The Huachuma project
Grounded ceremony. Honest healing. Lifelong integration.
I'm Austin, medicine man and founder behind The Huachuma Project
I'm Austin, founder of The Huachuma Project. The work we do today has grown from years of personal experience, study and a deep respect for Huachuma and the traditions surrounding it. Along the way, one principle has remained constant: our priority has never been to fill every retreat, but to help ensure that the people who join us are genuinely ready for the work.
Rather than seeing myself as someone with all the answers, I see my role as creating a safe and supportive environment where people can engage honestly with their own process. Here, you can expect directness, clarity, care and presence. Our ceremonies are held within a strong and respectful container so that the work can remain focused, grounded and safe. This is not about theatrics, ego or chasing an experience. It is about approaching the medicine with humility and creating the conditions for meaningful self-inquiry and lasting change.
Huachuma is not a quick fix, nor is it a spiritual fireworks show. It is a medicine that can gently strip away illusion and bring you closer to what is real. The medicine may offer insight, but the work of integrating those insights into everyday life belongs to each individual.
You do not need to be perfect, healed or have everything figured out. You simply need to come with sincerity, respect and a willingness to meet yourself honestly. If you are ready for that, you will be welcomed, supported and guided with everything I have to give.
This work has never been about collecting participants or creating extraordinary experiences for their own sake. It is about being of service to those who feel genuinely called to this path. If that is what you are looking for, you are in the right place.
Our Home
The Huachuma Project is rooted within a secluded off-grid valley in the Western Algarve, Southern Portugal. Surrounded by nature and open skies, this retreat space has been intentionally developed over many years to support ceremony, reflection and integration.
After many years of holding ceremonies at retreat centres across Europe, we realised it was time to create a space of our own—one that reflected the way we believe this work should be held. The Huachuma Project has grown from that vision, with every ceremony space, guest area and quiet corner of the valley thoughtfully developed to support both the medicine and the people who come here.
For us, the land is far more than simply the location of our retreats. It forms an integral part of the experience itself, offering an environment that encourages people to disconnect from the demands of everyday life, reconnect with nature and fully immerse themselves in the work. We believe the space that holds a retreat is just as important as the ceremonies themselves.
Located approximately one hour from Faro International Airport and two and a half hours from Lisbon, The Huachuma Project offers the feeling of being immersed in nature while remaining easily accessible for guests travelling from across Europe and beyond.
Our vision
We believe people are not broken and rarely need to be "fixed." More often, they need the time, space and support to reconnect with themselves. Our vision is to continue creating a place where this work can unfold with honesty, responsibility and respect - for the medicine, for one another and for the land that holds it.
Our mission
Our mission is to provide safe, sincere, and carefully held Huachuma retreats for people who feel genuinely called to this work.
We create a strong container through preparation, ceremony, integration, clear boundaries, and ongoing support. Our role is not to fix people or promise transformation, but to offer the conditions where real inner work can happen.
Through ceremony, time on the land, honest guidance, and lifetime integration support, we help participants meet themselves more clearly and return to their lives with greater responsibility, connection, and trust in their own path.
Principles that guide our work
Safety & Integrity
We hold a strong container so guests can feel supported, respected, and able to meet the work honestly.
Honesty & Responsibility
We value directness, sincerity, and each person’s willingness to take responsibility for their own healing and choices.
Preparation Before. Integration After.
We believe the ceremony is only one part of the process. Preparation helps create the foundations for meaningful work, while integration is where insights are gradually translated into everyday life. Our support continues long after the retreat itself has ended.
Respect for the Medicine
Huachuma is not an experience to consume or a shortcut to personal growth. We approach it with humility, respect and a commitment to responsible practice.
Connection With the Land
Our retreats are held close to nature, with respect for the land that supports the work and the people who come here.
More of the THP Family
CHRISTINA is Austin’s partner in life and an important part of The Huachuma Project behind the scenes. She supports the project’s online presence, including this website, as well as much of the social media content that helps share our work with the world.
While Austin facilitates the ceremonies, Christina helps create the welcoming atmosphere that supports guests throughout their stay, both behind the scenes and during the retreat itself.
Maddy is our Belgian Malinois and the newest member of The Huachuma Project family, welcomed to the land in spring 2026.
She is a little whirlwind: full of life, curiosity, and energy. Maddy has become a much-loved part of daily life at The Huachuma Project, often reminding us to slow down, stay present and appreciate the simple moments between the deeper work.
While Maddy is part of daily life on the land, guests are not expected to interact with her, and she is not present in the ceremony space. The retreat container remains calm, focused and carefully held, while Maddy continues to brighten everyday life around the valley.
