As dark falls, Taita Isa\u00edas Mu\u00f1oz Macanilla, a traditional doctor and an Indigenous activist from Putumayo, cleanses a tree-fringed outdoor clearing and the participants seated in a circle in preparation for their first ayahuasca ceremony. <\/p>\n
But they are not in the Amazon. Instead, they are in a boutique hotel in Barcelona. <\/p>\n
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive, plant-based brew found in South America and used in traditional medicine and shamanism, has boomed in popularity as a wellness practice in recent years. <\/p>\n
But given that the decoction contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which induces intense visions, purging, and powerful psychological experiences in users, it is banned in most European countries. <\/p>\n
Spain and Portugal are exceptions, however, which has given rise to a growing number of ayahuasca retreats that are much more accessible to Europeans. <\/p>\n
Why ayahuasca travellers are swapping South America for Spain<\/p>\n
Dozens of retreat<\/a> centres now invite alternative wellness-seeking travellers to remote spots in Peru and Brazil to experience deep-rooted ayahuasca traditions. <\/p>\n The Indigenous practice has sparked increasing interest in the West, amplified by the rise of spiritual tourism, public disclosures by celebrities about their use of psychedelics, and broader cultural conversations around mental health<\/a> and spirituality, according to Alejandro Carb\u00f3, founder of Avalon<\/a> retreats. <\/p>\n Carb\u00f3\u2019s programmes connect guests to traditional ayahuasca practitioners, but are part of a growing number of experiences much closer to home for Europeans.<\/p>\n His retreats are located in Spain and Portugal, countries which he says travellers are increasingly drawn to for a combination of practical, cultural and perceptual reasons. <\/p>\n \u201cReduced travel time and costs make these retreats far more accessible, while European standards of accommodation, food, hygiene and services provide a level of comfort many participants expect,\u201d Carb\u00f3 says. <\/p>\n At Avalon\u2019s retreats<\/a>, there are doctors, psychologists and integration guides on hand, for example.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is also greater trust rooted in familiarity with the culture, territory, food and social norms, which lowers the psychological threshold for participation,\u201d Carb\u00f3 says. <\/p>\n Both countries have long been favoured as holiday destinations for Europeans, plus retreats commonly integrate other wellness activities like yoga, art therapy<\/a> and meditation tailored to established Western tastes.<\/p>\n Spain and Portugal are \u2018unique permissive environments\u2019 for ayahuasca<\/p>\n As interest in ayahuasca retreats in Europe grows, so do concerns around safety and cultural appropriation. <\/p>\n