Joshua Tree · California · Legal Psilocybin Sanctuary
The most important five days of your life.
Psilocybin ceremony, sacred medicine, and deep integration — held with expertise, intention, and joy in Joshua Tree.
Next retreat
May 28 – June 1
Following
July 9 – 13
Investment
From $4,000 shared · From $5,000 private
As seen in
NY Times
Condé Nast
Vice
The Cut
Thrillist
Playboy
Who We Are
Experienced.
Ethical.
Deeply rooted.
An all-female facilitation team blending ceremonial tradition, neuroscience, and somatic therapy. We've held guests through some of the most meaningful work of their lives — and we take that honour seriously.
2,000+
Guests served
7 yrs
In practice since 2018
This could be your group.
Small, curated, intentional — May 28 & July 9.
Our Ethos
Ceremony
Intention
Joy
A true way to reconnect with the self, with others, and with life through sacred medicine.
Measured Results
The numbers speak.
For themselves.
Outcomes tracked across guest surveys following retreat completion.
75%
of guests reported a strong positive change in their mental health
90%
of guests reported the retreat exceeded their initial expectations
82%
of guests reported strong or very strong changes to their lives
Numbers only tell part of it.
Hear what guests say in their own words — or apply and find out yourself.
What people say
Not how it felt.
What stayed.
Most people who find us have already tried multiple paths.
"In a matter of minutes I experienced a level of emotional clarity that years of traditional work couldn't access."
Kristen C.
"I had done years of therapy and still felt stuck. This was the first time something actually shifted."
TJ — Joshua Tree Retreat
"The ceremonies were the safest I've ever attended. Amanda leads with humor, power, wisdom and an extraordinary presence that reaches you on a level words can't describe."
Katja von Tiesenhausen
"I struggled with depression and anxiety from a young age and tried many treatments. I felt completely safe and supported."
Carlos — 7-Day Retreat
"I just finished my 2nd retreat and I would give them 100 stars. It is impossible to leave not in a better place mentally, physically, spiritually."
Megan C.
Hear it from them
In their own
words.
Ready to experience this yourself?
Applications are open for May 28 and July 9.
Clinical Contributors
Grounded in science.
Held in tradition.
The Buena Vida collaborates with leading researchers across Stanford University, Imperial College London, and University College London — informing our screening process, preparation protocols, and outcome measurement.
Research Contributor
Dr. Rayyan Zafar
Imperial College London
Researcher studying psychedelic-assisted treatments for addiction and compulsive behavior. His work informs how preparation and integration influence the durability of altered-state experiences — shaping how Buena Vida structures the arc before and after ceremony.
Research Contributor
Dr. Rosalind McAlpine
University College London
Developer of the Psychedelic Preparedness Scale. Researcher studying psychological readiness and outcome tracking in psychedelic therapy. Her work directly informs Buena Vida's participant screening process and how we measure meaningful change over time.
Your Wellbeing
Ensuring Safety
At Every Level
Holistic Training
World-class facilitators blending Indigenous wisdom with modern clinical expertise.
Medical Access
A locally licensed on-call nurse and urgent care within a 15-minute drive.
Medical Screening
Thorough assessments of personal, medical, and psychiatric histories.
Safety Protocols
Advanced risk management and an exceptional safety record since 2018.
Safe. Ethical. Transformative.
Backed by science. Rooted in tradition. Limited spots available.
The Experience
Five days.
A lifetime of what follows.
Day 1
Welcome to The Buena Vida
Welcome snacks with new friends
Dinner
Sound Bath
"What is Ceremony?" with leaders
Day 2
Meeting the Fungi
Morning yoga or Ecstatic Dance
Healthy brunch
Orientation
"Setting Your Intention" meditation
Sunset Psilocybin Ceremony
Day 3
Going Deeper
Morning yoga flow
Brunch
Massages with local healers
Desert time
Mindfulness & integration workshop
Psilocybin Ceremony #2
Day 4
Deep Relaxation
Grounding breathwork
Integration meeting
Desert excursion
Closing fire circle
Final dinner
Day 5
Sweet Goodbyes
Fresh breakfast
"Preparing for the Journey Ahead" with leaders
Shuttle to airport
Five days that change everything.
May 28 – June 1 · July 9 – 13 · Joshua Tree, CA
The Program
Before.
During.
Long after.
A complete six-week arc — not just a few ceremonies, but a held process with preparation, depth, and integration.
Pre-retreat preparation
Discovery call
Medical screening
7-day prep course
Group work with facilitators
In-person at the sanctuary
2–3 psilocybin ceremonies
Live music
Somatic workshops
Chef-prepared meals
Desert excursion
Integration & ongoing support
2-week daily dose app
1-on-1 coaching
Group calls
Microdosing support
Space fills fast.
May 28 – June 1 · July 9 – 13
What shifts
Real change. That actually lasts.
People come to us at turning points — exhausted, searching, ready. What they leave with tends to be quieter and more lasting than they expected.
Clarity
Not more insight you forget
A deeper understanding of what's kept you stuck — and a clearer sense of what comes next.
Release
Emotional space opens
The weight you've been carrying begins to move. Not coping — finally breathing again.
Energy
Not a temporary reset
A noticeable shift in how you move through your life when you return home.
Self
A truer sense of yourself
Beyond roles, expectations, and noise — reconnected with something honest and grounded.
Ready to find out what's possible?
Applications take 5 minutes. Spots are limited.
The Sanctuary Ranch
Five acres.
Sacred desert land.
Two spacious houses, a 30-foot ceremony yurt, open desert sky, and a small herd of alpacas roaming the land. Joshua Tree strips everything back to what's real.
Accommodations
Private rooms
The ranch
Desert landscape
Chef-prepared cuisine
Life on the ranch
Sacred space
The sanctuary
Nurturing leaders
Come see it for yourself.
Five nights, all-inclusive. From $4,000 shared.
Something is pulling
you here.
Pay attention.
Opportunities to step out of your life this fully and meet yourself this honestly don't come often. Space is intentionally limited.
May & July 2026 · Joshua Tree, California