TANDAVA RETREATS

A: If cleared through our comprehensive pre-screening, you can be assured it is safe. Prior psychedelic experience is not required—the majority of our participants are first-timers to all psychedelics.

A: You’ll have a discovery call with our team before booking. We’ll discuss your intentions, background, and concerns. If our team believes Tandava is not suited for your needs, we’ll tell you explicitly and offer a full refund. Tandava is well-suited for individuals seeking deep personal healing, relief from depression/anxiety/PTSD/addiction, spiritual growth, medically supervised approach, and comprehensive preparation/integration support.

A: Inhale retreats: Deep personal healing with completely private medicine sessions. Maximum 6 participants. Only you and two facilitators present during your session. Best for privacy and intensive individual attention. Includes 2 medicine sessions. Quintessence retreats: Group ceremonial experiences where participants journey one at a time while the group holds sacred space. Maximum 12 participants. Best for experienced participants, aspiring practitioners, and those seeking community. Includes 3 medicine sessions. Both include comprehensive preparation, integration, and all amenities.

A: While everyone’s experience is unique, “non-duality” and “oneness” are common threads. Many participants report profound sense of unity and interconnectedness, temporary dissolution of ego boundaries, deep somatic and emotional release, mystical or transcendent states of consciousness, feelings of peace, love, and acceptance, and ineffable experiences beyond words. The active experience typically lasts 15-45 minutes, with gentle return over 30-60 minutes.

A: While we cannot claim 5-MeO-DMT is curative, research and extensive anecdotal evidence suggest this medicine can be a powerful healing tool. Studies show significant symptom reductions, particularly with proper preparation and integration. Many participants report profound relief and lasting positive changes. We encourage releasing expectations and setting intentions instead. While we cannot guarantee symptom elimination, we’re confident in the safe container we provide for deep self-exploration combined with thorough integration.

A: This depends on case-by-case evaluation during pre-screening. Certain medications require washout periods:

• SSRIs: Minimum 4-6 weeks off medication
• MAOIs: Minimum 4 weeks off medication
• Lithium: Typically contraindicated; consult medical team
• Benzodiazepines: Careful taper needed

Never discontinue medication without consulting your prescribing physician. Our medical team works with you and your doctor to determine safe timing.

A: Peer-reviewed clinical studies establish 5-MeO-DMT safety in controlled settings. It’s extremely short-acting (minutes, not hours), and you’re surrounded by trained professionals throughout. If pre-screening suggests 5-MeO-DMT may not be safe, our team immediately refunds your deposit and discusses alternative therapies. Most common risks: intense emotional/physical sensations during experience, temporary anxiety or confusion, challenging psychological content, rare brief reactivations afterward. All manageable with proper support we provide throughout your journey.

A: Aspiration (inhaling substances into the lungs) is a known risk unique to 5-MeO-DMT due to potential for salivation and the need to remain lying down during the experience. We prevent aspiration through proper positioning during medicine administration, facilitators trained in aspiration prevention, and continuous monitoring throughout session.

A: All medicine sessions are facilitated by Tandava’s co-founders Joel and Victoria, along with other experienced team facilitators. You’ll have two facilitators present during your session who remain throughout the entire experience. You’ll meet your facilitators during preparation calls before arrival and build trust and rapport before your medicine session.

A: All Tandava facilitators have extensive training in 5-MeO-DMT facilitation, hundreds of medicine sessions facilitated, training in trauma-informed care, certified first-aid response, experience with various therapeutic modalities, and deep personal practice with the medicine.

A: See the 5-Day Immersive Program section above for complete daily schedule. In brief: mornings begin with gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation, followed by breakfast. Medicine sessions occur late morning/afternoon on designated days. The rest of your time includes integration sessions, workshops, free time, meals, optional activities (yoga, sauna, pool), and evening practices like sound healing. Most time is unstructured, allowing you to do whatever supports your integration—hiking, reading, journaling, connecting with others, or simply resting.

A: See the Accommodation Details section above for complete room descriptions and pricing. All rooms include natural light, shelf space, drawers, hangers, bedside tables, and WiFi. Rooms are designed as sanctuaries for rest and reflection.

A: Yes—see the Meals & Nutrition section above for full details. We accommodate all dietary preferences and restrictions including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, pescatarian, nut allergies, and other specific needs. Simply inform us of dietary requirements during booking process.

A: While both are dimethyltryptamines with similar names and structure, experiences are quite different.

N,N-DMT (often called “DMT”):

• Produces vivid visual landscapes and entities
• Externally oriented visual experience
• Duration: 5-15 minutes
• “Traveling to other dimensions”

5-MeO-DMT:

• Produces “non-dual” state of consciousness
• Minimal visuals; internally focused
• Deep unity, ego dissolution, somatic release
• Duration: 15-45 minutes
• “Merging with source/God/universe”

A: In terms of experience and therapeutic benefits, there’s virtually no difference. The molecule is identical. See Treatment Protocol & Medicine Information section above for full explanation of why Tandava uses only synthetic 5-MeO-DMT.

A: A reactivation is when, after your 5-MeO-DMT experience, you briefly experience a return of sensations similar to the medicine session. May be visual, energetic, emotional, or simply familiar sensation. Reactivations occur in approximately 15-20% of participants, typically within first few nights following initial session, often between 2-4 AM. Usually last few minutes to an hour. While reactivations can be surprising, they are not harmful, not indicative of problems, often integrative and healing, and well-managed with tools we teach. Our integration support specifically prepares you for reactivations and provides guidance if they occur.

A: Integration is making sense of your medicine experience and translating insights into lasting daily life changes. Without integration, profound experiences often fade without creating transformation. With proper integration, insights gained can fundamentally reshape how you live, relate, and experience yourself. Research shows integration is equally important as the medicine experience itself for lasting therapeutic benefit. See Integration Specialist Team section above for full details on what Tandava’s integration includes.

A: Yes. Many participants continue working with their integration specialist beyond initial four weeks. Extended integration packages available and can be discussed with your specialist or Tandava team.

A: Yes. Tandava operates legally in Mexico where 5-MeO-DMT is not a scheduled or controlled substance. All operations are above board and compliant with local regulations. Participants should be aware of 5-MeO-DMT’s legal status in their home country. In many places (including the United States), 5-MeO-DMT is controlled. We do not provide medicine for participants to take home.

A: The medicine (5-MeO-DMT) is provided by a separate third party in Mexico and is paid in cash directly to them during your retreat. This cost is not included in retreat pricing. Our team provides complete information about this process during preparation.

A: Yes. Payment plans can be arranged—contact our team to discuss options. The deposit is always required to secure booking, with remainder paid before or during retreat according to payment plan.

A: You may absolutely share your own experience and photos of yourself. However, please do not share photos of other participants without explicit permission, do not share details about others’ experiences without permission, and maintain confidentiality about anything shared in group settings. We encourage participants to share healing journeys as this helps reduce stigma and brings medicine to others who may benefit.