The Full Itinerary
July 2027 Family Hub
Lake Atitlán Cultural Immersion Program
July 12 - July 21, 2027
Come join us and other families with active kids looking to find a program packed with adventure, culture and tradition.
Day 1
July 12, 2027
Arrival and welcome!
Morning
Arrival in Guatemala City and shuttle transfer to San Juan La Laguna.
Check into Lake View Accommodations
Welcome charcuterie spread with fresh fruit, bread, cheeses, veggies, smoothies and juices.
Orientation, review of guidelines and safety information.
Evening:
Dinner/Ice-breaker: paired local "host" families come to accommodation to welcome you to get to know one another.
Day 2
July 13, 2027
Exploring our surroundings
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Tuk-tuk tours around town
Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Kayaking
Lunch
Afternoon
Spanish Immersion Classes: focus on conversational skills
Community Dinner at Hotel
Free time to enjoy the town
Day 3
July 14, 2027
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Tuk-tuk tours around town
Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Kayaking
Lunch
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.
Community Dinner at Hotel
Mayan History and Folklore told by Brigita Matzar
Day 4
July 15, 2027
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Rotating small group activities:
Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Tuk-tuk tours around town
Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Kayaking
Lunch
Afternoon 1:00-3:30
Kids: Supervised craft time in art room
3:30 Traditional Guatemalan Chocolate making demonstration. A HANDS ON activity!
Community Dinner at Hotel
A special live music presentation
Day 5
July 16, 2027
Morning
Breakfast at lodging.
Final day of rotating small group activities:
Guided market tours and shopping for fresh produce
Tuk-tuk tours around town
Weaving with Abuela Concepcion
Kayaking
Lunch
Afternoon 1:00-3:30
Kids: Supervised craft time in art room with teachers.
Adults: Optional Spanish Immersion Classes on deck/massage timeslots
Community Dinner at Hotel
Day 6
July 17, 2027
Day of rest and relaxation
Morning
Breakfast at lodging
Day completely open for individual families to explore and rest.
Families are encouraged to get in touch with their host families to organize outings to local gems.
Optional lunch served at hotel. Please let us know if you will be out for the day to ensure no food is wasted.
Free evening
Day 7
July 18, 2027
Outdoor Adventure
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.
Return - Morning of rest.
Lunch
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!
Day 8
July 19, 2027
Morning
Breakfast served in kitchen
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.
Meet and have lunch back at accommodations
Bonfire
Opportunity to share highlights.
Day 9
July 20, 2027
Early Breakfast
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.
Packed picnic lunch.
Boat ride back to San Juan
Final dinner at "Ancestral Delight"/Staff appreciation.
Phrases learned in Spanish recited by participating children expressing their gratitude towards the staff or something they learned about the Country.
Day 10
July 21, 2027
Morning
Early Breakfast served in kitchen
Final goodbyes
Shuttles leaving at 9:00am and 10:00am back to Guatemala City
Total Price:
Packages starting at
$3200 per family of 2 adults, up to 2 children.
+$400 per extra person
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEALS, ACTIVITIES, ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHUTTLES ALL INCLUDED
(Suppers are left open for families to explore local restaurants or to organize potlucks/community meals with guest families at the hotel.)
Apply today to reserve your family's spot. Just a 30% deposit is required to reserve.
Curious about what your hosts' lives look like??? Click 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
Check out our promo video showcasing our area, activities and accommodations!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Join us for 9 days of work-hard, play-hard fun!
We are so proud to offer this experience, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Guatemala.
Once you’re registered, you’ll be invited to the Registered Families’ WhatsApp group, where guests can share preparation hikes, ideas, questions, tips, and the occasional photo proving that they are, in fact, preparing for this adventure. Our hosts will also be there to answer questions along the way.
A few notes before you come
Come as a guest, not a tourist.
Lake Atitlán remains an extremely traditional and conservative place. We are visitors here, and we want to treat the people and communities who welcome us with respect.
Please dress modestly during your time here, particularly when we are visiting local communities and spending time with host families.
A small gift is optional, but appreciated.
If you would like to bring something for one of the families we support, practical things are often the most appreciated.
A few ideas:
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Quality socks
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A smartphone you no longer use
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Children’s toys
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A quality kitchen utensil or gadget
Please don’t feel like you need to go shopping for a suitcase full of gifts. One thoughtful, useful item is plenty.
Come ready for Guatemala to be Guatemala.
We hope you fall in love with Guatemala for what it is, rather than becoming frustrated by what it is not.
Come with an attitude of adventure.
Things will not always go smoothly. T
hat is not a bug in the program. It is part of the program.
Guatemala is a developing country, and its infrastructure and amenities are developing right along with it. The accommodations we book are considered luxury by local standards, but even nice places are occasionally affected by water cuts, internet outages, power outages and other minor inconveniences.
The soundtrack.
Roosters may announce the morning before your alarm does. Dogs may have important things to discuss at 2 a.m. Music may appear from somewhere down the street. Fireworks may happen for reasons that remain completely mysterious to you. This is normal here.
If you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs.
This is the whole point.
Our goal as your hosts is for you to leave Guatemala better than you arrived.
Not just with photographs and souvenirs, but with a deeper understanding of another culture, stronger relationships, new friendships, a few stories you’ll tell for years, and hopefully a little more awareness of the world and your place in it.
We’re really glad you’re coming.
Cultural Immersion Retreats