How much economic impact does the ecosystem of ayahuasca retreat centers in Costa Rica actually have? Until now, no one knew for sure. A new report prepared by Dr. Leiner Vargas Alfaro, a professor at the International Center for Economic Policy (CINPE) at the National University, in collaboration with researcher Raquel Blanco, offers the first systematic analysis of this question.
The study surveyed 32 of the approximately sixty centers currently operating in the country, supplementing the data with interviews with local authorities, community leaders, and ecotourism experts, as well as field visits to four centers selected as case studies.
Employment and impact on GDP
The 32 centers surveyed generate 518 direct jobs, 68% of which are formal and full-time. By extrapolating this proportion to the sector as a whole, the report estimates that more than 5,000 Costa Rican families depend on the direct employment generated by these centers, and that — applying the indirect employment multiplier commonly used in tourism studies — the total number of jobs supported by the ecosystem exceeds 13,000. It is worth noting that most of these jobs are concentrated in rural areas, where creating new jobs is more difficult, and that women make up a large proportion of the workforce, which contributes significantly to the local economy in less developed regions.
In terms of revenue, the surveyed centers collectively generate $14.4 million annually. Extrapolated to the entire sector, their contribution to the national GDP could range between $35 million and $40 million per year — a figure equivalent to 20% of the coffee industry’s value added, according to data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
A measurable environmental commitment
Beyond the economic aspects, the study documents a remarkable commitment to the environment: 96.88% of the centers surveyed report implementing sustainable practices, and collectively they protect an estimated area of 5,000 hectares—an area comparable to that of Tenorio Volcano National Park—primarily consisting of tropical forest and other habitats of high ecological value.
The report also highlights active partnerships with local communities: 38% of the centers collaborate with indigenous communities and 19% with educational institutions, on initiatives ranging from joint reforestation to support for cultural and land-reclamation projects.
Costa Rica does not yet have specific regulations for this type of center. Even so, the study finds high levels of self-imposed standards regarding safety: 96.55% of the centers have trained facilitators, 93.10% screen participants, and 89.66% offer post-retreat integration support.
Opinions on potential government regulation are divided, although most centers favor forms of sector-based self-regulation over direct government intervention.
The report does not shy away from the tensions highlighted by the centers themselves: concerns about noise, water usage, and the risk that these spaces might create a “bubble” that alienates visitors from the local community. According to the study itself, these challenges are shared with other tourist destinations across the country and reflect an ecosystem that is still in the process of consolidation.
A necessary conversation for the future?
These figures are encouraging, but they do not settle the debate. Recent years have brought a series of news reports about problems and accidents in the sector, including one fatality — linked to the use of iboga, not ayahuasca — at a Costa Rican retreat center, which has highlighted the urgency of moving toward common standards.
The report itself notes that regulating the sector could not only lead to safer practices for participants but also provide the legal certainty that investors in the sector are currently seeking. Under this scenario, the sector’s estimated growth — a fivefold increase in its installed capacity — would translate into nearly 65,000 jobs and more than $200 million in annual revenue.
Costa Rica would not be walking this path alone: neighboring countries such as Jamaica never went so far as to ban psilocybin — the psychoactive component of mushrooms — which has allowed an industry of psychedelic retreats to flourish there under a legal vacuum similar to Costa Rica’s. In the absence of state regulations, the Jamaican industry itself is already working to organize itself around common standards. With an already established and growing ecosystem, Costa Rica is in a prime position to take it a step further and become a global leader in a sector that, sooner or later, will have to choose between self-regulation and its own legal framework.
For ICEERS, this research comes at a pivotal moment: it provides concrete data for a debate — on how to regulate, or self-regulate, spaces where traditionally used plants are worked with — that until now has been based almost entirely on perceptions. The research team will present the study’s main findings at the 2026 World Ayahuasca Forum, to be held September 11–13 in Girona.
To download the study’s executive summary about the economic impact of the ayahuasca retreat ecosystem in Costa Rica, please provide your name and email address.
The full report, including methodological details and data broken down by category, will be available upon request by the end of 2026.