Alternative to Avalon - traces of the Amazon in Europe
Avalon has made plant medicine accessible in Europe, combining sacred medicines like ayahuasca with a strong integration program
Side-by-Side Comparison between Avalon and Harmonica Retreat
Avalon or Harmonica Retreat: Rotating traditions in Barcelona and Ibiza or consistent Kamsá Biyá tradition at a top rated Ayahuasca Retreat close Medellín?
Below we break down the key differences — from tradition consistency and medicines offered to medical support and price.
| Avalon | Harmonica Retreat | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Barcelona & Ibiza, Spain | Colombia, near Medellín |
| Traditions | Multiple rotating (Colombia, Brazil, Peru) | Kamsá Biyá (Colombian yagé) — consistent |
| Medicines offered | Ayahuasca, mushrooms, Bufo, San Pedro, rapé | Yagé only |
| Group size | Max 21 guests | Max 12 guests |
| Facilitator ratio | ~25 team members per retreat | Dedicated roles throughout |
| Medical staff | Medical advisor | Kevin Zapata, MD (on-site physician) |
| Setting | 4-star boutique hotel, pools & sauna | Mountain setting near Medellín |
| Research affiliation | ICEERS guidelines | Imperial College London |
| Price (entry) | 1700 USD for similar offering | From $545 |
- European accessibility - located in Spain making it the most logistically straightforward option for European participants
- Variety of medicines and tradition - Working with different ancestral traditions from Brazil, Peru and Colombia
- Premium setting - — a charming rustic 4-star boutique hotel
- High facilitator ratio - a team of approximately 25 people supports a maximum of 21 participants, creating a nearly one-to-one support structure
- Variety of retreat types - beyond ayahuasca, Avalon offers mushroom ceremonies, rapé evenings, Bufo sessions, and holotropic breathwork
- Medical advisory - the team includes a medical advisor and follows many of the safety guidelines recommended by ICEERS
A note before you read on...
Worth saying clearly: this comparison is written by Harmonica Retreat, so read it with that in mind. We’ve tried to present Avalon fairly — they’ve built something genuinely impressive. Our aim isn’t to convince you Harmonica is the better choice. It’s to give you an honest enough picture that you can figure that out for yourself.
Avalon's Reviews — What their Reputation Says:
Avalon has built a strong review profile across multiple platforms, with guests consistently highlighting the warmth of the team, the beauty of the setting, the quality of the shamans, and the depth of the integration support. For a European-based center this is a genuinely impressive track record.
- Avalon on Retreat Guru (link)
- Avalon on Google Reviews (link)
- Reddit — search “Avalon ayahuasca” on r/ayahuasca (link)
- TripAdvisor (link)
- Aya Advisor Profile (link)
One piece of advice: pay particular attention to the 3 and 4-star reviews. They tend to offer the most balanced and honest picture.
Why People Look for Alternatives to Avalon
Despite Avalon’s strong reputation, there are genuine reasons someone might explore alternatives:
- Continuity of tradition - Avalon works with rotating shamans from multiple lineages across different retreat dates.
- Setting - a 4-star boutique hotel with pools, sauna, and room service is beautiful, but not everyone is looking for that level of comfort alongside ceremony.
- Price - European operating costs are reflected in the pricing, which places Avalon at the higher end of the market for retreat duration
- Wanting to travel to South America - going to the origin of these plant medicines
- Mixing of medicines - Avalon follows ICEERS recommendations, yet many belief that each medicine needs it's unique container.
Why Harmonica Retreat Is a Popular Alternative to Avalon
Here is what tends to matter most to people who choose Harmonica:
- Intimate group sizes - max 12 participants
- Medical screening and supervision
- Traditional ceremonies led by Yagecero Sergio Henao with 16+ years of experience (Colombian Yagé tradition)
- Track record over 1000+ participants hosted, 250 verified 5 star reviews
- Price Point starting at 545 USD for a weekend retreat with 1350 USD for a one week retreat, a combination of affordability and quality you won't find elsewhere.
- Integration Support free monthly online community calls for ongoing support
It’s genuinely great that Avalon makes plant medicine accessible in Europe. The traditions they work with — Huni Kuin, Yawanawa, Kamentsa, Cofán, Sapara — are real and respected lineages, and the level of care they put into the experience is clear.
What I’d personally note is the variety. Rotating shamans from different traditions across different retreat dates means you get breadth — but potentially at the cost of depth and continuity. My belief is that working with one tradition consistently, and building a relationship with the medicine over time, creates something that variety cannot replace.
If you are called to do the work in Europe, Avalon is a great place to start. If you feel called to go to the source — to sit with yagé in Colombia, in the tradition where it belongs — Harmonica is worth exploring. And if you’re comparing European options specifically, APL Journeys in Spain is also worth looking at.
- You want to do the work in Europe without travelling to South America
- Variety of traditions and medicines across different retreats appeals to you
- A premium, comfortable European setting r
- You feel called to go to the source — Colombia, the homeland of the yagé tradition
- Consistency of tradition and the same healer across your retreat matters to you
- Accessible pricing and intimate group sizes are important to your decision
Free 30 minute consultation with our lead female facilitator
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WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE CALL:
1.Who you are and what draws you to Ayahuasca
2. Whether Ayahuasca feels right for you now
3. What you’re looking for in a retreat
4. Any questions about Ayahuasca or our retreats
