Wild Beauty Retreat: A Transformational Journey through the Medicine Wheel

Step away from the noise of daily life and say yes to a sacred journey of renewal. This transformational retreat in the heart of Guatemala invites you to travel through the ancient Medicine Wheel—guided by the wisdom of the 6 directions, the 5 elements, and the animal allies who offer fresh insights and pathways for personal growth.

Held in the vibrant embrace of Guatemala’s natural beauty and living Mayan culture, this retreat awakens your sense of wonder, ignites your inner fire, and stirs your wild, curious spirit. As you unplug from routine, technology, and responsibility, you open the door to cellular regeneration, expanded awareness, and creative vitality.

This one-of-a-kind experience is facilitated by Brietta Leader, founder of the movement practice WildCore™, a gifted guide in Shamanic Journeys and Breathwork. Offering a soul-nourishing container that blends embodied movement, energy medicine, and ritual.

Our journey will also be enriched by Casa Kula’s loving community and ceremonial offerings, including a traditional Sweat Lodge with plant bath, a heart-opening Cacao Ceremony, and an inspiring visit to the women’s co-ops of San Juan.

The Wild Beauty Retreat is for women ready to walk, dance, and live in alignment with their untamed essence. You’ll return home more rooted, radiant, and creatively alive.

Come with us and immerse yourself in a wild beauty adventure—a sacred space where transformation, creativity, and sisterhood bloom.

WildCore™ is a dance movement therapy that explores the wilderness of body and soul. The blend of choreography, conscious dance, breath-work and belonging inspires creativity, expanded movement vocabulary, coordination and embodiment. The practice leads the dancer on a path of untamed self-discovery, healing, and expressive movement that uses the power of metaphor as a bridge between the physical and energetic bodies.

Start your trip with a fun day of re-orienting, resting and Shopping in Antigua!

Take advantage of Brietta's love of logistics and join the group on March 21st in Antigua. Most flights from the U.S. arrive in the early morning, which makes traveling the short distance from Guatemala City to Antigua a breeze. It is about 25 miles, but can take up to an hour due to traffic.

We will rent an Airbnb that will house all of us and spend the day walking around the town square that is filled with fun tourist shops, restaurants and historical monuments. We will all need time to rest after the long flight, as well as enjoy a dinner together with authentic Guatemalan food.

On the morning of March 22nd, a private shuttle will take us to Lake Atitlan, which is about 3 1/2-4 hour drive and arrive in Panajachel. We will then hop in a private boat shuttle which will take us to the small village of Tzununa. At this point we are only moments away from arriving at Casa Kula. Once we arrive at the dock, we will be met by several tuk tuk drivers that are more than willing to carry our luggage and persons to the retreat center. I have included all the bus, boat and tuk tuk fees within the retreat cost. The only taxi not included is from the airport to Antigua at the front end of the trip and the taxi to the airport on the tail end of the trip.

The return to Guatemala City plan~

At the culmination of the retreat on March 28th, everyone will depart around 9 am via tuk tuk to the boat ramp, a private boat shuttle to Panajachel where you will be met by a private bus or taxi's that will take you back to Guatemala City. I have a connection with a great bed and breakfast in the city, which I am happy to set you up with or you can book your own hotel room and post retreat travel plans.

If you would prefer to travel to and from the retreat center on your own and skip the night in Antigua, here are the transportation options. I am happy to reimburse the fee for all the taxi's if you prefer to arrive on your own.

Casa Kula is located 3.5 hours from the Guatemala City Airport "Aurora" (Airport Code: GUA). The primary ways to arrive are by private car or by public transport. Both options are detailed below with approximate prices in Dollars and in the local currency "Quetzales".

Public Transport:

1. Airport - Antigua ($10us / Q75)
   
   Shuttles leave every 20-30 minutes from the airport to Antigua and can be found just outside the terminal.
   Duration: 45-60 minutes.
   
   

2. Antigua - Panajachel ($10us / Q75)
   Every hotel in Antigua also acts as a tour agency and can book shuttle service to the lake. Shuttles leave at 9am and 2pm.
   Duration: 2.5 hours.
   
   

3. Panajachel - Tzununa ($3us / Q20)
   Boats leave Panajachel approximately every 15 minutes from early in the morning until 7pm. Let the people at the dock know that you want to go to Tzununa and they'll help you find the right boat.
   
   

4. Tzununa Dock - Casa CobAnanda ($2us / Q15)
   At the dock you will find TucTuc drivers. Ask any driver to take you to "Casa de Coby" and they'll drop you off at a forested path that leads to our house.

Private Car:

1. Arrange a private car by filling out the form. Please reach out to Brietta for form.

2. As you exit the airport, a driver will be awaiting your arrival with a sign with your name.

3. If you are delayed for any reason, please contact Coby (WhatsApp: +1 858 751-9584) as soon as possible so he can notify your driver.
   
   Duration: 3.5 hours
   Cost: $125us / Q950

If you need to cancel for an unexpected reason and you have paid the $300 deposit you will receive:

Cancelled by January 11th: $100 ($200 service fee)

Cancelled by February 1st: No refund of deposit ($300)

Cancelled by March 5th: Only 20% of your trip total cost will be refunded

BREAKFASTS: We alternate between Oatmeal with fruit and granola, Pancakes with oatmeal, fruit, homemade jam and peanut butter and an egg dish with roasted veggies and guacamole.

LUNCH: Kitchari every day! Garnished with cilantro, lime and avocado.

DINNER: Veggie Burgers with French Fries and Salad; Tempe Bangers and Mash Potatoes with Broccoli and mushroom gravy; Rice Noodles with Tempe, Veggies and a Curry Sauce (or Peanut Sauce); Roasted Veggie Salad Bar; Taco Bar with Beans, Rice, Veggies, Guacamole and local handmade tortillas; Garden Fresh Pesto Pasta with Parmesan Cheese and Salad 

If you are food sensitive to anything listed above, please reach out and we can make sure the chef knows about your limitations. 

My body feels ecstatically alive! Brietta’s graceful dance, Titina’s powerful shamanic journeys and Holly’s loving, compassionate art expression. I am heartfelt and grateful. Casa Kula is paradise on earth. Coby and Ananda are beautiful people. I am coming back! ~ Toni

The whole experience has been a transforming connecting and opening one. I encountered quite a few challenges that I recognized were presenting to me the resistance to opening to my inner beauty. I am very grateful for the wisdom and beauty of your direction Brietta, Holly and Titina and gratitude for this incredible place. Thank you ~ Aurea

A unique experience of spiritual fulfillment led by Brietta who is a skilled master organizer. The age mix from 20’s to almost 80 intelligent and insightful women was deeply satisfying. As a non vegetarian I had some concern but the meals were delicious. The daily mix of dance, breathwork and art fulfilled my soul. The ceremonies in the sweat lodge and the cacao ceremony with Coby and Ananda were unique life experiences. This retreat exceeded all expectations. Guatemala is beautiful! ~ Kimi

The wild beauty retreat was a week filled with blissful movement and meditation. A sacred space was so thoughtfully created by Brietta, Titina and Holly along with the amazing beauty of Casa Kula that Coby and Ananda have created. This sacred space allowed me to truly drop into my true self and inner beauty, while connecting with the beauty of the women here and the oneness of everything. True love and joy! ~ Alissa

This retreat is a life changing, opening and fulfilling experience. Brietta is a beautiful and wonderful teacher, guide and leader. She opens you to receive the rich wonders of this experience and helps build you up for full hearted wild core expression. Thank you Brietta, this experience and journey will live in my heart forever. ~Liz

Brietta’s Wild Beauty retreat is absolutely amazing. From her organization skills to getting us from Guatemala city to Casa kula to the way she holds space and allows us to dance and move to find our inner beauty. I would do this journey again and again. Thank you ~ Elizabeth

We will wake up early in Antigua, walk to a nearby restaurant for breakfast and catch the large taxi that will shuttle all of us to Panajachel, then the water taxi to Tzununa and the retreat center.

Casa Kula asks that everyone arrives no earlier than 2:00 pm on this day. We can all get settled in our rooms, have dinner together and meet on the movement platform at 7:00 pm.

I know some of you love to have an outline of what each day will look like, which I totally get!! Here is the outline.

7:30-8:30 am Morning Ritual --Meet each morning with our tea/coffee for either breathwork, meditation or free movement (gently guided)

8:45-9:45 am Breakfast

10:00 am - 1:00 pm Movement, Journaling, Sharing, Ceremonies

1:00-4:00 pm Lunch and Free Time

4:30-6:00 pm Journeys, Art Integration, Sweat Lodge, Ceremonies

We will have one afternoon adventure to shop in San Juan.

Closing Ceremony on Friday evening--Fire side!!

Casa Kula asks that we all check out by 11:00 am 

So we will have our closing ceremony on Friday evening, so we can pack up easily and be onto our next adventure.