11-Day Plant Medicine and Yoga Retreat in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

The retreat is based at Izhcayluma Ecolodge, a mountain resort set in gardens above Vilcabamba at roughly 1,500 metres. Rooms are spread through the grounds rather than stacked in one building, each with a private bathroom and natural light, and some categories have a balcony with a hammock looking across the valley. The lodge has a natural swimming pool, a restaurant, a spa, a yoga shala and outdoor practice spaces, plus free Wi-Fi, free parking and laundry.

A typical day starts with yoga on the outdoor platform, followed by breakfast. Ceremony days are different: a quiet morning and gentle preparation, the ceremony itself during the day (or in the evening, in the case of Ayahuasca), then rest and an early night. The day after each ceremony is for integration — gentle yoga, silence, a group circle and coaching, with the afternoon free. Meals are lighter on ceremony days, sometimes simple vegetarian dishes, soups, fruit or dieta meals.

Nicola Schaefer leads the yoga, meditation, coaching and integration work. She has been a certified yoga teacher for seven years, including training in therapeutic yoga for all levels, and was trained in holding psychedelic ceremonies by an Indigenous tribe in the Amazon. She is also a Psychedelic Integration Coach and a systemic life coach and mentor. She has lived in Vilcabamba for three years, speaks Spanish, and sits alongside the Curanderos in ceremonies herself.

What separates this from other plant medicine retreats in the region is the follow-up. Support starts before the retreat, during travel planning, and continues for three months afterwards through weekly community Zoom calls. The group is capped at 10 people, which keeps the circles small and the guidance personal.

Vilcabamba sits in the southern Andes at about 1,500 metres, surrounded by mountains and known locally for the longevity of its residents. The village centre is within walking distance of the lodge, the Río Chamba runs nearby, and Mandango, the sacred mountain above the valley, is the destination of the group hike on day 8. The area also draws cyclists, horse riders and hikers, and there are weekly Ecstatic Dance gatherings in the village.

What's included

- 10 nights accommodation - 2 delicious meals a day (breakfast and dinner) - Water, tea and coffee served throughout the day - Welcome drink - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Specialised workshops - San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremony - Psychedelic mushroom ceremony - Ayahuasca ceremony - Cacao ceremony - Group excursions and activities - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Pre and post retreat support from the team - Three months of weekly community Zoom calls after the retreat - Luggage storage - Parking - Wi-Fi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flight costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary