A personalized experienceheld in heartfelt community

Soltara currently offers retreats in 2 locations in Costa Rica:

• Playa Blanca: Located on the calm and beautiful Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, named as one of the 5 "Blue Zones" of the world, gaze at the stars or awaken to sunrises over the water from our stardeck or ocean-view balconies.
• Scarlet Valley: In the lush mountains of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Valley, this land is alive with wildlife, tropical gardens, and protected rainforest near Carara National Park. Set along a historic wildlife corridor and one of the last remaining habitats of the Scarlet Macaw, our center’s namesake, enjoy sweeping valley views, fresh mountain air, and a deep sense of peace.

Each location is designed to support deep rest, ceremony, and connection with nature.

The setting, accommodations, and travel details vary by location, but every retreat follows the same standards of care, screening, and facilitation support.

Learn more about our retreat spaces

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For an overview of our retreat spaces, accommodations, and programs, visit our Retreats page. 

You can see exact dates, availability, and pricing on our booking page. 

Pricing is dependent on location, program length, and accommodation choice. Click into each program for lodging-specific pricing.

We offer all-inclusive packages based on lodging type. Pricing includes meals, accommodations, ceremonies, programming, a full year of one-on-one and group support, and transportation to and from the pickup location in San Jose.

Our secluded slice of sundrenched paradise is surrounded on all sides by the vibrant sounds of the tropical forest.

Located on the calm and beautiful Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, named as one of the 5 "Blue Zones" of the world, gaze at the stars or sunrises over the water from our stardeck or ocean-view balconies.

Comfortable accommodations and onsite facilities, including a pool & jungle gym, allow for rest and gentle movement during your retreat. Nature trails and gardens immerse you in the natural beauty of Costa Rica's biodiversity. Awaken each morning to bird songs, monkeys playing in trees, and crashing waves in the distance. Relax under a mango tree overlooking the Gulf, walk down to the beach and take a dip in the gentle waters, or connect with others around the fire circle and hammock areas.

Highlights of our Playa Blanca, Costa Rica Retreats

• Average 15, maximum capacity of 20 - 22 guests
• Luxury accommodations with air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, king-sized beds, and ocean-view balconies
• Nearby access to 2 semi-private beaches
• Onsite pool, large 'stardeck', jungle gym, yoga palapa, fire circle, and hammock areas
• Tucked away in tropical forest on seaside cliffs overlooking the Gulf

We offer 3 different retreat options for our Playa Blanca location:

• Five Night Retreat with 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies
• Seven Night Retreat with 4 Ayahuasca ceremonies
• Twelve Night Retreat with 7 Ayahuasca ceremonies

Learn more about our Retreat Spaces

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In the lush mountains of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Valley, our newest retreat space is alive with wildlife, tropical gardens, and protected rainforest near Carara National Park. Set along a historic wildlife corridor and one of the last remaining habitats of the Scarlet Macaw, our center’s namesake, this land is home to hundreds of bird species, vibrant plant life, and dense tropical growth. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the land with sweeping valley views, fresh mountain air, and a deep sense of peace.

Paved walking paths wind throughout the property, offering space to explore, reflect, and sit quietly beneath towering trees and flowering gardens. Eat fresh food grown right on the land through our permaculture project, and relax in spacious indoor and outdoor communal areas.

With newly built accommodations, a brand-new maloca, gym, spa, and saltwater pool, this center offers modern comforts immersed in the jungle and grounded in the living landscape.

Highlights of our Soltara Scarlet Valley, Costa Rica Retreats

• Guided tour of Carara National Park included
• Maximum capacity of 22 guests
• Brand new and newly renovated shared & private rooms with air conditioning and artisanal touches
• Jungle trails, saltwater pool, spa, gym, fire circle, spacious indoor & outdoor communal areas
• Expansive & private mountain, rainforest, and valley views
• Organic produce sourced from an on-site greenhouse
• Mild tropical climate located on a wildlife corridor

We offer 2 retreat options for our Scarlet Valley location:

• Five Night Retreat with 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies
• Seven Night Retreat with 4 Ayahuasca ceremonies

Learn more about our retreat spaces

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Choosing where to take part in this sacred experience is extremely important, and can strongly affect what you get out of it.

Wherever you are considering, our first suggestion is to check in with yourself: does it feel right? Next, make sure you clearly understand the healers’ training and experience, and whether the retreat provides a strong, safe container—both during the retreat and afterward.

Key things to ask about the retreat leaders & healers include:

• Who trained the person leading ceremonies
• What is their lineage
• How long they apprenticed
• Where they trained
• What tradition they follow (if any)
• How long they have been holding ceremony. 

These details help you understand whether they can safely hold the “energetic container” of the space.

In Shipibo and some mestizo traditions, one useful measure of training is the number of master plant dietas a healer has completed. A dieta is part of apprenticeship where the student spends time in isolation with a strict diet, drinks small amounts of tea made from a specific master plant, and connects with that plant through ceremony. Over time, this is believed to cleanse the body and spirit and help the healer learn the plant’s subtle energies. In this tradition, healers receive their icaros (healing songs) through this deep connection with master plants during dietas. This is a general overview of an important part of training in these traditions. A healer who runs ceremonies independently will often have done at least about five years of diets.

You can read more about the healers we work with at Soltara here.

Other factors to consider include:

• The ratio of healers/facilitators to guests, and overall group size. A very skilled healer may be able to hold space for about 10–12 people alone, but larger groups often require multiple healers and strong facilitation to keep the space safe and stable. 
• The brew: where it comes from and whether anything is added besides Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaf. If there are admixtures, you should know exactly what they are and why they are included. Some added plants (such as certain strong trees or plants) can be risky if not handled by someone properly trained and “dieted” to work with them.
  • Are there other psychedelic or plant medicines offered during the retreat? This can be potentially dangerous if not carefully supported and approved by the traditions who steward this work.
• Screening: is there a medical and psychological screening process in place, with medical professionals? Ayahuasca and psychedelics are not for everyone, and certain medical interactions can be dangerous.
• Preparation & integration support: What support do they offer before, during the retreat (between and after ceremonies) and after you return home?
  • Do they have experienced integration therapists or coaches available? 
  • Do they provide resources and ways to stay connected to the community?
  • Do they prepare you with workshops, sharing circles, and practical tools for common integration challenges?
  • For context, ou can read more about Soltara’s integration program here.

At Soltara, we work with two Shipibo healers, 3 facilitators, an assistant facilitator, and a retreat director for group sized of 15 - 22 guests. Our Ayahuasca contains only the two main ingredients: Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaf.

We recommend exercising caution about retreats that combine many different medicines or traditions in a short time. Soltara believes it is important to work with each medicine on its own, both for your body’s stability and out of respect for each master plant teacher. This is one reason we recommend avoiding other psychoactive substances for at least 30 days before and after your retreat.

We hope these guidelines help you choose what feels right for you. If you have more questions about how we work with medicine at Soltara, please reach out through our Contact page.

This work is very personal, so we recommend checking in with yourself about what feels right and trusting your intuition. The main difference between retreat lengths is the number of ceremonies and how much time you have to rest, process, and integrate the work.

Some people find meaningful healing in our 5 night retreats. Others benefit from more time to build a deeper connection and let the healing take root. Depending on what you are working on, more time may give you a better chance to integrate more fully. Either way, there is no “wrong” choice — choose what fits you.

Pricing varies based on retreat location, program length, and lodging option chosen. To view pricing & lodging, click into any program on our booking page.

We offer different retreat options depending on your preference:

• 5 Night Retreat - 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies + 1 full integration day
• 7 Night Retreat - 4 Ayahuasca ceremonies + 2 full integration days
• 12 Night Retreat - 7 Ayahuasca ceremonies + 4 full integration days
  • Note that this retreat is a combination of our 5 + 7 night programs; groups may vary between weeks
• Return & Experienced Guest Retreats - 5 & 7 Night options
  • This retreat is designed for experienced guests continuing their journey, with less introductory meetings and more space for integration & cultural immersion

Retreats Overview

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We only offer the retreat lengths listed on our booking page (5, 7, or 12 nights). Our programming is designed to help you fully immerse and get the most from your experience.

Ayahuasca work can be intense, and it often helps to have enough time for multiple ceremonies and for integration. If possible, we encourage you to make space for a full retreat so you don’t interrupt or cut short the process. Committing to your full retreat can create the best conditions for deep, lasting benefit.

We want every guest to feel personally supported and to have enough space to go deeply into their process. We also believe the community experience matters, and that can be lost if a group is too large. For these reasons, we keep groups relatively small and maintain a high healer-team-to-guest ratio.

Our average group size is 15 guests, with a maximum capacity of 20-22. For a group of this size, we work with two Shipibo healers, three facilitators, an assistant facilitator, a guardian, a Retreat Director, and a yoga teacher, alongside hotel support staff.

During every ceremony, each guest receives personal healing icaros (healing song), based on their intention for healing, what the healers feel is needed, and their consultation with the healers during the retreat.

The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is warm, sunny, and classically tropical.

Playa Blanca, located on the Gulf of Nicoya in Paquera, Puntarenas, typically experiences warm coastal temperatures ranging from roughly 27 – 32°C (80 – 90°F) during the day, with sea breezes off the Gulf providing natural relief. The area is warmer and more humid than inland mountain locations, with abundant sunshine year-round.

• Dry Season (December – April): Hot and sunny with very little rain, temperatures often reaching the low-to-mid 30s (90+°F), especially in March and April. Ocean breezes help moderate the heat.
• Green Season (May – November): Warm days with higher humidity and afternoon rain showers, which typically pass quickly. The landscape is at its most lush during these months.
• Monthly Averages: The region maintains a consistently warm tropical climate, with average temperatures around 27°C (81°F) year-round.
• Coastal Factor: Being at sea level on the Gulf, Playa Blanca runs several degrees warmer than mountain locations, though the ocean breeze and shade from the surrounding tropical forest keep it comfortable.

Bring light, breathable clothing, swimwear, and a light layer for evenings.

Soltara also recommends light, loose long-sleeve shirts and long pants for sun and occasional mosquitoes, plus sneakers or sandals with backs if you want to explore the property's nature trails or walk down to the beach.

The Central Pacific Valley of Costa Rica is tropical but often pleasant. 

Bijagual de Turrubares, located in a mountainous region near the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, typically experiences comfortable, warm temperatures ranging from roughly 25 – 28 C (77 – 82 F) on average, with hotter days reaching the low 30s (up to 90+ F) during the December – April dry season. The area is cooler than nearby beach towns like Jaco.

• Dry Season (December – April): Temperatures are warmest, often peaking in March and April, with lower humidity.
• Rainy Season (May – November): Temperatures remain warm during the day and cooler at night, and afternoons often bring rainfall.
• Monthly Averages: The region experiences a consistent, moderate tropical climate with average monthly temperatures around 23 C (73 F).
• Elevation Factor: Because Bijagual is in the mountains, it is consistently cooler than the coast, often providing a 25 – 28 C (77 – 82 F) average day, which feels very comfortable compared to the 30+ C (90+ F) temperatures on the coast.

Bring light, breathable clothing, plus a light sweater and layers for cooler evenings.

Soltara also recommends light, loose long-sleeve shirts and long pants for sun and occasional mosquitoes, and sneakers or sandals with backs if you want to explore property’s rainforest trails.

During your retreat, you may visit two nearby beaches during free time (about a 3-minute walk down our beach trails) - Playa Blanca or Playa Paloma. We do not offer off-site excursions, and we do not permit guests to travel off site beyond the beaches or visit with people who are not on retreat.

We do this to protect the energetic container. When you are open and working with Ayahuasca, it can be important to reduce outside interactions and avoid extra logistics so you can stay focused on your process. With nature trails, beach access, and an intimate group (average 15, max 22), most people find they have plenty of space and freedom without needing additional excursions.

During your retreat, you're welcome to explore our expansive property, including rainforest nature trails available by sign-out during the day, a saltwater pool, spa, jungle gym, hammock areas, walking paths, and groves and gardens to wander. On departure day, we take a guided tour of nearby Carara National Park, a true immersion into the primary rainforest and biodiversity of Costa Rica after a week of working with plant medicine. For many guests, it's the most connected to nature they've ever felt.

Beyond this, we do not offer off-site excursions, and we do not permit guests to travel off site during the retreat or visit with people who are not on retreat.

We do this to protect the energetic container. When you are open and working with Ayahuasca, it can be important to reduce outside interactions and avoid extra logistics so you can stay focused on your process. With expansive grounds, rainforest trails, and an intimate group (average 15, max 22), most people find they have plenty of space and freedom without needing additional excursions.

Couples are welcome, and we offer private double and couples accommodations at both locations. During ceremony, we do not have couples sit next to each other in the maloca. This helps each person focus on their own process and reduces energetic influence.

Outside of ceremony, we ask all guests to abstain from sexual and sensual contact (with themselves or others) during the retreat. Beyond that, you can choose what feels best regarding accommodations. Some couples prefer separate rooms to support their individual process, while others prefer to share a private space and process together. This is up to you.

Learn more about our retreat spaces & accommodations

All guests must be at least 18 years old to be on site and participate in a retreat.

Because this work can be very deep and emotionally sensitive, we do not allow guests to bring children. We maintain a strong container so participants can go deeply into their process without affecting children who may not understand what is happening.

Ayahuasca can be a powerful tool for healing and for spiritual and emotional growth. In simple terms, it can feel like a very clear mirror that shows you what is really going on inside you. With the right mindset and a safe, well-run setting, it may help you see the roots of fear, trauma, and other emotional pain that shows up in your life. From a place of compassion, it can help you understand your inner patterns and support you in letting go of habits that no longer serve you. That said, it’s important to have enough time, a supportive environment, and skilled healers and facilitators who can help you work with whatever comes up and fully trust the process.

Is it safe?

With proper screening, preparation, a safe “container” (the overall structure and support of the retreat), and good integration afterward, serious negative psychological effects are rare. However, some medical conditions do not mix safely with Ayahuasca, including (but not limited to) schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Some medications are also not compatible and should be discussed with your doctor. You should only consider a retreat if it is safe for you, and only change or taper medications under medical guidance. 

Beyond medical issues, an Ayahuasca experience can become unsafe if the healers are inexperienced, if the brew includes added plants that may react poorly, if the retreat lacks strong support and safety practices, or if someone takes multiple different plant medicines close together (“medicine stacking”), which can overwhelm the system and leave someone feeling ungrounded.

At Soltara, your safety, well-being, and healing are our top priorities. Our goal is to help each person get the most from their experience in a careful, supportive way. 

Learn more about our safety practices.

Experienced Shipibo Healers & Facilitators

We work only with highly experienced Indigenous Shipibo healers from the Peruvian Amazon. We are connected to respected family lineages with generations of training and decades of hands-on experience. This helps ensure they can hold ceremony safely and effectively. Our facilitation team also has decades of experience and has supported thousands of guests. 

Holistic & Clinically Informed

In addition to our on-site team of skilled healers and facilitators, we consult qualified professionals during screening and preparation. Our medical intake process is thorough and includes a detailed questionnaire during registration to help reduce risk from adverse interactions, as well as a 1:1 intake call and any required follow-up. We also have on-site staff trained in first aid, a local doctor on call and paramedic present during ceremonies at Playa Blanca (coming soon for Scarlet Valley), health checks before and after the program, 24/7 facilitation support, and a fully stocked medical kit onsite. Finally, we provide holistic resources, community, and a 1:1 preparation call with a member of our preparation team for each guest as part of the retreat. Our safety protocols are designed so you can make the most of your retreat and feel supported - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Ayahuasca Brew

Our Ayahuasca brew uses only the two main ingredients - Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaf - and is sourced in a sustainable, regenerative way from trusted providers in Costa Rica. We also focus specifically on working with Ayahuasca, without other plant or psychoactive medicines, because we believe it’s important to give this tradition and medicine the space to do its best work.

Integration & Heartfelt Community

We take integration just as seriously. A powerful experience and an initial “clearing” can be an important start, but it is usually only the first step in a longer, often lifelong process. For healing to last, we believe people need tools and support to bring what they learned into daily life. We provide longer-term 1:1 and community support so the changes can stick. Much of our team has worked at other retreat centers, and we saw how much most people needed ongoing connection and guidance after returning home. 

Your Soltara Journey

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Many Soltara guests have little or no experience with psychoactive medicines and still find deep healing with Ayahuasca. In fact, having less experience can sometimes help, because it may be easier to enter ceremony without strong expectations—something that can greatly affect the experience.

Working with Ayahuasca is often a process. If you are planning to work with the medicine—especially for the first time—we recommend giving yourself enough time for multiple ceremonies in a safe and supportive setting. It can take time to build trust and a relationship with the medicine so deeper work can unfold. Sometimes one ceremony can open the process, but may not be enough to gain meaningful benefit and then “close” what has been opened in an energetic sense. This is one reason our minimum retreat stay is five nights. We have found that at least three ceremonies, along with integration support during and after the retreat, can support a deep level of healing.

We have more information about Ayahuasca on our website. Here are some helpful starting points:

• Everything You Need to Know About Soltara
• About Ayahuasca Plant Medicine & the Shipibo Tradition
• The Full Plant Medicine Journey: From Intake to Integration
• How Preparation & Integration Shape Your Journey
• Dietary & Lifestyle Guidance for Your Journey

As always, feel free to connect with us directly - booking a free discovery call is a chance to speak to a Soltara team member, who has been through our programs and can answer any questions you have.

We are grateful to work with highly experienced Indigenous Shipibo healers from the Peruvian Amazon. We are connected to respected family lineages who have trained with this medicine for generations and have decades of experience. This depth of training helps them hold ceremony safely and effectively. 

Different teams of 2 healers work with us at different points of the year, so they can balance time with their families and communities in Peru while also holding ceremonies at our locations in Costa Rica. For every ceremony, we work with 2 healers who are either married or family, and you will work with the same healers throughout your entire retreat.

During ceremony, each healer will sing you a personal icaro (healing song), attuned to your energy and needs, as part of the healing and medicine work.

Learn more about who they are and the wisdom they carry on our team page.

If possible, we recommend stopping all supplements 14 days before your retreat.

The basic idea of working with master plant teachers like Ayahuasca is to arrive with a “clean slate” in your body. In the Shipibo tradition, people are generally advised to temporarily pause other supplements, plant treatments (unless prescribed by the healers), and synthetic drug treatments so they can connect more directly with Ayahuasca. If you can safely pause these (unless they are medically necessary), you may have a clearer connection with the medicine.

Because CBD oil comes from the marijuana plant, we recommend not using it for at least two weeks before and after your retreat. This is not a medical contraindication, but it is a way to help your body prepare for Ayahuasca by pausing other plant medicines during that window.

If there is anything you need to continue during the retreat, please note it on your intake form, sent to you by email after retreat registration, and we will follow up with you.

Ceremonies take place in a large, circular hut, with screened windows, called a maloca, which is the traditional Shipibo ceremonial space.

During ceremony, each guest has their own mattress arranged in a circle around the outer edge of the maloca, along with a pillow, blanket, tissues, and a bucket in case they need to purge. Bathrooms are just outside. Our facilitators are available throughout the ceremony to assist anyone who needs help.

The healers and facilitators sit in the center. During ceremony, the healers will come to each guest’s mat and sing a personal icaro (a healing song) based on your intention and what they sense is needed. The Shipibo tradition typically uses song as the primary healing tool, along with mapacho (sacred tobacco) and flower water. For each ceremony, we work with two Shipibo healers, three facilitators, and a guardian, with additional support staff on call for a group of about 17–22 guests.

Ayahuasca affects different people in different ways. While some people do have vivid visuals, it is often less common than many people expect. In many cases, Ayahuasca works on an energetic or emotional level that can be hard to describe.

People’s experiences can include physical and energetic sensations (like yawning, laughing, crying, sweating, vomiting, shaking), deep thoughts, strong emotions rising to the surface, mental images, revisiting memories, or a feeling of unity and connection. The experience can change from person to person and from one ceremony to the next. 

We try to reduce the expectation of visions, because even when visions happen, they are not always the main part of the healing. Often, the deeper work happens in the body. Sometimes visions can be distracting; other times they can help the mind understand what is happening. We encourage guests to let go of expectations, trust the process, and believe they will receive what they need—even if it looks different than they imagined.

Shipibo beliefs come from a deeply rooted relationship with plants, animals, and nature. They see life as an interconnected energy field that exists in everything. This idea of deep “oneness” can feel unfamiliar to many Western minds, but it shapes how their healing works. The kené patterns in Shipibo art and textiles represent this interconnected reality and the connection between our world and the spirit world. In a similar way, icaros (healing songs) are like an audible version of these patterns.

During ceremony, the healer connects with the energetic patterns of the plants, and through the healer’s voice, those patterns become an icaro. In this view, the icaro carries a “design” that moves through the person’s system, helping restore balance and release energetic blocks and related emotions. The healer knows when a healing pattern is complete because the “design” becomes clear in the person’s energetic field. Often this takes multiple ceremonies. When the healed “designs” are fully embedded, they are called an arcana. In the tradition, this is considered lasting and protective for the person going forward.

Because this kind of work can be subtle, it may feel hard to “see” during the ceremony—especially for those with a more Western mindset. We tell guests that even if they do not get clear insights during the ceremony itself, insights may unfold over the days, weeks, and months afterward, once the energetic work has created the right foundation.

While every experience is different and not everyone purges (or purges every ceremony), Ayahuasca can involve purging, including vomiting or diarrhea. If you need help getting to the bathroom, our facilitators are available and will show you an easy way to signal them.

It’s also important to know that “purging” can mean many things. For some people it may look like crying, yawning, sweating, shaking, or laughing. Our facilitators are trained to respond to many situations, and we aim to care for you quickly, calmly, and kindly if anything challenging happens physically. As we like to say, “everything is normal on Ayahuasca.” Whatever happens is okay, and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

You can still participate in ceremony. While some traditions recommend that those on their period do not participate, the healers simply ask that you tell a facilitator so they can inform the healer and be aware of that energy release during ceremony.

The Shipibo healers at Soltara have decades of experience and are familiar with the energetics of the ceremonial space. We have worked with these healers for several years without any concerns related to maintaining a safe and supported container for guests who are on their cycle.