Please Read: It’s COLD in Guatemala!

You heard us! It is legitimately cold at night here. 

Listen up y’all! We know a lot of you are traveling from snow blown winter climates in Northern Europe, the USA or Canada and are thinking that in comparison Central America is hot and tropical, but not true! We will be in the mountains at high altitude so expect vast temperature changes between day and night. Similar to most deserts, once the sun goes down you will experience a bone chilling, see your breath, huddle by the fire type of cold. To be comfortable you will want layers; a jacket, sweater, hat, warm socks etc. (See our packing list for more suggestions). The later you stay out, the colder it gets right up until the sun warms things back up again the next day. 

There are not any convenient places to buy winter gear nearby. You can buy things like ponchos and blankets in other villages around the lake, but remember they are all handmade so they are both beautiful and require a financial investment. Also, these things aren’t typically available for sale in the village where the festival takes place since it is too small. 

Climate & Terrain 

Lake Atitlán is a high altitude volcanic lake with Mayan villages scattered throughout. The festival is happening at Gaia Dance Temple in Tzununá, a neighboring village to San Marcos. The biggest city on the lake is Panajachel, and can be a place to change transportation when arriving from Guatemala City. 

Here on Laka Atitlàn we are at altitude, so once the sun is gone the temperature drops. Expect gorgeous 24 degrees Celsius days, and frigid 6 degrees nights. 

You can buy beautiful warm clothing here if you arrive a few days before the retreat/festival, but most of it is handmade and can be pricey. You will want a sweater, warm socks and a hat (we promise you will thank us if you bring these things!). Also, the roads are rugged and unpaved, so you’ll likely want boots (theres a moto on the lake that goes: boots or barefoot! Nothing in between). Additionally there are some pretty stellar hikes in the area which also call for sturdy footwear (extra warm clothes wanted to hike the active volcano! Every year people talk about 2 things: the unbelievable majestic beauty of the volcano and the unforgettable cold).

Water

Please bring your own water bottle. We will have refillable water jugs on-site at the retreat & festival for free. There will be no bottled water sold. 

Food

Food is in the ticket price. All meals are vegan & gluten free friendly, the ingredients are sourced locally and prepared by a Mayan kitchen team. If you have food/dietary restriction please contact the organizer: Ryan Foronda to ensure we accommodate for them and you’re supported.

**Note that there will be NO fridge space available for you in the kitchen. 

Money

We suggest taking the maximum amount of cash from the ATM since fees are high (Q200= $250 usd). Most small shops do not take credit cards and most larger establishments and foreign run restaurants do with a 10% surcharge. Keep in mind that small bills are coveted and you can’t always get change back so it’s good to hold onto them if you can for things where you have to negotiate the price. 

There is not an ATM in Tzununá, where the festival takes place. There is one in the next village (San Marcos), about a 20 minute tuk-tuk (private mini taxi) or lancha (shared boat taxi) ride away. This ATM regularly runs out of cash so it’s good to not wait until you are completely out of cash. It’s recommended to get cash at the airport (ask for small bills!) or on the way to Lake Atitlan, if you’re taking a private taxi the driver will make a stop for you. The shuttles will not. 

At the retreat & festival we only accept cash for food purchases since our kitchen is operated by local guatemalans. 

Phones & Wi-Fi 

There is no Wi-Fi at the retreat & festival and for everyone’s comfort we ask you not to use your phones. Wi-Fi is available at nearby cafés and restaurants. The phone signal is strong on the lake and it is convenient to buy a SIM card at the airport so you have it for the journey. If you don’t get a chance, you can buy one in San Marcos, between atm and the print shop you’ll see a sign that says “Tigo” outside. He sells reliable SIM cards and you can buy plans for 1 week, 15 days and a month. 

Transportation

From the Guatemala City Airport it is about a 4-5 hour drive to lake Atitlan and you have a few different options for how to arrive at the lake: Taxi or different types of shuttles. 

Private Taxi 

It is best to arrange this in advance. Here is a reliable company; the organizer, Martha will send you clear directions in English. Her WhatsApp number is +502 3073 0413. The cost is Q600 (plus tip) for one person, Q700 (plus tip). You can ask her directly about prices for more than 2 people.  

Shuttle from the airport to the lake 

There are group shuttles from the airport to San Marcos or Panajachel where you will take a public water taxi (called a lancha) until about 14h. The exact prices and departure times change so you’ll have to ask once in the airport. 

Shuttle/ Taxi to Antigua 

Another option is to take a shuttle or taxi to Antigua, stay the night and then take a shuttle to San Marcos or Panajachel. From Panajachel you can take a lancha (public water taxi boat) to Tzununá where the festival is, or the next village San Marcos. There are many wonderful options for where to stay in Antigua, but this one is especially nice. They can also arrange a shuttle for you to Lake Atitlan. https://www.ojalaantigua.com

Accommodations (For Embodiment Festival)

A little information about accommodations. The festival is located in Tzununà, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.  Tzununà is about a 20 minute Tuk-Tuk (like a tiny taxi) ride from San Marcos, and a 10 minute boat ride. The boats going towards San Marcos stop around 7 pm, and stop going towards Panajachel around 5 pm. This means if you stay outside of walking distance to the festival, you can expect to take a Tuk-Tuk home. Last year we experienced that the Tuk-Tuks had unpredictable price surges at night, especially to go across villages. To have the easiest time enjoying the festival, we recommend staying as close to the festival as possible. 

Nudity

A few words about our intentions with nudity. This is our attempt to offer a safe space for equal liberation practices across all genders. We noticed that at a lot of events men often choose to be topless, whereas the women are expected to wear shirts. Occasionally in these spaces, there are a few women who are topless or wearing just pasties, but because it isn’t explicitly invited, it is risky and controversial to make this choice. We wanted to make it a little easy and have clearer consent boundaries around body autonomy. 

So how do we offer conscious equality? One option would be to require tops for everyone, but that is  counterproductive to the spirit of HEARTGASM RETREAT as well as unenforceable in practice (imagine trying to repeatedly explain to a bunch of sweaty men that they need cover up–good luck!).

Instead, we openly allow all-bodies to go without tops, if that is what they desire. This means that no-body will be required to wear a shirt in any of our workshops regardless of how their gender presents. We understand that not all people desire to be topless and it can be impractical and edgy to be in a space without a shirt. Good news! No-body is required to be topsless at any time, and we will be offering consent tools to help you navigate this territory. 

Unlike breasts and nipples, genitals do present a hygiene concern and bottoms will be required in workshops for every-body. 

Suggested Packing List

-refillable water bottle 

-yoga mat (not mandatory)

-warm clothes (sometimes it freezes at night!)

-scarf, hat, sweater, jacket, warm socks

-headlamp or flashlight (don't rely on your phone please!)

-cash in local currency (quetzales) 

-hiking boots (we are up in the mountains with unpaved roads)

-swimming suit 

-towel 

-notebook + pens

-natural sunblock

-GSE (“Grapefruit Seed Extract” to take preventative care against parasites. Unfortunately they are common in Guatemala and GSE is the easiest most powerful tool to stay healthy).

-musical instruments for fireside jams 

-protection for sun