As part of our holistic approach to trauma-informed support, participants will be thoughtfully guided throughout the entire process with a plant medicine specialist trained in somatic trauma care who will provide 2 somatic preparation sessions prior to the retreat, and 2 integration sessions after the retreat.

JOIN US IN A DEEP MEDICINE EXPLORATION LIKE NONE OTHER

The Medicine
Echinopsis pachanoi, San Pedro or also known as Huachuma, is a cactus revered as a sacred plant medicine for over 3,000 years in Peru. Growing in the high altitudes of the Andes mountains, the cactus has been used for its powerful medicinal properties by South American peoples for thousands of years. The name 'Huachuma' comes from the Quechua language of Peru and translates to 'removing the head,' perhaps symbolizing the dissolution of the ego.

Despite being sometimes overlooked, Huachuma possesses profound healing properties, facilitating deep exploration of self-imposed barriers and limitations. San Pedro is unique in that it does not have the same pharmaceutical contraindications that are present with ayahuasca, allowing those on certain medications to potentially explore the healing benefits of the medicine.

Taken during the day, San Pedro invites us to slow down and take in the beauty around and within us. Known as the grandfather medicine, with experiences lasting anywhere from 8-12 hours, Huachuma is known for being empathogenic, promoting unity with self, others, nature, and the greater spiritual universe. It is a medicine of the heart where we can experience connection with our true selves.
What Makes Our Approach Unique
Trauma-informed care is not a ‘check the box’ process. At Ananda trauma-informed is a way of being and is woven into our entire Continuity of CARE process.

At Ananda Lodge Retreats, we believe in providing a level of care that is unprecedented in the plant medicine retreat business. Our process emphasizes intimacy, preparation through education and somatic resourcing, onsite individual and group processing, and post retreat integration for a wholistic and comprehensive approach to your care.

Starting with a thorough intake process, our goal is to begin learning about you, your background, and how we can best support your journey. Following the intake process, you will receive an individual 75-minute somatic preparation session. This session will help you define a clear intention and how to leverage your unique resources to go deeper with the medicine.

Prior to arrival, we will host a group orientation call where you can meet your fellow pasajeros and the onsite support team. We believe this step in the process builds additional layers of safety and support for you.

Upon arrival you will be intimately welcomed by your onsite CARE team. We will host an orientation session aimed at making you familiar with the property and the onsite CARE team.

Throughout your stay, you will have access to 1:1 sessions with an assigned trauma-informed CARE member who will be with you throughout. These sessions are optional, and designed to provide additional support as you process feelings/sensations/insights from your experiences. Over the retreat you will also be invited to group shares and somatic integration workshops that help aid in your journey, including nature and art exploration.

We understand that continued care post-retreat is critical in your journey of plant medicine work. Following your departure, it is our pleasure to continue supporting your unique path of integration.

As part of our continuity of CARE experience, you will receive two additional 1:1 integration sessions with a trauma-informed somatic integration specialist. These sessions, spaced out over a period of time, are designed to support your ongoing integration and healing work.

We will host an online group integration session aimed at strengthening the connection you made with fellow pasajeros. And you will have access to post-retreat programs designed to deepen your healing and transformation work.

Integration Beyond The Norm
At Ananda Lodge, we hold the integration journey with the same reverence and sacredness as we have towards the plants and the ceremony itself.

Integration is a sacred endeavor to be honored with time, commitment, compassion, and grace. In the process of integration, we grow a deeper relationship with ourselves and a deeper understanding of our true essence.

Post retreat we offer 3 levels of tiered integration, embodiment, and transformation programs to deepen weave together the wisdom from the sacred plants.

Our Ripple Effect Healing Packages place a strong emphasis on the Somatic process, the intricate relationship between the body and mind, and empowering pasajeros to reunite with the innate intelligence of the body.

Schedule

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Ananda Lodge, 952F+X29 Provincia de Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

Directions

Ananda Lodge's prime location offers easy access to and from key destinations:
- 1 hour to Liberia (LIR) Airport
- 30 minute drive to Tamarindo or 5 minutes by boat ride
- 40 minutes to Potrero
- 40 minutes to Marina Flamingo

Accommodation

Capturing a sweeping view of the property and the ocean, our 8-room lodge is nothing but spectacular. With eco-sustainable construction and natural, local wood elements, the lodge is our primary housing for guests. Guests enter their rooms through the back of the lodge, allowing for unobstructed views of the property and ocean from the oversized, private balconies. Each room is thoughtfully designed for comfort, sustainability, and ultimate relaxation. Accommodations can be customized for single or double occupancy, as designated by the guest preferences. Each room is outfitted with natural, local wood and stone accents, and an open-air shower to enhance your connection with nature.

King Room

Enjoy sustainable luxury and artisanal, designed furnishings in your private king, ocean-view bedroom. Designed for relaxation with an expansive, private balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the forest. Each room is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with earth elements using local woods and stones and an open-air shower designed to make you feel as if you are one with nature. Reserving this option guarantees the entire suite for your exclusive comfort. Each room is a sanctuary of comfort, equipped with: En-suite bathroom with hot showers Breathtaking views of the lush natural surroundings and the majestic Pacific Orthopedic beds and luxury linens for a restful night's sleep Beautiful handcrafted, locally-sourced decor and personal artisanal touches In-room safe for your peace of mind Pure filtered water available throughout the retreat Fresh towel service and housekeeping for your convenience Utilization of all-natural cleaning agents to ensure a healthy environment Laundry service available upon request (additional fee applies) As part of our commitment to your well-being, all accommodations include: All meals showcasing local, fresh flavors Medicinal plant ceremonies for holistic healing Yoga and meditation classes to rejuvenate mind and body Workshops to enrich your experience Taxes, fees, and more, as detailed on our main retreat page At Ananda Lodge, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Playa Grande while enjoying the comfort of our carefully crafted accommodations and the enriching experiences that come with your stay.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

At Ananda Lodge Costa Rica, nestled in the natural beauty of Playa Grande, we offer a sanctuary where trauma-informed care meets ancestral wisdom. Our carefully crafted accommodations provide comfort as you engage in transformative experiences guided by respected Indigenous facilitators. We honor sacred plant medicines and integrate somatic practices, creating a safe, nurturing environment to support each individual's unique healing journey, allowing for deep restoration of body, mind, & spirit

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Be catered to with private chef gourmet meals, attuned to your specific dietary needs. Vegan, vegetarian, allergies, and dietary restrictions welcomed.

What's Included

8 Day/7 Night All-Inclusive Experience
Ocean-view king bed accommodations
3 Plant Medicine ceremonies
Max participants of 8
Private chef prepared meals
Trauma-informed facilitation
2 somatic preparation sessions
2 individual onsite navigation sessions
2 post-retreat integration sessions
Monthly online community gatherings
Somatic movement and breath offerings
Group sound healing experience
Optional beach excursion to Playa Grande
Ananda’s Guide to Huachuma
Ananda’s Guide to Somatic Integration

What's Not Included

Airfare
Massage
1on1 Sound Healing Sessions

Customer Reviews

4.99 out of 5.0 average rating

Judith • Sep 14, 2026

5.0

Verified

Ananda Lodge

This experience at Ananda changed my way of being. I learned to trust and value myself. I was held in space gently and intentionally, and felt challenged to merge this experience with my old thoughts. I learned a great deal about how to protect my spiritual being and continue to evolve. Everything during my stay was attended to with great compassion.

Jennifer • Sep 13, 2026

5.0

Verified

Pura Vida

I attended the 8 day women’s reclamation psilocybin retreat sep 2026 and HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend Ananda lodge for your next spiritual and psychedelic experience. The accommodations were gorgeous, comfortable, immaculate and restorative. The private chef Camilo creates pure magic in the kitchen and I am forever grateful for the intentionality he pored into every meal. The ceremony space was enchanting and full of life and the 3 separate journeys were all different but aligned with the elemental and chakra themes we were learning about. My favorites: a cacao ceremony with a wonderful local woman’s named Marien (hope I spelled her name correctly), sound bath and rhythmic explorations by co-owner Kimberly, live music during the final ceremony, water color art class with a talented local artist name Sophie, live music during the final ceremony and 2 trips to the beach to swim and let the waves wash away anything that was no longer serving us. Kimberly, Dana H and Dana M were the BEST medicine women I could have ever hoped for and will always be in my heart. They will forever be in my heart. They created such a sense of safety, and understanding, that I believe is unmatched. Their knowledge of the medicine and all things within their unique powers are beyond description. They introduced me to all of the possibilities in the world that I’ve been previously unaware of and can’t wait to explore.

As an army veteran who flew helicopters in 3 different combat deployments to Iraq spanning 3 years of my 27 year career, I came to Ananda feeling stressed, discouraged, in physical pain and burned out. I’m leaving with so much lightness, the ability to help regulate my own nervous system through tools I learned, more in tuned with my body and a little less pain and a reset nervous system. I used to call all of this “woo-woo” but now it’s just pure God given magic that we all have access too. Don’t hesitate to inquire about their military and first responder scholarships if money is a barrier. I can’t recommend this enough! It’s way better than any talk therapy of medicine I’ve ever experienced.

Catharine • Sep 13, 2026

5.0

Verified

Ananda is a Miracle

I came in search of 'freedom' and I left realizing freedom is within me. I gave all of my attention to this experience. From the moment it was brought to my attention as a possibility to it's continuing manifestation. My experience was profound and personal. I felt safe and supported throughout my time at Ananda. If all you did was come to partake of Chef Camilo's amazing food and sleep in your luxurious room you'd leave satiated. A special thank you to Norwin who was there for us each night and in the early morning with coffee-thank you. The facilitators are world renown. My journey was transformative. It's beyond what I have words for. What I can say is that I gave myself to the process, I trusted, and the experience I received was once-in-a-lifetime gift. My intention was to find 'freedom'. I left understanding freedom is inside me. The medicine continues to work in my life since leaving my experience at Ananda in incredibly positive ways. Beyond freedom, I am newly in love with my life. I am living in the moment. I am feeling kinder and more patient and loving to others. I found gratitude, acceptance and peace. Thank you Kimberly, Dana [Day-na] and Dana [Dahna].

Richard • Sep 06, 2026

5.0

Verified

The Ultimate Medicine Retreat

I have been to numerous medicine retreats, sat with facilitators across the world, and I have led preparation and integration programs for over 120 people. From start to finish, this is the best retreat experience I've ever had. And if I may be so bold, it's the best possible retreat experience available on the market today.

It begins with the owners, Kimberly and Jason. It's quite obvious they have put their entire heart and soul into building this place, and now that it is built, they have turned their huge hearts towards the people they serve. The amount of care and attention to detail is unparalleled. So much of an experience with plant medicine depends on the safety of the container. You have to be able to fully surrender into the moment and trust the process you're going through. Kim and Jason made this easy. The other facilitator they brought in, Dana, was also highly knowledgeable and an incredible coach throughout.

The ceremonies themselves were varied and different, ranging from a traditional evening ceremony to an extended ceremony at dawn with sound healing and numerous instruments to a ceremony facilitated by musicians and healers brought in from Colombia. This planned variation was beautiful and allowed me to go deeper into myself than ever before.

When not in ceremony, the pacing of the retreat was perfect. We had powerful integration sessions the days following ceremonies, which included group shares and dyad work, along with guided meditations. They also brought in external facilitators for breathwork (INCREDIBLE), cacao ceremonies, and optional massage, reiki, spinal alignment, and other services.

The food they served was easily the best food I have ever had in a retreat setting and some of the best food I've ever had in my life. The chef, Camilo, put his heart into every meal and connected what he was serving to the unique needs of each individual as well as the timing of food with ceremonies i.e. lighter, refreshing food surrounding ceremonies and heartier food when possible.

The setting was absolutely beautiful and exactly the kind of place that allows you to actually slow down and actually take the time necessary to work on yourself. And it was facilitated by true professionals with huge hearts. I can't recommend this place enough and it comes with my absolute highest praise. Whether you are new to the space or not, if you are interested in sitting with plant medicine, you should explore the options here.

Ananda Lodge is as special as they come.

Ioana • Aug 26, 2026

5.0

Verified

A Journey That Opened the Door to Another

My journey with Ananda Lodge began in Costa Rica, where I had an experience that touched me deeply and gave me enormous trust in the people, the medicine, and the intention behind this beautiful community.
I could not have imagined then that Ananda would eventually open another door for me—this time leading all the way to the Sacred Valley of Peru and The Source.
From the moment this journey was offered to us, Ananda Lodge helped organize and support everything leading up to our arrival in Peru. We were then welcomed into the care of the incredible team at The Source, where what unfolded became one of the most profound and unique experiences of my life.
I will always be grateful to Ananda for creating that bridge.
There are retreats that offer you an experience, and then there are communities that somehow become part of a much longer journey. That is what Ananda has become for me. My experience didn't simply begin and end with a ceremony in Costa Rica. It continued—through relationships, trust, support, and eventually an invitation to travel halfway across the world and go deeper.
The retreat in Peru challenged me, opened me, humbled me, and invited me into parts of myself I hadn't known I was ready to meet. The beauty and energy of The Source, the medicines, the facilitators, and the people with whom I shared this journey have left something in me that I know I will carry for the rest of my life.
And none of it would have happened for me without Ananda Lodge.
What I appreciate most is the feeling that Ananda isn't simply organizing retreats. They are creating community and continuity—connecting people with experiences, teachers, places, and opportunities for healing and discovery that extend far beyond one ceremony or one location.
I returned from Peru with immense gratitude for The Source, but also with an even deeper appreciation for the path that brought me there.
Thank you, Ananda Lodge, for opening that door. Thank you for the care that began in Costa Rica and followed us all the way to Peru. And thank you for being part of a journey that continues to unfold long after the ceremonies have ended.
Some doors change the room you're standing in. Others show you an entirely new landscape.
For me, Ananda has done exactly that. ❤️

8 Day Trauma Informed New Year’s Huachuma (San Pedro) Retreat in Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Nikki Szeghalmi

Testimonials:

Details of this retreat

Schedule

Getting Here

Directions

Accommodation

King Room

Venue & Amenities

Meals

Menu Types

What's Included

What's Not Included

Ananda Lodge

Pura Vida

Ananda is a Miracle

The Ultimate Medicine Retreat

A Journey That Opened the Door to Another

King Room

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