Legal status: Supreme Court victory, 2006 (Gonzales v. UDV)

The Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal is a Brazilian Christian Spiritist religion with approximately 600 members in the United States. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously affirmed their right to use ayahuasca (which they call "Hoasca") in religious ceremonies.

• Locations: Colorado, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Washington
• Structure: Religious community with membership process—not open public retreats
• What to expect: Commitment to the religious practice, not drop-in ceremonies

UDV is a genuine religious community, not a therapeutic retreat center. If you're seeking a spiritual path rather than a one-time experience, this may be appropriate.

Legal status: Federal court injunction, 2009 (Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey)

Santo Daime is a syncretic religion combining Christian, indigenous, and African spiritual elements. Several U.S. branches have explicit legal permission to use ayahuasca (called "Daime") in ceremonies.

• Church of the Holy Light of the Queen — Ashland, Oregon (since 1996)
• Church of the Divine Rose — Portland, Oregon
• Flower of the Divine Mother — Southern California
• Additional branches in Massachusetts and Washington State

Santo Daime ceremonies are religious services with specific hymns, rituals, and community expectations. They're not structured as therapeutic retreats but as ongoing spiritual practice.

Legal status: DEA settlement, April 2024

A Phoenix-based church inspired by Shipibo-Conibo traditions of Peru. After the government seized their ayahuasca shipment in 2020, they filed suit and reached a settlement allowing them to legally import and use ayahuasca.

• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Significance: First non-Christian church to receive ayahuasca protection
• Traditions: Shipibo-Conibo ceremonial practices

This is a small, relatively new church. Contact them directly to understand their membership process and ceremony schedule.

Legal status: DEA approval, May 2025

The Church of Gaia in Spokane, Washington became the first organization to receive DEA approval for ayahuasca use without filing a lawsuit—a significant legal milestone.

• Location: Spokane, Washington (ceremonies on rural property)
• Size: Approximately 50 members; ceremonies limited to 10 participants
• Traditions: Shipibo-Conibo ceremonial leaders from Peru
• Process: Membership requires screening interview and preliminary paperwork

Church of Gaia is very new to legal operation (ceremonies began late 2025). As the first church approved through the non-litigation pathway, their model may influence future applications.

The largest ayahuasca center in the United States, founded in 2019 and relocated from New Hampshire to Casco, Maine. They hold a 4.92/5 rating from over 200 reviews on Retreat Guru.

• Format: Weekend retreats with two ceremonies, breathwork, integration circles
• Cost: ~$888 (suggested donation)
• Legal basis: Claims religious exemption (not formally DEA-approved)

Led by Taita Hector Ortiz from Colombia, offering ceremonies in New Hampshire and other states. Holds a 5-star rating from reviews on AyaAdvisors.

• Traditions: Colombian Kamentsa indigenous practices
• Cost: ~$250 for 1-2 day retreats
• Legal status: Ongoing federal lawsuit seeking formal protection (Kamentsa Inga Church v. Garland, 2023)

OME Retreats operates in multiple states (Georgia, Texas, California, Florida) with Peruvian-initiated facilitators working in Shipibo traditions.

• Format: Weekend ceremonies
• Legal basis: Claims religious protection
• Note: Fewer independent reviews available compared to other centers

A Texas-based church offering ayahuasca ceremonies with claimed religious exemption.

• Location: Central Texas
• Cost: ~$1,250

In Peru, ayahuasca is recognized as national cultural heritage. There's no legal grey area, no pending litigation, no risk of a center closing mid-planning. You can surrender fully to the experience without anxiety about legal status.

The Mestizo healing traditions around Iquitos involve years of apprenticeship: extended plant dietas (strict isolation and fasting with specific teacher plants), gradual transmission of icaros (healing songs), and supervised practice passed through family lineages.

At Hummingbird Healing Centre, Maestro Manain is a fourth-generation Mestizo ayahuascero from the Iquitos area with over 45 years of experience. This isn't a credential that can be obtained in a weekend workshop.

Most US-based ceremonies are single nights or weekends. You arrive, drink, and return to your life Monday morning—often while still processing difficult material.

Our retreats are structured differently:

• 9 to 28 days of continuous immersion
• Multiple ceremonies allowing deeper layers to emerge
• Daily integration circles to process what arises
• Complementary practices: Huachuma (San Pedro) ceremonies, plant baths, meditation
• Medical screening before arrival
• Conservative initial dosing based on your experience

There's something different about drinking ayahuasca in the Amazon rainforest—surrounded by the sounds, scents, and energy of the jungle where this tradition evolved over millennia. The setting itself becomes part of the healing.

Many American guests tell us the physical distance from their daily lives helped them access deeper work. You can't check your inbox between ceremonies. Your familiar patterns and coping mechanisms don't travel well across hemispheres.

US-based retreats often cost $1,000-$3,500 for a weekend. A 9-day immersive retreat at Hummingbird—including accommodation, all meals, multiple ceremonies, integration support, and complementary practices—may cost less than a single weekend domestically, even factoring in airfare.

If you take prescription medications—especially psychiatric medications—careful planning is essential before any ayahuasca experience, whether in the US or abroad.

Medications contraindicated with ayahuasca include:

• SSRIs (e.g., Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac)
• SNRIs (e.g., Effexor, Cymbalta)
• MAOIs
• Some blood pressure medications
• Tramadol and certain other pain medications
• Some antihistamines

These combinations can cause serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal. Some medications require supervised tapering over weeks or months. We conduct thorough medical screening and will discuss any concerns before you book.

Good news: US passport holders do not need a tourist visa for Peru.

• You'll receive a stamp on arrival
• Stays up to 90 days permitted
• Passport must be valid for at least six months from entry date

Getting there:

1. US to Lima — Direct flights available from Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York (5-8 hours depending on origin)
2. Lima to Iquitos — Domestic flight, approximately 2 hours. Several daily flights.
3. Iquitos to centre — We arrange ground transport to Hummingbird Healing Centre.

For detailed routing, packing lists, and arrival guidance, see: Travelling to Iquitos

Integration—translating ceremony insights into lasting change—is where transformation becomes sustainable. Before you travel, consider lining up:

• A therapist or counselor open to discussing non-ordinary states of consciousness
• An integration coach with plant medicine experience
• Community support—friends, family, or groups who understand this work

Organizations like MAPS Integration List and the Fluence Directory can help you find psychedelic-informed therapists in your area.