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Healing Iboga Retreat

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.

* 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 events.

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
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, technology, 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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