Ayahuasca Experiences: Real Stories and What to Expect
Every person who drinks ayahuasca — or yagé, as it is called in Colombia — walks a path that is at once deeply personal and universally human. The medicine doesn’t hand out miracles; it opens doors. What you find behind them depends on the courage to look, the humility to listen, and the willingness to take responsibility. At Camino al Sol, we have witnessed thousands of such journeys — each unique, yet marked by common threads of healing, renewal, and clarity.
Begin your own ayahuasca retreat in Colombia and step into this living tradition with safety, respect, and guidance.
What Is an Ayahuasca Experience Really Like?
Words can only point toward the territory of ayahuasca. Some describe vivid visions, others a profound silence, and many a mixture of both. One participant wrote:
“After seven ceremonies with Camino al Sol, I have found that they consistently share ancestral knowledge of the elders and plant medicines with respect. You can be sure that you will be well cared and guided throughout the experience” (Elizabethi, 2018).
Common themes include emotional release, insights into personal challenges, and the gentle but firm guidance of the music that carries the night. Yet, the deepest teaching often comes not during the ceremony itself, but in the integration that follows — how you choose to live differently when you return to your daily life.
How Long Does Ayahuasca Last?
An ayahuasca ceremony typically lasts between four to six hours, though time is felt differently within the experience. The intensity comes in waves — moments of clarity, of deep introspection, of physical release. Much depends on the dose, the preparation of the participant, and the guidance of the facilitators.
At Camino al Sol, ceremonies take place within a structured retreat format. From purification rituals and body therapies to the closing circle of gratitude, each element is designed to hold and support the process. This is not an isolated “trip,” but part of a larger journey of healing.
Does Ayahuasca Really Change You?
The medicine does not change who you are — it reveals what is already within you. As one guest shared:
“The weekend was the most incredible, spiritual experience I have ever had. It was enlightening, transformative, difficult and decisively humbling” (lmharold, 2016).
At Camino al Sol we often say: nothing changes, except the way you perceive and assume life. The real ceremony is life itself. The nights with ayahuasca open the possibility of seeing life with new eyes — but it is your responsibility to carry those seeds forward.
Ayahuasca Reviews and Real Experiences
Over the years, people from across the world have come to walk this path with us. Here are some of their voices:
“The respect that Samuel and this community have for the medicine is unmistakeable. They are wonderful people and eager to share their wisdom and knowledge with anyone who’s willing to do the work.” – lightwarrior (2018)
“Over 80% of my PTSD symptoms had disappeared after just two ceremonies.” – Michaela (2017)
“Real shamans, real knowledge, with real care. Never seen anything like that.” – edenshmuel (2018)
“I was blown away. They are not white folks pretending to be shaman, they are indigenous people from Colombia. The retreat location was beautiful and peaceful. I feel part of their family now.” – yvetted (2016)
Of course, ayahuasca is not easy — and not every experience is immediately blissful. Some reviews describe challenges, discomfort, or even disappointment. But within the tradition, these difficulties are understood as part of the medicine’s way of teaching: confronting resistance, clearing pain, and opening the heart through truth.
Common Themes in Ayahuasca Experiences
- Purging: Physical release through vomiting or sweating, seen as cleansing rather than sickness.
- Visions and insights: Symbolic images, memories, or teachings that reveal hidden truths.
- Music as medicine: The icaros and live music guide the process, opening and closing energetic doors.
- Community: Sitting in circle, being held by others on the same path, and supported by experienced elders.
- Integration: The real transformation comes afterward, in daily choices and commitments.
Learn more in our Ayahuasca Safety Guide.
Inside the Camino al Sol Retreat Experience
Our retreats are not quick escapes but carefully woven journeys that blend traditional practices with modern care. Here is what a typical week looks like:
🌄 Wednesday: Arrival and Opening of the Sacred Circle
From the moment participants are picked up in Medellín or at the airport, a journey begins — not only physical, but also spiritual. Upon arrival, nature welcomes us with silence and pure air. At dusk, we gather in a circle to open the portal for the work ahead, asking permission from the spirits of the land and the guardians to bless us. The night is for rest — a first intimate step of listening, breathing, and forming intention.
🌿 Thursday: Purification and Connection with the Earth
The day begins with a traditional purgative, clearing body and spirit. After a light breakfast, participants spend time in nature, walking barefoot and feeling the elements. In the afternoon, plant baths and fire cleansing rituals help balance energy. That evening, we share mambe and ambil in a circle of word, weaving teachings with the elders.
🔥 Friday: Preparation of Body and Spirit
A second purgative invites deeper release. The afternoon offers one-on-one conversations to refine intentions. At night, after a small preparation snack, we enter the House of Remedy for the first yagé ceremony — the heart of the retreat.
🌱 Saturday: Integration and Second Ceremony
Morning invites rest and nourishment. In the afternoon, integration activities open new understandings. At night, another circle of word prepares us for the second yagé ceremony, stepping once more into the House of Remedy for healing and vision.
🌕 Sunday: Deepening and Closing Ceremony
The day begins in silence and rest. After breakfast, integration continues. In the evening, a closing circle honors the journey, followed by the last yagé ceremony — a spiritual farewell and planting of seeds for the life that continues.
🌞 Monday: Return with a Transformed Heart
After breakfast and rest, participants prepare to return home. More than belongings, they carry the seeds of transformation. Transportation is provided back to Medellín or the airport.
🌺 Accompaniment Throughout the Retreat
Every participant receives individual cleansing in ceremony, body therapy, and natural medicines according to their process. The retreat is an invitation to remember — to return to the body, heart, and silence, guided by the ancient wisdom of plants and land.
Preparing for an Ayahuasca Experience
Preparation begins long before you drink. Dieta, reflection, and medical screening are essential. We guide each participant through this process — from purgatives and plant baths to intimate conversations with facilitators. This ensures that when you enter the ceremonial space, you do so with clarity, safety, and respect.
Read more about our authentic ayahuasca retreat in Colombia.
Integrating the Experience Into Daily Life
What matters most is not only what happens in the ceremony, but what you do afterward. Journaling, therapy, time in nature, and community support can help bring insights into action. Integration is where spirituality becomes life, where the teachings of the medicine are lived rather than remembered.
Meet our team and learn how we support integration on the About Camino al Sol page.
Ready to walk your own path? Join us for an ayahuasca retreat in Colombia and discover what the medicine has to teach you.
