Economic Impact of the Ayahuasca Retreat Ecosystem in Costa Rica

A study by Dr. Leiner Vargas Alfaro of the National University of Costa Rica, in collaboration with ICEERS, estimates that ayahuasca retreat centers in Costa Rica welcome more than 45,000 people a year, creating more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs that contribute more than $40 million annually to the country’s GDP: an unprecedented snapshot of a sector that is growing without its own regulatory framework.