Welcome Packet: Voice Medicine Retreat
LOCATION: CASA FLORESTA, GUATEMALA
Welcome! We are excited you are here.
Lake Atitlán is one of the natural wonders of the world. Casa Floresta is located lakeside in Pasajcap, between San Marcos La Laguna and Tzununa, directly next to the well known Casa Colibri. You can see the location on the map here.
See more information below for Travel Arrangements.
ARRIVAL: 2.00-3.00pm for Accommodation check-ins
3-3.30pm to Casa Floresta Temple - Opening Ceremony at 3.30pm
For those with accommodations, please meet in San Marcos la Laguna and be ready to take our provided private boat to Casa Floresta and Casa Colibri dock from the public dock in San Marcos at 2pm sharp.
For those staying at Casa Colibri, please get off at the Colibri dock. Genevieve, the manager of the property should be there to greet you and show you know where you are staying. Her number is +50248260471 if you need support or would like to extend your stay you can check directly with her. Once settled in, walk out of Casa Colibri and left to the stair entrance of Casa Floresta, come up the stairs and wait outside the Temple.
For those with Accommodation options at Casitas Aurora, Casa El Amate and Casa Floresta, please arrive directly to Casa Floresta dock. Paula will be there to greet you and show you to your accommodation.
For all Offsite participants (finding your own accommodations in San Marcos la Laguna) please arrive between 3.30-4pm to Casa Floresta for us to begin our Opening Ceremony at 4pm sharp. Arriving to Casa Floresta dock, walk to the left along the beachfront then up the grand stair entrance (do not go straight up or you will be at Casitas Aurora). There will be a private boat arranged for offsite participants to take you back to San Marcos la Laguna after our evening activities. If you are not staying in San Marcos you will need to pay the boat driver directly any additional costs to go to Tzununá (Q125) or any other direction as the driver charges. For all arrivals you will need to take the public boat service from San Marcos to Casa Floresta dock Q5-10.
If you are familiar with the lake and will make your own way here, please do so between 2-3pm to check in for accommodations, or between 3-3.30pm if staying offsite to arrive in time for our Opening Ceremony at 3.30pm.
Room Allocations will be shared in our WhatsApp group a week prior to the retreat.
ALL PARTICIPANTS: Please arrive to Casa Floresta between 3-3.30pm.We will begin our opening circle at 3.30pm together.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
For 6 nights:
Shared Accommodation - $1195 USD
Private Accommodation - $1595 USD.
Tuition & Food Package Only (Off-site) - $795 USD
With extra 3 night Add-on:
(2 Aya Ceremonies with Letizia Xiuh & Shahaf Schvarzmann)
Shared Accommodation (9 nights total accommodation) - $1795 USD
Private Accommodation (9 nights total accommodation) - $2295 USD
Offsite (Temple sleeping) - $1145 USD
All inclusive of course and 2 daily vegetarian meals, and snacks at Casa Floresta.
OFFSITE STUDENTS; Please arrange your accommodations as soon as possible. We highly recommend our new Boutique Hotel and Spa Kula Maya as a luxurious option, located on the lakefront in San Marcos, 1 minute walk from the public dock. Or see our Neighbouring Accomodations in Pasajcap for rent from our neighbours for more economical options.
See cancellation/transfer policies here.
FURTHER PAYMENTS DUE
Balances are due to be settled 60 days prior to the retreat, you will be invoiced at this time and asked to settle the balance via credit card or bank transfer. For payments sent via bank transfer please be sure to send confirmation to info@forestpath.co. If payment is not finalised by the 30 day mark you place may be given to someone on the waitlist.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Comfortable clothing
- Ceremonial white or light coloured clothes (if staying for the ceremonies)
- Bathing suit for swimming & sauna
- Sarong/towel for lake/outdoor showering
- Toothbrush, toothpaste & soap (natural)
- Natural insect repellent & itch soothing cream (if you are prone to bites)
- Sunhat & sunscreen (natural)
- Blankets/shawl to keep warm - it's nice to have layers so you can be comfortable when temperatures shift
- Reusable water bottle
- Journal and pen
- Instruments if you wish to share music
- Sacred objects for your own altar if you wish
- Healthy, natural snacks if you feel you may need something between meals
- Eye mask and ear plugs if you are sleeping in the temple
WEATHER:
Weather in San Marcos La Laguna is usually very mild. Most days the temperature is around 17-24 degrees Celsius, however due to the altitude here at Lake Atitlån (1500m), nights can be as low as 10 degrees Celsius.
Guatemala has a dry season (November to April) and a wet season (May- October) each year. July and August are often also dry with a break in the rains. Please pack accordingly for stays during the wet season.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:
Make your flight arrangement: Plan to arrive into Guatemala City Aurora (code GUA) International airport. From there, please keep in mind that it is still a half day journey to Lake Atitlán, so be sure to arrange a flight to arrive one day prior to the day the retreat begins. If you arrive the day before, you have a few options:
Option 1 PRIVATE TRANSPORT: You can arrange private transport from the airport to Panajachel or San Marcos la Laguna with Martha Herrera via WhatsApp +50230730413. She will connect you with a driver, send you their ID and car registration for your safety and be monitoring your travel. She is highly recommended. From Pana, the option for you is to either take the public lancha (boat) to Casa Floresta or San Marcos (Q25, 45mins) or a private boat (Q250, 15 mins). You will pay the car and boat drivers directly.
Option 2 SHARED TRANSPORT: From the airport take a shuttle straight to Antigua Guatemala (they leave every hour) and stay in a hostel/ hotel in Antigua for the night (see recommendations below). Antigua has great restaurants, markets, nightlife and is a safe tourist town. From there, take a collective shuttle for the earliest departure the next morning at 8am sharp (arrange at any travel agency the night prior - they are everywhere) and begin your journey to either Panajachel or San Marcos la Laguna on the lake in order to arrive by 1pm. We are a 2 minute boat ride from San Marcos, and a 45 public minute boat ride from Panajachel.
TRANSPORT CONTACTS:
Private Cars to/from Airport/ City/ Antigua)
Martha; WhatsApp +50230730413
Private boats to/from Pana)
Esteban: WhatsApp +50245982482
HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEAR AIRPORT:
Hyatt Centric, Westin, Hotel Dos Lunas, Hostel Villa Toscana, Mariana's Petit Hotel
TRAVEL PREPARATION (VISA & VACCINES):
Your Guatemalan Tourist Visa (valid for 90 days) will be given to you at immigration once you've arrived in Guatemala. Depending on your nationality you may need a return flight out of the country to be presented at check in for your flight.
No inoculations are required to enter Guatemala, but it is always best to talk to your doctor and check out the Center for Disease Control website for information about recommended vaccinations.
Daily Schedule:
8:00 - 9:00 am Vocal Practice
9:00 - 9.30 am Smoothie & Tea Break
9.30 - 11:00 am Morning Workshop
11:00 - 1:00 pm Brunch
1:00 - 3:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 1
3:00 - 3:30 pm Snack
3:30 - 5:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 2
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner
6:30 - 8:00 pm Evening Activity
DEPARTURE:
If you are not staying for the weekend of ceremonies, departure will be after breakfast on the 16th, around 11am.
CEREMONY EXTENSION:
If you are staying on for the ceremonies, we will meet in the Temple at 5pm on the 17th, you will not need to move accommodations. Meals will not be provided after breakfast on the 16th until after ceremony on the 17th, so please plan accordingly.
EXTENSION SCHEDULE:
17th Jan
5pm Meet in Temple
6-12am Ceremony
12-1am Soup
18th Jan
9am Light breakfast snack served at Temple
11.30am Brunch served in Main House
5.30pm Meet in Temple
6-12am Ceremony
12-1am Soup
19th Jan
9.30am Breakfast served in House
10.30am Check out of Accommodations, store luggage
11am Integration Circle in Temple
1pm Departure via Public Boats
CEREMONY PREPARATION
Please see our Preparation, and Integration pages for more information about the ceremonial experience. If you are taking any medications, or have a psychiatric diagnosis, please email us. Please understand this is not a Forest Path ceremonial ritual, it is the work of Letizia and Shahaf which we much admire and respect, although we do things quite differently. Ceremonies with Leti and Shahaf will be in the dark in a more traditional Shipibo/ mestizo Amazonian style.
We also offer Preparation and Integration sessions with our Integration coach Paola Afonso if you would like more support for your journey.
VOICE MEDICINE RETREAT WHATSAPP GROUP
If you have not yet joined please do so here; https://chat.whatsapp.com/LIiwG3D0Ty4B5tp5Hu8fl1
CASA FLORESTA WHATSAPP GROUP
If you are already in San Marcos or plan to be in the area prior to ceremony please join the Casa Floresta Events WhatsApp group to be able to visit our Temple for many beautiful offerings rotating all the time such as Sound Ceremony, Yoga, Breathwork, Sacred Sweats etc; https://chat.whatsapp.com/L1dq0fPXrZy6tWXRldHaV3
If you have any other questions or concerns about preparing for your Voice Medicine Retreat, you can email us at info@forestpath.co. We are excited to be in song with you very soon!
