The assumption about ayahuasca is that it’s inherently tied to a substance and setting in the Amazon. From Europe, that often means a full day or more of connecting flights, plus the time off work and the cost that come with a trip that far.
But since Avalon’s Costa Brava retreat centre has been establishing itself, it’s now a two-hour flight from London to Barcelona or Girona to access these ayahuasca ceremonies. While it may not be in the Amazon, the shamans guiding the ceremonies come from indigenous communities across South America, many of them from the Amazon itself.
Bringing the shamans to Europe
Travel today is more about purpose than ever, and for anyone drawn to ayahuasca, authenticity matters most. That comes down to who is leading the ceremony.
Avalon has invited indigenous facilitators from a range of lineages to guide its ceremonies, including Kichwa, Uitoto Muruy, Quechua, Huni Kuin, Yawanawá, Kamëntsá, Sápara, Muisca, Pastos and Mbyá GuaranÃ. These are not Westerners taking a crash course in ancient practices, but have had years of guided apprenticeship under older shamans. The knowledge is generational, often passed down from father to son, and many spend decades training before they lead ceremonies themselves. Shamans with this kind of lineage are rare in Europe.
By inviting them to Spain, Avalon gives people across Europe the chance to sit in ceremony with these shamans without making the trip to South America. The shamans bring their culture, experience and knowledge with them.
One of those facilitators is Taita IsaÃas Muñoz Macanilla, and he very much hails from the Amazon. He was born in Cecilia Cocha (Putumayo–Amazonas border) and is the son of a curaca (traditional chief) of the Uitoto Muruy people, and of a mother descended from Kichwa ancestors of Ecuador’s Napo River region. He first drank Yagé (ayahuasca) aged five with his father, and went on to train for decades under his father, uncle and grandfather, as well as other respected taitas. He now guides ceremonies at Ayahuasca retreats in Europe, like Avalon in Barcelona.
Nilton Santi (Quechua lineage, Peru), Abuelo Comba Nymy Quene (Muisca lineage, Colombian Andes) and Tuim Nova Era (Yawanawá lineage, Brazilian Amazon) all have similar stories of long apprenticeship, and each has been invited by Avalon to guide ceremonies in Spain.
What this means for UK travellers
For anyone travelling from the UK, Ayahuasca retreats near the UK solve an important legal problem, which is that ayahuasca is currently illegal in the UK, where DMT is a Class A drug. There are no official retreats. But in Spain, while it’s still a grey area, there are established retreats to choose from. UK passport holders need no visa for stays of up to 90 days (though the EU’s €20 ETIAS travel authorisation is due to launch in late 2026), and one-way flights can be as low as £30.
It’s a game-changer for Brits. Many have travelled to Peru for ceremonies over the years, but the distance, time and cost have kept plenty of others from going.
With Avalon offering guidance in English, a short flight from home and genuine aftercare, ayahuasca is now within reach for far more people.
The numbers
According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy hit a record $6.8 trillion in 2024 when factoring in all aspects. But growing faster than the umbrella industry itself is wellness tourism, which grew 13.8% in 2024 and is forecast to keep growing at around 9% a year to 2029.
There is still some way to go, especially for ayahuasca, which many people don’t realise is available in Europe. For anyone considering a retreat, choosing the right one matters. There’s only a finite pool of legitimate shamans with lineage, so it’s worth doing your homework: look at who leads the ceremonies and where they trained, check for medical screening and integration support, and read independent reviews from past guests.
Do that, and you’ll find that an authentic ayahuasca experience, guided by indigenous shamans with generations of knowledge behind them, is now available right here in Europe.
