Ayahuasca Experiences: What It’s Really Like to Drink Yagé in Colombia
Every person who drinks ayahuasca, or yagé, as it is called in Colombia, walks a path that is deeply personal and unmistakably human. The medicine does not hand out miracles; it opens doors. What you find behind them depends on preparation, humility, and the willingness to take responsibility.
This page is not a collection of promises or highlights. It’s an honest look at what ayahuasca experiences are really like, drawn from years of walking alongside people in ceremony and integration.
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. Experiences vary widely, but certain themes appear again and again.
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.
Duration alone doesn’t define the experience. What matters more is how the insights are understood and integrated afterward.
Does Ayahuasca Really Change You?
The medicine does not change who you are, it reveals what is already within you. Any lasting change depends on what you do with that insight once the ceremony ends.
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.
Voices from Ceremony: Reflections from Past Participants
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, understood traditionally as cleansing rather than illness.
- 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 or packaged experiences. They are carefully held processes that unfold over several days, allowing the body, emotions, and mind to move at a natural pace. Each element builds on the previous one, creating continuity rather than intensity for its own sake.
Arrival and grounding
The journey begins with arrival and orientation. Participants are welcomed into the land, given time to rest, and invited to slow down. An opening circle sets intentions and establishes the container for the days ahead. This first phase is about listening, settling the nervous system, and beginning the inward turn.
Purification and preparation
The following days focus on purification and preparation. Traditional practices support physical and energetic cleansing, while time in nature helps reestablish connection with the body and the earth. Circles of word with elders and facilitators offer context, guidance, and space for questions. Nothing is rushed. Preparation is treated as an essential part of the work, not a formality.
Ceremony and integration
Yagé ceremonies take place within a structured and well-supported setting. Each night is approached with care, allowing participants to enter the ceremonial space with clarity and intention. Between ceremonies, time is dedicated to rest, nourishment, and integration activities that help make sense of what is emerging. The focus is not on accumulation of experiences, but on understanding and assimilation.
Closing and return
As the retreat comes to an end, a closing circle marks the transition back to everyday life. The emphasis is on carrying insights forward in a grounded way, rather than holding on to peak moments. Participants return home not with answers handed to them, but with questions clarified and a deeper sense of responsibility toward their own process.
Ongoing accompaniment
Throughout the retreat, each participant is accompanied according to their needs. This may include individual cleansing in ceremony, body therapies, or traditional plant support. The role of the facilitators is not to direct the experience, but to hold space with attention, humility, and respect for the medicine and for each person’s path.
For a full retreat overview, see our authentic ayahuasca retreat in Colombia page.
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.
If you feel called, and you’re willing to prepare, take responsibility, and integrate what you receive, you’re welcome to explore our Ayahuasca Retreats in Colombia.
