Iboga Introduction
What Makes This Retreat Special
At 🏔️ Amayama 🏔️, this 5-day retreat opens the path into one of the most powerful plant medicines on Earth: Iboga, the ancestral African root used for deep healing, clarity, and truth.
One of the most exceptional aspects of this retreat is the transmission of rituals coming directly from the Bwiti tribes. Through the Mwiri purification rituals and two Iboga Ceremonies, you enter a traditional initiatory process rarely offered in Europe.
Your guides Axis & Chiara, and their teachers Vicente & Sylvie, have all been initiated twice into the Bwiti tradition, with the Fang Bwiti tribe in Cameroon and the Missoko Bwiti tribe in Gabon.
Highlights of this Retreat
- 🔥 Mwiri Cleansing : An ancient Bwiti purification rite traditionally performed before Iboga ceremonies. The Mwiri is a sacred practice of cleansing and preparation. It consists in two parts: traditional African sweat lodge and a deep cleansing with plants that help to purge.
- 🌱 Two Iboga Ceremonies : Guided with care and accompanied by Bwiti music. Iboga works on body, mind, and spirit, revealing truth, healing emotional wounds, and clearing the path to our essence and joy.
- 🎶 Authentic Bwiti Ceremonial Style : Ceremonies are guided with Bwiti music, rhythms, and chants learned directly from African shamans. The music becomes an ally, carrying the ancestral spirit of Africa into the space and supporting emotional release, clarity, and connection.
- 👥 1:1 Guide:Participant Ratio : At Amayama, safety and quality attention come first. Each participant is accompanied by at least one dedicated Guide, often even more, ensuring truly personalized care at every step of the journey. With a maximum of 4 participants, each retreat remains intimate and deeply supported, allowing the work with Iboga to unfold in a safe and grounded way.
- 🌱 A Unique Synthesis of Ancient & Modern : At Amayama, ancestral shamanic wisdom meets modern science and psychology. This unique approach weaves together ceremony, integration, and therapeutic support, creating a complete and grounded path for healing and self-discovery.
- 💚 Lineage & Interdisciplinary Team : Guided by Axis (psychologist & shaman, 15+ years) and Chiara (plant work & art therapy, 7+ years), together with their teachers Vicente (osteopath & shamanic healer, 20+ years) and Sylvie (plant work & Ayurvedic nutricionist, 20+ years). All four have been initiated into the Bwiti tradition in both Cameroon and Gabon.
- 🕊️ Integration & Natural Psychology : Integration is woven throughout with Sharing Circles, Natural Psychology, and one-on-one guidance to root your experience in daily life. Every retreat also includes a preparation call before arrival and at least one integration call after, ensuring lasting support.
- 🌱 Holistic Healing : Osteopathic and Ayurvedic massages, yoga, Art Therapy, and body movement practices to ground and restore.
- 🏡 Sacred Setting : Held in Amayama's home and ceremonial garden, surrounded by ancient olive trees, orange fields, waterfalls, and quiet mountains, the environment itself supports grounding, deep rest, and reconnection with nature's wisdom.
- 🍲 Nourishing African and Ayurvedic Inspired Cuisine : Home-cooked meals prepared with love and mindfulness, using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to support physical balance and energetic harmony.
About This Retreat
YOUR GUIDES
Welcome to 🏔️ Amayama, a Sanctuary of Healing and Awakening ⛩️
This retreat is an introduction into the sacred medicine of Iboga, the African root that reconnects us with truth.
Guided with care and experience, this journey invites you to face yourself with honesty, release what no longer serves, and reconnect to your essence and life force.
You will be guided by Axis and Chiara, both initiated in the Bwiti Tradition in Gabon and Cameroon, in a sacred space where ancestral Bwiti wisdom meets modern psychological care.
One of the most exceptional aspects of this retreat is the transmission of rituals coming directly from the Bwiti tribes. Through the Mwiri purification rituals and two Iboga Ceremonies, you enter a traditional initiatory process rarely offered in Europe.
☀️ The Journey ☀️
This 5-day retreat opens you the path into Iboga and Bwiti wisdom. A sacred container where clarity, release, and new alignment can arise.
- ⛩️ Day 1: Mwiri : Cleansing & Purification Ceremony
Your arrival day opens with grounding, orientation, and the Mwiri purification ritual, an ancestral Bwiti rite to cleanse body and spirit before meeting the medicine.
Offerings to the ancestors are made to ask permission and blessings for the journey ahead. - 🌿 Day 2: First Iboga Ceremony
In the morning we start with a meditation in our garden where the Iboga plant grows.Then the first Iboga ceremony starts around the fire. The journey into the medicine’s profound teachings and healing begins, lasting all day, accompanied by Bwiti live and recorded music. - 🌿 Day 3: Deepening & Second Iboga Ceremony
This day opens with gentle practices and reflection before entering the second Iboga ceremony, a deeper immersion guided by live Bwiti music and dance. - 🌿 Day 4: Integration, Grounding & Final Offering
A day for integration, rest, reflection, and connection with nature. Gentle activities such as Sharing Circles, Natural Psychology, art therapy, and excursions to sacred sites such as waterfalls, caves, or the beach.
The retreat culminates with a final offering ritual, a moment to give thanks, close the cycle, and honour the path walked together. - 🌞 Day 5: Closing Integration & Departure
A final integration circle gathers insights and guidance for bringing Iboga’s teachings into daily life.
🎶 Shamanic Ceremonial Style
Live music: songs and rhythms from African traditions, learned through direct apprenticeship with the shamans in Gabon.
Blended with curated playlists, this brings the ancestral spirit of Africa to Europe, creating a safe and deeply transformative space.
👥 1:1 Guide:Participant Ratio
At Amayama, safety, quality and attention come first. Each participant is accompanied by at least one dedicated Guide, often even more, ensuring truly personalized care at every step of the journey.
With a maximum of 4 participants, each retreat remains intimate and deeply supported, allowing the work with Iboga to unfold in a safe and grounded way.
🕊️ Integration & Support
Integration is a crucial part of the retreat. Silence, reflection, and rest are balanced with 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 and 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 practices, helping you root the medicine’s wisdom into your daily life.
Guidance is present before, during, and after the retreat.
💆♀️ Holistic Treatments & Body Care
Complementary sessions such as osteopathic and Soma healings, massages, yoga, and art therapy are offered to harmonize body and spirit, grounding the medicine work into physical and emotional balance.
🌱 Adapted for First-Timers & Deep Seekers
Whether you are new to Iboga or returning to deepen your journey, this retreat offers a unique opportunity to meet the medicine with care, integrity, and experienced guidance.
With a maximum of 3 participants, you receive individual attention, nourishing meals, peaceful rest, and immersion in nature within a safe and sacred container.
🌿 What’s Included 🌿
- Two Iboga Ceremonies in the Temple and in the garden with live music and sacred chants
- Mwiri Purification Ceremony: traditional Bwiti cleansing & symbolic rebirth
- Daily Integration: one-on-one sessions & Sharing Circles
- Guided Art Therapy & grounding practices
- Nourishing Ayurvedic-Inspired Meals, homemade with seasonal, local ingredients
- Peaceful Accommodation surrounded by olive trees and gardens
- Excursions & Sacred Sites: waterfalls, monastery, caves, and beach
- Transfers: pick-up & drop-off at Alzira train station
🧘♀️ A Unique Approach
Guided by Axis (15+ years psychologist & shaman) and supported by Chiara (7+ years plant work & integrative practices), you are held in a unique blend of ancestral shamanism and modern psychological care.
They are joined in the house by their teachers Vicente (20+ years osteopath & shamanic healer) and Sylvie (20+ years plant work & sacred songs).
All four have been initiated in the Bwiti tradition in Gabon, honouring its sacred lineage and carrying its teachings with integrity and reverence.
Together, they create a rare constellation of lineage and lived wisdom, bringing depth, safety, and care to your journey.
Day-by-Day Program
This 5-Day Iboga Retreat is a full immersion into Iboga and the Bwiti tradition, weaving Mwiri purification rituals, two Iboga Ceremonies with integration and rest.
Each step unfolds naturally in a very small group of maximum 3 participants, guided with 1:1 care and deep presence.
- ✨ Day 1 · Arrival, Cleansing & Mwiri Ritual
Arrival with welcome refreshments, orientation, and an introduction to Bwiti teachings.
The day includes the Mwiri purification ceremony, an ancestral Bwiti ritual to cleanse body and spirit. - ✨ Day 2 · First Iboga Ceremony
Morning buffet and grounding practices, followed by a Sharing Circle.
A purification ceremony opens the day’s work before entering the first Iboga ceremony, beginning the journey into healing and revelation. - ✨ Day 3 · Deepening & Second Iboga Ceremony
A gentle morning with grounding practices and sharing, followed by personal guidance as needed.
The second Iboga ceremony unfolds in the evening, supported by Bwiti music, deepening the work begun the day before. - ✨ Day 4 · Integration, Nature & Final Offering
A day for rest, grounding, and integration with Sharing Circles, nature excursions, and optional sessions such as massage, art therapy, or Soma work.
The day closes with a Final Offering Ritual, a moment to honour the journey and give thanks. - ✨ Day 5 · Closing Integration & Departure
A final Integration Circle gathers insights and guidance for bringing Iboga’s teachings into daily life, followed by breakfast and departure.
Each step is guided with care by Axis & Chiara, ensuring you feel safe, supported, and deeply connected throughout your retreat.
What's Included
- 🔹Preparation SessionsPreparation Sessions before the retreat
- 🔥1× Mwiri (Purification) (session)African plant steam purification ritual in order to sweat and cleanse the body.
- 🍃2× Iboga (ceremonies)African Iboga
- 🛏️4× Accommodation (Nights)Nights in a peaceful, serene and natural surrounding with olive trees and lush garden
- 🥘Organic MealsWe serve organic, locally sourced and seasonal food
- 🍵DrinksWater, tea, and fresh fruit juices served throughout the day
- 🏔️Nature ExcursionsVisits to nearby sacred sites: monastery, waterfalls, caves, and beach
- 🚉TransfersPick-up and drop-off at Alzira train station
- 🛄ConvenienceFree parking, luggage storage, and wifi connection available
- 🙏🏼Integration SessionsIntegration Session Post Retreat
Optional Services
- 🛏️Extra NightBefore Retreat (Arrival 7pm - 9pm)€100
- ✨SomaHealing practice for deep restoration & emotional release€60
- 👐🏼Ostheopatic MassageBodywork to release tension and restore physical alignment€60
- 🧘♀️YogaMindful movement and breathwork to ground body and mind€45
- ✨KamboTraditional Amazonian frog medicine for deep detoxification and clarity€130