Ayahuasca Retreat in Spain
An authentic and legal experience close to France
Looking for an ayahuasca retreat in Spain, close to France, in a legal and secure setting? Connecta Life welcomes you to a space dedicated to emotional healing and consciousness expansion, with professional French-speaking support, in the Montseny Natural Park in Catalonia.
Spain has become the destination of choice for French speakers wishing to experience ayahuasca in a respectful therapeutic and spiritual context. Thanks to its geographical proximity, favorable legislation and the quality of its centres, Spain offers the ideal setting for your inner transformation.
🌿 Why choose Spain for your ayahuasca retreat?
⚖️ Legality and legal security
Ayahuasca benefits from a favorable legal framework in Spain in a religious and therapeutic context, unlike France where it remains prohibited. You can take part in ceremonies with complete peace of mind.
🚗 Proximity to France
Reachable within a few hours from Paris, Lyon, Marseille or Toulouse. No need for a long-haul flight to South America. You can easily plan a weekend or a retreat week.
🗣️ French-speaking support
Stéphane Lavergé, an experienced facilitator, accompanies you in your native language. Essential for deep therapeutic work and optimal integration of the experience.
🏞️ Authentic and secure setting
Our centre combines respect for ancestral Amazonian traditions with a modern approach suited to European culture, in a natural environment conducive to introspection.
💰 Excellent value for money
Save on travel costs compared with South America while benefiting from high-quality professional support and European hygiene standards.
🏥 European standards
Quick access to medical services if needed, modern infrastructure, hygiene and safety standards aligned with European norms for your peace of mind.
⚖️ Ayahuasca in Spain: legal and cultural context
Spain has established itself as a European hub for ayahuasca retreats thanks to its nuanced legal position. Unlike France where ayahuasca is on the list of prohibited substances, Spain tolerates its use within a religious, spiritual and therapeutic framework.
🇫🇷 Why Spain and not France?
In France, ayahuasca is classified as a narcotic due to its DMT content. Its possession, use and distribution are strictly prohibited, even in a ceremonial context. Spain, by contrast, recognizes the sacred and therapeutic dimension of the plant medicine.
🌟 The Spanish framework: between tradition and modernity
Spain is home to several recognized centres that operate while respecting Amazonian shamanic traditions and integrating modern therapeutic approaches.
This position makes Spain the preferred destination for French, Belgian, Swiss and other European participants wishing to experience ayahuasca without travelling to South America.
📅 How does an ayahuasca retreat in Spain unfold?
🎯 Before the retreat: essential preparation
Preparation starts several weeks before your arrival:
- Personalized interview to understand your intentions, your state of health and any contraindications
- Mental and spiritual preparation: meditation, introspection, clarification of your intentions
- Comprehensive documentation on what to expect and how to maximize your experience
🌟 During the retreat
Our retreats in Spain follow a tried and tested protocol:
Thursday
- 17:00 Welcome and snack
- 18:00 Check-in and individual interview
- 20:30 Introduction circle
- 21:00 Ayahuasca ceremony
Friday
- 09:00 Kambo (optional)
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:00 Bufo (optional)
- 12:00 Integration workshop
- 14:00 Lunch
- 18:00 Snack
- 20:00 Ayahuasca ceremony
Saturday
- 09:00 Kambo (optional)
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:00 Bufo (optional)
- 12:00 Integration workshop
- 14:00 Lunch
- 18:00 Snack
- 20:00 Ayahuasca ceremony or Magic Mushrooms
Sunday
- 09:00 Kambo (optional)
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:00 Integration workshop
- 12:00 Lunch
🔄 After the retreat: crucial integration
Integration is just as important as the ceremony itself. We offer:
- Personalized follow-up by phone or video call
- Access to a participants' support group
- Resources to integrate the teachings into your daily life
- Recommendations of therapists trained in psychedelic integration
Location: Easily accessible from France
Our centre is located in a preserved region of Spain, close to the French border.
- From Paris: 2h30 by plane or 8h by train to Barcelona
- From Lyon: 5h by road or 2h by plane
- From Marseille: 4h30 by road
- From Toulouse: 3h by road
- From Perpignan: 2h by road
We can arrange transfers from the main airports and train stations.
👥 Who can take part in an ayahuasca retreat?
Ayahuasca is not for everyone. Our retreats are aimed at people who:
- Are seeking deep emotional healing (traumas, grief, anxiety, depression)
- Want spiritual development and consciousness expansion
- Wish to free themselves from repetitive patterns and addictions
- Are searching for meaning and direction in their lives
- Want to reconnect with themselves and with nature
⚠️ Important contraindications
Ayahuasca is contraindicated for people suffering from:
- Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, severe bipolar disorder)
- Serious cardiovascular diseases
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Epilepsy
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Taking certain medications (SSRI antidepressants, MAOI, etc.)
A detailed medical questionnaire is mandatory before any registration.
📚 What scientific research suggests
The therapeutic uses of ayahuasca have been the subject of growing scientific research since the 2000s. Here are some studies published in peer-reviewed journals — they open up avenues, without constituting a promise of results or medical advice.
- Treatment-resistant depression. Palhano-Fontes F. et al. (2019). "Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression". Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 655–663. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291718001356
- Depression (single dose). Osório F.L. et al. (2015). "Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report". Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 37(1), 13–20. DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2014-1496
- Addictions. Thomas G. et al. (2013). "Ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction: results from a preliminary observational study in Canada". Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 6(1), 30–42. DOI: 10.2174/15733998113099990003
- Medium-term affective and cognitive effects. Uthaug M.V. et al. (2019). "Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on affect and cognitive thinking style and their association with ego dissolution". Psychopharmacology, 236(9), 2653–2666. DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5155-6
- Personality and neuropsychological functioning. Bouso J.C. et al. (2012). "Personality, psychopathology, life attitudes and neuropsychological performance among ritual users of Ayahuasca: a longitudinal study". PLoS ONE, 7(8), e42421. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042421
These studies suggest promising avenues but constitute neither medical advice nor a guarantee of results. Each person reacts differently. A retreat is not a certified therapeutic protocol and does not replace professional medical follow-up. The benefits reported depend strongly on the setting, preparation and integration work on return.
🏠 Why choose Connecta Life?
🔄 A unique integrative approach
Our centre stands out for its approach which combines:
- Ancestral tradition: respect for authentic shamanic rituals
- Modern psychology: trauma-informed support, psychotherapeutic approach
- European culture: adaptation to the needs and sensibility of Westerners
- Maximum safety: rigorous medical protocols, continuous presence of supporters
👨⚕️ Stéphane Lavergé: a founder's journey
A former IT engineer, Stéphane shifted towards facilitation in 2012, following a near-death experience. Trained as a facilitator at the Floresiendo school, where he then worked for a year before launching Connecta Life, he has been accompanying more than 400 French-speaking people in their work with sacred plants.
✨ Hundreds of transformation journeys
Since 2012, several hundred French-speaking participants — French, Belgian, Swiss, Quebecois — have travelled this path of transformation with us. Their feedback — difficulties as well as successes — drives us to constantly refine our approach: finer preparation, close support during ceremonies, reinforced integration follow-up on return.
🚀 Ready to transform your life?
Join the many French speakers who have already taken the plunge
Book your retreatOr call us for a free interview: +33 7 66 65 87 74
Prepare your trip to Spain
Required documents
- Valid ID card or passport
- European Health Insurance Card (free request)
- Full medical questionnaire (provided at registration)
What is included
- Accommodation
- All vegetarian meals
- 3 ayahuasca ceremonies (depending on retreat duration)
- Personalized support before, during and after
- Integration workshops (breathwork, meditation, sharing)
- Access to nature and rest areas
What is not included
- Transport to the centre (but we can arrange transfers)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Other destinations: why Spain rather than...
Spain vs Peru / Colombia
Advantages of Spain: Accessibility (3h flight vs 12h+), no jet lag, no vaccinations required, European safety standards, ease of communication, lower total cost.
Peru/Colombia: More "authentic" experience in the Amazon, total cultural immersion, sometimes lower retreat rates (but very expensive flights).
Spain vs the Netherlands
Netherlands: Also legal, but the climate is less pleasant, centres are often more "urban", and the approach can be more recreational than therapeutic.
Spain: Mediterranean climate, exceptional natural settings, more respected shamanic tradition, French-speaking support more widely available.
Spain vs Portugal
Portugal has laws similar to Spain. Both countries are excellent. Spain offers a wider choice of centres and is slightly more accessible from France.
❓ Frequently asked questions about ayahuasca retreats in Spain
Is ayahuasca really legal in Spain?
In Spain, ayahuasca sits in a tolerated legal zone, within a religious, spiritual and therapeutic framework. Unlike France, the United Kingdom or Italy, Spanish legislation does not specifically target it: the 1971 Convention bans synthetic DMT, not the natural DMT contained in the plant. Many centres have operated there for years without judicial intervention. Connecta Life works within strict compliance with this framework: private ceremonies, in a closed circle, with signed informed consent.
Why Spain rather than France, Peru or the Netherlands?
Spain combines four advantages: geographical proximity from France (3 hours by car or train from Perpignan), a tolerant legal framework, a Mediterranean climate suitable for outdoor work, and French-speaking support. Peru offers an older tradition but involves a long and expensive journey, jet lag, and variable medical standards. The Netherlands are also tolerant, but the framework there is often more urban and sometimes more recreational than therapeutic.
Where exactly is the centre located?
The retreats take place in the Montseny Natural Park, in Catalonia (north-east of Barcelona), in a private farmhouse rented for each retreat. This preserved natural setting — forest, mountain, silence — is an essential part of the work. The exact address is shared with participants once their registration is validated. The administrative headquarters of Connecta Life are in Vilafranca del Penedès (province of Barcelona).
Do I need to speak Spanish to come?
No, not at all. The retreats are conducted entirely in French. Stéphane Lavergé is a native French speaker, and all exchanges — preparation, ceremony, integration — take place in your mother tongue. This is a deliberate choice: working with sacred plants requires great subtlety of expression, and the mother tongue is irreplaceable for that.
How much does an ayahuasca retreat in Spain cost?
Our packages cover 3, 4 or 6 days with 1 to 5 ceremonies depending on the format, full-board accommodation, organic vegetarian meals and support included. Up-to-date prices are detailed on our Pricing page. Compared with a trip to Peru (retreat + long-haul flight + transfers + pre/post accommodation), our value for money is very competitive for a European standard.
How do I get to the centre from France?
From France, several options: Paris-Barcelona in 2h30 by plane or 6h30 by high-speed train; Lyon-Barcelona in 5h by road or 2h by plane; Marseille-Barcelona in 4h30 by road; Toulouse-Barcelona in 3h by road; Perpignan-Barcelona in 2h by road. We arrange transfers from Barcelona airport or train station for participants who wish them — details shared after registration is validated.
How many days off should I plan for in total?
Plan for the duration of the retreat (3 to 6 days) + at least 2 days of integration on your return. The experiences can be physically and emotionally intense: going back to a demanding professional activity the very next day is not recommended. Most of our participants take 5 to 8 days in total (retreat + travel day + 2 to 3 days of decompression). The therapeutic effects then unfold over several weeks.
Is ayahuasca dangerous?
Ayahuasca presents real risks if taken outside of a proper framework, without medical evaluation or in combination with certain medications (notably antidepressants). In a supervised ceremonial setting, with a serious prior medical questionnaire and an experienced facilitator continuously present, these risks are greatly reduced. The normal effects (nausea, vomiting, intense emotional variations) are part of the purification process and are not dangerous in themselves. Vigilance focuses on psychiatric and medication-related contraindications, systematically checked before registration.
Can I come alone?
Yes, and it is even the most common situation: the majority of participants come alone. The small group format (8 to 15 people) quickly creates deep bonds between participants who share the same approach. Coming alone often fosters freer inner work, without the restraint tied to the presence of a loved one. You will never be left to yourself — the team is present at every stage.
How long do the effects of ayahuasca last?
A ceremony lasts 4 to 6 hours, with the most intense effects spanning 2 to 4 hours. The next morning, you are generally tired but clear-headed, with a particular emotional clarity. The therapeutic effects — insights, inner shifts, changes of perception — unfold over several weeks or even several months after the retreat. That is why integration work is as important as the ceremony itself.
How do I book my spot?
The process has four steps: (1) you contact us via the form or by phone, (2) we arrange a prior interview to understand your intention and check for contraindications, (3) you fill out the detailed medical questionnaire, (4) after validation, you confirm your spot with a deposit. No registration is finalised without prior medical validation — even if that means postponing your visit to a later session.
