Know Thyself Retreat
A 7-day immersive journey into self-awareness, emotional healing, and deep inner clarity.
An English-speaking Ayahuasca Retreat in Brazil with Indigenous guidance — featuring traditional Amazonian ceremonies, shamanic healing practices, and transformational inner work.
Eden Santuário — Vale do Capão, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil
Awaken Your Authentic Self
"Know Thyself was more than just a retreat for me. It was a turning point."
Anderson Lemos
What Is the Know Thyself Retreat?
Know Thyself is an 8-day English-speaking Ayahuasca Retreat — an immersion in self-awareness, emotional healing, and inner clarity, held in the natural sanctuary of Eden Santuário in Vale do Capão, Bahia, Brazil.
Designed for guests seeking safety, trust, and comfort, the retreat brings together traditional ayahuasca ceremonies guided with Indigenous knowledge from the Amazon rainforest, along with mindfulness practices, yoga, breathwork, and nature immersion...
Why Know Thyself?
In moments of transition, confusion, or inner restlessness, life invites us to look inward, reminding us that the answers we seek are not outside, but within.
Most of us live on the surface of ourselves: carrying unresolved emotions, repeating patterns, and reacting to life from old wounds instead of presence. But when we slow down and turn our attention inward, something profound begins to happen: we begin to see ourselves clearly.
This retreat is an invitation to rediscover your inner compass — to understand your emotions, reconnect with your inner voice, and release what no longer belongs to your path.
Learn why to choose the Know Thyself Retreat:
Experienced Guidance
Led by facilitators with over 35 years of combined experience in transformative retreats.
Keepers of Tradition
The ceremonies will be guided by Indigenous Pajé Pēnawa Huni Kuī and his wife Helaine Payayá, respected carriers of Amazonian ancestral wisdom — bringing authenticity, spiritual depth, and a sense of sacred safety to the Know Thyself retreat.
Comfort & Nourishment
Modern, comfortable accommodations and a balanced, retreat-friendly, tasty diet adapted to your needs.
Stunning Natural Setting
Located inside Chapada Diamantina National Park, Eden Santuário is surrounded by mountains, Atlantic rainforest, rivers, and waterfalls — an ideal environment for deep rest, reflection, and reconnection with nature.
Holistic Daily Practices
Yoga, meditation, and breathwork to help you prepare for and integrate your work with the medicine.
Structured Integration
Group sharing, 1:1 support, and guided integration sessions to help you anchor insights and create lasting change.
Authentic Community
Connect with like-minded individuals on a sincere path of healing, growth, and self-discovery.
What You Will Experience
The Know Thyself Retreat is designed as a complete, immersive journey combining ancestral plant medicine, embodied practices, nature immersion, therapeutic treatments, and deep integration work. Over 8 days, you'll move through a carefully crafted flow that supports physical, emotional, and spiritual alignment.
1. Sacred Plant Medicine & Indigenous Guidance
- 3 traditional Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted by Pajé Pēnawa Huni Kuí
- Kambô cleansing rituals
- Intimate ceremonial setting with experienced guidance
- Pre-ceremony preparation and post-ceremony integration
2. Daily Practices for Inner Alignment
Begin each day in the Oca with:
- Yoga (accessible to all levels)
- Pranayama
- Mindfulness meditation
Plus:
- Breathwork journeys
- TAKETINA dynamic meditation
- Guided self-inquiry and integration circles
3. Nature Immersions in Chapada Diamantina
Explore some of the region’s most beautiful landscapes:
- Angélica Falls & Purification Falls
- Butterfly Falls
- River bathing near Eden
- Sunset at Lagoa dos Patos
- Gentle scenic walks
4. Therapeutic Spa & Bodywork
A rejuvenating sequence of treatments to support your process:
- Clay bath
- Sauna
- Herbal bath
- Ayurvedic massage
5. Nourishing, Retreat-Friendly Cuisine
- Balanced, tasty meals aligned with a traditional ayahuasca dieta
- Local culinary experience: traditional lunch at Lady Maria’s restaurant
- Light, mindful evening meals on ceremony days
6. Connection & Community
Throughout the retreat, you will enjoy:
- Evening campfires
- Sharing circles
- Moments of silence and reflection
- Meaningful connection with a supportive international group
7. Integration & Closing
On the final day, you gather in the Oca for:
- Closing circle
- Integration guidance
- Sharing of insights and intentions
- Preparation for returning home with clarity and alignment
Your journey continues long after the retreat ends.
Ayahuasca & Safety
Authentic & Ethical Ayahuasca Sourcing
Comprehensive Participant Pre-Screening
Diet & Lifestyle Preparation
Emergency Protocols & On-Site Support
Integration Support
Your Facilitators
The Know Thyself Retreat is guided by a team with decades of experience in plant medicine, somatic work, meditation, and Indigenous Amazonian traditions. We hold a safe, grounded, heart-centered environment where transformation becomes possible.
Eden Sanctuary A Refuge for Inner Transformation
Nestled in the mountains of Vale do Capão, in the Chapada Diamantina National Park of Brazil, Eden Sanctuary is a retreat centre created with one intention: to offer a safe, beautiful, and comfortable environment where deep healing becomes possible.
Surrounded by Atlantic rainforest, waterfalls, crystal rivers, and vast open skies, Eden provides a rare combination: the raw power of nature and the comfort of modern accommodations, designed for deep rest and inner work.
A Sanctuary in the Heart of Chapada Diamantina
Modern Comfort in Nature
Accommodation Options
Private Accommodation (upgrade available)
Easy Access from Europe & North America
What’s Included in the Retreat
Dates
How to Join the Retreat
Know Thyself is designed for people who feel a genuine call to pause, look within, and reconnect with themselves in a safe and supportive environment.It is suitable for beginners and experienced journeyers alike — anyone seeking emotional clarity, inner healing, and a deeper sense of purpose.
We invite each guest to begin the process with a personal call, where we can understand your intentions, your current state of health, and offer precise guidance for your preparation. This first conversation ensures you feel fully supported from the moment you decide to join us.
Our team accompanies you every step of the way.We help you prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for the ayahuasca work; we provide guidance on travel routes, and we even assist you in finding flights and planning your arrival.From the moment you contact us, your journey begins — with clarity, care, and the presence of a team dedicated to your well-being.
Booking Process
Request a Call
I can say with absolute certainty that Know Thyself was the most transformative experience I’ve ever had. Before, I was trapped in automatic thoughts, not knowing where I was going or what I truly wanted for my life — nothing seemed to make sense in light of everything that was happening. The retreat helped me disconnect from the outside world and look within, allowing me to recognise the limitations, fears, and negative behavioural patterns that were preventing me from evolving. Through the act...
Thais Freire de Benfica, 39
BioMedic, Brazil
FAQ
Every journey begins with clarity.
Here are the questions most people ask before joining the Know Thyself Ayahuasca Retreat — about safety, preparation, travel, and what to expect during your time with us.
No. The Know Thyself retreat is open to both first-time and experienced participants. The program is structured to gently prepare you — through yoga, meditation, breathwork, and integration circles — so that your experience with the medicine is as safe, grounded, and meaningful as possible.
Safety is our priority. Group size is limited so that each person can receive individual attention. All ceremonies are guided by experienced facilitators in collaboration with Indigenous leadership, following traditional protocols and clear ethical standards. Before confirming your place, we review your health history and current medications to ensure that participation is appropriate for you.
In Brazil, ayahuasca is officially recognized for religious and ceremonial use within specific guidelines. Our work at Eden Sanctuary, in Vale do Capão (Chapada Diamantina, Bahia), is carried out with respect for these norms and in alignment with traditional lineages and responsible practice.
Yes. Certain heart conditions, severe psychiatric diagnoses, a history of psychosis, and some prescription medications (especially antidepressants and other psychoactive drugs) may be incompatible with ayahuasca. During our personal call, we will carefully review your health situation and, if needed, request medical clearance. If at any point we feel that this retreat is not safe for you, we will explain this with honesty and care.
Once your participation is confirmed, we send clear guidance on physical, emotional, and energetic preparation. This includes suggestions for dieta, which is an important part of preparing your body and mind for the ayahuasca ceremonies.
The dieta is not a punishment or a religion — it’s simply a gentle way to clear your system, regulate your nervous system, and arrive more open, focused, and receptive.
Here are the main guidelines we usually recommend:
- Avoid alcohol and recreational substances for at least 7–14 days before the retreat.
- Reduce or stop caffeine if possible (coffee, energy drinks), to help nervous system regulation.•
- Avoid heavy, processed, or very fatty foods (fried foods, fast food, excessive oils).
- Favor plant-based, clean meals: vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, legumes.
- Reduce red meats and stick to lighter proteins if needed (fish, eggs).
- Avoid fermented foods and strong spices (vinegar, pepper, chili, excess salt).
- Decrease sugar and packaged sweets to help your energy stabilize.
- Avoid sexual activity (including self-pleasure) for 2–3 days before and during the retreat — this conserves energetic focus according to traditional teachings.
On the emotional and mental level, we also encourage:
- Spending time in silence or nature
- Journaling your intention
- Reducing media consumption and social overstimulation
- Avoiding conflicts and emotional turbulence as much as possible
These practices are not strict rules — they are recommendations that greatly support safety, clarity, and a harmonious ceremony.During your personal call, we will discuss your current lifestyle and help you adapt the dieta in a way that feels realistic and supportive for you.
Your contribution includes the full 8-day Know Thyself program: all group activities, three ayahuasca ceremonies, daily yoga/meditation/breathwork, group integration, shared accommodation (up to three people per room or cabana), and all meals prepared with a retreat-friendly, nourishing menu.
Flights to Brazil, travel insurance, and personal expenses are not included. Some optional offerings — such as individual therapeutic sessions — may carry an additional fee, and can be arranged directly on site.
Many people arrive alone — and often leave feeling part of a new family. From the opening circle to the closing of the retreat, we cultivate a respectful, non-judgmental atmosphere where you can go at your own pace. You are never forced to share more than you wish, and our team is available for 1:1 support whenever needed.