Indra’s Grace Guatemala Retreat
August 17-24, 2024
Villa Sumaya • Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala
Guatemala is a jewel in Central America. – unknown to most – and Indra’s Grace welcomes the chance to support your exploration of this beautiful land and its rich culture for a second time while journeying deeply on the spiritual, yogic, and meditative path. Sandra Vanatko will be your guide and has been hosting retreats worldwide since 2012, honored to be partnering with the world-class eco-retreat Villa Sumaya on the shores of stunning Lake Atitlán one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Surrounded by three striking volcanoes and over 1,000 feet deep, this magnificent lake’s beauty is encapsulated in the meaning of the Mayan word Atitlán: “the place where the rainbow gets its colors.
Embark on an Enchanting Journey to the Heart of Guatemala
Discover the Hidden Gem of Central America
Some proclaim that Guatemala is the crown jewel of Central America, a country where nature’s beauty meets vibrant culture at every turn. From the majestic volcanoes that punctuate the skyline to the serene beaches along the coast, from bustling cities to tranquil villages, and from lush rainforests to ancient Mayan ruins, Guatemala is a tapestry of diversity waiting to be explored.
Immerse Yourself in the Rich Tapestry of Guatemalan Culture
Beyond its stunning landscapes, Guatemala’s soul lies in its local culture, a captivating blend of history, tradition, and an undeniable zest for life. Picture yourself surrounded by the kaleidoscope of colors in the woven clothing, participating in ancient Mayan rituals and languages, and standing in awe of the grandeur of the traditional markets and majestic churches.
Your Haven Awaits at Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlán
For one magical week, your home will be Villa Sumaya, nestled on the shores of Lake Atitlán—a place where Mayan culture thrives and the beauty of nature reigns supreme. Villa Sumaya, founded in 2004, is renowned for crafting a warm, inviting, and healing space. Its award-winning cuisine and views that defy description make it the ideal sanctuary for your journey. Learn more here and explore our Guest Welcome Kit to get a taste of the extraordinary experience awaiting you.
Embark on a Transformational Meditation Retreat
Prepare to embark on a profound journey into the world of meditation, unlike any experience you’ve had before. Over the course of 7 nights and 8 days, whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, you will unlock the foundational building blocks of the tantric style of embodied meditation that will serve as your lifelong compass. This week-long retreat will teach you both the simplest and most advanced aspects of the Tibetan tantric tradition. Pure Awareness is our most fundamental nature, neither born nor dying, and it underlies all of the experiences in our human life. If you’re new to meditation, this program will establish a strong foundation. For experienced practitioners, it offers an opportunity to refine your knowledge and delve deeper into decoding your meditation practice, somatic experiences, and how to live from your fundamental nature. Your days will be filled with early morning yoga sessions suitable for all levels, mid-morning meditation sessions, and afternoons set aside for relaxation, excursions, spa treatments, and local shopping. You’ll return to your meditation practice before dinner to deepen your understanding through additional meditation sessions and wisdom teachings, enriching your practice even further. Midweek, you will enjoy a free day to explore the lake, surrounding towns and markets, or simply rest and integrate the first half of the week.
Experience the Magic of Guatemalan Shamanic Ceremonies
In addition to your meditation journey, you’ll have the chance to explore the mystical side of Guatemala. Opt for unique opportunities to engage in traditional Guatemalan shamanic ceremonies with local practitioners, including cacao ceremonies, fire ceremonies, sweat lodges, sound healing, and more. These immersive experiences will connect you to the ancient wisdom and spirituality of the region.
Rediscover Yourself Amidst the Beauty of Guatemala
This retreat is your chance to break away from the demands of daily life and truly listen, becoming deeply attuned to your inner self. Rediscover the connection between your body and breath, embracing the gift of presence. This transformational experience will lead you to a more integrated way of being, both with yourself and with life.
Don’t Miss Out on the Adventure of a Lifetime
We are thrilled to present this exclusive retreat in 2024, with exquisite pricing options to suit your preferences. Early registration is highly recommended, as this intimate luxury retreat is destined to sell out quickly. Prepare for an adventure of a lifetime, a journey that promises to be as unique as it is unforgettable.
Secure your spot and join us in the heart of Guatemala for a week that will forever enrich your mind, body, and soul. Your transformation begins here, amidst the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture of this captivating Central American gem.
Your Guide
Sandra Vanatko is the founder of Indra’s Grace. Since 2007 she has been lovingly guiding students in the fields of yoga, meditation, mindfulness, embodiment, and shadow work. She draws on several different spiritual traditions to support students unique journeys of awakening and transformation. Ultimately her goal is to point the way for students to experience fundamental consciousness itself which is the healing balm for all things. Sandra guides clients in the process of bringing unconscious material into the light of awareness through heart-felt inquiry, yoga, meditation, and loving presence. She also empowers their movement towards wholeness, greater awareness, freedom, peace and fulfillment. She uses breathwork, embodiment practices, both hatha and kundalini yoga, dance, and meditation to guide students to ever expanding understanding and embodiment of simply and purely being.
More about sandra here.
Travel and Additional Information
Villa Sumaya is located on the shores of Lake Atitlan near the village of Santa Cruz la Laguna.
Please plan your flights to arrive in and depart from Guatemala City. As we receive your flight details we will group you together to share private shuttles to Panajachel. From Panajachel, you will take a very short boat ride (15-20 minutes) to the Villa Sumaya Dock. The shuttles and boat ride will be booked for us by Villa Sumaya. Please budget approximately $50 each way give or take for this service. (This may be less or slightly more depending on how many share your shuttle bus).
Taking into account the travel time to and from the center, we suggest arrival times morning to early afternoon, and departures after 12 noon.
A special possiblity:
“Since it’s a 3++ hour car ride and a 20 minute boat ride from Guatemala City to Villa Sumaya, if you have the option, you might consider arriving one day early and staying at the Barcelo Hotel near the airport in Guatemala City. That way you can wake up on the day the retreat begins, take a morning car/boat ride and feel more rested when you arrive at Villa Sumaya. Barcelo is just a short taxi ride from the Airport and Villa Sumaya will pick you up directly from the Barcelo. If you can’t arrive a day early, don’t worry! I just know that if I had the opportunity to arrive a day early, I would definitely do it” -Deb Kern
ANOTHER option is to spend a night or two in Antigua. This breaks up the drive since it’s closer to 2 hours to Antigua then the same to Villa Sumaya on the start day of the retreat. Antigua is very safe. A couple places past retreater have stayed: Hotel Casa Antigua 3a Calle Poniente #5 & Porta Hotel, Antigua … however, there are many more centrally located hotels. We can provide shuttle service information for you to book a private shuttle to your hotel in Antigua, and we can arrange a pick up to take you to Villa Sumaya.
A valid passport is mandatory to enter Guatemala. Visitors from the USA, Canada, and most European countries do not need visas. You will automatically receive a 90-day tourist visa upon entry.
On and Around Lake Atitlan, many options and extras are available including:
- Swimming
- Kayaking
- Diving
- Zip-lining
- Waterskiing
- Boat rides around Lake Atitlan
- Birdwatching
- Hiking the San Pedro Volcano
- Climbing El Pico del Cielo
- A shopping excursion to Panajachel
- Guided village tours to Santiago, San Juan, Santa Catarina, San Antonio, and the Chichicastenango Market
The opportunity to be in nature like this is a gift in itself. Now add to it the incredible healing foods, divine accommodations, yoga practice and meditation practices you will come away with a depth of clarity on what is most important to you and what has most meaning. Join us for this trip of a lifetime.
Travel Insurance
As of 2021, there is no legal requirement to purchase travel insurance in order to visit Guatemala. No one will ask you to show proof of insurance at the border, and the Guatemalan government does not mandate travelers to have insurance. However, we do highly encourage you to purchase travel insurance which can include trip cancellation protection, flight cancellation, rental car protection, emergency medical coverage, and theft protection as Indra’s Grace and Villa Sumaya are not responsible for any of these things.
You can use a website like Aardy.com to compare quotes.
To register, please fill out the Registration Form and then send the required payment. Your registration will not be complete until these two steps are done.
Payments can be made to Indra’s Grace in the form of cash, check, or PayPal with PayPal being the preferred method. If you pay with PayPal, please add 3.5% for the processing fee. Please send your paypal payment to Sandra Vanatko (sandra.vanatko@gmail.com).
The remaining payment balance of the retreat package you choose is due by May 19, 2024. If space is available and you are registering after May 19, 2024, payment in full is required at the time of registration. All payments are non-refundable. Prices do not include airfare or transportation.
All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. All bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable (meaning they cannot be transferred or applied to another retreat). By completing our booking form and paying your deposit you are agreeing to the above terms and conditions.
What’s Included
Your Investment Includes:
- Accommodation: 7 Nights 8 Days accommodation at eco-wellness retreat Villa Sumaya
- Daily Yoga and Meditation Sessions
- Deluxe Meals: Three full vegetarians meals per day (option to add chicken or fish for small upcharge)
- Hot Tub: Solar-heated
- Beverage Bar: Unlimited herbal teas, coffee and purified water service
- Venue Amenities: Lush gardens, hammocks, pool access, yoga equipment and deck.
- Travel Support: Detailed arrival and departure travel support and hotel recommendations.
Additional Costs:
- Airfare
- Airport shuttle and short boat ride (we will help organize)
- Optional spa treatments
- Optional excursions – Click here to view
- Optional shamanic ceremonial practices
- Staff gratuity for the week ($7-10 per day)
Rooms
Click here to see a detailed view of each specific room.
Maya Rose House #2-6
These rooms include lovely lake view patios and are conveniently located near the courtyard, dining room, gardens and boutique. Each has 1 or 2 beds, private bath and an outdoor seating area. These are best if someone has mobility issues.
Single Occupancy $2695 | Double Occupancy $2395
Maya Rose Skyline Bungalows
These cozy unique accommodations are higher on the property. Bungalows have Queens beds, private bath, and require a 70-100 step walk uphill to get to. Imagine the views!
Single Occupancy $2695 | Double Occupancy $2395
Lotus Suites
The Lotus Suites is a newer build, 6 rooms on 3 levels with the Meditation Tiger Temple at the top. Each has 2 or 3 beds, a private bath & small terrace facing the lake.
Single Occupancy $2795| Double Occupancy $2495 | Triple Occupancy $2350
Premium Ginger Suites
These newest and largest rooms with private baths on property with premium views and space. They are higher on the property and some require a significant walk uphill to get to the spectacular views. **Please note that Ginger Suite 21 and 22 are for parties of 2 or 3 only.**
Single Occupancy $2895 | Double Occupancy $2595 | Triple Occupancy $2395
Weather at Lake Atitlan (Villa Sumaya Perspective)
Here at Lake Atitlan, we have two primary seasons: dry season and our lush green season. The dry season is typically from November to April during which time we have almost zero rainfall. This is our peak high season at Villa Sumaya, as it is winter in North America.
May/June and September/October usually have sunny mornings and afternoons with late afternoon showers that may continue into the evening. This is our quieter time of year when the caldera basin is extra green and fresh. During the green seasons, the weather is less predictable and we may have, at some point, a seasonal storm or bout of rain that lasts a few days.
In the middle of the two green seasons, we have a completely dry spell called the Canicula (Summer Break). It is usually in July and August and brings loads of sunshine and only rare, variable rain in the evenings.
Of course, we cannot guarantee any weather outcomes, especially as we see the effects of global climate shift. Just about any time you come to our gorgeous lake it may be enjoyed. Many resident expats appreciate the quiet and beauty of the green season above all other seasons. It is the traditional time to retreat in meditation and a perfect time for writers to get down to business.