We are going back to Villa Sumaya

Magical Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Join Beryl & the Sangha for our return journey to one of the most extraordinary locations on the planet.

Going back to the early 70’s, I had always wanted to go to Guatemala to study the Mayan culture. Last year that dream finally took shape as we launched our first trip to Villa Sumaya in the Guatemalan highlands of the Sierra Madre mountain range. There was something really special about this trip to Guatemala. Maybe it was the omnipresent spirit of the Mayan culture, or maybe the ancient wisdom held by Lake Atitlan itself (the deepest lake in all of Central America), or maybe the people or the towering presence of the three 11,000 foot volcanoes that triangulate the lake, or maybe all of it together. Whatever it was, it was a pretty magical journey. I knew from Day One, we would return, and so did everyone on the trip.

Villa Sumaya is a retreat and wellness center located in Santa Cruz la Laguna, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.

 Our destination, Villa Sumaya, is majestically located on the shores of Lake Atitlan, the place Aldous Huxley called “the most beautiful lake in the world”. Far removed from daily life, the entire sanctuary is dedicated to rejuvenating holistic practices and offers many indigenous ceremonies such as traditional sweat lodge, Mayan fire ceremony, & shamanic sound healing and is the perfect place for bringing our yoga lifestyle of movement, meditation, healing, connection, and community.

Our week in the Mountains

Every morning we begin with greeting the day, calling in the 4 directions, observing silence, sitting for meditation, then fruit, tea and that fabulous Guatemalan coffee. Sometimes asana is before breakfast, sometimes after, depends on what else is happening that day – hiking the volcanos – paddle boarding – walking the shore line to nearby villages, or rowdy boat rides across the lake to some of the festive ancient Mayan pueblos that dot the shores and are only accessible by boat.

The meals are off the charts. Villa Sumaya offers some of the most inspired and delicious vegetarian and plant based cuisine found anywhere! And as a vegetarian and plant based cook for 55 years, I am pretty discerning. It really is spectacular to sit and leisurely eat dinner with your friends, watching the sun set behind the ever towering presence of the mountains. Whether during meal time or walking the colorful, painted streets of San Juan la Laguna, the days are truly filled with love, laughter, and light.

Spread out on the hillside overlooking the lake, all of the rooms are simply gorgeous and filled with colorful Guatemalan folk art. Every year, new rooms or facilities are added to the mix and this year we have the two brand new apartments, which I saw last year just as they were finishing construction – they are stunning, modern, and each with a private kitchen, just in case you want to brew up your own coffee or tea in the mornings. But every room is unique, whether the Maya Rose, the Ginger Suites, the Bungalows or the Apartments.

I can’t think of much to not love about this place.

Be a part of this vibrant sangha.