In practice, yes. Ceremonies operate openly. Legality alone does not make a center safe.
The short answer: yes, in practice. Ecuador does not criminalize plant medicines the way the United States or the United Kingdom do. Ayahuasca ceremonies operate openly in Quito and across the country, and psilocybin mushrooms are used in recognized therapeutic settings. No law regulates retreat centers.
No state agency certifies who may serve medicine. Your real protections are the reputation of the center, the depth of the screening, and the experience of the facilitators.
So ask before you book: who leads the ceremonies and for how long? Is there a medical screening conversation? Is a sober facilitator present through the whole night? What is the plan if someone needs help? A center that welcomes these questions takes you seriously.
One more thing travelers miss: coming to Ecuador for ceremony is legal and common. Taking anything home with you is not. The medicine stays in Ecuador.
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