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The Original Premier Iboga Retreat Center

Iboga Wellness Center is an Iboga retreat center located in beautiful Costa Rica. We also have retreats in different parts of the world, please inquire. Those called to experience this sacred medicine can move through profound life transformations with wholehearted support and care. We are located in the mountains of Costa Rica’s biodiverse South Pacific region, in our opinion the most beautiful area of the country with 70-85 degree weather year round.

* Please note – we do NOT work with ibogaine and we do not do treatment of any kind including for drug detoxification.
All retreats are for psycho-spiritual reasons only and not a specific treatment for any illness or condition.
Please contact us for our retreat schedule and locations. 

Iboga Wellness Center is not affiliated with any similarly named organization in Mexico or elsewhere. We are a spiritual community working with sacred iboga in its traditional, whole-root form — we do not work with ibogaine, the laboratory-isolated alkaloid used in clinical opiate detox settings.

Native to Central West Africa, Iboga has been used by the Bwiti people for thousands of years, assisting them in learning about life and being a human on earth.

mata palo on laurel tree
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Alessia Grillenzoni profile picture
Alessia Grillenzoni
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I didn't realise how depressed and anxious I was prior to my Iboga journey at IWC, until I decided to come to Costa Rica and do a retreat here. It took me a good couple of months after the retreat to notice major changes, such as no more depression, no more anxiety, less noise in my head and instead a stronger feeling of mental and emotional stability and balance. I can't thank enough Levi and all his crew of amazing facilitators and staff, for the exceptional help, support and expertise that they have offered. The facility has very comfortable and spacious rooms with breathtaking views, and the food is delicious. I would definitely recommend this amazing place to anyone interested on doing an Iboga journey. Everyone has been amazing and super supportive. Thanks a million to all. Alessia.
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Yoni Diamond profile picture
Yoni Diamond
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It’s hard to fully summarize just how beautiful and powerful my retreat with IWC was. As someone who did extensive research into different settings before committing, I feel it’s important to distinguish what makes this center truly exceptional. Much of what I had encountered in my research pointed to clinical ibogaine settings — cold, Western, and medicalized in their approach. IWC is something profoundly different. What sets IWC apart is that you are not simply receiving a medicine — you are being carried through it. The Iboga here is practiced within the Bwiti tradition, and that distinction matters deeply. You are held within an ancient wisdom and guided through a journey that is as spiritual as it is healing. This is the medicine in its fullness, not a fragment of it. The space itself is beautiful — peaceful, comfortable, and surrounded by nature, which makes it a wonderful place to rest and integrate between ceremonies. Levi and James and all the facilitators are warm, attentive, and always av ailable to answer questions or ease any concerns. The meals are clean, fresh, and healthy, nourishing you through the process in a way that feels intentional and caring. You are genuinely well looked after here. While every person’s experience was unique, everyone in my group left carrying something essential. This journey takes real courage — to commit to, to travel toward, and to step into. But I don’t believe anyone in our group would have chosen otherwise. If the medicine is calling you, trust that feeling and seek it out.
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Natalie Adele
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I live part of the year in Costa Rica and have traveled around the country quite a bit — so when I say this pocket of mountains, river, birds, and pure jungle sanctuary is something truly special, I mean it.🌿 The nature alone was so profoundly peaceful that it became an active participant in my ceremony. I could feel the allies of the surrounding land weaving into the medicine work in the most innocent and beautiful way. The center itself mirrors something many of us are doing in this work — reclaiming a sense of home. The safety, privacy, attunement, and care for our needs ...the nourishing meals, the thoughtful rhythms of daily life ..created an environment that was in and of itself deeply healing. It felt like the childhood home so many of us never had, and that wasn't lost on me.🏡 The support team was so wise. 💕Each person brought something deep and insightful to our fireside gatherings, and the whole environment made it a beautiful place to practice asking for what I needed. And Levi 💜... The most humble, caring, loving medicine provider I've ever encountered. He has such a big, open heart — and there was something so grounding and real about witnessing him step away to pick up his daughter and then sit with us in ceremony. His wife Cali radiates joy and childlike wonder. The humanness of this family held us in a way I didn't expect and will never forget. The integration days — lying in the hammock in absolute quietude 🦥— were their own kind of medicine. I leave carrying deep peace, spaciousness, and calm that I attribute to both the medicine and the unique gift that is this place. I will be back. In deep gratitude. 🙏. Natalie
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D C profile picture
D C
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A truly transformative experience. The Iboga Wellness Center offers an authentic and deeply respectful connection to the traditional Bwiti approach, creating a space that feels both sacred and grounded. The staff are exceptional—attentive, compassionate, and clearly devoted to each guest’s safety and journey. The food is nourishing, high-quality, and thoughtfully prepared, supporting the body through an intense and meaningful process. The excursions add a beautiful balance, offering moments of nature, reflection, and joy that complement the inner work. What truly sets this place apart is the overall energy—calm, supportive, and profoundly aligned. You can feel the intention in every detail. If you’re seeking a powerful, well-held experience - this is a place you can trust completely.
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Christopher Taylor
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Amazing experience.. Levi is awesome and the support staff is incredible.. the food was divine.. Cant say enough great things about it.. I will be back for sure.
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A L profile picture
A L
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I found Iboga through Joe Rogan's podcast last year June ish and everything in me immediately knew, that I had to do it. After some research I found Levi and his team from Iboga Wellness Center and I'm beyond grateful I did. I had no previous experience with plant medicine and decided straight away to go with the strongest, most powerful and most effective one (in my opinion), bc why not ? My first experience was rough (by far not everyone had such a rough experience as I did. There was a lot of trauma to clear from my body and I've always been sensitive to any substance, including alcohol). Both ceremonies were pretty hard for me (but urgently needed). The nausea and purging, the anxiety and depression on discovery day... Iboga needed to detox my mind, soul and body pretty heavy. All these emotions and experiences are normal as I know now. But boy, was it hard then. When you're in the thick of it, you're seriously asking yourself, why you're doing this to yourself lol At least I did. But Levi and the team were absolutely amazing. They supported and guided me so well throughout the whole process. I felt safe and well taken care of at any moment. A very kind nurse was present during and after ceremonies, the chef prepared nourishing and delicious meals for us (you could taste the love) and the team provided us with wisdom and guidance, but also enough space, when we needed it. The house where we stayed was great too (it's surrounded by nature all around) and the sweetest dog named Coco was running around, giving comfort to anyone who needs it. Doing Iboga is life changing. For me and many others it sure was. The blockages I resolved and changes that happened ever since blow my mind. My life hasn't been the same and it changed MASSIVELY for the better. BUT doing Iboga can be a very deep and emotional experience. Which is why you want to do it with the right provider. I went to IWC twice and resolved deep-rooted problems, that otherwise would have taken me 10 years of therapy. Levi and his team made this possible and as good an experience as it can get. I fully recommend them to anyone, who thinks of doing Iboga and changing their life for the better. Lots of love from Germany Annette
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Michaela Synkova
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If you’re looking for a sign to book your retreat at Iboga Wellness Center - THIS IS YOUR SIGN. Truly, you won’t find a better place to connect with the medicine and begin your transformation journey. Levi and his team offer incredible, attentive support, and the venue provides everything you could possibly need, and more. The rooms are spacious, with large, comfortable beds and white noise devices to support restful sleep. Free laundry is also available, which is a thoughtful touch. The food, prepared by the amazing chef Cynthia, is fresh, delicious, and nourishing (with meat, vegetarian and vegan options). The property itself is stunning - a lush garden filled with a wide variety of plants and plenty of hammocks where you can relax, recharge, and reflect. It’s a truly beautiful piece of land with a powerful healing energy. And cute chickens and dogs. :) With over 13 years of experience, Levi leads a strong team of knowledgeable healers, each bringing their own unique gifts. You are cared for around the clock. The Iboga experience itself is deeply impactful. The entire week of the retreat is thoughtfully designed to support real inner work, and the environment feels safe, supportive, and genuinely caring from start to finish. I left feeling more aligned, clear, and connected to myself. I feel so much gratitude to the medicine, Levi, and his entire team. 11/10, I will be back! :)
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Logan Herlihy
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This was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I tried not to go in with crazy expectations, but it surpassed all of them. If you have felt you've been lead here, stop looking and do it. This is the medicine you need. Aside from the life changing experience, the property is beautiful, the people are wonderful and the food is spectacular. Again I can't stress enough, if Iboga has called you here, please just follow your intuition and go. You will not be disappointed and you will be getting EXACTLY what you need and more.
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Jasmine
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I cannot recommend the Iboga Wellness Center enough! Levi is so caring and knowledgeable and really goes above and beyond to support you through the process. The rest of the staff is great as well! They provided support after I left and was integrating my experiences. My work with the medicine Iboga itself has been incredibly transformative and life-changing.
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brigitte tawa
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Just came back from my first Iboga retreat with IWC. This was an unforgettable experience which I recommend highly to anyone in search of their real path in life and meaning. Iboga plant is truly a treasure on this planet and should be respected highly. At IWC the whole team is caring , present, available and teach you how to use and receive Iboga in the most respectful way . They support each guest with a lot of attention and each of them have something different to offer you in your journey there. Levi and his wife are extraordinary and highly knowledgeable on how to use and understand the power of Iboga. I know my journey just started with it and I am exited on what is waiting for me ahead. It is so wonderful to know that this planet has exactly what we need to perfect our journey here and Iboga is definitely a super tool. The center is located on a gorgeous land and the energy there is amazing . You would have the experience of a life time and you might even dive in it again . I really consider coming back sometimes . In our times, place like IWC are extremely needed to heal us and the planet . Basse!
bwiti okume torche art

Who we are

We are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for your Iboga journey. Our mission is to help you unlock your inner potential, heal past traumas, and step into a life of clarity and purpose. Our lead iboga healer is Levi Barker who has been working with ibogo for 15+ years and is regarded as an expert in the field of Iboga.

Located in Costa Rica’s lush Southern region, we are the longest-running Iboga retreat center in the Western Hemisphere. For the past 10 years we have helped 1600+ people improve their lives. We also do retreats in other parts of the world.

The main retreat house has 8 bedrooms, located on 6 acres full of mountain views. The property is full of fruit trees and lush grounds and the perfect place to get balanced.

tabernanthe iboga botanical illustration showing leaves fruit flowers and roots

What is Iboga and what is it used for?

Iboga root bark is a powerful natural plant medicine derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, and has been traditionally used for spiritual and healing purposes. In recent years, it has gained attention for its potential benefits in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Users also report significant physical healing for a variety of conditions.

Users report profound experiences that bring clarity and a renewed sense of direction in life. This transformative process helps individuals break free from negative thought patterns and develop healthier, more positive habits. The introspective journey facilitated by Iboga allows for deep emotional healing and a clearer understanding of one’s path forward.

Scientific studies have highlighted Iboga’s neurogenic properties, particularly its ability to promote neurogenesis and the expression of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF). Neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons, is crucial for learning new habits and fostering positive changes in thinking. By enhancing neurogenesis, Iboga can help individuals overcome depression and other mental health challenges, facilitating recovery and personal growth. The increased GDNF expression further supports neural health and resilience, reinforcing Iboga’s potential as a powerful tool for mental and emotional healing.

Learn about the science of iboga

Users have found Iboga is helpful for the following issues

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Substance & Non Substance Addictions

  • Mental Clarity and Cognitive Enhancement

  • Emotional Healing and Trauma Processing

  • Spiritual and Personal Growth / Peak Performance

  • Behavioral Change and Habit Interruption

  • Neuroplasticity, Brain Health & TBI injuries

  • Sleep Quality and Patterns

Iboga retreats offer profound benefits for individuals grappling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The powerful psychoactive properties of iboga can facilitate deep introspection and emotional release, helping individuals uncover and process underlying causes of their mental health struggles. This can lead to significant reductions in depressive and anxious symptoms, as well as a decrease in PTSD-related flashbacks and hypervigilance. The retreat setting, often designed to provide a nurturing and supportive environment, further enhances the healing process by offering a safe space for participants to explore and resolve their emotional pain.

For those struggling with non-substance addictions such as internet, sex, eating disorders iboga retreats can be transformative. Iboga may reset neural pathways associated with mental addiction, reducing cravings. This neuroplasticity effect helps break dependency cycles. Our retreats provide deep life coaching, addressing both physical and psychological aspects, promoting lasting behavioral change. *Please note we do not do any acute drug detoxification, treat or diagnose any condition, this content is informational only  Many in todays age have an internet addiction, sex or porn addiction, overeating, bulimia but the worst the habit of negative thoughts and negative beliefs we create about selves.

Beyond specific mental health issues, iboga retreats may enhance mental clarity, cognitive function, and emotional healing, crucial for personal growth and peak performance. Participants frequently report improved mental acuity and renewed motivation. The introspective nature of iboga fosters profound spiritual insights and deeper self-understanding. Additionally, the process aids in trauma processing and emotional healing, improving sleep quality. By enhancing brain health and encouraging neuroplasticity, iboga can support our overall well-being and can  has been shown to aid recovery from traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Pura Vida and Bassé
Pure Life (Spanish) and Truth (Bwiti)

Iboga vs ibogaine, what’s the difference

iboga plant with fruit
Iboga Ibogaine
Natural plant based medicine Extracted or Synthesized
Whole being healing uses Focus – opiate addiction
Contains 30+ alkaloids 1 Alkaloid
Longer 16-30 hours Duration 8-16 hours
Individually dosed Dosed on body weight
Curated setting Medical procedure

At Iboga Wellness Center, we exclusively use Iboga root bark and its Total Alkaloid (TA) extracts rather than Ibogaine, which is typically utilized in drug detox programs.

Key Differences: Ibogaine is a single, isolated alkaloid from the Iboga root. In contrast, TA and root bark contain Ibogaine plus 30+ other healing alkaloids. These additional alkaloids are crucial for a comprehensive psycho-spiritual journey, maintaining the full spirit and healing power of the Iboga plant.

While Ibogaine is effective for physical detox, Iboga root bark and TA extracts provide both physical and spiritual cleansing. The iboga medicine we use is sustainably grown and ceremonially harvested in the jungles of West Central Africa and we ensure it is of the best quality and sustainably harvested.

Without them, the spirit of the plant is no longer in its whole form, and cannot be accessed fully.

ibogaine molecule design
bwiti dancer with torch art

But we recognize the need for balance. Our sessions have been tailored to merge ancient traditions with the needs of those living in today’s modern world. The blending of the Bwiti tradition with a Western awareness makes for a very consistent  success rate. At our center, guests can enjoy rich comforts and amenities, as well as personal guidance and conscious, whole-being nourishment throughout the retreat. This cultural mergence is an approach to healing that nurtures a full reset, giving guests the space and support to develop a clear understanding of who they are, determine what they want from their lives, and leave with the proper tools for making changes.

Our Iboga Ceremony

Our plant medicine retreat combines the ancient wisdom of the Bwiti people for people with modern Western problems.

Implementing the traditional African wisdom teachings of the Bwiti is a crucial part of our practice. The sharing of their knowledge — which has been passed down for generations as an oral tradition and cannot be found in books — provides guests with tools to master the mind and live with purpose.

bwiti initiation retreat iboga wellness center
iboga wellness amenities

8 Day Psycho-Spiritual Iboga Retreat Overview

  • Nurturing, organic meals prepared with love by our onsite chef, who is able to meet all dietary needs and requests (there are no dietary or fasting requirements leading up to our retreat)

  • Bwiti wisdom teachings are shared by providers during a welcome ceremony, at fireside chats, and throughout the week

  • A private consultation with a provider and staff is held prior to ceremony to discuss intentions, questions, and the journey itself

  • Two Iboga ceremonies (held on days two and five of our 8-day retreat)

  • A guided journey during the Iboga ceremony, led by one of our providers

  • Onsite massage and nature walks (optional)

  • A spiritual shower and cleansing ceremony is held to release what no longer serves us, and in its space invite what we want into being

  • Two offsite excursions

  • Closing talks and integration discussions to assist your healing process upon departure

  • Follow-up integration phone calls with one of our providers after you return home

Iboga Wellness Center

Benefits of Iboga

The benefits of Iboga have no boundaries. Each healing is unique and perfect, tailored to what a person has been through and how they need to experience healing in order to move past their trauma. It is common for guests to notice:

  • A deep and lasting spiritual transformation

  • A sense of inner peace

  • An objective discovery of the root cause of pain or trauma, which moves into acceptance, release, and actualized healing

  • A full body/mind/spirit reset that can eliminate the need for substances, negative behavioral and thought patterns, conditioned beliefs, unhealthy addictions (gambling, pornography, eating disorders, internet dependency and doom scrolling, etc.)

  • A discovery of the underlying causes of depressionPTSD or anxiety, acceptance and release, and a healing of the mind, which results in emotional freedom

  • For spiritual seekers, Iboga has the ability to reconnect us to our souls and guide us into our own personal spiritual discovery.

beach art

We love to connect directly with those who are interested in working with this medicine. Please contact us if you have any questions about the process, our schedule, our center, or anything related to iboga. We never pressure anyone on this important decision. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you on life’s journey!

Iboga Wellness Center

FAQ about our iboga retreat

Is Iboga Safe?
Safety is our top priority. We conduct medical screenings for each person. If you are curious if Iboga is right for you, please get in touch. Approximately 99.99%+ of iboga or ibogaine-related deaths occur during ibogaine drug detox procedures rather than during psycho-spiritual retreats. Iboga Wellness Center has never had a true medical emergency at one of our retreats. Iboga Wellness Center is not aware of any death where iboga only was involved in a psycho-spiritual context.

How Do I Prepare?
Preparing for an Iboga retreat involves mental, physical, and emotional readiness. We provide guidance to ensure you are prepared. At the same time, no one is ever in the perfect place for iboga. Perfection can be the enemy of action. Sometimes we have to take action in the moment to make our life better.
We guide everyone on how to prepare with regards to their plant medicine experience at our retreat and also logistically.

What if I am inexperienced with plant medicines?
It’s perfectly fine if you have never had any prior experience with plant medicines. At Iboga Wellness Center, we welcome individuals from all backgrounds, including those who are new to plant medicine. Our experienced facilitators will guide you through every step of the Iboga journey, ensuring you feel safe, supported, and well-informed. We provide comprehensive preparation and integration support to help you make the most of your experience. Whether you are seeking healing, personal growth, or spiritual insight, our team is here to assist you in your transformative journey with Iboga.

Is Iboga a scary experience?
It is very uncommon to actually feel scared during an Iboga experience. While Iboga is not typically a pleasant experience, it is important to note that an Iboga experience  is NOT more than we can handle. The process involves a significant amount of healing in a short period of time, so naturally, things are going to be moving within us. When they are moving, we become aware of these changes. This awareness can be intense, but it is part of the profound healing journey. At Iboga Wellness Center, our experienced facilitators are here to support you throughout the process, ensuring a safe and transformative experience.

At it’s core Iboga is an earth based medicine, and deals with life on earth. Other medicines deal with other dimensions/worlds, whereas Iboga is focused on this life. During an Iboga experience we always know who we are, where we are at and what is happening around us. We don’t lose touch with reality.

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