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Rythmia vs Soltara: price, nights, ceremonies, group size, medical cover and screening
Rythmia publishes one 7-night ayahuasca programme from $4,900 at Hacienda Pinilla in Guanacaste. Soltara publishes 5, 7 and 12 night retreats from $3,975 at two sites in Puntarenas, Playa Blanca and Scarlet Valley. This page sets them side by side from what each publishes, and declares no winner.
Figures computed from the directory's rows, read 29 Oct 2026. Every fact links to its source.
Side by side
| Rythmia | Soltara | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Hacienda Pinilla, near Playa Avellanas and Tamarindo, Guanacaste (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | Playa Blanca and Scarlet Valley, Puntarenas (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Getting there | Fly into Liberia (LIR), about an hour away; Rythmia's shuttle is included when you pay in full at booking (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | Fly into San Jose (SJO), a night at the Fairfield hotel, then a group shuttle on day 1 (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Programmes and price | 7 nights from $4,900, a shared room; private rooms and 14 nights on request (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026; Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | 5 nights from $3,975, 3 ceremonies; 7 nights from $4,275, 4 ceremonies; 12 nights from $6,900, up to 7 ceremonies (Playa Blanca only); price varies by accommodation tier (Soltara, own site, 28 Oct 2026) |
| Price per night, for a week | $700 | $611 |
| Ceremonies | 4 in 7 nights, each optional; one is a yage ceremony (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026; Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | 3 in 5 nights, 4 in 7 nights, up to 7 in 12 nights (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Group size | Usually 30 to 40 in ceremony, 80 or more a couple of times a year, as Rythmia told Peyote.com in October 2026 | An average of 15 guests, a maximum of 20 to 22 (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Who leads ceremonies | A resident team of shamans and healers, each at Rythmia for five years or more (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | Shipibo healers from the Peruvian Amazon, with facilitators (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Medical cover, in its own words | Doctors, registered nurses and emergency technicians on site 24 hours a day (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | “We have an onsite clinic and medical permit through the Costa Rican Ministry of Health”, with therapists, medical advisors and local doctors (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Screening | A written medical questionnaire on booking, reviewed by the clinical team, then an evaluation by staff physicians on arrival (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | A questionnaire at registration, a one-to-one intake call and any follow-up needed (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026) |
| Antidepressants | A cessation period with a taper; its FAQ lists 30 days for all antidepressants and antipsychotics (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026) | “Most places feel that it is safer to stop using SSRIS 2 to 4 weeks before” (Soltara, own site, 3 Oct 2026) |
| Public record on Peyote.com | No entries under the policy | No entries under the policy |
| Commission to Peyote.com | Peyote.com may earn a commission if you book | None |
Price per night is the starting price for the 7-night stay divided by 7. The two prices do not buy the same thing: Rythmia's is for a shared room and includes its Liberia shuttle when you pay in full; Soltara's varies by room tier and its shuttle runs from San Jose. Rythmia's pricing page also says money for its ceremonies is paid on site to a third party, without an amount (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026). The public record line follows Peyote.com's public record policy, the same for every centre; no entry does not mean nothing has happened.
Who each may suit
From what each centre publishes, not from a visit:
- Length of stay. Soltara publishes 5, 7 and 12 night retreats (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026). Rythmia publishes 7 nights, with 14 on request (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026).
- Group size. Soltara says its groups average 15 (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026). Rythmia's usual ceremony is two to three times that. Rythmia told us it has seen better outcomes with larger groups, its own view rather than a published finding.
- Medical staff. Rythmia says doctors, nurses and emergency technicians are on site around the clock and names its staffing (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026). Soltara describes an onsite clinic and local doctors (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026). Ask each what cover there is during ceremonies, at night.
- Tradition. Soltara's ceremonies are led by Shipibo healers from Peru (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026). Rythmia's are led by its resident team, and one of its four ceremonies is yage (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026).
- Travel. Rythmia's nearest airport is Liberia (Rythmia, own site, 29 Oct 2026); Soltara's shuttle leaves from San Jose (Soltara, own site, 29 Oct 2026).
Safety, whichever you choose
Both centres serve ayahuasca, and the same interactions apply at both. Combining it with an SSRI or another serotonergic medicine can cause serotonin syndrome, and a personal or family history of psychosis is a reason for caution. Both centres ask about antidepressants. Stopping one is a decision for the doctor who prescribed it, never for a retreat or for us.
Serotonin syndrome with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugsSerious risk
The MAO-inhibiting harmala alkaloids in ayahuasca combined with SSRI antidepressants may induce a serotonin syndrome with a potentially grave outcome. ICEERS states that combining MAOIs with SSRIs or other serotonergic medications is contraindicated. (Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1998; ICEERS, 2026)
Other contraindicated medicines and supplementsSerious risk
ICEERS lists antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, drugs metabolised by certain cytochrome enzymes, and any medication that interacts with MAO (including MAO inhibitors) as potentially contraindicated, and names St John's wort and Ginkgo biloba as contraindicated herbal supplements. It advises avoiding alcohol, stimulants, opioids and other drugs in the days or weeks before a session. (ICEERS, 2018)
Stopping medication before a ceremonySerious risk
ICEERS says contraindicated medications such as certain antidepressants may need to be stopped at least two weeks before a session, but only under strict medical supervision because abruptly stopping psychiatric medication can be dangerous. It also warns that stopping medication for a chronic illness to take ayahuasca can itself be dangerous. (ICEERS, 2018)
Blood pressure and heart conditionsWorth knowing
In a placebo-controlled trial, diastolic blood pressure rose significantly at the high ayahuasca dose (9 mm Hg at 75 minutes), while systolic pressure and heart rate rose moderately and non-significantly. ICEERS advises that people with serious cardiovascular conditions should not take ayahuasca. (Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2003; ICEERS, 2018)
Psychosis and personal or family psychiatric historySerious risk
A systematic review found case reports of psychotic episodes after ayahuasca or DMT, several in people with a personal or possibly family history of psychosis or mania, and concluded that people with a personal or family history of any psychotic illness or non-psychotic mania should avoid hallucinogens. ICEERS describes ayahuasca as contraindicated for people with severe psychiatric disorders, particularly those prone to psychosis. (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2017; ICEERS, 2026; ICEERS, 2018)
Ayahuasca and antidepressants: what the sources say · Screening questions to ask a centre
The law
Both are in Costa Rica, where ayahuasca is tolerated rather than authorised. The guide to Rythmia's permit and the law sets out the detail.
- Ley 8204 is Costa Rica's framework law on narcotics, psychotropic substances, unauthorised drugs and related activities. It is administered with the Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas. (Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas, current page; Transnational Institute (copy of statute), 2001)
- On 27 January 2025 the Ministerio de Salud issued a health warning. It said ayahuasca and ibogaine products lack sanitary registration and are not authorised for therapeutic use, that DMT is on the international and national lists of controlled substances, that any product based on ayahuasca or ibogaine must comply with national control and registration rules, and it advised against advertising them. (Ministerio de Salud de Costa Rica, 27 Jan 2025)
- Writing in La Republica on 5 February 2025, lawyer Herman Duarte argued that neither Banisteriopsis caapi nor Psychotria viridis is on the prohibited lists behind Costa Rican drug law, and called for explicit regulation of retreat centres, which he says currently operate in a legal gap. (La Republica (Costa Rica), 5 Feb 2025)
Next
Read both profiles in full: Soltara and Rythmia. Every other Costa Rica centre is in the side-by-side comparison.
Questions and answers
- Which is cheaper, Rythmia or Soltara?
- For a week, Soltara's 7-night retreat starts at $4,275 ($611 a night) and Rythmia's 7-night programme at $4,900 ($700 a night), each as published on its own site in October 2026. Rythmia's price is for a shared room; Soltara's varies by accommodation tier. What each includes differs, including airport transfers.
- Which has smaller groups, Rythmia or Soltara?
- Soltara says its groups average 15 guests, with a maximum of 20 to 22. Rythmia told Peyote.com in October 2026 that its ceremonies usually have 30 to 40 guests, with 80 or more a couple of times a year, and that it has seen better outcomes with larger groups.
- Do Rythmia and Soltara have medical staff?
- Rythmia's FAQ says doctors, registered nurses and emergency technicians are on site 24 hours a day. Soltara's home page says it works with therapists, medical advisors and local doctors, and has an onsite clinic and a medical permit through the Costa Rican Ministry of Health. Both are the centres' own statements; Peyote.com has not inspected either.
- Which airport do I fly into for Rythmia and for Soltara?
- Rythmia says to fly into Liberia (LIR), about an hour away, and that its shuttle is included when you pay in full at booking. Soltara says guests fly into San Jose (SJO), stay the night before at the Fairfield hotel, and take a group shuttle on day 1.
- Do Rythmia or Soltara have a public record on Peyote.com?
- No. Neither profile has an entry under Peyote.com's public record policy, which lists deaths in care, regulator actions in force, criminal charges, court findings and credible published allegations from the last three years. No entry does not mean nothing has happened.
- Does Peyote.com earn money from Rythmia or Soltara?
- Peyote.com is in Rythmia's affiliate programme and may earn a commission if you book through our links. That never changes Rythmia's public record or the order of any list on this site. Peyote.com earns nothing from Soltara.