The Full Itinerary
Widows with Children
Lake Atitlan Cultural Immersion Program, July 21 -30, 2025
A unique travel experience with the opportunity to connect with local families in Guatemala. Your family will be paired with a local single mother "host family" to share and observe the daily life of a Guatemalan family. While you will be staying in our Lakeview accommodations, host families will show you the local gems around Lake Atitlan, traditional weaving workshops, arts and crafts for the kids, a private boat tour around the Lake, Spanish lessons and so much more.
Take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to connect with other women that have also experienced loss.
Only 7 spots available for this incredible experience!
Day 1
July 21, 2025 - MONDAY
Arrival and welcome!
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Morning
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Arrival in Guatemala City and shuttle transfer to San Juan La Laguna.
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Check into Lake View Accommodations
Welcome charcuterie spread with fresh fruit, bread, cheeses, veggies, smoothies and juices.
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Orientation, review of guidelines and safety information.
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Evening:
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Dinner/Ice-breaker: paired local "host" families come to accommodation to welcome you to get to know one another.
Day 2
July 22, 2025 TUESDAY
Exploring our surroundings
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Group 1:Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Group 2:Tuk-tuk tours around town
Group 3: Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Group 4: Kayaking
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Lunch
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Afternoon
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Spanish Immersion Classes: focus on conversational skills
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Community Dinner at Hotel
Free time to enjoy the town
Day 3
July 23, 2025 - WEDNESDAY
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Group 2: Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Group 3: Tuk-tuk tours around town
Group 4: Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Group 1: Kayaking
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Lunch
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Afternoon 1:00-3:30
Kids: Supervised craft time in art room​
Adults: Spanish Immersion Classes: focus on conversational skills
In-room massage timeslots available.​
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Community Dinner at Hotel
Mayan History and Folklore told by Brigita Matzar
Day 4
July 24, 2025 - THURSDAY
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Group 3: Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Group 4: Tuk-tuk tours around town
Group 1: Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Group 2: Kayaking
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Lunch
Afternoon 1:00-3:30
Kids: Supervised craft time in art room​
Adults: Massage Time Slots $15/35mins​
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Community Dinner at Hotel
A special live music presentation
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Day 5
July 25, 2025 - FRIDAY
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Final day of rotating small group activities:
Group 4:Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Group 1: Tuk-tuk tours around town
Group 2: Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Group 3: Kayaking
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Lunch
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Afternoon 1:00-3:30
​Kids: Supervised craft time in art room with teachers.
Adults: Optional Spanish Immersion Classes on deck/massage timeslots
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Community Dinner at Hotel
Day 6
July 26, 2025 - SATURDAY
​​Community Service Day
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Morning
Breakfast at lodging
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Visit local public school and play dynamic movement games with local children.​
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Shared lunch at school with local families, a translated talk from a local widow about the local traditions of dealing with grief.
Afternoon
Community Service Electives: ​​
Pick up trash on the beach and give back to our host community OR
Help paint a home of a local family in need of a little renovation!
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Free evening, time to connect in small groups to share the stories of your departed.
Day 7
July 27, 2025 - SUNDAY
Optional morning stretching on deck, guided by Christina.
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Morning
Free for last shopping and preparing to go home.
Breakfast served in kitchen
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Afternoon
Paired local families arrive to take guests around town to their favourite spots, introduce them to friends, family, etc. Guest families will be invited into local "host" family's homes for coffee and sweetbread to experience how local Guatemalans live. Toy share activity: guests present gifts they brought to share with their host families in return for their tremendous hospitality.
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Meet and have lunch back at accommodations​​​​​
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Day 8
July 28, 2025 - MONDAY
Outdoor Adventure
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Morning
4:00am wake up for pickup ride to Indian Nose lookout point that overlooks all of lake Atitlan. Pancake breakfast and coffee served at summit.
HIKE OPTION AVAILABLE FOR THE NOT-SO-FAINT OF HEART!
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Return - Morning of rest.
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Afternoon
Lunch
Kids: Craft room open for supervised creative play, rest, boardgames, snacks and refreshments, music jam for those that play instruments.
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Dinner out for families to connect. ​
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7:00pm
A hot soak at the Solar pools in San Pedro. (Thermo-baths in a beautiful secret garden environment)
Day 9
July 29, 2025 - TUESDAY
Early Breakfast​
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Boat tour around the lake, swimming at San Marcos blue water nature reserve, visit ceramics factory in San Antonio, shop traditional textiles in Santiago Atitlan.
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Packed picnic lunch.
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Boat ride back to San Juan​.
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Dinners out with host families!
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Bon fire and time to connect as a group, share highlights.
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Day 10
July 30, 2025 - WEDNESDAY
Morning
Early Breakfast served in kitchen
Final goodbyes
Shuttles leaving at 8:00am and 10:00am back to Guatemala City ​​​​
This incredible 9 night experience includes accommodations, itinerary activities, transportation to and from airport, all breakfasts and lunches.
Price starts at $2200
(Up to 4 family members)
APPLY AND CHECK OUT PRICING OPTIONS HERE:
CLOTHES PACK LIST
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7-8 Pairs socks and underwear
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4 Pants
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Comfortable hiking pants
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3 pairs of shorts
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8 shirts/tops
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Toiletries, brush, hair ellastics
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Swimwear
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Sandals -hiking type recommended for versatility
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Sport Bras
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Base layer of thermo-wear
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Jacket AND sweater
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Walking shoes
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Earplugs and headphones
LAUNDRY SERVICE IS AVAILBLE FOR 40 QUETZALES A LOAD.
GENERAL INFORMATION
​Join us for an incredible 9 days of play hard fun! We are so proud to offer this experience. Once registered, you will be invited to the Registered Families' WhatsApp group party-line where registered guests are posting ideas, preparation hike photos, tips and questions for the hosts to answer. ​
​A few notes!
Lake Atitlan remains extremely traditional and conservative in nature. Please remember that we are guests and as such we should dress and behave respectfully towards the hosts. Please dress modestly during your time here.
Bringing a small gift is optional but recommended to give to some of the families we support in our community. (Quality socks, a no-longer used smartphone, children's toys or a quality kitchen utensil/gadget.)
We hope you love Guatemala for what it is and don't hate it for what it is not: Come with an attitude of adventure and expect some things to NOT go smoothly at all times. Guatemala is a developing country and amenities and infrastructure are developing. While the accommodations we book and offer during your visit are considered luxury to the local population, they are not immune to occasional water cuts, internet cuts, power outages, etc. Guatemala is a vibrant place and roosters crowing, dogs barking, music playing and fireworks being set off at all times of the day is considered normal. Please bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Our goal as your hosts is for you to leave our place BETTER, in so many ways.
Cultural Immersion Retreats