Ayahuasca Ceremony in Brazil: A Complete Guide to Choosing a Shaman

Every year, people from all over the world look for an ayahuasca ceremony in Brazil. Brazil is one of the few countries where the ritual use of ayahuasca is legally recognized, and it is home to living traditions that have worked with this sacred brew for generations. This guide explains what you need to know before choosing a place and a shaman.

What is ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a sacred brew from the Amazon, traditionally prepared by boiling the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (known in Brazil as mariri or jagube) with the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub (chacrona). Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have used it for centuries, and in Brazil it is also at the heart of religious traditions such as Santo Daime, União do Vegetal and Barquinha.

In these traditions ayahuasca is regarded as a plant teacher and a medicine of the forest: a path of prayer, self-knowledge and connection with the sacred. It is not a recreational substance, and the ceremonial setting is as important as the brew itself.

Is ayahuasca legal in Brazil?

Yes, in a religious and ritual context. Brazil recognizes the ritual use of ayahuasca, and Resolution No. 1/2010 of the National Council on Drug Policy (CONAD) sets out the ethical principles for this use. Among them:

• ayahuasca should be used in a ritual setting, not recreationally;
• the brew must not be sold as a commercial product;
• groups should not advertise therapeutic effects or promise healing;
• groups should avoid offering tourist packages associated with claims about the effects of ayahuasca;
• a prior interview with first-time participants is recommended.

This is good news for you as a visitor: a serious group in Brazil will talk to you before the ceremony, will not sell you a “package” built around promised results, and will treat the ceremony as a spiritual practice.

Important: the legal recognition applies in Brazil. Never try to carry ayahuasca out of the country. DMT, one of its components, is a controlled substance in most countries, and transporting the brew across borders can lead to serious legal problems.

Shamanic traditions and Brazilian religions

When people search for an “ayahuasca shaman in Brazil”, they find very different settings:

• Brazilian ayahuasca religions (Santo Daime, União do Vegetal, Barquinha): structured religious works with hymns, fixed rituals and membership paths.
• Indigenous traditions (such as the Huni Kuin, Yawanawá and other peoples of Acre and the Amazon): ceremonies with their own songs, languages and cosmology.
• Neo-shamanic and universalist ceremonies: led by curandeiros who learned from different lineages and welcome people of any faith, often with sacred songs (icaros), music and silence.

None of these is “better”. What matters is that the setting resonates with you and that the person who guides the ceremony is experienced, ethical and attentive to your safety.

How to choose a safe place

• Screening: do they ask about your physical and mental health and every medication you take? If not, look elsewhere.
• The guide: who leads the ceremony, what lineage do they come from and how long have they worked with the medicine?
• Support team: is there enough experienced help during the night for people who need care?
• Language: can someone speak with you in a language you understand, before, during and after the ceremony?
• Transparency: are rules, schedule, diet and contribution explained clearly in advance?
• No miracle claims: a serious guide never promises healing or guaranteed results.

Medications and health conditions

Ayahuasca contains MAO inhibitors and interacts with many medications, especially antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, tricyclics), other serotonergic drugs (such as tramadol and triptans), stimulants and some supplements (such as St John’s wort and 5-HTP). These combinations can cause serious reactions such as serotonin syndrome. People with a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure need careful evaluation and often should not take part. Never stop a medication on your own: talk to your doctor first.

Ayahuasca in Brasília with Thiago Lourenço

The Santuário Jardim de Gaia is located in the Jardim Botânico region of Brasília, Brazil’s capital, a green area of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) close to the Botanical Garden of Brasília. It was founded in 2019 by Thiago Lourenço, a curandeiro who studied with healers in Brazil and Peru and works within Andean and shamanic traditions, with a universalist approach and no dogma. Ceremonies include sacred songs and the care of Thiago and Aline.

Thiago speaks English and Spanish, so you can talk with him directly before the ceremony. Every first participation starts with a personal conversation about your intention, your health and the medications you use. Read more in Thiago Lourenço, ayahuasca shaman in Brasília and in our travel guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is ayahuasca legal in Brazil for foreigners?

The ritual use of ayahuasca is recognized in Brazil, and the rules apply to anyone taking part in a ceremony in the country. You still cannot take the brew out of Brazil: it is controlled in most other countries.

Do I need previous experience?

No. Many people arrive for their first ceremony. What matters is the prior conversation with the guide, following the preparation diet and arriving with respect and openness.

How long does a ceremony last?

The effects usually last four to six hours, and the full ceremony, with opening and closing, takes most of the night.

Can I join if I take antidepressants?

Many antidepressants are dangerous in combination with ayahuasca. Do not join without first talking to your doctor, and never stop a medication on your own.

Are ceremonies in English?

At the Jardim de Gaia Sanctuary, ceremonies follow their own songs and rituals, and Thiago speaks English and Spanish, so you can talk with him before, during and after the ceremony.

This content is informational and spiritual in nature. It does not replace medical, psychological or psychiatric care. If you are under treatment or take any medication, talk to your doctor.