"The lessons I have learned and the love I was shown will stay with me for the rest of my days. Due to some prior commitments I was only able to do the half-retreat. I was a little nervous about joining half way, but all my worries and anxieties were washed away as soon as I met all the lovely people working at Hayulima. If you're looking for a retreat to help you become the best version of yourself, look no further. Aho!"
Highly Rated Retreats in Pichincha Ecuador
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Types of Retreat in Pichincha Ecuador
Short Retreats in Pichincha Ecuador
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Upcoming Retreats in Pichincha Ecuador
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Experiences on Retreat
"I had an amazing experience. The Shamans are well educated in their plant medicine, caring and very thoughtful. They care about your personal experience. The food was excellent and the accommodations were simple, but perfect! I came without expectations and l feel I left part of a new family. The entire staff was amazing and tried to make sure you were happy and fulfilled. The area and grounds are beautiful!! I can not recommend Hayulima enough. I can not wait to return. "
"I do not normally leave reviews, but Hayulima was so impactful I feel like I need too. My time at Hayulima was amazing. The staff was very supportive, caring and well organized. This is a second Ayawaska retreat that I have been to. After my first experience at a different retreat I was quite disappointed with plant medicines.. Not only have I found that plant medicines truly work but Hayulima was a fantastic place to experience it at. I cannot rave enough about the staff, the ceremonies, the food, and all of the conditions at the retreat. When it came to ayahuasca ceremonies, Salvador was absolutely amazing. There is also a very good balance of ceremonies to time alone to think and process. After the ceremonies the conversations were incredible healing and insightful. I’ve walked away feeling like I am part of a new family. I will definitely be back to Hayulima for more healing. "
"I was well received with love, support and comfortable lodgings. The food was magnificent. The volunteers were helpful and made great friends.
I have and will trust the Hayulima family with my life and soul. Every prayer and ceremony was a true blessing - a gift for life.
I left just a few days ago and I am already looking forward to my next visit."
"I participated in multiple plant medicine ceremonies with Alma Healing Center including their 5 day ayahuasca retreat (worth it and very fairly priced! Mindo cloudforest is amazing!) as well as a few private ceremonies and a San Pedro ceremony / hike - I could not recommend them more! I was looking for a safe, inclusive and trustworthy place to drink medicine and I found it! I highly recommend them for solo female travelers or people that identify as LGBTQ+. There really aren't many queer ayahuasca retreats or healers out there so I felt very blessed to be in numerous ceremonies led by a female same sex couple. I also plan to participate in a women's healing retreat next year! The medicine was deep and potent, led in a loving, nurturing and compassionate way that truly felt...safe, which is so important considering the vulnerability you experience with the medicine. I could go on and on...thank you Sandra and Paulina, I'm excited to see how your beautiful space progresses."
"Our Shaman and hosts were very loving and caring and kept us safe! We ate very well, with delicious and fresh homemade vegetarian food and quickly became connected with everyone on our retreat. We came with an open mind and our hosts filled in the rest. You will be in excellent hands on your journey with Paulina and Sandra. "
"Would 10/10 recommend to attend the retreat where Sandra and Pauli take genuine care of you. Safe space where I felt at ease all the time. Perfect location nearby Quito in very green surroundings. Music, atmosphere and trust made it an incredible experience thanks to Alma healing. "
"Wonderful experience! Difficult to sum up in a few words. 10/10
I had no idea how to find ayahuasca, I just knew that it was something I was interested in while travelling Ecuador. I looked online and found this retreat to be the most affordable option. However, what made me choose it was the lack of commodification or commercialization characterised by other retreats. For example, they did not put indigenous people on display as part of the experience. It was low key and truly focused on the medicine of ayahuasca.
Our guide, Paulina, was genuine and real. She has worked with the plant for many years and was completely in tune with the participants during the ceremony. Her helpers were lovely, kind people who kept us safe and cared for. They created a beautiful space for us.
The medicine was incredible. Beforehand, Paulina taught some tai chi type exercises which helped me to stay present and focused. Although the retreat was located in the mountains just outside of the city, it did not stop the rainforest from being part the ceremony. The noises of dogs and cars became irrelevant. Visions of the rainforest were forthcoming. I enjoyed my experience fully, the bliss and beautiful visions, and the suffering and the purge. The sweat lodge the morning after was very good, it was hot and they sang many songs.
The only thing I would suggest is personal space during the ceremony. Most participants sat three to a mattress, which I thought was a little cramped. I don't know if this is customary? I would have preferred to have more space, such as my own cushion to sit on, especially when doing something like drinking ayahuasca for the first time.
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