Whether you’re seeking healing, clarity, or a deeper connection with yourself, a psilocybin retreat provides a guided experience in a safe, nurturing environment.
Over the years, I’ve seen guests arrive with uncertainty, carrying the weight of past traumas, depression, or a deep desire for change. What unfolds is often more powerful than they could have imagined.
At The Buena Vida, we believe that intentional psychedelic experiences can offer breakthroughs that traditional therapy often struggles to reach. But before you embark on this journey, I want you to know exactly what to expect. From preparation and daily schedules to the deep emotional work and integration that follows.
Why People Choose a Psilocybin Retreat
Psychedelic retreats are not a one-size-fits-all experience. People come to us for many reasons, but at the heart of it all is a longing for healing and self-discovery. Some have spent years battling depression, anxiety, or PTSD, exhausted by conventional treatments that haven’t provided relief.
Others are high achievers looking to break free from limiting beliefs, reconnect with their purpose, or explore the depths of their consciousness. There are also those who feel a pull toward something greater, an intuitive knowing that there’s more to life than what meets the eye.
The Mental Health Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
Psilocybin can reduce symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, alleviate anxiety, and even help individuals struggling with addiction. The key difference between psilocybin therapy and traditional approaches is that, rather than suppressing symptoms, psychedelics work to uncover and process the root causes of emotional distress.
During a retreat, guests often experience deep emotional releases, cognitive shifts, and newfound perspectives that can change the trajectory of their lives.
Healing Trauma and Awakening to a New Perspective
For many, psilocybin serves as a bridge between the past and the present. It allows unresolved trauma to surface in a way that feels manageable, often bringing a sense of resolution that talk therapy alone cannot achieve. I’ve witnessed guests find peace with childhood wounds, release long-held grief, and mend broken relationships—sometimes without even needing words. The mushrooms don’t provide instant solutions, but they illuminate the path toward healing.
What Happens Before the Retreat? (Preparation & Expectations)
The most profound transformations don’t happen by accident; they are cultivated through intention, preparation, and trust in the process. That’s why we take great care in guiding our guests through a thorough pre-retreat phase.
We want you to arrive not just ready, but open and empowered for the experience ahead.
Screening Process & Safety Measures
Psychedelic healing is powerful, but it isn’t for everyone. At The Buena Vida, we believe in radical honesty when it comes to safety, because ensuring a transformative and responsible experience is our highest priority.
Who is (and isn’t) a good candidate for a retreat?
Our retreats are designed for those who are ready to do deep inner work—whether that’s processing trauma, breaking free from limiting beliefs, or simply reconnecting with themselves. However, psilocybin is a strong catalyst, and it requires a stable foundation to be effective and safe.
For this reason, we do not accept guests who:
- Have a personal or family history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorders.
- Are currently on certain medications that interfere with psilocybin’s effects (such as SSRIs or antipsychotics) without proper tapering under medical supervision.
- Are actively struggling with severe addiction or an untreated eating disorder.
- Have a medical condition that could be exacerbated by psychedelics.
If you’re unsure whether psilocybin is right for you, our team provides thorough consultations to assess individual suitability.
Medical and psychological screening to ensure suitability
Before being accepted into the retreat, every guest undergoes a detailed screening process that includes:
- A comprehensive intake form covering physical health, mental health history, and medication use.
- A one-on-one call with our team to discuss personal history, goals, and any concerns.
- A review of potential contraindications to ensure your safety and the safety of the group.
This process isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about ensuring that each guest is entering the retreat from a place of stability and readiness. Psychedelics aren’t a quick fix; they amplify what’s already inside you. That’s why we take this step so seriously.
Can Psilocybin Trigger Psychosis? What If I Have Anxiety?
One of the biggest myths about psychedelics is that they “make you lose your mind.” The truth? Psilocybin is incredibly safe when used in the right setting and with the right guidance.
- Psychosis & Mental Health – For individuals with a predisposition to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, psychedelics can exacerbate symptoms, which is why we screen carefully for these conditions. But for those without these risk factors, research suggests that psilocybin actually reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms long-term.
- Anxiety & Overwhelm – It’s completely normal to feel nervous before a retreat. In fact, most guests experience pre-retreat jitters. But our facilitators are trained to help you move through fear, not suppress it. Breathwork, grounding techniques, and a carefully curated retreat schedule all ensure that any challenging emotions are met with guidance, not panic.
Pre-Retreat Preparation: Setting Intentions for Healing
One of the most common mistakes people make before a psychedelic experience is assuming that the medicine alone does the work. But real transformation doesn’t happen to you—it happens through you. The way you prepare your body, mind, and spirit before the retreat directly impacts what unfolds during your journey.
The Importance of Diet, Meditation, and Journaling Before Arrival
Your body and mind are the vessels for this experience. Treat them well, and they will carry you through it with grace.
- Diet & Nutrition – We encourage guests to follow a clean diet in the weeks leading up to the retreat. That means reducing (or eliminating) alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and red meat. These substances can create physical blockages that may make the psychedelic experience more difficult to surrender into.
- Meditation & Breathwork – Developing a simple mindfulness practice—even just five minutes a day—can help you navigate intense emotions during the retreat. The ability to stay present and grounded will be one of your most valuable tools.
- Journaling & Reflection – Writing down your thoughts, fears, and intentions before arriving can clarify your purpose for the retreat. What are you seeking? What patterns are you ready to release? The clearer you are, the more profound the experience can be.
Why Mindset Matters: How to Mentally Prepare for the Experience
Imagine stepping onto a plane without knowing the destination. You might feel lost, anxious, or resistant to the journey. That’s why intention-setting is crucial—it provides a compass for your experience.
Rather than asking, “What will happen to me?”, consider asking:
- What am I ready to learn about myself?
- What am I willing to let go of?
- How can I fully trust this process?
Approaching the retreat with an open heart—not a rigid expectation—creates space for the medicine to show you exactly what you need.
What to Expect at a Psilocybin Retreat: A Day-by-Day Breakdown
You’re not just taking mushrooms. We’ll guide you into a deeply intentional and supported healing journey. Every element of the experience, from the way you arrive to how you process insights afterward, is carefully designed to help you open, explore, and integrate what emerges.
Many guests arrive with questions:
What will I feel?
How will I know if it’s working?
What if I get scared?
The truth is, every journey is unique, but what we can promise is this—you will be held, guided, and given the space you need to move through it with trust.
Here’s what a typical week looks like at The Buena Vida Psilocybin Retreats:
Day 1 – Arrival & Setting Intentions
Arrival & Setting Intentions
For many, arriving is a mix of excitement and nerves, especially if this is their first experience with psilocybin. That’s why the first day is all about settling in, getting comfortable, and connecting with the group.
Arriving at the Retreat, Meeting Facilitators & Group Introductions
- You’ll be welcomed by our team and given a tour of the retreat space—your home for the week.
- There’s time to unpack, settle in, and start slowing down from the rush of daily life.
- We gather for group introductions, where each guest has a chance to share (as much or as little as they want) about what brought them here.
We often hear guests say, “I was nervous at first, but after meeting everyone, I knew I was in the right place.” This first night is about building trust and setting the foundation for a deeply transformative week.
Creating a Safe Space: Emotional Preparation & Trust-Building
One of the biggest fears people have about psychedelics is feeling vulnerable in front of others. But something special happens when a group of strangers comes together with the same intention: healing.
Our facilitators lead exercises that help guests:
- Release anxiety about the upcoming journeys.
- Establish a sense of safety and connection with one another.
- Identify personal intentions—What are you here to explore? What are you ready to release?
First-Night Relaxation Techniques: Meditation, Breathwork & Grounding
The night before your first psilocybin journey, we guide you through gentle, grounding practices to prepare your mind and body:
- Meditation & breathwork to ease pre-ceremony nerves.
- Journaling prompts to clarify your intentions.
- Sound healing or soft music to help you relax into the space.
Many guests say they wake up on Day 2 feeling more calm and ready than they expected.
Day 2 – First Psilocybin Session & Initial Insights
First Psilocybin Session & Initial Insights
This is the day of your first journey, and while everyone feels it differently, one thing is certain—it’s an experience that will stay with you forever.
What Happens During a Psilocybin Session?
- The ceremony begins in a quiet, comfortable space, often with soft lighting, music, and supportive facilitators.
- Guests take a carefully measured dose of psilocybin, tailored to their personal comfort level.
- You’ll find a comfortable position—lying down with an eye mask, seated in meditation, or however feels best for you.
- Music is a key part of the journey, guiding emotions and helping the experience unfold naturally.
How Long Does Psilocybin Take to Kick In? What Do People Experience?
- 20-40 minutes in: A gentle shift begins—colors may seem brighter, the body lighter, thoughts more fluid.
- 60-90 minutes in: This is where the deep work begins. Emotions and memories may surface, visuals may appear, and a sense of connection (to yourself, to others, to something greater) deepens.
- 4-6 hours in: The peak experience starts to soften, and a sense of peace, clarity, or emotional release often follows.
Common Themes: Emotional Release, Life Reflections & Inner Exploration
Each journey is deeply personal, but some common themes emerge:
- Emotional Release – Many guests experience a profound wave of release, often in the form of crying, laughing, or physically letting go of stored tension.
- Life Clarity & Perspective Shifts – Some see past pain from a new lens, realizing they no longer need to hold onto it.
- Connection & Love – Feelings of deep self-compassion, interconnectedness, and gratitude often arise.
By the evening, guests return to the circle to share reflections, though speaking isn’t required. The most common feeling? Awe.
One guest put it perfectly:
“I came here hoping to heal my anxiety. Instead, I found love—for myself, for life, for everything. It was like my heart woke up.”
Day 3 – Integration & Reflection
Integration & Reflection
The real work of a psilocybin retreat doesn’t happen just in the journey itself—it happens in the days, weeks, and months after. That’s why integration is at the heart of The Buena Vida experience.
Why Integration is Crucial for Long-Term Healing
Psilocybin opens the door, but it’s up to you to walk through it. The mind is incredibly malleable after a journey, meaning you have a unique window of time where old patterns can be rewritten, and new insights can become permanent shifts.
Without integration, the experience may fade like a dream. With it, it can change your life.
That’s why Day 3 is dedicated to helping you process, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Group Discussions: Processing Experiences in a Supportive Environment
- Morning sharing circles offer a chance to express (or just listen to) what others experienced.
- Facilitators guide discussions to help make sense of the journey—what lessons emerged? What patterns are you seeing?
- Gentle coaching on how to bring these insights back into your daily life.
Some guests realize they need to set firmer boundaries in relationships. Others find clarity in their life purpose or heal deep-rooted fears they never understood before.
Solo Time for Journaling, Yoga & Nature Immersion
- Journaling prompts help put insights into words.
- Gentle yoga helps integrate emotions into the body.
- Time in nature reconnects you with the earth and yourself.
As one guest beautifully put it:
“The medicine showed me something incredible. But the real magic is in how I carry it forward.”
Day 4 – Second Psilocybin Journey: Going Deeper
Second Psilocybin Journey: Going Deeper
The first psilocybin session often acts as a door—a profound, sometimes unexpected introduction to your inner world. By the second ceremony, guests tend to feel more comfortable, more open, and more willing to surrender to what the medicine has to show them. This second journey is about going deeper, releasing more, and integrating with greater clarity.
Understanding Different Dose Levels: Why Some Guests Increase or Decrease Their Dose
Each person’s relationship with psilocybin is unique. Some guests feel called to increase their dose, seeking a deeper dive into the subconscious. Others find that a slightly lower dose allows for a more gentle, emotionally digestible experience.
At The Buena Vida, facilitators work closely with each guest to determine what’s best for them. Factors that influence dosing include:
- Your experience in the first journey – Was it overwhelming? Did you feel like you needed more time with the medicine?
- Emotional readiness – Are you feeling called to explore deeper, or do you need a more grounding experience?
- Physical and energetic sensitivity – Some people are naturally more sensitive to psilocybin and may need a lower dose to achieve profound effects.
There’s no right or wrong answer—only what feels right for you.
Overcoming Fears: What If I See Something Painful?
A common question guests ask before their second journey is:
“What if I go deeper and see something painful?”
The truth is, psychedelics don’t create pain—they reveal what’s already there, waiting to be healed. If something difficult arises, it’s not to hurt you, but to help you move through it with awareness and love.
Many guests have moments of deep emotional release—tears, laughter, even waves of unexpected joy. Others revisit past memories with a new sense of clarity and compassion.
The key to moving through discomfort? Surrender.
Rather than resisting, we encourage guests to:
- Breathe deeply – The body processes emotions through the breath.
- Trust the facilitators – We’ve guided hundreds of guests through this process. You are not alone.
Remember. You are safe.
Day 5 – Reflection, Nature, and Self-Care
Reflection, Nature, and Self-Care
After two deep journeys, Day 5 is about gentle integration, grounding, and honoring what has surfaced. This is when the mind and body begin making sense of the experience, and where deep healing begins to take root.
The Power of Nature in Psychedelic Healing: Beach Walks, Swimming, and Rest
There’s a reason psilocybin retreats are often held in nature—the medicine itself is part of the earth, and the earth is part of the healing.
At The Buena Vida, we intentionally weave nature into the integration process by offering:
- Beach walks at sunrise – Connecting with the vastness of the ocean after an expansive inner journey.
- Swimming in natural waters – Letting the body release and reset in the waves.
- Barefoot grounding in the sand – Releasing excess energy and stabilizing emotions.
Guests often say that nature feels more alive after psilocybin. Colors seem richer, sounds more harmonious, and there is a deepened sense of belonging to the world.
Self-Care Practices: Massage, Sound Healing, Creative Expression
Deep work deserves deep rest.
On Day 5, guests are encouraged to nurture themselves through self-care practices that support the nervous system and allow emotions to integrate gently.
We offer:
- Massage & bodywork – Releasing tension and restoring balance.
- Sound healing sessions – Using vibrational frequencies to soothe and realign energy.
- Creative workshops (painting, poetry, journaling) – Encouraging self-expression through art.
Many guests feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude on this day—for themselves, for the medicine, for life itself.
One-on-One Integration Coaching: Personalized Guidance for Deep Insights
While group integration is powerful, some insights require personal reflection.
That’s why we offer one-on-one coaching sessions with trained facilitators, helping guests:
- Understand their psychedelic experience in a deeper way.
- Identify the lessons that want to be carried forward.
- Create a plan for post-retreat integration.
Some guests use this time to:
- Talk through emotional realizations.
- Ask about ongoing mindfulness practices.
- Find ways to maintain the clarity they feel in daily life.
As one guest shared: “This wasn’t just a retreat. It was a reset button for my entire life.”
Day 6 – Third Psilocybin Journey: A Transformational Close
Third Psilocybin Journey: A Transformational Close
The final psilocybin journey is often the most profound—not because it’s the most intense, but because by this point, you have learned to trust the process. You have already walked through the fear of the unknown, faced what needed to be seen, and begun the work of integration.
This journey is about bringing it all together.
Final Guided Ceremony: Bringing Together All Insights
In this third and final ceremony, guests often experience:
- A sense of completion – Realizing the wisdom gained from the previous journeys.
- Deeper clarity – Piecing together the lessons that have surfaced over the past week.
- A full-body release – Feeling more themselves than they have in years.
The facilitators guide this last ceremony with extra care, helping guests:
- Set an intention of gratitude for the experience.
- Enter the journey with an open heart rather than a searching mind.
- Trust that whatever unfolds is exactly what is needed.
For many, this final ceremony isn’t about facing pain—it’s about embracing joy, peace, and wholeness.
The “Psychedelic Afterglow”: Lasting Sense of Clarity & Peace
The hours after the final journey are often described as:
- Lightness – A feeling of ease and relief, as if a great weight has been lifted.
- Stillness – A deep inner peace that allows everything to just be.
- Connection – To self, to others, to nature, to something greater.
Some guests experience profound insights that solidify everything from the past week:
“I finally understood that I am worthy of love.”
“I saw myself as a child and forgave them completely.”
“I realized happiness isn’t something to chase—it’s something to allow.”
The psychedelic afterglow can last for weeks, but the real question is: how do you bring this clarity back home with you?
Day 7 – Preparing for Life After the Retreat
Preparing for Life After the Retreat
The final day is not about ending the retreat—it’s about transitioning into the next phase of your life with intention.
Psilocybin is a powerful teacher, but the lessons only stick if you integrate them.
Final Group Integration: How to Bring Retreat Insights into Daily Life
The last morning is dedicated to deep group sharing and guided integration practices.
Guests sit together one last time, reflecting on:
- What has shifted within them.
- What lessons they want to carry forward.
- How they will honor the commitments they have made to themselves.
Facilitators offer practical strategies for integration, including:
- Morning mindfulness routines to maintain clarity.
- Journaling prompts to revisit insights over time.
- Breathwork and meditation to stay grounded when challenges arise.
- Ways to communicate your experience to friends and family.
This session ensures guests leave feeling prepared—not just inspired.
“What If I Struggle After I Leave?”
One of the biggest concerns guests have is: “What if I go home and things start feeling heavy again?”
The truth is, integration is an ongoing process—not a one-time event. While some people feel an immediate and lasting shift, others may experience waves of doubt or resistance. This is normal.
At The Buena Vida, we offer:
- Post-retreat integration support – Access to community check-ins and facilitator guidance.
- Private coaching options – For those who want ongoing one-on-one support.
- A network of past guests – So you never feel like you’re going through this alone.
Real Stories, Real Transformations
We’ve guided over 1,000 guests through their psilocybin journeys, and the transformations we witness never cease to amaze me.
I think of one guest, a woman in her late 60s, who had never experimented with psychedelics before. She had carried the pain of an abusive childhood for decades, and in one session, she finally met herself with compassion.
The relief on her face afterward was unforgettable. Another guest, a CEO who felt trapped in his own success, left with a newfound sense of purpose, realizing that his work could be driven by joy rather than obligation. These experiences aren’t anomalies—they’re common when the right environment, intention, and support are in place.
Join The Buena Vida for a Life-Changing Retreat
Thousands of guests have walked this path before you. They arrived with questions, fears, and hopes—and left with wisdom, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Now, it’s your turn.
🌿 Are you ready to say YES to yourself?
🌿 Are you ready to embrace the healing waiting for you?
🌿 Are you ready for a life-changing psilocybin experience?
👉 Apply for Your Retreat Here 👈
Your journey starts now. And we can’t wait to welcome you. 💛✨