Yoga and retreats at Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán has become one of Central America's most established yoga and wellness retreat destinations. The concentration is densest in San Marcos La Laguna, a village accessible only by boat that has drawn teachers, healers, and seekers for decades, but retreat centers are distributed across the western and northern shores from Santiago Atitlán in the south to Tzununa and Jaibalito in the north.

This guide catalogs every retreat center identified during research, organized by town, with official URLs, program descriptions, and pricing notes. A note on prices before you read further: most retreat centers at Lake Atitlán do not publish rates publicly and require direct inquiry. Only Las Pirámides del Ka openly posts its full price schedule. All pricing information here comes from official websites or, where noted, third-party booking data. Prices change. Confirm with the retreat center before booking.

Regulatory Context

Any business offering tourism services in Guatemala must register with INGUAT (Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo). The INGUAT Sello Q program offers a voluntary quality certification valid for two years, renewable through audit. No specialized public registry for yoga or wellness retreats was identified in INGUAT's accessible databases. Individual centers must comply with general hospitality and tourism regulations. If a center claims INGUAT certification, ask to see the Sello Q certificate.

Centers by Town

San Marcos La Laguna

San Marcos La Laguna is the heart of the Lake Atitlán retreat scene. Accessible only by lancha (water taxi) and a short uphill walk from the dock, the village has no road connection to the main highway. That isolation is part of its appeal.

Kawoq Forest (formerly The Yoga Forest)

Kawoq Forest operates on the site of the long-running Yoga Forest retreat center, now under new ownership and an expanded scope. The legacy website theyogaforest.org remains active alongside the new site. Programs include daily yoga classes, holistic wellness modalities, personal and group retreats, medicine ceremonies, indigenous ceremony and ritual experiences, wellness packages, and land stewardship programs. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: +502 33011835 or info@kawoqforest.com.

Casa Paloma

Casa Paloma sits just outside the San Marcos village center and has been developing as a retreat property for more than twenty years (placing its founding before 2006). Its shala accommodates up to 20 yoga students plus an instructor, making it well suited for mid-sized group retreats. Programs include yoga retreats, wellness retreats, writing workshops, breathwork, and Mayan culture exploration. The center also hosts family reunions and private group gatherings. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: via the website contact form or @casapalomaretreat on Instagram.

Eagles Nest Atitlan

Eagles Nest operates an all-inclusive model: three meals per day, two or more daily yoga classes, and sauna three times per week are included in the nightly rate. The program covers a broad range: daily yoga, acro yoga, aerial arts, dance and dynamic movement, breathwork, sound healing, Mayan fire ceremonies, massage, sauna and cold plunge, private lessons, personal retreats, couples retreats, and group bookings. Eco-conscious rooms and private and shared cabins have lake views. Third-party booking data places rates at approximately $272 to $377 per night all-inclusive. Contact: soar@eaglesnestatitlan.com.

Las Pirámides del Ka

Las Pirámides del Ka is the oldest and most distinctive retreat center in San Marcos. Founded on July 11, 1991, during a total solar eclipse, by Chaty Secaira (with spiritual work at the location beginning in the 1970s), it operates from two campuses: Las Pirámides I in San Marcos La Laguna and Las Pirámides II in San Andrés Semetabaj on the opposite shore. Accommodation is in pyramid-shaped cabins; stay requires course enrollment. Programs include the Moon Course (meditation, yoga, metaphysics, dream study), the Sun Course, Del Ka Retreats of 10 or 40 days, daily yoga, and complementary courses in massage, breathwork, permaculture, and astrology.

Las Pirámides del Ka is the only center in this guide that openly publishes its prices:

Program	Price
Moon Course, monthly	Q9,000 (approx. $1,170 USD)
Moon Course, weekly	Q2,500 (approx. $325 USD)
Moon Course, daily	Q400 (approx. $52 USD)
Sun Course, 90 days	USD $3,600
Sun Course, 70 days	USD $2,400
Del Ka Retreat, 21 days	USD $1,000
Del Ka Retreat, 40 days	USD $1,500
Daily external class	Q100 to Q150 per session

Contact: laspiramidesdelka@hotmail.com or WhatsApp +502 5318 4868.

Lush Atitlan

Adjacent to the San Marcos natural reserve and built over more than 20 years, Lush Atitlan is an eco-boutique hotel with a Maya-inspired organic restaurant. It hosts retreat packages (6 nights, 7 days, with 2 meals per day, 3 immersion workshops, 14 integration classes, 2 saunas, and airport transport), as well as bio-cultural experiences and private event hosting. The property includes a natural solar-heated plunge pool, a private beach area, and a wood-burning sauna (operating twice per week). Capacity is 22 guests. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: lushatitlan@gmail.com or +502 54849042.

Santiago Atitlán

Santiago Atitlán sits on the southern shore and is the largest town on the lake. Accessible by lancha from Panajachel (roughly 30 to 40 minutes), it is also the home of the Tz'utujil Maya and the sacred image of Maximón.

Mystical Yoga Farm

Located on the southwestern shore near Santiago Atitlán and accessible only by boat, Mystical Yoga Farm offers 200-hour yoga teacher trainings, yoga retreats, plant medicine ceremonies (ayahuasca, huachuma/San Pedro cactus, jurema/changa), leadership training, the HeartSong devotional singing festival, cacao source training, sound healing, and a volunteer karma yoga program. Accommodation is in private cabins and shared spaces; the model is all-inclusive with meals. The ceremony temple holds up to 80 participants. Third-party booking data places nightly rates at approximately $46 to $80 USD all-inclusive. A 30 percent discount applies in low season. Contact: +502 4815 4649 or info@mysticalyogafarm.com.

Posada de Santiago

Posada de Santiago offers six individual volcanic stone cottages on the Santiago Atitlán lakeshore, accommodating 2 to 8 guests per cottage. A yoga studio and conference room are on-site, along with a temazcal (steam bath), hot tub, lakefront pool, kayaks, pedal boats, and a canoe. Activities include canoeing, hiking, cultural guiding, fishing, and horseback riding. This property suits groups and families seeking a lakefront base with wellness amenities rather than a structured retreat program. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: PosadaSantiagoAtitlan@gmail.com.

Santa Cruz La Laguna

Santa Cruz La Laguna is a small village on the northwestern shore, accessible only by lancha. It is less visited than San Marcos but home to two well-established retreat properties.

Villa Sumaya

Villa Sumaya began as a private property acquired in 2001; the Blue Tiger Temple was built in 2004 and the Lotus House completed in 2007. Today it accommodates up to 50 guests in 23 rooms and hosts 7-night group retreats, personal retreats, Yoga Alliance-certified yoga teacher training, healing spa treatments, Mayan ceremonial experiences, outdoor adventure programming, online sessions, and a restaurant. Villa Sumaya is notable as one of the few centers in the region that explicitly advertises Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training. Prices are not publicly listed; group rates include accommodation, meals, beverage service, studio spaces, and taxes. Contact: +502-4026-1390 or reservations@villasumaya.com.

Casa Prana Resort Hotel

Casa Prana is a boutique luxury property on a 9-acre site in Santa Cruz La Laguna. It offers 8 king-suite rooms (capacity 16 guests), spa services, wellness massage, and yoga. Rates require direct inquiry; bookings go through the direct-book.com portal. Contact: +502 5361 0270 or contact@casaprana.com.

Tzununa

Tzununa is a small, quieter village approximately 20 minutes from Panajachel by lancha. It has emerged as a cluster for eco-retreat and permaculture operations.

Saasil Retreat Center

Founded in 2023 and relocated to Lake Atitlán in 2024, Saasil is one of the newer centers in the region. Its eco-boutique rooms use bamboo, stone, glass, and wood construction. Programs include yoga classes (including a 200-hour teacher training), wellness retreats, cultural immersion, sound baths, massage, temazcal, farm-to-table dining via the on-site Buddha Cafe, and a virtual studio. Bilingual staff speak Spanish and English. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: via the inquiry form at saasil-retreat.myflodesk.com.

Loma de Atitlan (also listed as Lomas de Tzununa)

Loma de Atitlan offers Art Deco cabins with lake views, a private dock for lancha access, a pool, sauna, and a holistic treatment menu including Bach Flowers therapy, Reiki, Hot Stone Therapy, and Swedish massage with acupressure. Yoga sessions are available. Day pass wellness packages can be purchased separately, making it an option for visitors staying elsewhere who want access to the facilities. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: via the official website.

Lake Atitlan Retreats

Lake Atitlan Retreats operates across two locations: lodging in cabins overlooking the lake in Tzununa, and cultural programs in San Juan La Laguna. Programs focus on wellness retreats (meditation, yoga, rest), cultural immersion with the Tz'utujil Maya community, group retreats, tours, and activities. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: +502 4883-6161 or info@lakeatitlanretreats.com. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Bambu Guest House

Established in 2015 and affiliated with Atitlan Organics, Bambu Guest House offers small group retreats combining yoga, permaculture education, natural building, holistic health, and sustainability programming. Six private rooms with balconies accommodate 8 to 20 guests. Pricing is $65 to $95 USD per person per day all-inclusive (accommodation plus three meals). A $500 non-refundable deposit is required per week. Contact: via the official website.

Casa Awanima

A 2.5-acre mountainside eco-lodge in Tzununa offering temazcal, cold plunge, massage, and ceremonial-grade cacao sourcing. The domain was in transition at the time of research. Contact: casaawanima@gmail.com.

Jaibalito

Jaibalito is a tiny, boat-access-only village between Santa Cruz and Tzununa. It has no vehicle road connection to the main highway.

Sacred Garden Yoga Atitlan

A sustainably built family-owned boutique retreat center with a maximum capacity of 18 guests. Programs include yoga retreats, wellness and mindfulness retreats, alchemy therapy, sacred Mayan ceremonies, private tailored retreats, meditation, and breathwork. All materials used in construction are natural and locally sourced. Only accessible by boat. Prices require direct inquiry. Contact: Sacredgardenyogaatitlan@gmail.com or +50237040548.

San Andrés Semetabaj

San Andrés Semetabaj is on the northeastern shore, accessible by road from Panajachel.

Las Pirámides del Ka, Campus II

The second campus of Las Pirámides del Ka (see San Marcos La Laguna entry above) operates in San Andrés Semetabaj. Programs and pricing are identical to the main campus.

Panajachel

Panajachel is the main transportation hub on the lake, with road access from Guatemala City and Antigua.

Atitlan Nature Reserve (wellness and retreat component)

While primarily a day-use nature reserve, Atitlan Nature Reserve in Panajachel includes nature immersion, zip lines, CableBikes, a butterfly preserve, hanging bridges, wildlife viewing, and camping. It is the only facility in this guide that does not require a boat crossing and is well suited for families and visitors with mobility limitations. Daily open hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Contact: +502 7762-2565 or info@atitlanreserva.com.

San Pedro La Laguna

San Pedro Spanish School (language immersion)

Authorized by Guatemala's Ministry of Education and Tourism since 1997, San Pedro Spanish School offers full Spanish immersion programs for adults and children, with cultural workshops and homestay accommodation. While not a yoga retreat, it represents the language-and-cultural end of the retreat spectrum. Programs start from $135 USD per week all-inclusive.

Complete Center Reference Table

Town	Center	Official URL	Key Programs	Price (USD)
San Marcos La Laguna	Kawoq Forest	kawoqforest.com	Daily yoga, group retreats, medicine ceremonies, land stewardship	Contact required
San Marcos La Laguna	Casa Paloma	casapalomaretreat.com	Yoga, wellness, writing, breathwork, Mayan culture	Contact required
San Marcos La Laguna	Eagles Nest Atitlan	eaglesnestatitlan.com	Yoga, acro yoga, aerial arts, sound healing, Mayan ceremony	~$136-$189/night all-incl
San Marcos La Laguna	Las Pirámides del Ka	laspiramidesdelka.com	Moon Course, Sun Course, Del Ka Retreats, daily classes	From ~$52/day (published)
San Marcos La Laguna	Lush Atitlan	lushatitlan.com	Eco-hotel, bio-cultural retreats, workshops, sauna	Contact required
San Marcos La Laguna	The Yoga Forest	theyogaforest.org	(Now operating as Kawoq Forest)	Contact required
Santiago Atitlán	Mystical Yoga Farm	mysticalyogafarm.com	YTT, plant medicine, sound healing, HeartSong festival	~$46-$80/night all-incl
Santiago Atitlán	Posada de Santiago	posadadesantiagoatitlan.com	Cottages, yoga studio, temazcal, kayak, cultural activities	Contact required
Santa Cruz La Laguna	Villa Sumaya	villasumaya.com	Group retreats, Yoga Alliance YTT, Mayan ceremony, spa	Contact required
Santa Cruz La Laguna	Casa Prana	casaprana.com	Spa, wellness massage, yoga, garden	Contact required
Tzununa	Saasil Retreat Center	saasilretreat.com	Yoga, YTT, temazcal, sound baths, cultural immersion	Contact required
Tzununa	Loma de Atitlan	lomadeatitlan.com	Yoga, Reiki, Hot Stone, Bach Flowers, day passes	Contact required
Tzununa	Lake Atitlan Retreats	lakeatitlanretreats.com	Wellness retreats, Tz'utujil cultural immersion	Contact required
Tzununa	Bambu Guest House	bambuguesthouse.com	Yoga, permaculture, natural building, farm-to-table	$65-$95/day all-incl
Tzununa	Casa Awanima	casaawanima.com	Permaculture, temazcal, cacao, cold plunge	Contact required
Tzununa / San Juan	Atitlan Organics (Bambu ecosystem)	atitlanorganics.com	Permaculture education, reforestation, impact travel	Via Bambu
Jaibalito	Sacred Garden Yoga Atitlan	sacredgardenatitlan.com	Yoga, wellness, Mayan ceremony, private tailored retreats	Contact required
San Andrés Semetabaj	Las Pirámides del Ka II	laspiramidesdelka.com	Same as main campus	From ~$52/day (published)
Panajachel	Atitlan Nature Reserve	atitlanreserva.com	Nature immersion, zip lines, butterfly preserve, camping	Admission not posted
San Pedro La Laguna	San Pedro Spanish School	sanpedrospanishschool.com	Spanish immersion, cultural workshops, homestay	From $135/week

Prices change. Confirm with the retreat center before booking.

FAQ

Which town has the most retreat centers? San Marcos La Laguna has the highest concentration of yoga and spiritual retreat centers, followed by Tzununa. San Marcos is accessible only by lancha, which contributes to its intentionally quieter character.

Do any centers publish their prices openly? As of the research conducted for this guide, Las Pirámides del Ka in San Marcos La Laguna is the only center that publicly posts a complete price schedule. Eagles Nest Atitlan and Bambu Guest House post approximate rate ranges. Most others require direct inquiry.

Are these centers regulated by the Guatemalan government? Any tourism business in Guatemala must register with INGUAT. No specialized public registry for yoga or wellness retreat operators was found in INGUAT's accessible databases. INGUAT's voluntary Sello Q quality certification program is available to any registered tourism business but participation is not mandatory.

What is the difference between a yoga retreat and a plant medicine ceremony? Several centers (Mystical Yoga Farm, Kawoq Forest, Eagles Nest Atitlan) offer both. Plant medicine ceremonies involve substances such as ayahuasca or San Pedro cactus in ceremonial contexts. These are distinct from yoga or meditation retreats and carry different considerations around preparation, health screening, and legality that vary by country of residence. Research thoroughly before participating.

How do I get to San Marcos La Laguna? From Panajachel, take a lancha (water taxi) headed toward San Pedro La Laguna and ask to be dropped at San Marcos. The journey takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes and costs Q25 to Q35 per person. Lanchas run from approximately 7:00 AM until around 7:00 PM.

Sources

All sources accessed 2026-05-20.