Guatemala Yoga + Botanicals retreat includes :

6 nights in nature off-grid accommodations

Soulful Yoga daily as per the Itinerary

Healthy and delicious vegetarian meals daily (1 lunch on your own)

Traditional Temazcal (sweat lodge)

Plant bath

Sound bath

Fire circle ceremony

Day trip to a local textile making village

Botanicals dyeing & craft workshops with Wendy

All hotel taxes and staff gratuities

Group travel from Antigua to San Marcos la Laguna on arrival day

Group travel from hotel to GUA airport on departure day

BOOK THIS RETREAT!

What’s not included :

Airfare
Travel insurance
Airport Transfer to Antigua before the retreat
Any extra goodies you’d like to bring home

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Yoga + Botanicals Retreat Itinerary

DAY ONE :

9am Meet shuttle in Antigua for travel to hotel
2pm meet porters at Circles Cafe in San Marcos la Laguna
3pm Settle into accommodations in Lake Atitlan
5pm Opening grounding circle & yoga practice
7pm Opening group dinner together

DAY TWO :

8am Coffee, Tea & Snack
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice
9:35am Breakfast
Free time to explore the lake, relax, enjoy a massage or lounge in the sun
12:30pm Lunch on property
Free time to gather botanicals for later; enjoy a plant bath
4:30-5:30pm Yoga practice
5:45pm Sound bath
7pm Dinner on property

DAY THREE :

8am Coffee, Tea & Snack
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice
9:35am Breakfast
11am-5pm Day Excursion to explore the village of San Juan la Laguna; lunch on your own
5:30-6:30pm Botanicals Workshop
7pm Dinner on property

DAY FOUR :

8am Coffee, Tea & Snack
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice
9:35am Breakfast
Free time to explore the lake, relax, enjoy a massage or lounge in the sun
12:30pm Lunch on property
Enjoy a plant bath
5-7pm Temazcal (Sweatlodge) Ceremony
7:30pm Dinner on property

DAY FIVE :

8am Coffee, Tea & Snack
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice
9:35am Breakfast
Free time to explore the lake, relax, enjoy a massage or lounge in the sun
12:30pm Lunch on property
Free time to gather botanicals for later; enjoy a plant bath
5:30-6:30pm Botanicals Workshop
7pm Dinner on property

DAY SIX :

8am Coffee, Tea & Snack
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice
9:35am Breakfast
Free time to explore the lake, relax, enjoy a massage or lounge in the sun
12:30pm Lunch on property
Free time to gather botanicals for later; enjoy a plant bath
5-6:30pm Yoga practice and Closing Circle
7pm Dinner on property

DAY SEVEN :

8am Departure from San Marcos la Laguna to GUA airport (estimated arrival time 12pm)

*This itinerary is subject to adjustments, changes in times, locations, or activities as the retreat leaders and hosts see fit. Any change will be on par with our standards or an upgrade in services or location making for an even more amazing experience for the group and our guests. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and cooperation if any situation were to arise.

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Off-the-Grid, Back-to-Nature Accommodations

The Yoga Forest high in the hills above Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is a sacred sanctuary surrounded by lush forests with incredible views of the famous lake below. Off-grid living and locally sourced and grown vegetarian food nourish your time in this special enclave of conscious living and breathing with the surrounding hills and all that live within. There is hot water for the beautiful open-air showers, shared composting toilets, and solar powered lights until 9pm.

San Marcos la Laguna is a small Mayan village on Lake Atitlán in the western highlands of Guatemala. It has become a Mecca for international travelers attracted by its beauty, tranquility and diverse options for spiritual exploration and therapy. Terraced into the side of a cliff, The Yoga Forest is a twenty five minute hike up into the valley from Lake Atitlán, To escape to our lush tropical food forest please travel to us with a backpack, organic soaps, a head torch and a spirit of adventure.

The Yoga Forest Mission – Deep Green Yoga :

The Yoga Forest shares conscious living as a spiritual practice, offering a unique retreat space for self connection, connection to the Earth, and personal growth. We live, work & play harmoniously in nature, creating inclusive abundance and a safe space for personal transformation and authentic self expression. Through intercultural relationships of respect, we weave together local and global visions that inspire positive social and ecological impacts in the world.

Why?

Founded as a conscious living experiment, through a desire for living simply, greenly and in communion with everything surrounding us, the Forest life is a a practice of Deep Green Yoga.

In yoga, we clear the body and mind making space for wisdom and deeper understanding to flow freely and openly through us. By creating this space, we allow ourselves to experience our fullness and connection to everything around us. Deep Green Yoga expands this concept by observing the natural systems around us and working with nature so that the inherent wisdom of the entire eco system can fully flow, creating an open and thriving container for life and all expression.

Yoga and Permaculture both ask you to be observant, thereby developing a greater awareness of your effect on the world around you. Taking mindful actions in caring for the mind, body, and environment, we create a deep connection with the earth. Permaculture looks to nature as a model for creating a more sustainable culture. It assumes that by observing natural patterns, making conscious decisions, and managing resources well, we can live harmoniously and productively, with less work and less waste.

More than just a retreat center, The Yoga Forest shares a conscious business model integrating three pillars in a balanced practice of earth care, people care and fair share. Integrating our understanding of what it is to be a conscious business, through social, ecological and economic structures, we recognize that this journey will be ever unfolding. Through our non-profit Forest Family Foundation, we strive to support and integrate conscious living practices in the local community through humanitarian and ecological projects, while sharing the principles of working within nature creating interactive landscapes of beauty and productivity.

Together, with the help of amazing foreign staff and a beautiful crew of local Mayans, many wonderful things have been created here and there is always more to be done.

SIMPLE, RELAXED, AND OFF THE GRID

The Yoga Forest has been built using various natural and traditional building methods. We use solar energy for simple electricity and hot water, natural grey water filtering systems for our kitchen and outdoor showers, and outdoor composting toilets to return our offerings to the earth. We try our best to produce as little waste as possible and continue to explore new endeavors to create a more sustainable retreat lifestyle.

Accommodations range from shared quad rooms, doubles and private cabins. Bathrooms are shared around the property and offer composting toilets, showers with low waste water, and sinks with lake views. Peeling away the ‘things’ will take us back to simplicity to clear the mind space for the new.

Two yoga studios offer the space to move intuitively surrounded by nature. One studio has gorgeous lake views and the other is nestled in the hills beside a waterfall and the sounds of birds and nature all around.

All meals are included during your time on retreat. Vegetarian and vegan meals are provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ingredients are locally sourced and grown then cooked with love in the outdoor kitchen high in the hills.

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Lake Atitlan Yoga + Botanicals RETREAT PRICING

Forest Cabins

If you’re looking for privacy, the Forest Cabins are perfect for you. With amazing lake and forest views, these cabins feature a small terrace to relax and enjoy the view and accommodate two people with a queen and single bed inside, perfect for couples or friends to share. A short hike up to the cabins is required. Bathrooms are just outside the cabins shared with others.

Private Forest Cabin :

$2,630usd

Shared Forest Cabin :

$2,280usd Queen Bed + $2,200usd Twin Bed

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Shared Double Cabin

With magical views of Lake Atitlán, the Lakshmi cabaña is the highest accommodation on the property made of cypress wood from sustainable Guatemalan plantations. This private space has a queen and single bed inside, and a comfortable terrace with sofa bed and hammock. Shared bathrooms are located outside the cabin.

$2,280usd Queen Bed + $2,200usd Twin Bed

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Shared Quad Room

Looking out over Lake Atitlán and its surrounding volcanoes, shared cabañas accommodate four people in large single beds. Using natural building techniques, the cabañas are constructed with either bamboo or  cypress, palm roof and natural adobe walls or traditional bahareque (wattle and daub) of this area. The beds are comfortable, with warm feather duvets and pillows, and decorated with Peruvian Shipibo fabrics and Guatemalan Cushions. Shared bathrooms are located outside the room.

$2,240usd per person

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Lake Atitlan Yoga + Botanicals RETREAT Payments

MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT HERE :

Deposits* of $750usd are due to secure your space in the retreat. Please check availability with us for accommodations before making your deposit*

Roommates should book together. If you would like to share a room and do not have a roommate we will provide one for you if possible. In the case that there is no one to share a room we ask that you take a private economy room instead.

To make your deposit with a credit card, please click the link below. You will be directed to Paypal.com.

BALANCE PAYMENTS :

The balance of your retreat (minus your $750usd initial deposit*) is due 90 days prior to arrival. All details for this will be emailed to the group three months before the retreat.

You may pay with a credit card via PayPal, a bank wire transfer, Zelle, or deposit a check into our bank account to settle your balance. We also accept Bitcoin. We understand how much fees blow…though some of these options do incur a fee that will be passed on to you. Please see the itemized list below.

PayPal = Pay using your credit card. 4% fee is applied.

Bank Wire = Pay online with a wire. Please add $20usd to your total for wire fee.

Zelle or dropping a check into our Chase account = No charge to pay with this method. Daily limits apply with Zelle.

Bitcoin = Modern payment methods in cryptocurrency. Any transaction fees your wallet requires are applied.

Please let us know your preferred method of payment and we will send you the appropriate information right away.

POLICIES

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations made within 90 days or less of arrival are 100% non refundable. All initial deposits are non-refundable.

CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY

The acceptance of a verbal or written confirmation from YOGA & ADVENTURES WORLDWIDE (Y&AWW) constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions listed herein. Participants are responsible to be adequately insured, therefore Traveler’s Insurance is strongly recommended*. Y&AWW and its staff assume no responsibility nor liability for any delay, loss, damage, injury or accident with regards to persons or property which may be caused by fault or negligence of any third party vendor. This includes hotels, transportation providers, and local operators participating in part for our services. Y&AWW shall be held harmless for any expense caused by injury or accident, to any participants as well as any loss or damage of personal items while on our tours. We reserve the right to make any changes to services and itineraries, with or without notice, which may become necessary.

Yoga & Adventures Worldwide, its affiliates, retreat facilitators, hotels, third party vendors, and tour providers, the ownership, or staff, of course, cannot be held responsible for events that are outside of our control. There are no refunds as per our cancellation policies. We highly recommend that all of our guests secure a quality travel insurance that will cover them for ANY event which may cause for a change of travel plans, or for ANY unfortunate event including but of course not limited to:

– Transportation delays, cancellations or changes due to strikes, labor disputes, or lockouts from airlines, boats, ferries or any type of transportation
– Any inconvenience or complication caused by bad weather, storms, and hurricanes : a direct hit, near miss, or significant threat of a hurricane strike
– Government/political actions, events or situations; threats or acts of terrorism, acts of war or declared war.
– Personal health issues or personal situations in general which may affect travel plans
– Any loss, theft or damage of personal items at any stage of your trip
– Any accident causing injury during any stage of your trip

AIG offers Travel Guard at affordable rates. Please let us know if you have chosen to purchase insurance or declined at final balance due.

By submitting payments toward your retreat you accept these Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions regarding the details of this retreat please feel free to contact us to set up a Skype conversation or to receive further info via email.

Contact Us with any questions

Travel Tips Guide for Lake Atitlan

TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RETREAT :

You should plan to travel from Guatemala City to Antigua or San Marcos La Laguna to spend the night BEFORE the retreat starts. Fly into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA). Flights into and out of this airport will be the most affordable and accessible from international destinations. Then travel to Antigua as below.

Antigua is the tourist hub of the country and nearly all transportation runs through here. There are shuttles every hour from the Guatemala City airport to Antigua which cost approximately 15usd each way and takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. In Antigua you can stay at Good Hotel, El Convento, or any other place you find on booking search engines. You’ll need to have local currency to take the shuttle and get around so please withdraw enough cash from the ATM at the airport in Guatemala City to get you through a few days. Suggested amount is around 200-300usd or around 1500-2500 Quetzal (use xe.com for conversion rates) depending on how much you’re planning on spending.

From Antigua we will organize a group taxi to leave Antigua at 9am and travel to San Marcos La Laguna together on the day the retreat starts. You should have time for lunch at Circles Cafe upon arrival before we meet our porters at 2pm to take us up to the Yoga Forest together.

Please plan your travels according to the schedule above or to stay in San Marcos la Laguna the night before the retreat and meet us at Circles Cafe at 1:45pm the day the retreat starts. For your safety, late arrivals are not permitted at the hotel.

TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AIRPORT ON DEPARTURE DAY :

A shared taxi shuttle will leave San Marcos La Laguna at 8am the day the retreat finishes to head to the airport in Guatemala City.

You should plan to take a flight that leaves GUA no earlier than 2:30pm.

If you need to make arrangements to spend the night in Antigua or Guatemala City on the way out to make an earlier flight the day AFTER the retreat finishes the taxi can take you to your hotel (in Guatemala City) after they drop off the group at the airport or for stays in Antigua you can arrange a private ride to your hotel on your own.

Please inform us of your hotel plans and flight itineraries as soon as you have them to coordinate transport.