The Difference Between a Wellness Retreat and a Plant Medicine Retreat

When exploring options for healing and transformation, many people encounter both wellness retreats and plant medicine retreats. While they share similarities, the experiences are very different — and knowing the distinction helps you choose what aligns with your needs.

Wellness retreats focus on practices like yoga, meditation, healthy eating, fitness, and stress reduction. They are designed to help you relax, restore your body, and learn tools for maintaining balance in everyday life. These retreats are excellent for people who want to step away from daily pressures and return with more energy, clarity, and grounded habits.

Plant medicine retreats, on the other hand, go deeper into spiritual and subconscious realms. Guided by trained facilitators and indigenous healers, participants work with sacred medicines such as ayahuasca, San Pedro, or peyote to access profound states of awareness and healing. These retreats often reveal deep insights about past traumas, life purpose, and spiritual connection — creating lasting transformation that goes beyond relaxation.

At Peace Life, we believe both types of retreats serve important roles. In Utah, Natural Worship offers ceremonies that create sacred, legal spaces for communion with plant sacraments. In Peru and Mexico, our retreats with indigenous partners provide authentic plant medicine experiences in their cultural and ecological roots.

Many of our guests find value in combining both paths — beginning with a wellness retreat to restore balance, and later stepping into a plant medicine retreat when ready for deeper exploration. Together, these experiences create a holistic journey of healing and growth.

Helpful Link Suggestions:

• Wellness Retreats Overview

• Plant Medicine Retreats

• Ayahuasca Retreats in Peru

• Natural Worship Plant Medicine in Utah