Finding the best ayahuasca retreat center in the United States is a difficult undertaking. Best is subjective, and the truth is, what is best for one person might not be best for you. When it comes to spiritual and religious work, it's crucial to follow your own inner guidance and intuition. Still, many factors will have a big impact on your experience that should be highly regarded, such as safety and reputation, to ensure that you have a positive and beneficial ayahuasca experience. There are red flags to look for, and having spent over 12 years in the ayahuasca community, we have heard it all, from incredible stories of transformations to disheartening stories of abuse, neglect, and death.

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Putting this list together wasn’t easy. Finding truly authentic and safe retreats requires careful discernment. We researched the highest-rated options, combed through discussions on Reddit and other forums, and reviewed each retreat’s website and offerings. In narrowing down our choices, we focused on safety protocols, the experience of facilitators, respect for tradition, and overall reputation. Here are our recommendations for the top five best ayahuasca retreats in the United States:

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Disclaimer: A Note on Legality in the United States

Some churches in the United States have received specific legal protection or a federal exemption to use ayahuasca as a sacrament within a sincere religious practice. Others may be established and operate from a similar religious framework, but have not explicitly received that same protection themselves. Because ayahuasca containing DMT remains illegal under federal law unless a specific exemption or legal protection applies, this leaves room for legal ambiguity. Participating in retreats or ceremonies with organizations that do not have recognized legal protection may carry legal risk and should be carefully considered before attending.

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This list is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, medical advice, a recommendation to use ayahuasca, or an endorsement of any organization listed. Anyone considering participation is responsible for conducting their own due diligence, including reviewing legal status, safety practices, screening procedures, facilitator experience, and medical appropriateness before attending any ceremony or retreat.

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1. New Life Rising (Texas, USA & Costa Rica)

After more than 12 years of hosting retreats in Costa Rica, New Life Rising relocated to Texas, bringing a depth of experience, expertise, and tradition rarely found in the United States. What began as a humble offering in 2014 grew into one of the longest-running, top-rated, and most respected ayahuasca retreats to come out of Costa Rica. Founded by Matthew Mormello and Jeanae White, both trained in the Peruvian Mestizo traditions, New Life Rising emphasizes authentic ceremonies, intimate group settings, a trauma-sensitive approach, comprehensive safety protocols, and ongoing integration support. Having hosted thousands of guests and earned a five-star reputation with reviews across multiple platforms, it stands out as one of the best ayahuasca retreats in the United States.

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Why New Life Rising Stands Out:

• Open Since: 2014

• Primary Focus: Intimate Groups, Trauma-informed approach, and complementary therapies, and safety protocols.

• Group Size: 14 maximum participants for personalized support, fostering deep connections and a family-like atmosphere.

• Facilitators: Matthew and Jeanae, a husband and wife team with over a decade of experience, guide ceremonies with traditional Icaros and instruments.

• Additional Therapies: Includes Hatha yoga, group sharing circles, nature excursions, and integration support

• Safety Protocol: Rigorous and comprehensive medical screenings, CPR-certified facilitators, First-Aid kits, and on-site AED device ensure physical and emotional safety.

• Community impact: Has a close relationship to the community in Iquitos, Peru, supporting several independent families and craftsmen. Also offers a scholarship program to make the experience accessible to those with financial limitations. 

• Reputation and Reviews: Top-rated and boasting over 500 five-star reviews across platforms like Google, TripAdvisors, AyaAdvisors, and RetreatGuru. Rated 5 stars overall.

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2. União do Vegetal (UDV) (Multiple locations)

The UDV is a Christian Spiritist religion that originated in Brazil and is now practiced by over 21,000 people in 11 countries. The UDV has received numerous civic awards for its community and environmental service and is recognized as a church under the laws of the United States. The UDV was the pioneer for setting the landscape of religious ayahuasca use in the United States, and their monumental Supreme Court ruling in 2006 (Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal), which granted them a religious exemption for their sincere use of Huasca (ayahuasca) became one of the most important legal precedents for sincere religious ayahuasca use in the United States. The UDV is an established religious organization with a long-standing structure, doctrine, and process, which matters a lot in this space. Active congregations are found in Colorado, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, and Washington. That said, it is a church/community, not a typical commercial “retreat center.”

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WhyUnião do Vegetal  Stands Out:

• Open Since: Formally established in Brazil 1961, the church was established in the United States in the 1990s, and its legal case began after the government seizure of its sacrament in 1999.

• Primary Focus: A structured Christian Spiritist religious path centered on the sincere sacramental use of Hoasca for spiritual understanding, moral development, and closeness to God.

• Group Size: Varies, no information available.

• Facilitators:UDV religious services are led by authorized church leaders.

• Additional Therapies: UDV emphasizes religious teaching, solemn reflection, mental concentration, and community life.

• Safety Protocol: One of the few full legal churches in the United States authorized by the DEA with a CSA exception to use Hoasca (ayahuasca).

• Community Impact: The UDV has received numerous civic awards and highlights community and environmental services.

• Reputation and Reviews: UDV is better described in terms of its religious legitimacy, longevity, structure, and legal standing than consumer-based reviews.

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3. Church of the Holy Light of the Queen (Ashland, Oregon)

The Church of the Holy Light of the Queen is one of the most established Santo Daime churches in the United States, and one of the clearest examples of a church that has built its path with both devotion and legal care. Based in Ashland, Oregon, CHLQ has been serving its community for decades and is deeply rooted in the Santo Daime tradition that emerged from Brazil. For those looking at ayahuasca in the U.S., what makes this church stand out is not flashy marketing or a retreat-style experience, but the depth of its spiritual foundation, the sincerity of its religious practice, and the stability that comes from being a long-standing, legally recognized church. Like UDV, it is best understood as a committed spiritual community rather than a commercial retreat center.

 

Why Church of the Holy Light of the Queen Stands Out:

• Open Since: CHLQ has been operating since 1996, giving it a long history and established foundation in the United States.

• Primary Focus: Santo Daime religious practice centered on prayer, healing, spiritual connection, and transformation.

• Group Size: Varies. Information unavailable.

• Facilitators: Services are held within an established church structure and guided through the Santo Daime tradition.

• Additional Support: CHLQ offers a path of spiritual practice, community, and ongoing religious life, rather than a typical retreat format.

• Safety Protocol: Has a confirmed legal history and longstanding presence, which gives it a level of legitimacy.

• Community Impact: Deeply integrated with the local community in Genaro Herrera, employing Maestro Alberto’s family and local staff, using locally grown plants for ayahuasca brews, and supporting sustainable practices in the region.

• Reputation and Reviews: CHLQ stands out for its longevity, spiritual integrity, and the seriousness with which it holds its tradition.

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4. Church of Gaia (Spokane, Washington)

Church of Gaia is one of the newer ayahuasca churches in the United States, but it has quickly become one of the most notable. Based in Spokane, Washington, it presents itself as an earth-centered spiritual community rooted in sacred ceremony, reverence for the medicine, and a strong emphasis on integration and belonging. What makes Church of Gaia especially compelling is that it brings together a modern, community-oriented approach with a level of legal clarity that very few newer churches have been able to establish. It feels less institutional than some of the older churches, while still taking its spiritual and legal responsibilities seriously.

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Why Church of Gaia Stands Out:

• Open Since: 2025

• Primary Focus: Sacred ceremony, spiritual growth, connection to the Earth, and meaningful community.

• Group Size: N/A

• Facilitators: Church of Gaia describes its ceremonies as being guided by experienced ceremonial leaders within its spiritual framework.

• Additional Therapies: Integration, community circles, and ongoing gatherings are part of what gives the church a more relational and supportive feel.

• Safety Protocol: Church of Gaia has been transparent about its legal journey and standing

• Community Impact: The church presents itself as a values-based spiritual community with an emphasis on stewardship, belonging, and respectful relationship with the lands and peoples of the region.

• Reputation and Reviews: While very new, Gaia stands out as one of the clearest examples of a church that is trying to build with both heart and responsibility.

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5. Church of the Eagle and the Condor (Arizona)

The Church of the Eagle and the Condor stands out as an important addition to this list because it represents another meaningful example of ayahuasca spirituality gaining legal ground in the United States. . Based in the Phoenix area, the church was founded in 2018 and describes itself as a spiritual community devoted to universal spirituality in fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor. Its path appears rooted in a blending of Indigenous wisdom from North and South America, with ayahuasca held as a central sacrament within that spiritual framework. While it may be less widely known than UDV or Holy Light of the Queen, its significance lies in the fact that it helped expand the conversation around who can sincerely and lawfully work with ayahuasca in a religious context. For that reason, it holds an important place on this list. It offers a path that appears less tied to the more established Christian ayahuasca traditions and instead reflects a broader ceremonial and spiritual framework.

 

Why Church of Eagle and the Condor Stands Out:

• Open Since: Founded in 2018

• Primary Focus: The purpose of the Church is the Spiritual Unity of all people with the Creator through the practice.

• Group Size: N/A

• Facilitators: Experienced Shipibo maestros and maestras, such as Maestra Justina, lead ceremonies with traditional icaros, supported by trained Western facilitators for integration and care.

• Additional Support: Integration support, community circles, workshops, and seasonal gatherings are part of its model.

• Safety Protocol: N/A

• Community Impact: The church presents itself as a values-based spiritual community with an emphasis on stewardship, belonging, and respectful relationship with the lands and peoples of the region.

• Reputation and Reviews: N/A

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