Ethical Ayahuasca Retreats: Safety, Legality & Core Values

At Vine of the Soul, we believe every individual transformation ripples outward to change the world. Our ayahuasca retreats in Portugal and Spain are crafted with love, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to your safety and empowerment. Unlike psychedelic tourism or guru-led experiences, we offer trauma-informed, professional journeys that prioritize lasting mental health and spiritual growth for guests from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Europe and beyond. Check out our methodology to discover how we create safe, transformative spaces.

Our Core Values: Guiding Safe Ayahuasca Healing

Our ten core values shape every aspect of our ayahuasca retreats, ensuring an ethical, safe, and empowering experience:

  • Safety First: Rigorous screening, sober facilitators, and advanced tools like AEDs (Valencia) and blood pressure monitors (Albufeira) prioritize your well-being.
  • Integrity Over Authority: Our facilitators guide with humility, rejecting dogma and honoring your unique path without guru projections.
  • Empowerment: We trust your innate wisdom, making ayahuasca optional and complementing it with hypnotherapy, yoga, and integration for autonomy.
  • Continuous Learning: Community feedback and ongoing training keep our practices cutting-edge.
  • Respect Without Dogma: We honor ayahuasca’s sacredness while respecting your beliefs, free from imposed interpretations.
  • Sustainability: Ethically sourced ayahuasca from Ecuadorian indigenous communities supports their livelihoods and preserves Mother Earth.
  • Community Connection: Pre- and post-retreat calls and WhatsApp groups foster a family-like bond.
  • Transparency: We openly share the legal and ethical risks we undertake.
  • Holistic Healing: Hypnotherapy, psychoanalysis, Belief Coding, and more ensure comprehensive transformation.
  • Compassion: Every interaction reflects our love for people and belief in global change through individual healing.

Methodology: Trauma-Informed Ayahuasca Transformation

Our ayahuasca retreats are a curated process of neuropsychospiritual healing, not a recreational experience. Rooted in trauma-informed care, our methodology ensures safety and lasting impact:

Preparation for Safe Ayahuasca Healing

Holistic screening (health, mental health, medications) assesses conditions like heart issues or psychosis history. One-on-one calls help set intentions, asking, “What do I want to heal? Who might I become?” Educational resources (FAQ videos, WhatsApp, blog posts) set realistic expectations, acknowledging that emotional residue may surface before healing emerges.

Sacred Ceremonies with Professional Support

Sober facilitators create a sacred, safe container using traditional shamanic practices, supported by music, drumming, and incense. Pre-ceremony talks explore intentions deeply, while sharing circles and one-on-one sessions post-ceremony bridge mystical insights with psychological clarity. Somatic tools (e.g., punching bags for anger, quiet rooms for overwhelm) support intense emotions without interference.

Integration for Lasting Transformation

Daily sharing circles during the retreat solidify insights, followed by a final integration circle with practical tools for post-retreat life. A follow-up call 2–3 weeks later leverages the brain’s neuroplastic window to anchor new habits. Referrals to vetted therapists and coaches provide ongoing support.

Community Support for Global Healing

WhatsApp groups, monthly Zoom circles, and in-person meetups (e.g., London dinners) create a lifelong network of like-minded individuals.

Ayahuasca is optional—a tool in your “spring cleaning” of the self, tailored to your needs. We avoid spiritual bypassing and prioritize ethical, grounded healing

Safety: Ensuring Secure Ayahuasca Ceremonies

Your safety is our foundation:

Comprehensive Health Screening

Our intake form assesses heart conditions, high blood pressure, mental health history (e.g., psychosis, bipolar disorder), and medications (SSRIs, MAOIs). For example, we redirected a participant with a family history of schizophrenia to hypnotherapy, ensuring their safety. Participants agree to abstain from alcohol, drugs, and tyramine-rich foods pre-retreat.

On-Site Emergency Preparedness

Sober facilitators, AEDs (Valencia), blood pressure monitors (Albufeira), and 10-minute hospital proximity ensure rapid response. After rare incidents of participants leaving premises, we tightened gate policies and communication.

Strict Dietary Guidelines

2-week and 3-day pre-retreat restrictions avoid tyramine-rich foods (e.g., pork, fermented cheeses) and contraindicated medications to prevent serotonin syndrome. We advise against marijuana 3 weeks prior due to reduced efficacy.

Legality: Navigating Ayahuasca Laws in Portugal & Spain

Ayahuasca’s legal status is complex, and we’re transparent about the risks we take:

Guest Safety in Decriminalized Settings

Personal use is decriminalized. In Portugal, Law 30/2000 limits possession (up to a 10-day supply) to fines or counseling. In Spain, Organic Law 4/2015 allows personal use, with public possession incurring fines. Over 40 court cases (2010–2021) confirm ayahuasca’s non-controlled status. Private venues ensure your risk is virtually zero.

Organizer Risks and Ethical Compliance

As organizers, we navigate complex legal responsibilities to ensure compliance, sourcing ayahuasca plants ethically from Ecuador, preparing them locally, and consulting lawyers regularly. Ayahuasca is optional, with our retreats centered on holistic mental health, ensuring a safe, transformative experience for guests.

Welcoming International Guests to Holistic Retreats

We warmly welcome guests from the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia, and beyond to our ayahuasca retreats in Valencia, Spain, and Albufeira, Portugal:

Travel Logistics for Valencia and Albufeira

Valencia: Fly into Valencia Airport (VLC) with direct UK flights or connections from the US, Canada, and Australia via European cities like Amsterdam or Frankfurt. Our private retreat venue is about a 45 minutes drive, with directions provided 2–3 days prior for privacy and ease. Albufeira: Arrive at Faro Airport (FAO), well-connected to the UK and with connections from North America and Australia via Lisbon or London. Our venue is 30 minutes from Faro, with transport arranged on request. European, US, Canadian, Australian, and UK citizens enjoy visa-free travel for 90 days (Schengen Agreement). Check regulations before booking.

Cultural Sensitivity and Global Community

Our multilingual facilitators (English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and more) ensure clear communication and cultural sensitivity. Whether you’re seeking healing from burnout, trauma, or existential questions, our non-dogmatic approach respects your background while fostering a global community.

Legal and Safety Assurances for Travelers

Personal use is decriminalized, and private venues ensure zero risk for guests. We handle legal complexities—sourcing plants ethically, consulting lawyers, making ayahuasca optional—so you can focus on healing. Our rigorous screening and on-site safety measures (AEDs, blood pressure monitors, sober facilitators) provide peace of mind, whether from New York, Toronto, Sydney, or London.

Ready to join us? Download Our Methodology to plan your journey.

Why Choose Our Integration-Focused Ayahuasca Retreats

We reject psychedelic tourism and guru-centric models, offering professional, integration-focused ayahuasca retreats:

  • Holistic Transformation: Ayahuasca is optional, complemented by hypnotherapy, Belief Coding, yoga, and psychoanalysis.
  • Trauma-Informed Care: Facilitators guide with expertise and humility, ensuring emotional safety.
  • Integration Focus: Pre-retreat videos, post-retreat calls, and community support make insights actionable.
  • Ethical Sourcing: Sustainable partnerships with Ecuadorian communities ensure respect and quality.

Meet Our Professional Ayahuasca Facilitators

Our facilitators bring diverse expertise and compassion to guide your journey:

  • Bianca (Founder): Certified Rapid Transformational Therapist and coach, Bianca overcame depression and self-sabotage through ayahuasca and RTT. She uses psychedelics, hypnotherapy, and coaching to empower others, leading with authenticity to help you break free from limiting beliefs.
  • Kristina (Belief Coding & Yoga): Certified Belief Coding facilitator and Yin Yoga instructor, with 12 years as a special education teacher. Healed through plant medicine, she supports transformation with expertise in Psychoanalytic Pedagogy and Ho’oponopono, fluent in German, English, and conversational Russian.
  • Riccardo (Plant Medicine & Culinary): With a decade in plant medicine and a background as a chef, Riccardo creates nurturing spaces and delightful meals. Fluent in English, Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, he fosters deep connections.
  • Rosa (Psychedelic-Informed Practitioner): Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, certified in Psychedelic Studies and Soma Breathwork. Rosa bridges science and spirituality, guiding transformation with expertise in somatics, nutrition, and psychedelic integration.
  • Chiara (Holistic Therapist): Artist and medicine woman specializing in Divine Feminine Retreats. Trained in shamanic and Egyptian healing globally, Chiara uses art to reconnect guests with their inner child and creative potential.
  • Axis (Shamanic Facilitator): Trained under shamans in South America and Europe, with a psychology background and certifications as an Osteopath and Massage Therapist. Axis integrates holistic approaches, fluent in English, Spanish, and Japanese.
  • Richard (Empathetic Facilitator): Former entrepreneur healed from addiction and trauma through Vine of the Soul’s retreats. Richard facilitates with empathy, vulnerability, and creativity (dance, music), creating non-judgmental spaces.
  • Robert (Integration Guide): Ex-IT professional transformed by ayahuasca, Robert offers grounded support for integration. His authentic, listening approach helps guests process emotions and find harmony.

See full team profiles.

Investing in Your Holistic Mental Health Journey

Our pricing reflects our commitment to excellence:

  • Ethical Sourcing: Sustainable partnerships with Ecuadorian communities.
  • Professional Expertise: Facilitators’ training in hypnotherapy, psychoanalysis, and more.
  • Safety Infrastructure: AEDs, medical equipment, and legal consultations.
  • Personalized Care: Small groups, private venues, and comprehensive programming.

We take legal, financial, and emotional risks to provide a safe, transformative space—your investment fuels this mission.

A Participant’s Transformative Ayahuasca Experience

“I arrived at Vine of the Soul nervous, unsure if I was ready for ayahuasca. From the first moment, Bianca and her team enveloped me in care and compassion, creating a safe space to face my deepest fears. The ceremonies, guided with professionalism and love, helped me uncover profound self-acceptance. The integration calls afterward made all the difference—I felt supported long after leaving. This was more than a retreat; it was a life-changing journey.” – Anonymous, UK Participant, September 2024

Begin Your Safe Ayahuasca Journey Today

Ready to embark on your transformative ayahuasca journey? Download Our Methodology to explore our ethical, safe, and holistic approach.