A Sacred Journey into Master Plant Healing and Renewal
Ayahuasca & Master Plant Dieta for Sacred Play Retreat
November 5–13, 2027 · Santa Elena, Costa Rica
A DEEP IMMERSION INTO PLANT WISDOM AND SACRED PLAY
Experience the profound teachings of a traditional Amazonian Master Plant Dieta, supported by the sacred intelligence of Ayahuasca and an invitation to reconnect with play.
This retreat is an invitation into deep shamanic work through devotion, curiosity, and sacred play. Held with love and reverence, our time together offers space to explore your inner world, deepen your relationship with nature, and discover how play can become part of your personal transformation.
Each participant will be paired with a personally selected Master Plant ally, cochosen with Kat Courtney. Plant teachers embodying the invitation for sacred play include Dandelion, Cacao, Damiana, Birch, Bougainvillea, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Daisy, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Hibiscus, Huachuma, and others selected to support your individual journey.
This immersive experience includes three Ayahuasca ceremonies, daily work with your Master Plant, daily Rapéh offerings, waterfall walks, optional traditional Temazcal ceremonies, a celebratory Cacao ceremony, and a meaningful tree planting ritual to give back to the land. The journey is supported by a 30 minute preparation call, daily private and group integration, and four small group Zoom integration sessions after the retreat.
Led by Kat Courtney, head of our ceremony team, alongside experienced facilitators with extensive Indigenous training and decades of combined experience, this retreat centers safety, compassionate support, and reverence for the plants. Together, we’ll create space for deep exploration, meaningful connection, and the joy of sacred play.
All participants must complete an intake form and screening interview. If not approved, all payments will be fully refunded
Retreat Details
Location: Santa Elena, Costa Rica
Duration: 9 days, including an initial overnight stay in San José; 7 nights of retreat lodging included.
Ceremonies: 3 Ayahuasca · 1 Cacao · Daily Master Plant Work · Daily Rapéh Offerings
Group Size: 15 to 30 participants.
30 minute preparation call to support readiness for the retreat.
Personally selected Master Plant ally, chosen together with Kat Courtney, with a focus on sacred play.
Round trip transportation between San José and the retreat.
Private or shared bell tent accommodations.
Daily organic meals, with special dietary needs respected.
Waterfall walks, nature connection, daily flower baths, and time for rest and reflection.
Daily integration through private support and group talking circles, alongside integration workshops and fire circles.
Optional traditional Temazcal ceremonies and a tree planting ceremony to give back to the land.
Shamanic team led by Kat Courtney, with extensive Indigenous training and trauma informed teachings.
Four small group Zoom integration sessions after the retreat.
Built for seekers of deep transformation, sacred play, and a meaningful relationship with a Master Plant ally.
All You Need to Know
TRAVEL & LOGISTICS
Arrive in San José, Costa Rica, on November 5, 2027.
One night hotel stay in San José (group rate provided).
Shuttle to the retreat departs at 7:30 am on November 6.
Return shuttle to San José Airport on November 13 (book flights at 2:00 pm or later).
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
$250 cash fee for plant medicines.
International flights + first night hotel in San José.
FOOD & DRINK
Vegan or Vegetarian Options Available
Multiple Plant Dieta-Friendly Meals and Snacks Provided Daily
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Organic and Local
Can Accommodate Additional Allergies and Special Needs
AMENITIES
Free Wifi
Luxurious Linens
Unlimited Fresh Spring Water
Clean, Gorgeous Single-Sex Bath Houses with Fresh Towels
Single and Double Occupancy Tents
4 Ceremonies
Ceremonial Maloka
Temazcal
Yoga Studio
Daily Flower Baths
Daily Master Plant Teas
All participants must complete an intake form and screening interview. If not approved, all payments will be fully refunded
Your 9-Day Journey - Itinerary
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Arrival at any time during the day or evening in San Jose, Costa Rica. We have reserved a block of rooms in a local lovely hotel (not included in retreat cost), but you can stay anywhere you choose in the San Jose vicinity. The shuttle to the retreat location will leave at 7:30 am the next morning at our selected hotel.
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Arrival and acclimation to our heavenly tropical location. We will connect with the land, ask permission for the local spirits to work with us, and set our intentions for our experience, as well as get to know each other a bit. Ceremony facilitators will talk through the Ayahuasca process with the group; we will get to know each other, share our intentions, and then the maestros/maestras will open each participant's dieta in a mini-ceremony (no Aya the first evening so we can ground in and connect with our Master Plants.)
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After a delicious breakfast, the day will also include flower baths, the first Temazcal ceremony and waterfall hike, talking circles to lay the groundwork for the first Aya ceremony, and a healthy, grounding lunch. We will then do one on one interviews with each participant, and have the first ceremony that evening.
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After breakfast we will offer flower baths, nature walks, massages, and some down time to integrate the ceremony experience. After lunch, we will meet for an integration circle and start giving language to what is transpiring in the healing portal. We will have a delicious dinner and a fire circle ceremony in the evening.
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The second Temezcal/Waterfall walk happens in the AM post-breakfast, then we will have a big supportive lunch, flower baths, and time for massages and rest. We will do the next round of interviews in preparation for our second ceremony in the evening!
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NOBLE SILENCE DAY - This day is all about a profound connection to our Master Plants. We will awake and honor noble silence all day - have a quiet contemplative morning, eat our two meals in silence, enjoy meditative flower baths, and prepare for the final Aya ceremony that evening. At the end of the ceremony, we will break Noble Silence by inviting everyone to sing the Icaro we learned the day before. A bonfire will gather all those who wish to use their voices so we can talk about what's been transpiring.
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The last day in the dieta portals, participants will have lots of time to connect with the land and their master plants. We will have two powerful integration workshops, 3 organic meals, and we will close each dieta portal throughout the day.
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Our last full day as a tribe will be spent in celebration; after a light breakfast we will connect with Mama Cacao in an authentic ceremony portal, as well as an afternoon tree planting ceremony to give back to the beautiful land. We will also have a big feast and fireside connection with music and laughter that evening.
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We will enjoy breakfast together one last time and hop on our early morning shuttles to the San Jose airport. Flights leaving early afternoon from 2:00 pm on are recommended.
Pricing & Packages
Shared Accommodations
$3,800
Share a big beautiful bell tent with either a like-minded, same-sex participant or a friend, partner or family member.
Deposit: $1,400
Early Bird Price!
Early Bird Offer
Phase 1, through March 1st, 2027:
$3,200 (Shared)
$4,300 (Private)
Phase 2: March 1st, 2027 through August 1st, 2027:
$3,500 (Shared)
$4,600 (Private)
Private Accommodations
$4,900
Enjoy a beautiful bell tent all to yourself!
Deposit: $1,400
All participants must complete an intake form and screening interview. If not approved, all payments will be fully refunded
* We offer a $400 military and first-responder discount for all retreats
* We accept crypto currency - inquire for instructions
To Apply
To apply, either book a call with head facilitator Kat Courtney, or register for the retreat here. All participants must go through an intake and interview process to determine safety eligibility. If for any reason it is determined you are not a candidate, all payments will be fully refunded. Need a customized payment plan? No problem - book a call and we will set one up after the interview.
We are so very honored to have you in the Plant Medicine People Tribe!
Meet Your Facilitators
Kat is a traditionally trained Ayahuasquera, Huachumera, and one of the pioneers in psychedelic integration, with 22 years of experience working with plant medicines. She specializes in integration, spiritual crises, addiction recovery, and helping people navigate profound life transitions with wisdom and compassion.
Vanush Von Love is a yoga teacher and bodywork practitioner who combines movement, anatomy, and mindfulness to support healing and self-discovery. His approach helps students reconnect with their bodies, cultivate balance, and experience movement as medicine.
What Past Participants Say
FAQs
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This retreat is for anyone who feels called to begin the new year with deep healing, renewal, and transformation through sacred plant work. Whether you are brand new to the medicine and/or the Master Plant Dieta process or you have lots of experience, you are most welcome, and will find profound value in the experience.
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When you apply, we’ll schedule a private preparation interview to learn more about your background, health, and intentions. Together, we’ll make sure this experience is a good fit. Our screening process is thorough from both physical and mental perspectives, as safety is our number one priority.
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Our facilitation team is trauma-informed, first-aid knowledgeable, and experienced in holding ceremony with both new and seasoned participants. We have an emergency protocol in place should anything arise, and are connected to local medical experts. You are in very good hands.
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Traveling to Costa Rica is simple for most visitors. A tourist visa is not required for stays under 90 days for citizens of the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. No special vaccinations are required, but we encourage checking your local travel guidelines. You’ll fly into San José (SJO) airport and our team offers ground transportation to and from the retreat.
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Our team has decades of combined ceremonial experience and extensive training with Indigenous teachers and master plants. We are committed to integrity, safety, and service. Each ceremony is led by seasoned guides who have apprenticed deeply in traditional and cross-cultural lineages.
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No, your experience is always your choice. You’ll be invited, never pressured, to drink in each ceremony. Some guests choose to sit out a night for rest or reflection, and that’s completely honored. Every ceremony is supported by our facilitation team to help you follow your own intuitive rhythm.
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Our ceremonies are traditional in structure, yet open and inclusive in spirit. They’re guided by experienced facilitators who hold space with prayer, music, and deep respect for the medicine. Guests are required to respect noble silence during each ceremony, however there are often times where participants are invited to share their voices and sing, and even dance and celebrate our hard work and many blessings. We have strongly held containers that are also fluid enough to honor the energies of the collective community.
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Most participants - men and women - travel to us solo. Costa Rica is a very safe country, and this experience is extremely rewarding with or without travel companions. The group quickly becomes a family, and you’ll feel cared for and connected no matter what.
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Yes. Once your application is accepted, we’ll introduce you to your roommate before the retreat begins through a video call. We pair guests thoughtfully, considering compatibility and energy. You’ll have a chance to connect, ask questions, and build trust before arriving in Costa Rica.
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Absolutely. Integration is an essential part of the healing process. You’ll receive guided integration circles during the retreat and four small-group Zoom sessions afterward to help you anchor insights into daily life. You’ll also have access to our facilitators for additional support if needed.
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We understand that life happens and always aim to handle changes with compassion and fairness. Check out the details of our cancellation policy here: https://www.plantmedicinepeople.com/refund-and-cancellation-policy
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All participants complete a confidential intake form and a screening interview before being accepted into the program. This helps us ensure the retreat is a safe and appropriate fit for everyone involved. If, for any reason, we determine that the program isn't the right fit for you, we'll let you know before the retreat begins, and any payments you've made will be refunded in full.
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We offer flexible payment options to make our retreats as accessible as possible. Military members and first responders receive a $400 discount on all retreats. We also accept cryptocurrency payments. If you would like to pay with cryptocurrency, please contact us directly for payment instructions.