Ready for an adventure filled with rich culture and magnificent natural beauty? 

We're excited to share one of our favorite countries with you as we explore Guatemala on this 10-day retreat for highly sensitive people and introverts. 

Wake up to the sounds of monkeys and birds in the jungle, as we spend our first days experiencing mystical sunrises and sunsets at the ancient Mayan ruins of TIkal and Yaxha. 

Then rejuvenate as you soak up the stunning view of volcanoes on Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.  

Immerse yourself in authentic Guatemalan culture as you explore the local dishes and learn the weaving techniques of the local indigenous women. 

Nurture yourself with soul-nourishing yoga, meditation, and meaningful discussions designed to honor your unique strengths and needs as a highly sensitive person or introvert.

This is your opportunity to:

• Connect with like-minded travelers without compromising your need for personal time.
• Enjoy the rich flavors of authentic, local cuisine of Guatemala.
• Change the way you see the world and yourself.
• Learn to love yourself with renewed confidence and lasting self-love.
• Explore ancient history with off-the-beaten-path Mayan ruins.
• Connect to the natural world in a way that soothes your soul. 

Now is the time for a peaceful adventure with people who get you.

If you're a sensitive soul or introvert who is ready to adventure and renew your sense of self, then join us on this adventure in Guatemala from January 10-19, 2019.

We'll spend 10 days and 9 nights with a perfect balance of both introspective time and adventurous activities.

Availability is limited - book your spot now! Deadline to sign up is September 15, 2018!

The world is full of amazing, life-changing experiences. Yet, not everyone wants to travel alone and most group travel comes with its own set of challenges for us introverts and HSPs. We may worry about sensory overload, too much social interaction, feeling pressured by a group, feeling accepted... the list goes on, right? 

This is why we offer a better way - an opportunity to connect with others while honoring your needs for personal space and freedom. Take the anxiety out of travel. 

We allow plenty of alone time to recharge. Traveling with a group can feel overwhelming if you always have to be with other people. We structure our schedules so that you have substantial alone time to do anything your inner heart desires. If we have full day activities planned, you can bet you won't go long without some downtime. 

We reduce the likelihood of sensory overload. Most of our group activities are off-the-beaten-path to be able to enjoy the beautiful peace of the natural world. If a popular excursion is included in your trip (ie Tikal), we do our best to visit at the least busy times and provide free time the day before and after to mentally prepare and recharge. Tikal is beautiful, but it's a popular site. Thankfully, there are some more quiet and pristine ruins at the site of Yaxha, which you'll have time to explore on your own. 

We support self-guided activities. If you want to go on a solo excursion or meditate alone, you got it. No questions asked and we'll help you arrange activities as you see fit. Group activities are optional and we set the tone from the start to ensure that everyone can be themselves.

We minimize the small talk. Well, we can't ban small talk, but you will be among like-minded folks that want to connect at a deeper level and understand that small talk can feel draining. We offer group discussions centered on meaningful topics. We encourage quiet hours during certain times of the day, in order to support mindfulness and peace. 

We connect travelers before the retreat. We create private Facebook groups for trip guests to get to know each other before the trip to feel more connected and comfortable upon arrival. 

We create authentic travel experiences. We select locations that we know will offer a genuine connection to the natural beauty and culture of a place. Our experiences allow the time and space to connect to yourself and fellow travelers.

We encourage you to be yourself. We set the stage from the start so that you can decline an activity or leave the dinner table early. We value each person’s individual needs and encourage you to say no when something is not for you. We ask all guests to honor your wishes.

On this adventure, we'll be staying at a few different locations in order to accommodate some of the most precious areas of Guatemala. 

All locations offer the option of single or double occupancy; single occupancy spots are limited. 

Our accommodations will have Wifi in common areas. Some may have Wifi in the rooms, but not all. Prepare to disconnect and enjoy nature. 

None of our accommodations have A/C, but you'll find it's unnecessary at Lake Atitlan and Antigua. Thankfully, the jungle in Peten will also be a little cooler in January. 

Night 1: Our first night will be in a simple, but comfortable hotel near the airport in Guatemala City for easy access to our flight the following morning.

Night 2: On this morning, we'll fly from Guatemala City to Flores. Our lodging for the night will be in the Jungle Lodge Tikal, which is situated in the national park. Guests should be prepared that the jungle is hot and accommodations are eco-friendly. Rooms have fans, but no A/C. The luxury here is the amazing wildlife of the jungle and waking up minutes from the ruins. The Jungle Lodge does have a swimming pool and is surrounded by monkeys!

Night 3: Our lodging for this night is in Ecolodge El Sombrero, just 2 km from the peaceful ruins of Yaxha and situated on a lagoon. Again, be prepared that El Sombrero is also basic. If you come with a love of nature and thirst for adventure, you'll love the peacefulness of this place. 

Nights 4-9: We'll fly back to Guatemala City early in the morning and then take a bus 3.5-4 hours to the amazing Lake Atitlan. Here we'll have 5 nights to nestle into our retreat center, Lomas de Tzununa, which is set upon the breathtaking backdrop of volcano formations. Every room has a gorgeous view and the center has a swimming pool as well. Important: From the dock, there are 350 steps to climb. There's ample space to pause and enjoy the view along the way. If you think you may have difficulty with this, please discuss with me before you register. There's an option to get dropped off with a tuk-tuk at the top, but we'll need to plan ahead of time for the day we arrive. Also note that traveling this way for day trips will also take a little longer, but it's possible. 

Night 9: We'll travel from the lake to Antigua on this day to spend our final night one hour from the airport. Our lodging will be simple and cozy.

Please inform us of your dietary preferences and restrictions. While all needs can be met while at the lake, some of our other locations may not be positioned to meet all allergy requirements and may require some additional planning.  

Your breakfasts and dinners are included in the trip cost with the exception of the two dinners at Jungle Lodge and El Sombrero. 

All lunches are on your own to give you the opportunity to explore the local cuisine in a way that fits your needs. Food in Guatemala is generally inexpensive. 

The first leg of our trip will take place near Flores in the northern region of Peten, a 1-hour flight from Guatemala City. Flores is approximately 30/90 minutes from our jungle accommodations, respectively.

The second leg of our journey will take place in the western highlands of Guatemala in a town called Tzununa on Lake Atitlan. This town is accessible by boat and "tuk-tuks" (auto rickshaws). The way that most people get around Lake Atitlan is by boat or "lancha". You can easily take a boat to and from the villages around the lake for $2-3 one way. 

The last night of our adventure will be spent in the small colonial city of Antigua, one hour from the Guatemala City Airport. 

The region of Peten is tropical jungle and temperatures are high year round. In January, you can expect slightly lower temps of 26/28 °C (79/82 °F) with it cooling down in the evening. Despite this being "dry season" in Guatemala, this region can receive light rain at this time of year. 

The lake area is 5000 feet above sea level and enjoys fresh, spring air all year. The dry season runs from November to April/May. Daytime temperatures can range from 65-80 degrees with evenings cooling down to the low 60s. 

Guatemala City and Antigua are warmer than Lake Atitlan, but not as warm as Peten. 

All deposits are non-refundable.

Fifty (50) percent of trip cost is due by September 30, 2018.

Remaining balance must be paid 60 days before trip start date (November 10, 2018).

If you decide to cancel your trip, the following fees apply and are due at the time (prior to departure) we receive written notice of your cancellation.

-More than 90 days before retreat start date, 100 percent of your payment may be applied to another retreat.

-60-89 days before retreat start date, 75 percent of any payment already made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 25 percent of the price of your retreat, excluding the deposit. Example: If your retreat cost is $2000 with a $400 deposit, and you've paid in full, $1200 may be applied toward a future retreat.

-15 – 59 days before retreat start date, 25 percent of your payment may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 75 percent of the price of your retreat. Example: If your retreat cost is $2000 with a $400 deposit, $400 may be applied toward a future retreat.

-If you cancel 14 days or less before retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment.

Plan your travel so that your flight arrives in La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City by 4:00pm on January 10th. A private group shuttle will be provided from the airport to the nearby hotel where we'll spend our first night. 

Plan your return flight so that it departs after 2:00pm on January 19th unless you're planning to extend your stay.  An activity you might consider is hiking Pacaya Volcano in Antigua, but this would require staying an additional night on your own. 

If your travel falls outside of group transfers, you will be responsible for your transportation costs. Details coming. 

Guatemala does require a current passport valid for a minimum of six (6) months after the departure date of your travel. Guatemala does not require a special visa to enter. You're good for 90 days.  

We strongly recommend buying travel insurance. Read for a quick overview of the features you want to look for in a travel insurance policy. Essentially, you want to be sure your policy includes trip cancellation/interruption, medical coverage, emergency evacuation, lost baggage and flight insurance.

In theory, you’re supposed to buy insurance as close to the date of your first trip payment as possible to ensure coverage for all expenses and eliminate any risk of claim denial for pre-existing conditions. In the event that you need to cancel your trip, I will work with you to provide the necessary documentation for reimbursement.

Many use a site like to purchase travel insurance. However, I’ve often found that many of the travel insurance policies offered at the time of flight purchase are sufficient and cheaper. 

A packing list will be provided in the Trip Preparation Guide you'll receive after registration. 

All guests will need to arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City by 4:00 p.m. A private shuttle will transport you to a nearby hotel just 5-10 minutes from the airport. If you arrive earlier, you can visit several museums and a market with local artisans. We'll have a short opening circle at 6:00, which will include introductions and intentions. For our welcome dinner at 7:00, a Guatemalan friend will be preparing an authentic local meal catered to your needs. We'll want to sleep early this first night to rest up for our early flight the following day.  

We'll wake up for a short yoga practice in the hotel garden from 7:00-8:00 and then eat breakfast at 8:00. At 9:30, we'll leave for the airport for our 11:30 flight to Flores. Upon arrival, we'll be picked up by our private driver and head to our lodging at the Jungle Lodge Tikal, a 30-minute drive from Flores. We'll have lunch at the Jungle Lodge as we listen to the chorus of birds and monkeys. After lunch, we'll walk 10 minutes to Tikal with our local guide Luis. We'll receive a guided tour with him and then have some time to enjoy on our own. You are welcome to order dinner at the Jungle Lodge at any time; otherwise, we'll eat as a group around 7:00.

We'll begin this day in the wee hours of the morning at approximately 4:30/5:00am in order to watch the misty sunrise at Tikal. We'll walk 10 minutes to the entrance of Tikal and another 40 minutes to Temple IV, the best location to witness the sun come up. We'll return to the Jungle Lodge by 8:00am to pack our bags and have breakfast. At 10:00, we'll drive an hour to reach Ecolodge El Sombrero. After settling in and having lunch, you'll have the option to take a boat through the lagoon to visit the ruins of Topoxte on your own. Otherwise, you have the option of walking/taking a van to the ruins of Yaxha. The Yaxha ruins have far fewer people than Tikal are still impressive. You have the afternoon until sunset to enjoy the tranquility. At 7pm, we'll eat dinner together at El Sombrero. 

We'll eat some breakfast snacks and then need to depart at 5:30am in order to catch our 8am return flight to Guatemala City. We'll arrive in Guatemala City around 8am and be picked up to head directly to our retreat center in Tzununa. We should arrive at the lake by 1pm and will take a 15-minute boat ride to arrive to Tzununa. We will have lunch upon arrival and the day will then be yours to relax. At 6:00, we'll come together for a group discussion and gentle yoga practice. Then, at 7:30, we'll share dinner at the retreat center. 

We'll wake up to a volcano view and have guided meditation and yoga from 7:00-8:15. Breakfast will be served from 8:30-9:30 and then you'll have a little free time. Around 12:00, we'll take a boat to the village of San Juan La Laguna to enjoy delicious lunch at Almas de Colores, a social project that supports social inclusion and employment for people with disabilities. After lunch, we will visit a women's weaving cooperate where the local women will share their process for making yarn, dyeing with natural dyes, and backstrap-loom weaving. You'll have some time to walk around and shop and then we'll head back to the retreat center around 4:00. At 5:30, we'll have an optional gentle yoga class followed by dinner at 7:00.

Guided meditation and yoga will be held from 7:00-8:15 followed by breakfast at 8:30. Then the day is yours to explore as you wish. You can hike, visit local villages and markets, kayak, zipline, shop, take a cooking class, get a massage, or simply sit back and relax at the retreat center. We'll be offering you detailed options to help plan your time. At 5:30, we'll meet for a group discussion circle and then have dinner together at 7:00. 

Guided meditation and yoga will be held from 7:00-8:15 followed by breakfast at 8:30. You'll have the option to participate in a half-day group activity of crafting with the children at the Tzununa Community Center followed by a walk to a nearby waterfall. The other half of the day is yours to explore as you wish and we'll help you with options. At 5:30, we'll meet for a group discussion circle and then have dinner together at 7:00.

Guided meditation and yoga will be held from 7:00-8:15 followed by breakfast at 8:30. Then the day is yours to do as you please. We'll help you arrange any activities, boats, or a simple massage or sauma. At 5:30, we'll meet for a group discussion circle and then have dinner together at 7:00.  

On our final morning, we'll share a final meditation and yoga class together from 7-8:15, followed by breakfast at 8:30. At 10:00, we will take the lancha back to the town of Panajachel where we will catch our private shuttle (2-2.5 hours) to the colonial city of Antigua. We will arrive at approximately 12:30 in time to grab lunch in town. Then you'll have the day to explore with the group or on your own. This is also a good place for last minute shopping. We'll convene for a final closing circle at 6:00 on their small terrace and then go for a final meal together at 7:00. 

We'll wake up to breakfast prepared by our hotel. After showers and packing, we will take our private airport shuttle at 9:30am for one hour to the Guatemala City airport. Please note that there can be occasional traffic. To be on the safe side, we recommend flying after 1:30/2:00pm.