Join the Lotus Retreats Lake Atitlan, Guatemala NYE Reset Retreat!

Experience the magical land of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for a week retreat of yoga practices and Mayan culture surrounded by a vortex of volcanoes. Guatemala is a land of vibrant life, filled with lush vegetation and tectonic activity. "Atitlan" in Nahuatl means "the place where the rainbow gets its colors." This mystical lake is often called the most beautiful in Central America and has inspired people for thousands for years.

Deepen your Yoga practice with daily yoga classes, workshops and meditations with Loren Lotus & Carmina Rodriguez in the Sierra Madres overlooking the peaceful Lake Atitlan. You will have the opportunity to explore the many Mayan villages that surround the lake, hike to jungle waterfalls, and taste the exquisite fruits of Guatemala. 

Experience a sunrise paddle board session or take a dip in the lake to cleanse yourself, followed by a yoga class with breathing techniques and meditation. Each day of our retreat will offer an activity or excursion to explore the Mayan culture!

Surrounded by a vortex of volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is known for its healing and mystical properties that seekers and believers feel upon arrival. The lake lies in the heart of an ancient volcano's caldera, which filled with water after it's final eruption 85,000 years ago. The lake and it's three surrounding volcanoes still hold active tectonic power and people travel from around the world to feel the energy vortex created here at the intersection of Fuego de la Tierra and Paz del Lago.

Lotus Lotus

Your host Loren Lotus has hosted over 30 retreats around the world with Lotus Retreats! She's a passionate yogi, facilitator and event organizer who puts her entire heart and soul into curating spaces for community to gather. Loren will be sharing daily Yoga classes to get into our bodies, clear energy and make space for new wisdom to be shared. She is also an avid Kirtan singer and will be sharing the medicine of music, movement & meditation throughout the weekend.

Carmina Rodriguez

Carmina radiates compassion into everything she does and always leads from the heart. Her classes are alignment based, formulated with intention, constructive sequencing, with an offering of hands on assists and space for self-inquiry. She weaves in pranayama, meditation, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and mantra. Her overall intention for her classes is to create a safe space for students to listen deeply to their bodies, hearts, and minds, through stillness, and discover a quality of intimacy with themselves and ultimately with the world around them. She completed her 200HR Teacher Training, at Daya Yoga Studio in 2016, in Brooklyn, New York, a 25HR  Alignment and Therapeutics Training at  Laughing Lotus, a 30HR Yin Yoga Training with Alana  Kessler, Meridian Yoga Technique with Acupressure and Cupping with Rose Erin Vaughan, and has been attuned by Nicole Lynne Hooley, to Reiki 2.

She teaches Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative Yoga, Meditation, and offers group and private classes in Taos, New Mexico where she currently resides.

Dive deeply into the refreshing natural beauty of Lake Atitlan’s stunning landscape. Within the vast, majestic horizons, you’ll find a deeper connection with your heart’s song and a rejuvenated sense of wellbeing.

Our retreat will be hosted at a retreat and wellness center located in Santa Cruz la Laguna, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. The retreat center is dedicated to rejuvenating holistic practices and healing modalities as well as preserving Mayan traditions and facilitating outdoor adventure in the heart of the Altiplano. Majestically located on the shores of Lake Atitlan, this retreat oasis has a dock for sitting along the shore as well as a pool overlooking the waters. 

Retreat into each of the elements; along with the lake and pool, there is a hot tub, sauna & massage therapies upon request. The solar-heated, stone hot tub oasis is tucked above a garden lounge. For a detoxifying sweat, indulge in the electric sauna; or request a Chichimeca Sweat Ceremony in the custom-designed lakefront sauna.

Each of the rooms at Villa Sumaya provide a lake view & breeze of the area. The rooms are spread throughout the property in cabins & houses with private rooms. Each room also has a private bathroom. 

Practice yoga surrounded by sacred nature, fresh open air and lake views as we move, breath & connect with ourselves and the culture of Guatemala.

Each day of the retreat will include physical asana, meditation and pranayama. Most days will start with a 75-minute Hatha, vinyasa flow class to awaken and move the body through sun salutations, basic postures and balancing postures to build your physical practice and understanding of the body. 

Evening classes will cool down the body with relaxing, restorative and yin poses with longer holds, breathing techniques & meditation. Our classes cater to each practitioner with variations, modifications and options to add-on. We offer physical adjustments and massage throughout class, if desired. 

Pranayama - for those newer to breathing techniques, we will introduce basic breaths and techniques for guiding our breath and evolving our ability to breathe into a fuller capacity. Each practice will incorporate Pranayama to understand the Prana, or energy we input & expend from our energetic bodies.

• Learn and practice the beautiful Spanish language on-site at our retreat center! Work with one of our friendly and experienced Spanish teachers. You’ll just need a notebook and pen, and they will provide the rest of the resources. We will offer a Spanish class at the beginning of the week with the option to add a full week of lessons.
• Dive into Mayan culture with a Mayan Fire Ceremony; A Mayan spiritual guide will share a traditional Mayan Day Count Fire Ceremony. We will be encouraged to participate in the ceremony which will include the building of a fire in the ancient Mayan tradition using herbs, chocolate, colored candles, cinnamon, myrrh and copal (tree resin).
• Cacao Ceremony; Journey home to your heart with Xicoy, the Cacao Spirit, one of the most playful spiritual guides in ancient Mayan cosmology. The Mayans have used Cacao in ceremony for thousands of years to connect with their hearts. 
• Explore the art and creation of Mayan communities as we visit various lake towns
  • San Juan La Laguna; Take in the fine art of the naturally-dyed and exquisitely handcrafted goods created by the talented Maya. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the weaving and art cooperatives that Guatemala is famous for. Many excursions will be an excellent shopping opportunity, as well as a chance to learn about the artisan crafts of this unique village.
  • Santiago; Take a scenic boat ride across the lake to Santiago. You will visit Maximon, the patron saint and mysterious Mayan spiritual figurehead of Santiago. See a variety of primitive paintings, beadwork and handcrafted woodwork as you learn the fascinating history of Santiago while visiting historic sites. This is one of our most popular guided tours, offering a rare and fascinating insight into this proud and independent village and the life of the modern Maya.
• San Pedro Volcano Climb; If you love adventure, then climb to the top of Volcano San Pedro! The trip begins early in the morning with an early or packed breakfast and a boat ride across the lake with your guide.
• El Pico de Cielo Hike; El Pico de Cielo is 8,200 feet above sea level. This hike offers two options to suit different levels of fitness. The more rigorous hike starts from Santa Cruz La Laguna. Alternatively, you may take a boat to Panajachel and then a pick-up truck to the trailhead for a 45-minute walk to the vista point.
• Kayak, Paddle Board, Relax on the dock or dare to cliff dive into the Lake!

We leave plenty of space for resting, reading, meditating, or just hanging out and integrating all these new experiences. There are lush gardens with hammocks and lounge chairs around the Lake for your pleasure.

Prana, the air or energy we input into our bodies is the quality of the energy we expend. Throughout our retreat week, we practice conscious and healthy eating habits. Most meals will be vegetarian and prepared in house at our retreat facility. 

We allow for individual breakfast and lunch times for guests to sit with themselves or small groups while our dinner times are family style and all-inclusive with one another! Some meals, lunches on long excursion days will be packed or optional to purchase on your own in free time.   

Each day of the retreat will include 2 yoga classes, 3 meals & an optional excursion or workshop! You're free to pick & choose what you'd like to participate in, while leaving plenty of space for relaxing, connecting, massages.. you name it!

7am Silent sunrise meditation and tea

7:30am Morning Yoga Flow

9am Breakfast

10am-5pm Free Time; Pool/Lake; Excursions or Spa!

10am: Optional Excursion (Spanish Class, Volcano Hike, Mayan Fire Ceremony, Explore surrounding communities)

1:00pm Lunch

FREE TIME or additional excursion

5:30pm Yin / Restorative Yoga

7:30pm Dinner

ARRIVALS

Our arrival airport is Guatemala City. We will arrange for transportation from the airport to the retreat center in Lake Atitlan. Arrival information & details will be provided upon booking confirmation. 

We realize the journey is just as much a part of the experience as the destination! We’re here to support you fully on arriving safely to Guatemala & transporting to the retreat center. We provide a shared google document for all guests to input their arrival & departure information as well as the ability to communicate with other guests traveling near the same time. We also have a Facebook group for guests to connect, share questions & interact with one another. 

FAQ

What is the nearest airport to Lake Atitlan?

Guatemala City Airport

Are flights included?

Flights are not included in the retreat week price. Roundtrip flights to/from Guatemala City airport are around $300-$500 USD.

Do I need a Guatemalan Visa?

No Visas are needed. However, it is recommended to check that your passport does not expire within 6 months of traveling to Central America.

How do we get from the airport to the resort?

Transportation from the Guatemala City airport to Lake Atitlan is included in your retreat package! We will arrange arrivals & departure transfers for you once booked.

Are there ATMS in Guatemala?

There are ATMs to withdraw Guatemalan currency. We also recommend bringing US currency and converting for Guatemala cash at money exchanges. 

Is there Wifi at the retreat center?

Yes, we have included the cost of Wifi in your retreat package.

Do I need any vaccinations traveling to Guatemala?

You do not need any vaccinations in order to enter Guatemala. It is advised to only drink water from filtered sources and avoided drinking any tap water from the sink or shower. Please check the CDC Website for further information on vaccines & health precautions when traveling abroad. 

I want to be in a triple occupancy but I am traveling solo. Can I be paired up?

Yes, we are happy to pair you up with others in a double or triple occupancy. If no pairing is available, single occupancy rates apply.

I am traveling alone! Will I be able to meet up with other traveling guests at the airport?

Yes! We have a Facebook group for all booked guests and aim to connect everyone prior to their travel into Guatemala so you can arrange meet ups and share taxis. We know traveling to a foreign country can be intimidating so we are here to guide you along the way!