The psychedelic movement has exploded into the mainstream over the last several years, with primetime coverage of their potential benefits appearing in every outlet, from the BBC to Fox News to Oprah and ESPN. Recent data suggests that Gen Z favors mushrooms and other psychedelics over drinking, and even the notoriously psychedelic-skeptical Baby Boomer generation has turned to microdosing and plant medicine retreats in lieu of their historically prohibitionist rhetoric.
Though most of the substances that qualify as ‘psychedelic’ are still criminalized in many places around the world, there are many well-known destinations that cater to psychonauts and the psychedelic-curious around the world. As always, it’s important to check local laws and comply with cultural values wherever you are in the world.
Top 10 Psychonaut Destinations
The legality of psychedelics falls into an ambiguous sort of ‘gray area’ in many places. For example, while psilocybin mushrooms are officially illegal in many countries, they are openly advertised and sold at numerous venues in well-known backpacker hubs. Likewise, decriminalization and legalization vary, so be sure to do your research before embarking on a psychedelic journey away from home.
That said, here are the top ten places to visit for psychonauts.
Gili Islands, Indonesia
Gili Trawangan, known as ‘Gili T’ in travelers’ circles, is well-known as a party destination for backpackers and the young at heart. Magic Mushroom shakes are popular here and are also available on surrounding islands.
Veng Viang, Laos
This riverside town nestled amongst the dramatic karst cliffs of (central) Laos is another rite of passage for psychonauts on the Southeast Asian backpacker circuit. Mushroom shakes, in addition to cannabis, opium, and other substances, are widely available here.
San Jose del Pacifico, Mexico
This hilltop pueblo in the (Sierra Mazatec) mountains of Oaxaca is a widely recognized hub for psilocybin mushrooms. Several different hostels and restaurants are advertising the availability of these mushrooms, which grow in the surrounding wilderness and are particularly abundant during the rainy season from June to October.
There is a ‘Feria de Hongos’ mushroom festival here in August, a month which is affectionately known as ‘Hongoisto’ (Hongos = mushrooms, Agosto = August) due to the proliferation of wild fungi that populate the area at the peak of the rainy season.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This is the mecca for psychonaut travelers for numerous reasons, the most obvious of which is the coffee shop and smart shop culture here that offers every imaginable ‘entheogen’ and psychoactive formulation for legal and recreational purchase.
In 2008, psilocybin mushrooms were banned after a series of high-profile tragic incidents involving travelers under the influence of the powerful and mysterious fungi, but psilocybin-containing truffles continue to be ubiquitously available (thanks to their lower psilocybin content).
Kodaikanal, India
This hill station in the Indian state of Kodaikanal is famous for its psilocybin mushrooms and the permissive attitude around respectful consumption of them.
Koh Penang, Thailand
If you’ve been to Koh Penang, chances are you’ve heard of the world-renowned ‘Full Moon Party’ there. Mushroom shakes, and other forms of the magic fungi are available there in many of the bamboo kiosks selling other party favors, and the atmosphere is perfect for a 1-2 gram ‘museum dose’ of mushrooms or, in this case, a ‘party dose’.
Bardia National Park, Nepal
Here, you can find exotic psilocybe mushrooms growing in elephant and rhino dung alongside wild cannabis and other herbal delights. There have been a few recent viral videos of cubensis mushrooms picked fresh out of elephant dung in Thailand, and this increased attention is surely driving record numbers of backpackers and psychonauts in search of this experience.
Psilocybin mushrooms are fully legal to possess, cultivate, transport, and sell in Nepal, making this destination officially one of the most desirable for the traveling and tripping type. Make sure to seek out some of the famous Nepalese Mad Honey while you’re in the area—a delicacy resulting from bees pollinating the Rhododendron flower before eventually infusing their hive with alkaloids from the flower.
Negril, Jamaica
Psilocybin mushrooms are fully legal in Jamaica, establishing it as the only country in the world with a government-approved and regulated psilocybin mushroom industry. There are dozens of ‘retreat centers’ on the island offering a range of mushroom experiences across different price points, from the affordable to the ultra-luxury, but you can also buy mushroom chocolate from different venues.
Denver, Colorado
Denver is a magnet for psychonauts after the passing of Prop 122, which allows for the consumption and free exchange of mushrooms and several other ‘natural medicines.’ The emerging industry around these substances that are based there still falls into a gray market category since buying and selling technically remains illegal, but organizations such as the Denver Mushroom Cooperative empower people to grow their mushrooms and give them away for free at events in an act of ‘mutual aid.’
Iquitos, Peru
Iquitos is the epicenter of the ayahuasca tourism industry, which has developed in the Peruvian Amazon over the last two decades. Dozens of retreat centers in this area offer legal ayahuasca ceremonies as enshrined in the cultural heritage of the indigenous tribes in the region.
Many of these centers have websites and referral networks, enabling one to do their due diligence about the safety protocols and the ethicality of the center before embarking on a journey to an ayahuasca retreat center.
A Final Word
As laws and regulations around substances are evolving alongside public opinion on psychedelics, these places and many more around the planet exist suspended in their own set of rules and regulations that have protected access to psychedelics for those bold and curious enough to make the pilgrimage to them.
While you may soon be able to procure a synthetic psilocybin treatment from a recognized medical provider, the experience of consuming magic mushrooms while in a place that fully embraces the magic of nature will not go out of style anytime soon.
