Guided Atitlan Bliss adventure Retreat
Yoga * Nature * Cultural Immersion * Photography
march 2-8, 2025
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Come with me to my favorite place of my travels, the MAGICAL Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. This retreat is designed for those seeking to step out of their comfort zone and immerse themselves in the vibrant Guatemalan culture. Enjoy moments of silence and seclusion, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, without worrying about the logistics—all taken care of for you. Practice optional yoga overlooking majestic volcanoes, embark on boat trips to visit local villages, and paddleboard among local fishermen. Relax on the private dock with breathtaking views or take a water taxi to your next destination. Slow down, journal, swing in a hammock, and connect with people from all corners of the globe. This retreat is also for photography lovers, as tips and tricks will be given along the way. This retreat offers a truly unique and enriching experience that will leave you rejuvenated and inspired.
Join me!
This retreat offers an unforgettable experience with everything you need to fully unwind and explore. You’ll be seamlessly transported with shuttle and water taxi service to and from the hotel or airport. Enjoy five nights and six days of cozy accommodations, along with three delicious vegan meals a day when at the farm, plus clean drinking water to keep you refreshed. Each morning, we’ll start the day with rejuvenating yoga classes, and in the evenings, you’ll have two additional yoga sessions to wind down. Themed private campfires will offer a cozy, magical experience under the stars. You’ll also have unlimited access to the beautiful grounds, including paddleboards, a tranquil tearoom, a reading area, hiking trails, hammocks, and even friendly kitties to pet. A guided hike will immerse you in the stunning nature surrounding the lake, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit nearby villages, with a water taxi included for a unique local experience. It’s the perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and connection to the land and community.
Guatemala and Lake Atitlan
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Guatemalan people, exploring their traditions, rituals, and way of life.
Experience the enchanting Lake Atitlan, surrounded by majestic volcanoes and unique indigenous villages. Discover the spiritual energy of the lake as we take time for quiet reflection and meditation.
Indulge in the delicious flavors of Guatemalan cuisine, savoring traditional dishes made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
One thing I experienced was truly preservative-free food. With the remote location, food must be locally sourced!
What is included
Shuttle and water taxi to and from hotel or airport
5 nights, six days of accommodations, 3 vegan meals a day when at farm and clean drinking water
Daily morning yoga classes
Themed private camp fire
2 Additional yoga classes in evening
Unlimited use of grounds including paddle boards, tearoom, reading area, hiking trails, hammocks, kitties to pet
Guided hike
Guided trip to nearby villages, including water taxi fair
What’s Not Included?
Airfare
Meals while traveling to and from the farm
Additional trips to the villages (logistics onsite can be arranged for at cost, as desired. Guatemala is VERY inexpensive. )
Hotel in Guatemala City, if needed based on flight arrival and shuttle pick up times
All of this, 5 days for only $1375
*We will try and fill the dorm up with our group. If we are not able to, there is a small possibility the other dorms could be co-ed.
*Upgrades to private rooms will be available closer to the trip at $100 extra dollars based on availability
“When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward humman, and the road away from 'Here' seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in themselves a good and sufficient reason for going.”
- Steinbeck
Mystical Yoga Farm
Their Vision
Through transformational experiences, plant-based diet, yoga, and community we co-create a sustainable and regenerative way of living. We strive to have a lasting positive impact on all who come to this sacred land. Our guests leave inspired to spread the love and healing to their local communities, thus co-creating a new way of being… a New Earth!
Lastly, by working with our local staff, we support the Tzʼutujil Mayan community by providing education, jobs, resources, and a loving international family.
This is an eco-friendly site
There is no trash removal at the farm. What you bring in, you bring out
Warm showers are solar powered and requested to be fast
Please note this is a very well run and clean facility, but it is very rustic. Lake Atitlan is rural so accommodations are modest. This is not a fancy yoga center, but the views, remoteness, and food make it a one of a kind experience
Only biodegradable soaps etc. allowed (sold at site, if needed/I can recommend brands)
You will be given flatware and asked to clean it throughout your stay
There is no heat or ac - Temps are comfortable and blankets provided
No Wi-Fi for guests (Wi-Fi is onsite for emergencies). Guests are encouraged to unplug
No electricity in rooms
Common areas have electricity, but rooms are made to be quiet and reflective
Safety & Logistics
Let’s work together to schedule a flight, so it lines up with the shuttle pick up.
As you research the country, you may come across safety warnings—just as you would when looking up information about any destination. I'm happy to address any concerns you have before or after booking the trip.
If travel insurance helps ease your mind, there are many affordable options available, and I'm happy to assist with recommendations.
Meet your host
Melanie Sassano
Host/Travel Guide
Melanie caught the travel bug in her teens, and since then, she has led a dual life, balancing a successful career in technology project management for Fortune 100/500 companies with her passion for travel. For over 20 years, she has explored the world, living out of a backpack, a home on wheels, and even tents. Alongside her corporate endeavors, Melanie has been deeply involved in female and technology leadership, volunteering for NGOs in developing countries and at home.
Now, Melanie is blending her yoga training, travel experiences, and leadership skills into a unique offering. She is leading a group to do what she loves most: taking people out of their comfort zones to experience something new, surprising, forgive the cliche but magical.
“Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Tour masters, schedules, reservations, brass-bound and inevitable, dash themselves to wreckage on the personality of the trip. Only when this is recognized can the blown-in-the glass bum relax and go along with it. Only then do the frustrations fall away. In this a journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”
-Steinbeck
