The Dark Side of Ayahuasca Retreats: Missing Persons, Human Trafficking, and Why You Should Stay Away

Ayahuasca ceremonies are often portrayed as magical experiences promising deep healing and spiritual awakening. But behind the glossy marketing, there’s a much darker reality — one filled with missing persons, human trafficking, exploitation, and serious legal risks.

If you're considering attending an ayahuasca retreat anywhere in the world, here’s why you need to think twice.

Missing Persons Linked to Ayahuasca Retreats

One of the most heartbreaking cases involved Kyle Nolan, an 18-year-old from California who traveled to a retreat in Peru in 2012. After drinking ayahuasca, Kyle tragically died — and instead of alerting the authorities, the staff buried his body and lied to his family. His disappearance launched a frantic missing persons search that only ended when the retreat finally confessed.

This isn’t an isolated case. Other travelers have gone missing after connecting with so-called "spiritual communities" tied to ayahuasca ceremonies. Once you're in a remote retreat, often deep in the jungle or countryside, you have little to no way to call for help if something goes wrong.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Even more disturbing, some ayahuasca retreats have been linked to human trafficking rings.

In 2023, Spanish police uncovered a network of fake shamans operating in 11 countries, trafficking people under the guise of offering "healing ceremonies." Victims were exploited for free labor, financial scams, and sometimes worse.

Some common types of exploitation at retreats include:

• Labor Trafficking: Volunteers are lured in with promises of "free spiritual training" and then forced into unpaid, brutal work.

• Sexual Abuse: Many reports have surfaced of participants being assaulted or coerced during ceremonies while under the influence.

• Financial Exploitation: Some retreats manipulate vulnerable participants into handing over massive amounts of money for endless "healing" sessions.

When you attend an unregulated ayahuasca retreat, you are placing your trust — and your safety — entirely in the hands of strangers. And sadly, some of those strangers have extremely bad intentions.

No Legal Protections

Another huge danger? Ayahuasca retreats are often operating illegally or in legal gray zones.

In the U.S., the active ingredient in ayahuasca, DMT, is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance — meaning it's federally illegal except under very rare religious exemptions.

Even in countries where ayahuasca is tolerated due to indigenous use, retreats are often completely unregulated. No background checks. No medical oversight. No guarantees of safety.

If something happens to you — theft, assault, a medical emergency — you’ll likely find yourself with no legal protection and very little chance of real help.

Real Physical and Mental Risks

The dangers don’t stop at trafficking or missing persons. Drinking ayahuasca can be physically and psychologically dangerous even under the best conditions.

Some of the serious risks include:

• Cardiac arrest

• Psychotic breaks or suicidal thoughts

• Water intoxication (from forced purging rituals)

• Nicotine poisoning (from dangerous tobacco cleansing rituals)

• Self-inflicted injuries during hallucinations

Many retreats push additional "purification" ceremonies involving strong tobacco brews, scopolamine (a dangerous hallucinogen), and other unknown substances — putting participants at even greater risk.

Why You Should Stay Away

The bottom line is simple:
Ayahuasca retreats are not safe.

You are not just risking a "bad trip."
You are risking your freedom, your health, your sanity — and even your life.

There are many safer ways to seek healing and spiritual growth:

• Meditation and mindfulness retreats

• Breathwork sessions

• Counseling and therapy with licensed professionals

• Nature immersion trips (without mind-altering substances)

None of these options involve handing your physical and mental wellbeing over to an unregulated stranger.

Final Thoughts

Ayahuasca may promise profound healing, but the risks are simply too high.

Behind the romanticized Instagram posts, there are real stories of death, sexual assault, missing persons, and human trafficking. These tragedies are not rare outliers — they are a growing and disturbing trend.

Stay safe. Stay aware. And don’t gamble your life on a psychedelic promise.