Reviews

Buena Vida Retreat: Amazing, transformative, life changing- If one is seeking a catalyst for healing, greater positivity and peaceful change in their life, this is the place and the team with whom to begin your journey. Feelings of being cradled in the heart of the earth with connection to the universal collective consciousness, is just a snippet of my experience.

Retreat facilitators bring a deep knowledge of ceremonial medicinal practices, combined with sound, movement and breath work teachings. All within an extremely well thought out, safe, loving and compassionate community environment. Additionally, I can’t end without saying that a lot of thought went into every meal. Each deliciously created to provide whole body supportive health. I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat and give it the highest possible rating.

- Pamela J.

I am five days past an incredible 7 day journey at The Buena Vida. I came with a heart and mind full of depression, confusion and skepticism. During my stay I experienced healing given to me through yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, psilocybin and the loving care of Amanda and her team. I left with hopefulness, contentment, love and a new view of this world and my life in it.

Buena Vida Retreat: Amazing, transformative, life changing- If one is seeking a catalyst for healing, greater positivity and peaceful change in their life, this is the place and the team with whom to begin your journey. Feelings of being cradled in the heart of the earth with connection to the universal collective consciousness, is just a snippet of my experience.

Retreat facilitators bring a deep knowledge of ceremonial medicinal practices, combined with sound, movement and breath work teachings. All within an extremely well thought out, safe, loving and compassionate community environment. Additionally, I can’t end without saying that a lot of thought went into every meal. Each deliciously created to provide whole body supportive health. I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat and give it the highest possible rating.

- Pamela J.

I am five days past an incredible 7 day journey at The Buena Vida. I came with a heart and mind full of depression, confusion and skepticism. During my stay I experienced healing given to me through yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, psilocybin and the loving care of Amanda and her team. I left with hopefulness, contentment, love and a new view of this world and my life in it.

It’s hard to describe the power, magic and healing available at this retreat, but here it goes. Amanda and her tribe of facilitators have curated an incredibly rich week.

I arrived reserved and unsure and left in a space of love, joy, internal peace and fully energized. The week was so well curated with workshops/classes including breath work, yoga and movement and more. From the moment we arrived at the beautiful and well appointed retreat villa (with killer views and abundant space) we were taken care of.

This is not recreational….this is medicine. And it works!

I’ve attended two Buena Vida retreats. I can say unequivocally that both experiences deserve more than five stars!

My experience with both retreats is nothing short of profound and transcendent. For me, these two retreats rank up there with the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in my life.

Like other people, I’ve had many past psychedelic experiences in my life, but none can compare to the experiences I’ve had The Buena Vida.

The preparation, the accommodations, the food, the staff, the ceremonies (e.g. ‘trips’) is nothing short of stellar! The attention to detail, the extremely caring and attentive staff, the delicious food, the beautiful accommodations, and the group work we did in between the ceremonies all add up to something much greater than the sum of the parts.

Amanda and her staff go to great lengths to create a very safe space, a space where I felt comfortable to be myself. I’m a fairly private person, and prior to attending I was a bit anxious and skeptical about the group aspect of the experience. but I felt so safe that I was able to access parts of myself that needed attending to. Amanda and her staff are supremely talented in creating the safest place possible, a space where I was able to explore aspects of myself that I often deny, or wish to ignore.

The best words I can use to describe The Buena Vida are these: Magical. Exquisite. Healing. Transcending. Profound.

5 MEGA stars! So I believe the secret ingredient that makes Beuna Vida such a spectacular and transformative experience is simply L O V E. Amanda and her team pour every ounce of their heart and soul into each and every day and every guest. In turn, their care and compassion become contagious amongst the participants. We became a kindred family and it was beautiful to witness and be a part of. I arrived at the retreat tired, despairing, and desperate. Slowly as the days passed and the medicine did its thing – those words were replaced with joy, peace, and faith. Two weeks later and I still feel a deeply planted sense of serenity and faith that the cosmos is conspiring in my favor. Feeling just ok was something that was beyond my reach prior to the retreat – no matter how much journaling, meditation, yoga, blah blah blah I did. My heart is full-to-overflowing with gratitude for the many gifts that I received during this magical and numinous experience. I look forward to making it an ongoing part of my spiritual wellbeing practice. If you are in a position to do this for yourself – DO IT! Impossible to regret. Impossible to forget.

- M V.

A beautiful healing experience unlike any other. The power of the mushrooms and the gentle, loving guidance of Amanda and team was truly magical. They are an amazing group that truly loves helping people and making this world a more beautiful place. When can I go back!!!!

I can’t say enough about the gentle, caring staff at The Buena Vida. Amanda and the staff are knowledgeable, honest, funny, and reverent in their approach to healing with psilocybin. They are the real thing. If you are on the fence, go for it. You will never regret your decision, and probably will want to return again and again. Thank you all so much for helping me regain my belief in me.

- D. L.

I originally set out to have this experience in support of my husband. I was unsure of the group environment but went with an open mind and heart. I found an amazing group of people and a loving , safe and non judgmental environment. The accommodations were beautiful. The food was really great , healthy and fresh. The house staff was am amazing and friendly. Words could never fully describe Amanda and her team of facilitators- warm, sensitive, loving, compassionate, intuitive above all freaking unbelievably amazing. The ceremonies for me were absolutely beautiful and though personally hard for me I found a journey of release and forgiveness of my pain and myself. I found strength in others in my group and kindness, sweetness and love . I would do this again without hesitation and will do with others I love in the near future.

6 out of 5 stars. I originally wanted mainly to drag my husband with a number of issues and simply understand myself better coming into retirement after a very successful public career. The experience was transformational. For the first time I understood my life, my behavior and decisions and what I could let go of. I am facing the death of several loved ones with peace now. Not at all what I thought I was coming for. I sleep and function better. Although he might never admit it, my husband’s depression appears gone. The integration and processing of the experience incorporated into the retreat and after is critical to sustaining the transformational changes. There was an incredible amount of planning and thought into the retreat. Amanda is truly a shaman and the facilitators were deeply involved in the experience. I learned about this retreat from a family member and will be bringing other family members in future.

- Carol J.

To say that Buena Vida appeared in my life when I needed it the most is an understatement. From the moment I arrived, I felt at peace. The energy of Amanda and her staff was out of this world. This retreat was so fulfilling, I can’t put it into words. The treatment is next level luxury, and the food and accommodations were magical. I would highly recommend coming here, I know I’ll be back.

“A miracle. This is a f’ing miracle.” was what I repeatedly thought as Amanda closed the 2nd tea ceremony. Ditto to all the 5 star reviews. As a clinical neuropsychologist with 30+ years experience treating complex patients with emotional trauma, chronic pain, multiple diseases (and so on), there’s nothing in Western medicine that even comes close to the deeply transformative and restorative healing that I experienced (and witnessed) with Amanda and the Buena Vida team. Life changing. I highly recommend Buena Vida without reservation. Buena Vida provided a luxurious, safe, educational, fun, and relaxing container within which we (the 10 guests) could embark on a life altering journey. Honestly, there aren’t enough “stars” to capture the magic. Thank you Amanda! I am forever changed and eternally grateful.

- Sutapa M.

There are just no words to adequately describe the wonderful time I had at a Buena Vida Retreat in November, 2021. Amanda is compassionate, loving, and filled with joy and a passion for what she does, which is to provide a healing experience for those of us lucky enough to attend one of her retreats. The accommodations are wonderful, the food beyond delicious, and the support staff warm and caring. I cannot say enough about how exceptional my time at Buena Vida was. Maria, Sarah, Alex and the rest of the Buena Vida staff were just the best. The 14 other guests have become life-long friends, and I cannot wait to go back again and share this miracle with my friends! I took a “leap of faith” to attend this retreat, and I am beyond thankful that I did!