+ Is it safe to travel?

Even in your own home, there are countless ways you could get injured or even die. Whenever you leave your house, that risk multiplies, especially if you get into a car. There is an inherent risk in anything you do. When it comes to travel, of course, there is a risk, but there’s also a reward. That’s what makes it an adventure!

Thankfully, we are now at a time when Guatemala no longer has vaccination requirements to enter the country. So you are NOT required to be vaccinated against COVID to come on this retreat.

+ Do I need to speak Spanish?

No, speaking spanish is not required. We will handle all the logistics and arrangements for you so you just have to show up and follow our lead.

+ Can men come too?

Unfortunately, no.

+ Do I have to be vaccinated to come?

Nope! Yay 😀

+ What’s included?

Retreat tuition. Private transportation from the Guatemala City or Antigua to Hummingbird Valley on the morning of the retreat. Accommodation for 7 nights at a gorgeous lake house, plus breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And, Tuk tuk and boat rides! :D

+ What’s not included?

What’s not covered are your flights to and from Guatemala, personal shopping expenses, travel insurance (required), massages, and any additional snacks and treats you will have the chance to purchase. Also, because the trip will end on an open note (so you can decide where you will go next - or if you will stay longer) you will be responsible for your return transportation to the airport. Don't worry, we will help you arrange it, you just have to decide when you want to leave.

+ Where will we stay?

You’ll be staying 7 nights at a gorgeous lakeside house on Lake Atitlan in Hummingbird Valley. This will be our homebase from where we'll explore the valley - it's about a 5 min tuk tuk ride to Karuna. You'll also have plenty of time to relax and enjoy being at the lake!

There are two room types in this house - the dorm room with bunk beds and two rooms with twin and double beds. Unfortunately, this space does not allow us to offer participants private rooms, so all accomodations are shared rooms. Don’t worry, it’s fun like being at camp with friends.

+ How can I pay?

You can pay through this site by credit card or Paypal.

+ How do I get there?

Your goal is to be in Guatemala City or Antigua on the morning of the retreat. Our drivers will pick you up either from the airport or from your hotel in Guatemala City or Antigua and bring you to Hummingbird Valley for our 2pm start.

+ What should I pack?

We ask that you leave home products with chemicals as everything you use goes directly into the land, so we prefer that you bring only natural products, including natural bug repellent (no DEET please).

Bring a bathing suit for a dip in the lake!

Bring a walking stick to help you maneuver the rocky terrain.

Make sure you bring your own refillable water bottle as single-use plastic bottles are discouraged.

Guatemala at this time of year can get quite chilly at night, so be sure you bring some warm layers.

Bring clothes you’ll be comfortable in doing yoga, as well as hiking in nature (optional).

We recommend bringing both flip-flops and close-toed shoes that will feel good during walking and hiking up a mountain.

Dog treats are always welcome!

Last time participants brought their favorite snacks from home and it worked really well for them.

Bring a journal as we’ll be prompting you to write during this experience.

Luke will also be really happy if you bring him a puppet!

+ Do I have to hike?

No, you don't.

We encourage you to listen to your body and do what feels right for you, therefore you are welcome to do what you like. If you’d rather stay at the lakehouse or hang out at Karuna, that’s your choice. We want this to be a fun and easeful experience for you, but moreso we want you to honor the limits of your body.

While we have designed an itinerary of fun activities, you are welcome to participate (or not) in the way that feels best for you. We encourage you to always take responsibility for your wellbeing in this and every moment of your life.

+ Can I bring my kids?

We are offering you to take this time for yourself, so we encourage you to leave the kids at home. If, however, your child is over 15 years old and really really really wants to come for themselves, then we are open to it, however they would need to pay a separate tuition and accommodation fee. Young people under 15 are not able to be included in this experience at this time.

More than anything, we encourage you to think of this trip as sacred self-care time for you to deeply connect to yourself, free from your responsibilities and obligations to others.

+ What's your cancellation policy?

We want you to be sure you are making a full commitment to this experience when you sign up, just as we are making a commitment to you to hold this space for you to come and have this adventure.

Therefore, with the exception of emergencies, we do not offer refunds if you change your mind and decide not to come, except in the instance we are able to find someone to take your place (at which point we can offer you a refund minus a $200 admin fee). In the instance of an emergency, we reserve the right to offer refunds at our discretion. In some cases, we will offer you a 50% refund with a remaining credit that can be used towards future retreats and offerings.

+ Expectations of participants

We want people to come on this retreat who are flexible, adaptive, and willing to grow through all experiences.

We encourage you to take responsibility for your experience, take care of yourself, directly communicate your needs, do your part to make sure you have what you need to make the most of this experience, and to put in your best effort in each moment.

You will be sharing time, space, and energy with others, so we ask you to leave the drama at home and come with an open mind and heart to what this experience has to offer us.

We are creating this experience together, and it's going to be amazing. Sometimes there will be challenges - that’s the nature of an adventure - so we ask you to be ready to grow through each moment, knowing and trusting that everything is perfect and happening for our benefit.

There is no magic pill and we are not here to save you, but we are here to care about you and create a container for you to step up, step out of your normal life and way of living, and have an extraordinary experience here with us in Hummingbird Valley.

Also, please note that there will likely be some bugs. The spider can look scary, but that's just Wally and he's purely decorative. We ask you to be cool too and not try to kill or poison our friend Wally. So please leave the DEET at home and if you want to use bug repellent we ask you to opt for the natural alternatives. Thank you for your willingness and understanding to peacefully coexist with our tiny friends!