Planning For Your Retreat in Guatemala
July 11-18, 2026
Travel to & from Lake Atitlan
You'll fly into Guatemala City, take a private shuttle to Lake Atitlan, and a private boat to the dock of Villa Sumaya, our retreat location.
The trip from the airport to the center is approximately 3.5 hours, and the roads become quite curvy as you approach the lake. If you tend to get carsick, you’ll want to pack medication or natural remedies for the drive.
Once your flights are booked, please forward your details to me. My team will arrange all the transportation on your behalf, and it’ll be added to your final hotel bill. We work with a reputable company referred to us by Villa Sumaya, so you’re in good hands.
ARRIVAL: Plan to arrive at the airport in Guatemala City on July 11th, no later than 3pm (earlier is even better if possible).
DEPARTURE: Plan to leave on a flight out of Guatemala City after noon on July 18th (for greatest travel ease).
You might be required to wait at the airport for other retreat participants who are joining your shuttle, but it shouldn’t be too long. I suggest you grab a big bottle of water and have a small snack with you for the drive.
Consider adding a day before or after the retreat to create more ease in your travel. You can stay the night close to the airport or in the nearby city of Antigua. This is a really nice way to ease in and out of the retreat space.
Packing List
You will find a suggested packing list and other useful info in the Welcome Packet provided by Villa Sumaya.
Health & Safety
Guatemala is a developing country, and while I do not have any concern about our safety, I still recommend practicing caution and good common sense while traveling abroad.
There are safety boxes in your rooms and a common lock box in the office of the retreat center if needed. That said, leave your valuable jewelry at home and don't be flashy with your electronics or money while at the airport or in the city.
You can read about health and safety concerns for Guatemala on the Centers for Disease Control website here, as well as recommendations for vaccines. It is up to you to do research and decide if you want to opt for the various vaccines available.
If you take regular medications or need to have emergency meds on hand (like inhalers or EpiPens), make sure you have an adequate supply upon arrival. While basic toiletries and necessities will be available, things like this will be more difficult to find once at the lake.
Some people like to take out travel insurance when they travel abroad. Again, this is totally up to you. Several good companies offer it. http://worldnomads.com and http://www.csatravelprotection.com are good places to start.
Money & your Retreat balance
Villa Sumaya will take a credit card at the end of the week for any incidentals (spa treatments, excursions, gift boutique purchases), but there is a 4% fee added. To avoid the fee, you can write a personal check, pay in USD, or local currency.
Smaller places around town might not accept CC’s at all, so don't count on that. You'll want to have local currency for our trip to the local market, and smaller bills are always useful as many people won't have change to give you for larger ones.
ATMs offer the best rates, and there’s one at the airport upon arrival and a few at neighboring villages around the lake. However, you can also order from your bank before you come. I'd recommend at least $200 worth of Quetzal and some USD on hand. You'll really just want the local currency for tips, shopping around town, and at the market.
Your final retreat balance is due by May 31st. If you don’t already have a payment plan set up but would like one, please contact me at ashlie@ashliewoods.com.
Tours & Activities
There is a free day in the middle of the retreat for you to do whatever you want - rest, get a spa treatment, go hiking, ziplining, and more. You can read about the various options here. You’ll be able to book things upon arrival.
Suggested Places to Stay Before & After Retreat
Antigua:
Lake Atitlan: