Customizable private tour with flexible departure dates. Solo travelers are welcome—contact us for availability and a personalized quote.
Ayahuasca Retreat in Cusco – Overview
Aguided and safe Ayahuasca ceremony led by experienced shamans, ideal for travelers seeking a short yet powerful spiritual experience in the Sacred Valley.
What You’ll Experience
The word AYAHUASCA is a Quechua term composed of two words: Aya, which means corpse, dead, dead human body, and Huasca, which means rope, cord, braided or twisted wire. Therefore, it has commonly been translated as the line of the dead or the rope of the dead.
Embark on a Journey of Ancestral Ceremonies and Healing with our Master Healers
Originating from the heart of the Amazon, Ayahuasca is a sacred master plant medicine revered for its profound transformative qualities. Known to heal deep traumas and cleanse our physical, emotional, and psychological being, this medicine offers profound insights and the potential for complete personal transformation. Through vivid visions and epic interdimensional journeys, Ayahuasca can remove blockages and limitations, guiding us towards healing and enlightenment.
How to Prepare for Your Ayahuasca Journey
Ameaningful experience depends on adequate preparation. We will walk you through the basic dieta (dietary limitations) include abstaining from specific foods, alcohol, and medicines. We also counsel on emotional and mental preparation, therefore enabling you to set goals and arrive fully prepared to embrace the lessons taught by the medicine.
Unhealthy Habits and Patterns
Overcoming addiction and other unhealthy habits is difficult. Therefore, the sacred medicine of ayahuasca is used for healing and detoxification. The goal is for the person to free themselves from all the ties that bind them to that pattern or addiction, while also allowing themselves to forgive and release all the harm these habits have caused.
Anxiety and Fear
As with other ailments such as depression, the sacred medicine of Ayahuasca can help with anxiety by directly addressing the root of the problem and helping the person heal and release the fears that cause it.
Exhaustion
With so much work, worries, and growing problems we face every day, it’s no surprise that many of us suffer from exhaustion. Ayahuasca offers us the opportunity to start fresh, with all our worries and difficulties. Ultimately, it will be like a reboot and will help you feel like you’re starting over with renewed energy.
Social Conditioning
Many of the decisions we make in life are conditioned by our family, friends, or society. Sometimes, to such an extent that we cease to be happy with ourselves. In this case, the benefits of Ayahuasca medicine are applied by helping people find themselves.
Post-Traumatic Stress
Ayahuasca medicine is one of the most sought-after treatments. Why? Numerous surveys highlight the benefits of this therapy, which can help overcome trauma and release the person from the situation that caused it.
What Happens During the Ceremony?
Usually done in the evening, the event follows a conventional framework:
Participants start with a time of intent setting and spiritual preparation. The shaman starts the rites with protective practices and ancestral prayers. Sacred icaros—traditional healing songs—are used during the experience to lead and support the adventure.
Every member’s journey varies. While some experience quiet interior clarity and peace, others may have emotional release, visions, insights, or a profound sense of connection.
Trained facilitators are always available to guarantee both physical and emotional safety.
Highlights
- Age Limit: Participants must be at least 18 years old to join the ceremony. There is no strict maximum age, but older participants should be in good physical and mental health. A brief health screening is required to ensure safety and readiness for the experience.
- Open Heart and Mind: The Ayahuasca ceremony is a sacred spiritual practice that requires diet. We invite you to come with love, gratitude, and an openness to connect deeply with this Master Plant.
- Personal Intention: Before the ceremony, reflect on your personal intentions
- Comfortable Clothing: We recommend wearing comfortable clothes suitable for sitting outdoors and being in nature. Layering is ideal, as mountain weather can change quickly.
- Respect for Tradition: Please approach the ceremony with respect for the Andean traditions and the guidance of the Master who will be leading the ceremony.
- Physical Condition: Please be honest about your health. The ceremony requires that you share any physical or mental health conditions with the Master beforehand. If you take any medications or substances, it’s important to let us know in advance. This helps ensure your safety and allows us to support your experience with care and respect. In specific cases a participation in the ceremony can be denied.
What Is This Ayahuasca Ceremony?
This one-day Ayahuasca ceremony in Cusco is designed for those who want to experience the medicine in a focused and traditional way. The ceremony follows ancestral practices passed down through generations, honoring the spiritual, physical, and emotional dimensions of healing.
This experience is especially suited for first-time participants or travelers who cannot commit to longer retreats but still want an authentic Ayahuasca experience in Peru.
Who Is This Ceremony For?
This 1-day Ayahuasca ceremony is ideal for:
- First-time Ayahuasca participants
- Travelers with limited time in Cusco or the Sacred Valley
- People seeking emotional clarity, spiritual insight, or personal healing
- Those interested in traditional Andean-Amazonian spiritual practices
Who Should Not Participate?
For safety reasons, this ceremony is not recommended for people who:
- Are taking antidepressants or psychiatric medications
- Have a history of severe mental health conditions
- Have certain medical conditions that may conflict with Ayahuasca
All participants are required to complete a health and safety screening before confirmation.
Inclusions & Prices
Our passion for spiritual retreats is rivaled only by the impulse to share it with others. By taking care of all the details and setting you up for new adventures. Meanwhile, we deliver moments of joy, both humble and grandiose.
Ayahuasca Ceremonies
Costs (per person)
- Starting at:
- $350.00
How to Book
- Send Your Inquiry Share your preferred dates, number of participants, and accommodation details.
Solo travelers or guests with questions are welcome to contact us before booking. - Confirm Availability We will coordinate availability, ceremony logistics, and the best schedule for your experience.
- Reservation Deposit A deposit is required to secure and confirm your reservation.
- Booking Confirmation Once your reservation is confirmed, we will send all final details including pick-up time, recommendations, and important information for your ceremony.
If you already have planned dates and are 2 or more travelers, you can book directly using the Book Now button.
What’s Included in the 1-Day Ayahuasca Package
- One private and exclusive Ayahuasca ceremony.
- 1 to 1 guiding and support.
- Integrative sharing is included over 2 days and can be arranged upon request.
- Transportation from/to your hotel.
- Experienced Masters and facilitator to make you feel comfortable, safe and welcome.
Not Included:
- Meals, Snacks.
- Services not mentioned.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips.
- Accommodation
Preparation for Ceremony
When preparing for and participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony, it’s important to avoid certain things for your safety, emotional well-being, and to honor the sacredness of the experience. Here’s what to avoid one week prior:
Before the Ceremony:
- Pharmaceutical drugs: Especially antidepressants (like SSRIs), MAOIs, or stimulants. These can interact dangerously with Ayahuasca.
- Alcohol and recreational drugs: These can interfere with the medicine and your clarity.
- Heavy, processed, or spicy foods: Especially pork, red meat, fried food, sweets, carbonated drinks, caffeine, fermented food, and dairy – your body needs to be clean and light.
- Any Sexual activity: This helps conserve energy and intention.
- Negative or chaotic environments: Stay grounded and calm; your energy before the ceremony matters.
Note:
- Women, who have their periods, are pregnant or breast feeding SHOULD REFRAIN.
- People with heart problems SHOULD REFRAIN.
During the Ceremony:
- Judging your visions or emotions: Trust what comes. Master Plants work in mysterious ways.
- Breaking sacred space: Respect the collective energy and guidance of the facilitator.
Ayahuasca Retreat Itinerary
Ceremony & Introduction
These ceremonies take place in the evening. Depending on your location, we will pick you up around 4:00 PM and bring you to Chinchero, where our center and the ceremony are held. You will have the option to either spend the night in Chinchero after the ceremony or return to your accommodation in Cusco or the Sacred Valley the same evening. Upon arrival, you will receive an introduction to the medicine and a talk about working with Master Plants. The ceremony itself typically lasts between 3 to 4 hours. During the ceremony, our Ayahuasca Master will guide and support your process with various rituals and sacred icaros (healing songs).
The amount of medicine given to each participant is carefully determined based on their energy level and mental strength – it is not a standard dose for everyone, but rather tailored to individual needs. After the ceremony, we will transport you back to your location.
Why a 1-Day Ayahuasca Retreat in Cusco?
One night with Ayahuasca — held well, prepared properly, and integrated thoughtfully — is a complete experience. Many of the most significant shifts people report from this medicine happen in a single ceremony. The medicine does not require multiple nights to work with depth. It requires presence, preparation, and a safe container.
The 1-day retreat is the right choice when:
- Your schedule in Cusco allows one night — and you want to use it for something real
- You are approaching Ayahuasca for the first time and want to meet the medicine without committing to two nights before you know how your body and mind respond
- You have worked with the medicine before and feel called to a single, focused ceremony in this specific landscape and lineage
- You want a genuine experience without the logistical complexity of an overnight stay in Chinchero
What you receive in one night is not less than what you receive in two. It is different — a single arc of opening, journey, and closing, without the layered deepening that a second ceremony makes possible. For many people, that single arc is exactly what is needed.
If your time allows and you feel called to go deeper, our 2-Day Ayahuasca Retreat offers two ceremonies, an overnight stay in Chinchero, and dedicated integration between nights.
The Ceremony Location — Chinchero, Sacred Valley
This ceremony takes place in Chinchero — a highland community in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 30 minutes from Cusco city, at 3,762 meters above sea level. The site is surrounded by the sacred mountain peaks — the Apus — that have watched over Andean ceremonies in this valley for thousands of years.
Chinchero is not chosen for its convenience. It is chosen because it is home. Our Masters are from Chinchero. Their families have practiced this tradition on this land, with these mountains, across multiple generations. The ceremony happens in its native context — not imported into a conference room or a jungle lodge adapted for international visitors, but held in the landscape where this lineage has always lived.
The altitude matters. At nearly 4,000 meters, the body is already in an altered physiological relationship with oxygen and perception. Many participants note a natural quality of openness and sensitivity that the altitude creates — a threshold that prepares the system to receive the medicine at depth.
What’s Included in Your 1-Day Ayahuasca Retreat
- Private round-trip transportation from your hotel in Cusco to Chinchero
- One traditional Ayahuasca ceremony led by an experienced Andean Master from Chinchero
- Bilingual guide present throughout (English, Spanish, Quechua)
- All ceremonial materials (icaros, mapacho, flowers, incense, sacred objects)
- Light herbal teas and post-ceremony support through the night
- Integration circle the morning after with your bilingual guide
- Post-retreat integration guidance and written materials
Not included: meals (other than herbal teas), accommodation (return to your Cusco hotel after the ceremony), travel insurance, personal medications, gratuity for the Master and guide (warmly appreciated).
What Ayahuasca Can Reveal — Areas of Healing
Ayahuasca is a sacred traditional practice, not a medical treatment. Individual experiences vary significantly. What follows reflects what participants across thousands of ceremonies have reported — not a guaranteed outcome for any person:
Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress
Ayahuasca has an unusual capacity to bring difficult memories and emotional patterns into conscious experience in a way that feels survivable — held by the medicine, the ceremony, and the Master’s presence. Many participants describe revisiting painful events from a new vantage point: one that allows understanding, release, or forgiveness where previously there was only avoidance or pain. This process is not about reliving trauma. It is about finally being able to look at it — and lay it down.
Anxiety, Fear, and Depression
Rather than managing surface symptoms, Ayahuasca tends to work toward the source — the original moment a fear was formed, the root belief that drives the depression, the wound that the anxiety has been protecting. Many participants report a lasting shift in their relationship with fear after ceremony: not because the fear has been intellectually resolved, but because something underneath it has been met and released.
Grief and Unprocessed Loss
Grief that has nowhere to go tends to calcify — becoming a kind of emotional weight that shapes behavior and closes the heart without the person always knowing why. Ayahuasca creates conditions in which grief can be fully felt, honored, and released. This is one of the most consistently reported gifts of the medicine.
Addiction and Compulsive Patterns
The compulsive loop — whether around substances, behaviors, or thought patterns — is almost always a strategy for managing unresolved pain. When Ayahuasca addresses the pain directly, the compulsion often loses its grip. This is not a guarantee, and integration support is essential for lasting change. But participants seeking freedom from addiction frequently describe the ceremony as the moment they could finally see what was driving the pattern — and choose differently.
Loss of Direction and Meaning
Not everyone arrives at Ayahuasca in acute crisis. Many come in a quieter kind of pain — a sense that life has become mechanical, that purpose has faded, that the aliveness they once felt is no longer accessible. The medicine tends to address this directly: restoring a felt sense of connection to oneself, to others, and to the living world that makes ordinary life feel worth inhabiting again.
Spiritual Awakening and Connection
For many participants, this ceremony is the first time they have had direct, unmediated experience of something they can only call sacred — a felt encounter with the living reality of Pachamama, the Apus, ancestral presences, or a dimension of their own consciousness that ordinary life does not provide access to.
Ayahuasca is not a substitute for medical or psychological care. For those with trauma histories or clinical diagnoses, we recommend working in parallel with a qualified therapist who understands psychedelic experiences.
Safety — Who Can Participate in This Ceremony
Safety is the non-negotiable foundation of every ceremony we hold. A health screening is required before any booking is confirmed. There are genuine medical contraindications to Ayahuasca that we honor without exception.
You can participate if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Are in generally good physical and mental health
- Are not currently taking SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, or antipsychotic medications
- Have no personal or family history of schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, or psychosis
- Are willing to follow the preparatory diet guidelines
- Are willing to disclose your full health history honestly before the ceremony
You should not participate if you:
- Have a serious cardiovascular condition or uncontrolled hypertension
- Have a personal or family history of schizophrenia, psychosis, or bipolar I disorder
- Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Are taking psychiatric medications — discuss with your doctor and inform us before booking
- Have used recreational drugs, alcohol, or cannabis within 7 days prior to the ceremony
- Are currently in acute mental health crisis without professional support
If you are uncertain about your situation, contact us before booking. We will advise you honestly — and in some cases, we will recommend that you do not participate at this time. That recommendation, when we make it, is always in your best interest.
Deepen Your Time in Cusco
The 1-day Ayahuasca retreat pairs naturally with other sacred experiences in the region. Many travelers combine their ceremony with:
- 2-Day Ayahuasca Retreat in Cusco — extend your time with the medicine across two nights and two ceremonies
- San Pedro (Wachuma) Ceremony — the daytime Andean medicine; heart-opening, solar, and held at the ancient site of Quillarumiyoq
- Coca Leaf Reading — clarify your intention before the ceremony, or integrate what emerged afterward
- Offering to Pachamama – Despacho — close your time with the sacred medicines through an act of gratitude and reciprocity to the Earth
- Essence of Cusco – 5 Day Spiritual Retreat — Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Despacho, Coca Leaf Reading and sacred site visits woven into one guided journey
- Ausangate Trek & Wachuma – 3 Days — combine high-altitude trekking with a San Pedro ceremony in one of the most sacred mountain landscapes in Peru
All experiences are private and can be combined into a single itinerary tailored to your dates and intentions.
Frequently Asked Questions — 1-Day Ayahuasca Retreat Cusco
The ceremony follows a time-honored structure rooted in the Andean-Amazonian tradition carried by our Masters. Every ceremony is unique — what arrives for each participant is shaped by their intention, their history, and what the medicine chooses to address. The structure, however, is consistent:
Afternoon — Arrival and Preparation
Private transport picks you up from your hotel in Cusco and brings you to Chinchero (approximately 30 minutes). Upon arrival, you are welcomed by your bilingual guide and the Master. There is time to settle into the space, ask any final questions, and set your intention clearly before nightfall.
Early Evening — Opening the Sacred Space
As darkness begins, the Master opens the ceremonial space with prayer and invocation in Quechua — calling upon the Apus, Pachamama, and the spirit of Ayahuasca to guide and protect what is about to unfold. Sacred mapacho (tobacco) and incense are used to cleanse the space and the participants energetically.
Evening — Intention Setting and Taking the Medicine
Each participant is invited to hold their intention clearly — what they are bringing to the ceremony, what they are asking for, what they are willing to release. The Ayahuasca brew is prepared, blessed by the Master, and offered to each participant individually, with full ceremony and presence.
Night — The Journey
Effects typically begin 30 to 60 minutes after drinking and deepen over the following 4 to 6 hours. Throughout this time, the Master works continuously — singing icaros, the sacred healing songs that are the primary navigational tool of the ceremony. Each icaro is sung for the group and for individuals as needed: a living map of the inner territory, guiding, protecting, and moving energy where it needs to move.
Your bilingual guide remains present throughout the entire night — awake, attentive, and available for support at any moment without interrupting the ceremonial space.
Individual Attention
When a participant needs direct support — physically, emotionally, or energetically — the Master comes to them personally. This individual work, called mapacho work or direct healing in some traditions, is one of the most powerful elements of a held ceremony and one of the reasons small group size matters.
Closing
The ceremony formally closes with gratitude — to the medicine, to the Apus, to Pachamama, and to whatever showed up in the night. Participants rest. The guide remains available for quiet support through the early morning hours.
Following Morning — Integration Circle
The morning after is one of the most important moments of the entire experience. Over a light breakfast, your guide facilitates a dedicated integration session — unhurried time to share what emerged, ask questions, understand the symbols and experiences of the night, and begin to anchor what the medicine showed you before returning to your daily life.
Private transport returns you to your hotel in Cusco from Chinchero.
Preparation is not separate from the ceremony. It is the beginning of it. The dieta — the preparatory practice rooted in Amazonian and Andean tradition — signals to the medicine and to your own body and mind that something important is about to happen, and that you are taking it seriously.
One week before the ceremony, avoid:
- All pharmaceutical drugs, especially SSRIs, MAOIs, antidepressants, and stimulants — these can create dangerous interactions with Ayahuasca’s alkaloids
- Alcohol and all recreational substances, including cannabis
- Pork and red meat
- Fermented foods: aged cheeses, vinegar, pickled items, soy sauce, miso
- Caffeine, chocolate, and carbonated drinks
- Refined sugar and heavily processed foods
- Spicy, fried, and heavy foods
Three days before:
- Avoid sexual activity
- Reduce screen time, news, and social stimulation
- Spend time in quiet reflection, journaling, or nature when possible
Your intention:
Before you arrive, take time to sit with why you are coming. What are you carrying? What do you hope to release? What are you asking the medicine to show you? You do not need a perfectly articulated answer — but the act of sitting with the question opens a channel that the medicine will find.
Day of the ceremony:
- Do not eat for at least 6 hours before the ceremony begins. An empty stomach is essential.
- Drink only water or light herbal tea during the day
- Wear comfortable, warm layers — Chinchero nights are cold, even in the warmer months
- Arrive on time and calm. The space between your daily life and the ceremony is itself part of the preparation.
Ayahuasca and San Pedro (Wachuma) are different ancestral medicines. Ayahuasca is usually more introspective and visionary, while San Pedro offers a gentler, heart-centered experience connected to nature. The right choice depends on your intention, personal sensitivity, and previous experience. Read Article
Safety during an ayahuasca retreat depends on experienced shamans, trained facilitators, small group sizes, and clear safety protocols. A well-guided and respectful environment is key to a safe and supportive experience. Read Article
Yes, ayahuasca is legal in Peru and is recognized as part of the country’s ancestral cultural heritage when used in traditional and ceremonial contexts, respecting local laws and indigenous practices. Read Article
Ayahuasca benefits vary from person to person, but many participants report emotional clarity, release of internal blockages, deeper self-awareness, and a stronger spiritual connection when experienced in a guided and intentional setting. Read Article
Ayahuasca is a powerful plant medicine and is not suitable for everyone. Certain medical conditions and medications, especially antidepressants, can increase risks. A proper health screening is essential to ensure a safe and responsible ceremony. Read Article
Ayahuasca can be safe for beginners when it is approached responsibly and guided by experienced facilitators. At Puma Adventures, ceremonies are designed to support first-time participants through proper preparation, clear guidance, and traditional practices led by trained shamans. Prior to the ceremony, participants receive information about diet, mindset, and contraindications to ensure a safe and grounded experience. Ayahuasca is not about intensity, but about respect, intention, and proper guidance.
