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About this trip
Escape with Mary Beth LaRue, creator of Embodied by MB, to Lake Atitlan, a magical crater lake located in the heart of Guatemala.
This retreat will provide you with the perfect opportunity to invest in yourself, as well as explore a remote and sacred part of the world that will open your heart and your perspective to what could be.
What can you expect on this retreat?
Our journey begins with an overnight stay in the colonial city of Antigua, where our community will gather and connect for the first time. You'll have time to explore the unique architecture, rooftop restaurants, and boutiques of Antigua prior to meeting up for a welcome dinner that evening. We highly recommend coming in a night early, if you can, to enjoy even more time in this city!
On day 2, we will make our way to Isla Verde, a lakefront boutique retreat center with bohemian vibe, and stunning views of Lake Atitlan. Once there, you will have ample opportunity to experience the Mayan culture of Lake Atitlan, connect with nature, practice yoga in community, and create your own adventure.
Our time together will include yoga classes and Embodied workshops with Mary Beth, locally sourced meals, two included cultural and adventure-driven excursions, and plenty of time for you to relax and recharge amongst the stunning grounds of Isla Verde and Lake Atitlan. Our retreat center features a lakefront hot tub and sauna, and restaurant / lounge area with fireplace, all available for you to enjoy!
Outdoor lovers will have ample opportunity to partake in many activities throughout our week including: kayaking, hiking, stand up paddle boarding, horseback riding, zip lining, and paragliding, to name a few. Cultural activities include local cooking and weaving classes, and coffee farm tours. Boat rides are readily available to visit neighboring Mayan villages where you can enjoy local foods, markets, and some of the best textile and arts shopping in Central America.
Come experience Guatemala with MB for a soulful, restorative journey that you won't forget.
Here's how you can get started...
A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot on this retreat. The balance is due 120 days before trip departure, by December 15th. Flexible payment plans can be set up at no extra charge. Simply email info@solseedretreats.com to inquire.
Please read on for important info on: What is Included, What is Not Included, Passport, Immunization & Covid-19 Entry Requirements, Our Cancellation & Refund Policy, and Required Travel Insurance.
What’s Included
-7 nights / 8 days in Guatemala, including:
*6 nights, 7 days lodging at Isla Verde, located right on beautiful Lake Atitlan
*1 night's lodging, dinner and breakfast in the beautiful, colonial city of Antigua
-Daily yoga classes & workshops with Mary Beth
-3 locally sourced meals daily plus unlimited tea, coffee and filtered water
-1 guided hike to San Marcos and entrance to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve where we will enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon lounging lakeside and cliff jumping (if you dare!)
-1 group visit to a Women's Weaving Cooperative in San Juan la Laguna
-Unlimited use of lakeside hot tub and sauna
-WiFi (although please don't expect it to be as reliable as back home)
-Base Gratuities for your retreat center staff, boat drivers, van drivers and included tour guides
-Round-trip transfers to and from Guatemala City (GUA)*. Flight Parameters will be emailed to you once trip minimums are hit.
*Included group transportation scheduling is done at the sole discretion of SolSeed Retreats, and may result in lengthy waits at the airport. SolSeed will always help people book their own, private transfers, according to their specific travel itineraries and/or desires. Individuals will be liable for the cost of their separate transportation bookings.
Not Included
-Roundtrip airfare to GUA (Guatemala City).
-Massages which can be booked directly upon arrival at the resort
-Alcoholic beverages & specialty drinks
-Other Optional Excursions: check out our Free Day Activity Guide for more info
-Required Travel Insurance
Flight Parameters
Arrival Date: April 13th, 2024
Arrival Time: Arrive between 11am and 4pm Guatemala time to take part in included group transportation from the airport to our hotel in Antigua, Guatemala, where we spend the first night of the retreat.
Arrival Airport: Guatemala City International Airport (La Aurora)
Airport Code: GUA
Note: If you arrive before 11am or after 4pm, we can arrange a driver for you for an estimated cost of $55, which will be payable directly to our hotel in Antigua upon check-in. Our first scheduled event on Saturday is a group dinner in Antigua at 7pm, so please arrive by 4pm to ensure you make dinner.
Pro Tip: Antigua is a very safe, beautiful and cultural city (also a World UNESCO Heritage Site) with lots to see and do! If you’re thinking about coming in a night or two early to have more time to explore, we highly recommend you stay in this town, versus Guatemala City. We are happy to help with arranging additional transportation, and we can make recommendations on hotels to stay in.
Departure Date: April 20th, 2024
Departure Time: Please only book flights that depart AFTER 12pm as we will be making the 3 hour drive from the lake to the airport that morning.
Note: If you book a flight that departs prior to 12pm, you could incur additional costs of as much as $200.
Once you have booked your flights, please forward your itinerary to info@solseedretreats.com.
Passport & COVID-19 Entry Requirements
You must have a valid passport to travel to Guatemala. Please check your passport expiration date and make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after the end date of your retreat.
Effective August 12, 2022, the Government of Guatemala no longer requires passengers arriving by air to present proof of a negative COVID test or proof of a complete COVID vaccine course to enter Guatemala.
Stay up to date on Guatemala Entry Requirements here: https://gt.usembassy.gov/alert-covid-19-2/
There are no required vaccinations to enter Guatemala. If you'd like to see what optional vaccinations the CDC recommends, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guatemala
Note: We do not visit areas at risk of Malaria, Dengue, or Yellow Fever.
Required Travel Insurance
The purchase of travel insurance is required for this trip.
Most policies protect you against potential trip delays or cancellations due to airline issues, family emergencies, illness, injury, etc. The travel insurance will also demonstrate to the host country that you are able to pay for any emergency services which may be necessary during your stay.
SolSeed is not authorized to sell travel insurance. Any offer to purchase travel insurance that you encounter during the checkout process are third party offers. You are free to select your own policy provider. If you would like to review options in a convenient online marketplace, we like what www.insuremytrip.com has put together. We have also had great experience with Trawick International and their customer service, and heard very good things from AAA and AMEX Members who have purchased their travel insurance through those respective agencies.
We strongly encourage you to speak with a travel insurance agent to discuss your specific coverage needs, and to clear up any questions you may have relative to travel insurance coverage, including questions about COVID-19.
Please make sure you purchase a plan that includes coverage for COVID-19 related trip cancellations and trip interruptions as not all do.
If you'd like to read more about Travel Insurance and our suggestions, please visit this blog post: https://solseedretreats.com/travel-insurance-faqs/
Cancellation & Refund Policy
All retreats include a $500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit, which is required to hold your spot on the trip. Any balance payments made are also non-refundable / non-transferable. SolSeed Retreats can only make an exception to these terms if:
- The host government forbids us to visit as tourists.
- The host government forbids our vendors from hosting us as tourists.
- The US government forbids us to travel to the host country as tourists.
If SolSeed must further postpone or cancel the trip for any of the above reasons, all registrants will receive a refund of all deposits paid less $200.
If you refuse to comply with the entry laws of the host country, region, town, etc; SolSeed will not consider this a valid reason for receiving any refund. SolSeed will ensure to the best of their abilities that all registrants comply with all then current laws and regulations.
About Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is a magical, 50 square mile, crater lake located in south-east Guatemala. At its deepest point, it’s over 1,100 feet! It’s approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Guatemala City and 2 hours from the beautiful colonial city of Antigua. Surrounded by majestic volcanoes and cultural Mayan villages, Lake Atitlan is the perfect place to disconnect, explore, and open your heart and perspective to what could be.
The climate at Lake Atitlan is also perfection, and incredibly complimentary for yoga classes, as well as outdoor adventuring. From January - April, daytime highs average a comfortable 75 - 80 degrees. Evenings are cooler, with temperatures in the low 60’s / high 50’s, perfect for sleeping. At a mile high in altitude, warm days of swimming and exploring are followed by cool nights in flannels by the fire, or relaxing in the wood-fired sauna and hot tub.
Available Packages
This spacious suite sleeps up to 5 people comfortably. All guests will have their own bed - some on the first level, and some on the second "loft" level of the suite. This suite has one shared bathroom, as well as an outdoor deck with stunning lake views.
CLICK HERE for photos of these suites.
*Hot water in all rooms is solar based, and quantities can be limited. It is not always available on demand.
**This room is also about a 5 minute walk uphill from lake level. It involves stairs. If you have mobility issues, please book the Garden Suites.
If you have any people you would like to room with, please indicate their names upon sign up. If you are traveling solo, this is also a great option, and we will pair you up with like minded roommates.
This spacious, new suite features 2 floors and 2 full bathrooms and sleeps up to 4 people very comfortably. It also includes a large, outdoor deck area.
These are a great option for groups of 2-4 friends, or the solo traveler looking for the most luxurious and spacious shared rooming option.
CLICK HERE for photos of these suites.
*Hot water in all rooms is solar based, and quantities can be limited. It is not always available on demand.
**If you are a two friends or a couple who desires more privacy, please book a "Double Occupancy Cabin with Private Bath."
If you have any people you would like to room with, please indicate their names upon sign up. If you are traveling solo, this is also a great option, and we will pair you up with like minded roommates.
Perfect for two friends or a couple seeking the most privacy, these beautiful tree house style cabins all have private, open air showers & baths, brand new decks with sliding glass doors, and stunning views of Lake Atitlan.
These cabins can be set up with two twin beds, or one queen bed. You MUST have a roommate to book this option. Please let us know your bed set up preference upon booking & your roommate's name.
CLICK HERE for photos of these cabins.
*NOTE: These cabins are a 5-10 min walk UP HILL from the lake and require walking up many stairs, so please let us know if you have physical limitations and require a room that is a shorter walk and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Those with serious physical limitations should book the Garden Suites.
**Hot water in all cabins is solar based, and quantities can be limited. It is not always available on demand.
Perfect for the solo traveler seeking their privacy, these small but comfortable tree house style cabins feature a private bedroom with one queen bed, and a detached bathroom, located outside of the cabin, that is a 30 second walk away. This bathroom is shared with 1-2 volunteer staff members of the retreat center.
CLICK HERE for photos of these cabins.
*NOTE: These cabins are a 5 min walk UP HILL from the lake and require walking several stairs. Those with serious physical limitations should book the Garden Suites.
**Hot water in all cabins is solar based, and quantities can be limited. It is not always available on demand.
Ideal for the solo traveler seeking the utmost privacy, these beautiful tree house style cabins all have private, open air showers & baths, brand new decks with sliding glass doors, and stunning views of Lake Atitlan.
CLICK HERE for photos of these cabins.
*NOTE: These cabins are a 5-10 min walk UP HILL from the lake and require walking up many stairs, so please let us know if you have physical limitations and require a room that is a shorter walk and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Those with serious physical limitations should book the Garden Suites.
**Hot water in all cabins is solar based, and quantities can be limited. It is not always available on demand.