Psychedelic Substances and Therapy Event Returns to Corralejo
Fuertedélica gathers experts from around the world to debate the future of psychedelic therapy.
Corralejo will host the fourth edition of Fuertedélica on 7 and 8 November at the Municipal Auditorium. The international congress has become a reference forum in the Spanish‑speaking world for psychedelics and mental health.
The meeting arrives “in a context of intense scientific and regulatory debate about the future of these substances in medicine,” according to the organizers.
The theme of this edition, “The Varieties of the Psychedelic Experience,” structures the program around the three phases that mark any entheogenic process: preparation, initiation, and integration.
The roster of speakers for Fuertedélica 2025 spans disciplines ranging from psychiatry and clinical psychology to anthropology, law, journalism, and the arts. Highlights include:
- Dr. Joan Obiols, a pioneer of psychedelic psychiatry in Spain;
- Neuroscientist Mendel Kaelen, founder of Wavepaths and researcher at Imperial College London;
- Shipibo master Ronin Wesna, guardian of Amazonian plant‑medicine traditions.
“The psychedelic experience is not limited to the moment of the ‘trip’: what happens before and after is equally decisive, and we want to explore it in depth this year,” says Dr. José Carlos Bouso, member of the organizing committee.
Fuertedélica takes place at a particularly pivotal moment for psychedelic research. In the United States, the FDA rejected in 2024 the approval of MDMA‑assisted therapy for post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), citing methodological shortcomings in clinical trials and demanding additional evidence. The decision stalled expectations of imminent legalization but sparked a global debate on how psychedelic studies should be designed and evaluated.
Program Highlights
- Fuertedélica Week opens on 4 November in Lajares with a breathing and ice‑bath workshop inspired by the Wim Hof method, aimed at exploring the link between the nervous system and self‑confidence.
- From Wednesday onward, Corralejo “will become the epicenter of multiple offerings, from ceremonial journeys with earth plants to voice‑activation practices and ritual circles of rapé and mapacho,” organizers explain.
“Thursday will concentrate much of the most educational content: psychologist Karina Bertolotto will lead an intensive on somatic tools for psychedelic facilitators; Synaptica Clinic will provide an introduction to ketamine‑assisted psychotherapy with specialists such as Joan Obiols and José Carlos Bouso; and the Eleusis Garden collective will bring the public into mushroom cultivation through an applied mycology workshop. The same day, the schedule will be rounded out with offerings like a sonotherapy health journey,” the organizers state.
- Friday features an ecstatic dance session in Corralejo, a free‑movement practice that encourages bodily expression and group connection.
- Saturday offers an exclusive catamaran trip to Isla de Lobos, with water activities, informal talks with speakers, and local cuisine.
- Sunday closes the event with a day dedicated to holistic wellbeing: yoga, a sound‑journey, and a vegan brunch at 7 Lemons House, followed by a conscious‑nutrition workshop led by Marco Giglio.
Attendees can purchase a global pass granting access to all workshops throughout the week (excluding specialized training sessions and the Lobos excursion).
“The congress not only aims to shape an international debate but also to position Fuerteventura as a reference hub for psychedelic research and culture. The economic and social impact of previous editions has been notable, with hotels, restaurants, and local businesses benefiting from the influx of specialized visitors,” the organizers affirm.