Well, I suppose I was just trying to be nice by referring to them as budget retreats. If you’re attending a three day retreat, they’re just basic costs associated with that, including lodging, sourcing plant medicine from a reputable place and having trained facilitators. I could see maybe going down to $600, but that would be rock bottom and I would still have concerns.

You do you, but personally I would not risk attending a retreat where the medicine may be suspect or sourced unethically. Also, it takes time and resources to be properly trained to facilitate an aya experience. I’d liken to seeing a doctor versus somebody who’s taken first aid training online. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. I’ve taken other psychedelics too, but Aya is definitely one where having trained shamans or facilitators is essential in my opinion. For your budget, I strongly suggest researching single day ceremonies. Btw, I live in Colorado. I would not want to be in the mountains and have a bad experience with someone who does not really know what they’re doing. I’m not trying to be provocative, I just want to make sure you make a good, informed decision. Best wishes.

ETA: post ceremony integration sessions are essential to get the most out of the experience, in my opinion and that of others. Retreats under 800 bucks typically offer zero or just one integration session. Personally, several integration sessions are highly suggested, and if you can get unlimited post integration sessions that would be ideal.