23 Mycological retreats

Mycological retreats

All-inclusive resorts are offering an unexpected draw: guided psychedelic trips.

At Soltara Healing Center, an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica, stays are built around ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea, used under the guidance of native Shipibo healers. Silo Wellness in Jamaica offers psilocybin-assisted ceremonies that are individually tailored to the group or individual. And at psilocybin wellness retreat MycoMeditations in Jamaica, guests can enjoy a luxurious week-long trip with options for guided psychedelic ceremonies for $10,500. MycoMeditations expanded its packages in June 2021 to include Companions Retreats for friends and family, to “improve their mental, emotional and spiritual health as a unit,” says Justin Townsend, MycoMeditation's CEO and lead facilitator.

The practice is even making its way into mainstream pop culture. Gwyneth Paltrow famously participated in a psychedelic retreat in the first episode of her Netflix show, The Goop Lab. More recently, it was also the basis of Hulu’s show Nine Perfect Strangers.

Douglas Gordon, CEO of Silo Wellness, told Bloomberg that his company’s retreats reflect the changing notions of luxury. “Real luxury is being able to wear flip-flops to dinner,” he said. “It’s not necessarily black tie, you know? It’s about an authentic experience. That’s the type of person we want to attract, someone who puts value into experiences.”

Why it’s interesting Wellness tourism and luxury travel continue to overlap as luxury travelers seek not just physical escape and creature comforts, but also a deep mental and psychological reset.