"I went to my first retreat with great fear but also with hope that it would help me solve my problems. There I found an amazing center, very nice, polite, helpful people, full of positive energy. Incredible attention to detail and atmosphere :) But the ceremony itself blew my mind, it's hard to describe it in words, you have to experience it for yourself and it's really worth it.
The effects after returning home were several weeks full of energy, good mood, lots of ideas and several positive changes in my life. I will definitely come back for another retreat."
Highly Rated Retreats in Budens Faro District Portugal
/
/
Types of Retreat in Budens Faro District Portugal
Short Retreats in Budens Faro District Portugal
/
/
Upcoming Retreats in Budens Faro District Portugal
/
/
Experiences on Retreat
"I completed a 12 day a retreat at Sinchi Runa in September 2023 and the beautiful ripple effects continue to surprise me months after.
As a psychologist, I know the value of working on and with yourself. And eventually you reach a point where talk therapy is not enough. The plant medicines have helped me access deeper (more unreachable) parts of my myself. Furthermore, the entire structure of the retreats at Sinchi Runa (sleeping in 1-man tents, the silence, the diets/food, the ceremonies, the sharing circles, etc.) invite you to dive deep within yourself in a way that is difficult to create in our normal and busy lives.
The people who work at Sinchi Runa are in service to this mission and the love, care and attention that you feel from them is very special. The food is beautiful, living in the tents is so magical and I felt so safe and held.
Any experience that you have while on this retreat (and in each ceremony) is EXACTLY the experience you are meant to have. Because any experience we are having in life, is a reflection of where we are at and what we need to learn. This was such a beautiful (and funny) lesson I got from my retreat that the plants helped me understand (with Maestro Sanango’s support). After truly understanding this, everything started to shift for me.
I am not the same after my experience …. And the transformations and deepening keep coming, months after my retreat ended. I am deeply grateful. Thank you Sinchi Runa!
I hope you also give yourself this beautiful gift and experience. "
"My utmost respect goes to Sanango and the whole team behind Sinchi Runa who make an absolute miracle possible. Both with Ayahuasca and the overall energy within the retreat, which truly is a sacred place, outside of space and time. I came with a lot of doubts and judgments but was brought to my knees by Mama Aya until I admitted my naivety and got then rewarded with her motherly love. There are no words that can do justice to the miracle of Ayahuasca and I am simply grateful that Sinchi Runa is making this divine experience possible. "
"Sinchi Runa is a true healing center that I recommend.
It is authentic and alive.
The spirit of this center is based on respect for the practices and master plants.
The practice of silence allows us to go even deeper into ourselves. It's one of the keys I took lightly before coming, and now I understand its power.
The team at Sanango's side is extremely caring and attentive, giving us all the space we need to heal.
The Ayahuasca ceremony was as intense as anything I'd experienced before, and you can't help but admire the seriousness of curandero Sanango and his incredible involvement here.
I came away feeling uplifted and grown up.
I can only recommend it!
Thank you "
"I attended the 7 day retreat offered in February 2024. I traveled a great distance to attend this retreat, from the midwestern part of the United States. This was my first experience with ayahuasca and I am so glad I followed my intuition. I was strongly drawn to Sinchi Runa and I chose wisely. I was impressed with how professional Sanango and his team were. They all radiate love, kindness and compassion. The group meetings were very educational, enrichening and supportive. Sanango's innate wisdom helped me feel completely safe, prepared and confident under his care. Unfortunately, Sanango became very ill to the extent of having to go to the hospital. We were only able to complete 1 of the 2 ayahuasca ceremonies; however, Sinchi Runa did offer a very reasonable discount for any future retreat and a free 3 day retreat preparation with Kambo and plant medicine ceremonies included. Considering the circumstance this is a very generous offer to be honored. Although it is understandable to experience some disappointment, the overarching lesson the universe offered our group was that of compassion. Compassion for Sanango and his well-being, his team for doing their best to mitigate an unexpected, difficult situation and also for myself to have compassion for a fellow attendee openly upset he did not receive what he paid for. My heart goes out to him and I hope his heart finds the healing and peace it deserves. Realizing I immediately transmuted any negative emotions into compassion was a profound moment of growth for me. The experience at Sinchi Runa vastly opened up my heart, greatly assisted my personal growth and the lessons continue to unravel for me. The universe often disguises lessons very well, the secret is to always be looking for them and stay heart-centered to support personal and spiritual growth.
The actual ayahuasca ceremony was so profound there is no humanly way accurately describe or condense it into words. It was an absolute mind-blowing, powerful, beautiful experience. My mind, body and soul feels reset, like I've been reborn. I am so much more aligned with my true self than I've ever been and I am a better person. What an absolute, priceless blessing to receive. I am grateful for Sanango leading such a powerful ceremony. I have made my career as a therapist and very educated in many healing modalities. I have personally engaged in a multitude of healing modalities over the course of my life: ayahuasca has been the most profound, transformational healing experience I have had thus far.
To anyone considering this retreat, follow your intuition. I will be returning to Sinchi Runa in the future as I am committed to healing as much as I can in this lifetime and I know I am in good hands while there. I send so much love and gratitude out to Sinchi Runa!!! "
"Several things went wrong.
The staff started to get sick on the second day so they cancelled half of the ceremonies we were supposed to do , and they didn’t have any back up plan for this situation.
Also, we were living in tents during the retreat and we got a bedbugs and caterpillar invasion that was very badly handled. We were given creams that don’t work. I had to sleep with my clothes on to avoid getting bitten by the bed bugs . Half of the participants got huge rashes on their bodies, and some got infections from thoses rashes and had to go to the hospital after the retreat.
Regarding food we only got 2 meals a day. One being a oatmeal porridge for breakfast 5 days on the 7 days.
For the price of retreat I felt the food was a bit light but let’s pass on that.
Today it’s been exactly a month we’re fighting to get a reimbursement but they’re just willing to give 30% discount ‘if we want to come back’ which is an absolut joke.
we paid a lot of money for a 7 days retreat. Ended up with less ceremonies than a 3 days retreat , got health issues , and they dont want to reimburse us.
Definitely not the best place for healing.
*original review adjusted slightly to meet Retreat Guru Posting Policy*
---------- Response from Retreat Center ----------
It saddens us to read your review and to know that you had a bad experience with us, though our perspective is quite different from yours and we hope to be able to bring these differences together. We can understand your frustration and have tried to be in touch with you. We just want to make sure you are completely aware of the offer we made, which included reimbursement.
The retreat with ceremonies, group talks, meditations, food & board took place normally until the evening of the 6th day, when Maestro Sanango was hospitalized. We deeply regret not being able to give the final ceremony due to an unforeseeable human circumstance, and not being able to serve you in our fullest capacity. We understand the frustration and effort made to attend, and hence sought to openly repair.
We sadly could not offer the final ceremony - we are a small plant medicine center around one deeply experienced maestro, and do not have a staff of shamans to give ceremonies in case the maestro falls ill. The sacredness for us of the experience with Ayahuasca as well as the specialisation that we feel is needed to safely hold these ceremonies does not allow us, at this moment, to place the students as “shamans” or facilitators, and we feel this would be dangerous and would have put you participants at risk.
Instead we did what we felt was honest and safe for you, as well as seeking to reciprocate the effort and sacrifice made to participate on the retreat, and so offered a discount for a future retreat when the maestro is in better physical condition, or reimbursing part of the cost of the retreat if this did not resonate.
We had an outbreak of seasonal caterpillars (not bedbugs), which are a normal phenomenon for a few weeks a year in the pine forests of southern Europe. They can cause a mild rash or discomfort similar to the mosquito bites you would have in the jungle on a retreat similar to this one. We are sorry to hear that you had to go to the hospital due to a rash infected with this, it sounds like a reaction we have not experienced or heard of before, and to avoid this concern in the future we will plan our retreats outside the time when the caterpillars appear.
We can definitively confirm there are not bed-bugs - we have checked, and we were also not made aware by anyone about this worry during nor after your retreat. We have hosted multiple retreats at our venue since, and no concerns or complaints were raised.
Based on what all the participants shared with us, including you, beautiful and meaningful insights and healing were received. Although unfortunately we had to cancel the final ceremony, we feel that the retreat had many positive aspects, wonderful conclusions in the real and transcendental. We sincerely hope that you can rediscover what you experienced with us and rescue it without letting the experience be tarnished by a human situation, which we cannot control.
Thank you for your understanding and hope you will contact us to close any disagreement.
With warmth and sincerity,
Ananda - Sinchi Runa
"
"Numinous Ways is a fantastic company, and I have zero hesitation in recommending it.
Their support is top-notch, their retreats are life-changing, and their one-on-one ongoing integration glues all the magic together.
"
"Sinchi Runa is a safe sacred space, in which I was given the chance to explore and experience myself beyond the boundaries of self beliefs and unconscious mind. I have never met such kind, humble, caring and loving people, who put themselves wholeheartedly in the service of others. They created and held the space for me to experience my journey and inspired me to trust the process and overcome the challenges that awaited me. I am deeply thankful to the entire team for making possible the most challenging and the most rewarding and healing experience of my life. I honor your profound work and dedication!"
"I am so glad I came to this retreat. It was my first time, I really could have not had the best experience if it wasn’t with the Sinchi Runa family. I came for the 7 day ayahuasca retreat during New Years, every person at Sunchi Runa are the most kindest and humblest people you will meet. I felt very safe, any time I needed support with something - everyone and I mean everyone was always happy to help. My first time working with mother ayahuasca was really a profound experience and I can’t put into words what I experienced- though it was beautiful and I am so grateful. It was not just the ceremonies, it was the cozy and spacious tents we were living in, the homemade food served with love daily, the beautiful and quiet nature around me, it was so therapeutic and relaxing. The feeling that I felt was a different kind of peace of mind and again I’m grateful that I got to experience it.
If you’re someone that is looking to heal or find a deeper meaning to life and within yourself, then I definitely recommend you booking it with Sinchi Runa - you will not be disappointed. Once again, I am super grateful to have met beautiful souls on this trip and I will forever cherish this experience! "
"It’s been over a year since I completed my Dieta at Sinchi Runa, I can truly say with the proper integration process & the support from my Sinchi Runa family that this has been the greatest year of my life.
"
"The Ayahuasca retreat didn't just surpass my expectations. It was on a completely different level altogether. It was the most intense and difficult experience of my life, but I'm sure I'll grow stronger than ever before. The team was outstanding. The attention to detail and their warmth, calmness, and wisdom were exceptional. This is precisely what you need when going on your first Aya journey. It is an incomparable and deeply rumbling experience.
Much love to the whole team!"
"From the moment I arrived at Sinchi Runa I felt so held and cared for. The process that unfolds is so sacred and transformative, it’s truly magnificent. The team are so kind, generous and their work is profound. I hope to be back one day! "
"From the moment I stepped onto the retreat's sacred grounds, a wave of amazing energy washed over me. This land is a living tapestry of diverse flora and fauna, punctuated by the refreshing ambiance of a tranquil lake and invigorated by the purest air. Each day, we were treated to meals crafted with love, nourishing both the body and soul.
The ceremonies were nothing short of transformative, facilitated by experts who deftly merged indigenous traditions with a contemporary Western approach. There was an evident emphasis on personal attention, ensuring that each of us felt valued and understood. The high-frequency medicine we imbibed resonated deeply, complemented by the safe, nurturing environment, filled with warmth and genuine care.
The retreat's thoughtful structure allowed ample preparation and post-ceremony integration, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of each experience. Sonically, our journeys were elevated by a harmonious blend of live icaros, instrumental undertones, and curated recorded music. Daily breathing exercises kept us anchored, and amidst the profound introspection, there was always space for rest and personal time. Truly, an unparalleled spiritual odyssey.
Love & Gratitude
✨💛✨"
"It wasn´t my first Ayahuasca experience, but definitely my deepest and most beautiful one.
Mother Ayahuasca is really honored by the facilitators Rindos Aguas, Terra Mai, Rana Sagrada and Josué in wonderful ceremonies and the participants can feel safe in every situation.
Accomodation and food are great, as is the price.
"
"The place and the whole team are wonderful. They really care and do their best to support you. I am so happy that I choosed Spirit Quest Retreats for my first Ayahuasca journey. Thank you so much! "
"My experience at Sinchi Runa was truly so magical. The moment you enter you feel so safe and welcomed. They greet you with such a open heart and arms it feels like you have known them your whole life. They make something that can be so scary and uncomfertable feel okey. Like a big bubble of light covers you while you wander down the dark forest. I can truly recommend this place it is one of a kind. "
"I would like to express my gratitude to the entire team that conducted this retreat.
Wonderful people, gorgeous nature and swimming pool, the food is very tasty!
This is an unforgettable experience that will always stay with me. I think I came back a different person.
I saw and knew the universe and myself .. The experience was intense, long and mystical. It was difficult for me, but I'm glad I got through it.
Thank you so much!
With love
Olesya "
"It was a blessing to have attended the 10 day Shamanic Diet and Ayahuasca Retreat in June/July 2023. Much thanks, love and gratitude to the fantastic team at Sinchi Runa, Sanango our guide on the journey with the plants, Ananda, Arjuna, Mateo and Andrea, whose care and compassion create a safe space for each person attending to come into contact with themselves, through solitary immersion in nature and the deeply transforming experiences with plant medicine. Even though there was no verbal or eye contact with others and we kept to our own spaces during the diet by the end of the retreat there was a sense of unity as we had all gone through powerful experiences at the same time through the same method.
Despite some challenges during my first retreat I would definitely do it again with the intention of deepening the transformational opportunity that such retreats can provide. I would say, if you truly seek a living, irrefutable event, either for healing purposes or remembering one’s true self, or more accurately both, for they are in actuality inseparable; and you are willing to forego for a short time your creature comforts, Sinchi Runa will not disappoint. By creature comforts I mean the props of 21st century life which can and do divorce us from connection with Mother Nature, the cosmos and our true selves.
The ayahuasca ceremonies were amazing and confirmed for me, through my own experiences during them that worlds other than the one we experience in everyday life exist and are real. We can have a strong conviction that such worlds exist and have a sense of them through our feelings, believe and gather evidence (primarily from the experiences of others) that such worlds exist but until we experience and see it for ourselves it remains unrealised. My feeling is that it is not something to be done lightly and requires a firm intention for venturing on such a journey but the possible rewards in terms of expanding the horizon of the inner world of oneself are great. Undoubtedly, with the help of the plants we get what we actually need, wherever we are on our journey."
"If you’re doing this for the first time I believe Sinchi Runa is the best place, because they prepare you for this experience is the most calm, slow, careful way possible. It’s not 4 nights as a lot of ayahuasca retreat are. It is 9 nights, with a lot of preparation for each ceremony.
I’m trully thankful for people at Sinchi Runa for teaching me the art of meditation and surrender. These traits has changed the way I see myself and gave me an inner calmness that I’ve never had before.
"
"When I arrived at Faro airport, I honestly did not know what to expect. Feelings of apprehension were strong, but as soon as I found João waiting for me in arrivals they dissipated. The drive from the airport took roughly 40 minutes, and upon arrival at the house, Fatima warmly greeted me like an old friend. I felt incredibly welcomed and safe, and after some time had passed and the ongoing ceremony had finished I had my one on one with Fatima and set my intention for the first ceremony and went to bed feeling reassured that I was where I needed to be.
The ceremony room was incredibly well curated and felt like exactly the right place to be doing the work I needed. The ceremonies themselves were both the hardest and most profound experience of my life, yet despite the challenges, Fatima, Bianca, João, and Alex were all there on hand to help me when I needed it. While I struggled with the experiences on different days in different ways, I never felt unsafe. After the ceremony there was always plenty of amazing food available, and a safe space to process and recount my experience with the other participants before heading to bed.
Overall I cannot rate this experience high enough. The entire team of facilitators was just amazing, as were the rest of the group. Though we all had our own demons to battle, we all shared in this beautiful, transformative experience, and I wouldn't change any aspect of it for anything in the world.
If you are looking for THE place in Europe to do the work, this is it. I will be back in the future, of that I am sure. 100 stars out of 5."
"I have just done my first Ayahuasca retreat with Vine of the Soul. The experience was truly life-changing and I saw an abundance of healing in myself and others. Fatima and Bianca really know what they are doing, so I felt in very safe hands. Proper integration and preparation Is obviously obviously key, and they are both really good at helping you through both phases. Ceremony music is crucial too, as it guides you through the experience emotionally, and the music was absolutely phenomenal. I have a big playlist to take home! Doing Aya for the first time can be a daunting experience, but if you feel called to do it, you will be in excellent and loving hands if you chose this retreat."
"My first shamanic diet after three regular Ayahuasca retreats. I especially appreciated the complete silence during the retreat which allowed to deeply dive inside myself. The new retreat center is like an island for itself, completely shut off from any exterior disturbance which makes such a journey even deeper. The plants, served three times a day during the time of the diet, communicated in a very gentle way to me and sharpened my sensitivity in receiving their messages. The support of the team during difficult moments was incredibly helpful and compassionate for which I am deeply grateful. For me, during and after this diet, many threads of my thirteen-year healing journey came together and by doing a few adjustments here and there, the plants served me in a wonderful, gentle and loving way. I feel I have become what I have always been but never been aware of before.
Thank you everyone at Sinchi Runa for offering these incredible retreats in a safe container with a limited amount of participants and allowing to experience plant medicine and its enormous healing potential whilst feeling protected and held by your assistance and presence. Special thanks to Sanango for dedicating your life to this!"
"I am grateful to have found Sinchi Runa and it's been an honour to be able to attend a retreat here. I have been to Sinchi Runa twice now (Ayahuasca Retreat in April 2022 and 10 day Shamanic Dieta/ Ayahuasca Retreat in July 2023) and every time I leave feeling so much joy, love, gratitude, healing and in awe of the universe and the power we hold. My first Ayahuasca experience was with the Sinchi Runa team and I was really nervous going in and did not know what to expect - but from the minute I entered the retreat centre - I felt calm, cared for and at peace. I knew right then that this was the right place for my healing journey. Sanango is a true man of wisdom, love and care - he really takes care of each of us during the ceremonies and continues our learnings us through his enlightening discourses - it is truly a privilege to be able to have him guide and teach us. The team and volunteers (Mikaela, Kameron, Ananda, Bruno, Emma, Sheila) were truly wonderful during both my retreats, the food delicious, the surroundings gorgeous - thank you to all of you and the incredible work you do to help us heal. I could not have asked for a better way to enter my journey of healing and learning with the master plants. The way they do it with the small, intimate groups, the deep silence, the integration with nature is a blessing and really allowed me to go deep in my process and really focus on the inside. My experiences here have transformed my life and how I approach life, love, relationships, self and my spirituality. Thank you again to the beautiful team for everything you do, until next time ❤️❤️❤️"
"Im so happy i made the decision to come to Vine of the soul! Bianca and Fatima were amazing hosts and i always felt very well taken care of. Spending time and speaking with them and the other guests have really renewed my appreciation for life. And on top of that the food was amazing :) If youre looking for a place to leave your worries behind search no further!"
"Prepare to embark on an amazing journey of self-discovery and enlightenment with the guidance of one of the best psychedelic service gurus out there. From start to finish, my experience was nothing short of extraordinary, and I am compelled to share my positively raging review.
The level of expertise displayed by this exceptional guru was awe-inspiring. Their profound knowledge of psychedelics, coupled with their genuine passion for facilitating transformational experiences, created an atmosphere of trust and reassurance. They skillfully blended ancient wisdom with modern understanding, offering a comprehensive approach to psychedelic exploration that left no stone unturned."
"I can not thank Bianca & Fatima enough for what they did for me in these few days. Hard to put in words. I can just tell you if you're feeling hopeless and empty there is something that can help with that!"
"My experience in Sinchi Runa was interesting, wonderful, and life-changing. I feel like it truly is a before Sinchi Runa in your life and an after. The medicine is powerful but to go to a retreat where everything is in silence allows you to truly go deep. I feel like I went deeper and more transformative than ever before. It is truly difficult to put into words what happened during these times but I feel like Sinchi Runa is a very safe space where you can think, be and heal. Everyone is super friendly and dedicated to creating a wonderful environment. I felt taken care of and supported at all times. The rules and explanations were very clear and created a frame wherein you could flow. I truly recommend it to everyone but it is not always easy. It was beautiful to see the interactions between Sanando, Anando, and Ayunda. I was on a natural high for a week after I left this place, could not stop laughing and sharing my happiness and love with this beautiful world, I love my little human life. I want to say thank you again for the help, the inspiration, the support, and all you do. See you next time. Lots of love. Maaike. "
"I’d been considering a retreat like this for some time but was always busy making excuses. Classic avoidance strategies: “Yes it’s a good idea, but I’ll do it after this or once I’ve done that.” Of course, eventually, the impetus came. Life sent a reminder, and… some research later… I booked the retreat. I was nervous right up until my intro call when I realised I’d made the right decision. Talking it through helped. Yes, I was still nervous, but now I believed more in the process.
Once you arrive and settle in, you’re given the opportunity to speak one-to-one with Bianca, Fatima, and Stefan. In those conversations I found myself opening up more than I have for a long time because I was being met with such understanding, compassion, and insight. Looking back I can see how important these first conversations were. They laid the foundation for the whole process, gave me clarity on my intention, set expectations, and prepared me for the work.
I feel very lucky to have been able to spend time with the Vine team, and all my fellow participants, on the retreat. I learned a lot from everyone and already miss our conversations. I could go on and on about this weekend: the group chats, how great the food was, how much I loved the music, the rollercoaster heart-opening plant journeys of course, but I’ll simply say:
It was amazing. I feel better. My perspective has shifted. I’ll strive to keep this awareness alive, and I’m very grateful to have had this experience and spent time with such kind, open-hearted, and supportive people. Thank you 🙏"
"Where to begin?
I visited Heart Wellness at the end of April for my first experience of plant medicine, booking it the week before on a spontaneous decision.
I went into the experience having not done a lot of research as I didn't want to have too high expectations going into it, but what I can tell you wholeheartedly is that I honestly ended up having the greatest, life changing experience of my life.
Coming out of an unexpected marriage breakdown but in a good place, having been through counselling and worked on myself I had an idea of what intentions I wished to take into the ceremonies. However it was the one on one discussions I had with Owen, Fatima and Bianca that actually gave me the clarity I needed for each evening.
Having never experienced psychedelics before I felt incredibly safe with the team and location to surrender to the experience. Now one month later I can confirm that what I felt coming from the ceremony was not temporary, has caused healing in my mind that I could never have dreamt of achieving in this lifetime.
I will forever return to these guys in the future as I feel like I have found a miracle medicine.
Thank you all - I appreciate you and the experience changed my life forever. "
"I had an amazing experience. I feel like I am vibrating at a higher frequency now. Bianca and Fatima are professional and full of positive energy. The venue was great. The food was delicious. I liked the cats."