Guatamaya Journey

The Experience

A transformative journey that blends adventure and healing in the heart of Guatemala. Experience the rhythmic pulse of ancient traditions as you stay in the beautiful retreat centers in Tecpan and Lago Atitlan.

  • Engage in individualized ancestral healing ceremonies, with Lucy Culum an indigenous curandera.

  • Immerse yourself in cacao and fire ceremonies, designed to nurture your spirit and awaken your senses with Nana Mimi.

  • Discover the art of Maya Abdominal Massage, a powerful tool for balance and wellness

  • Explore the majestic Tecpan Maya Ruins

  • Witness the vibrant culture at the Weaving Collective in San Juan De Laguna.

  • Stay in two top of the line retreat centers and powerful spots in Guatemala

    Join us for an enriching experience that harmonizes body, mind, and soul.

    Cacao & Fire Ceremonies

  • Connecting with Indigenous healers

  • Intro to Maya Abdominal Massage

  • Visiting Tecpan Maya Ruins

  • Visiting Weaving CollectiveYaabil Retreat Center San Marcos de Laguna Guatemala

Jan 3rd- 14th 2026

Tecpan & Lago Atitlan Guatamala

What You Will Gain from This Experience:

  • Cultural Immersion/Exchange

  • Holistic Well-Being Practices

  • Opening the Voice ~ Singing Together

  • Personalized Ancestral Healing Ceremony

  • Introduction to Maya Healings like Abdominal Massage

  • Sacred Connection with Nature

  • Community Connection

  • Ceremonial Experiences

  • Personal Transformation

  • Unique Travel Adventure

This retreat is more of an adventure and learning experience—it's a powerful, immersive exchange that will leave you feeling transformed, inspired, and deeply connected to yourself, others, and Maya traditions .

Our retreat space called Yaabil, is privately located on the lake of Lago Atitlan, right near San Marcos de Laguna Guatemala,  nestled in the heart of a lush, vibrant landscape, upon a crater lake surrounded by 3 volcanos, and a popping town of many world travelers and Maya natives. This journey is like no other, where you’ll discover ancient wisdom of the Maya people, participate in a harmonious convergence of mysticism and music, and have exposure to Guatemala culture, all alongside a beautiful retreat space along the lake.

ndividualized Ancestral Healing Ceremony

Experience a deeply transformative journey through our Individualized Ancestral Healing Ceremony. This sacred practice allows you to connect with your roots, honoring your ancestors and integrating their wisdom into your life. Each ceremony is tailored to meet your unique needs and intentions, facilitating healing and harmony within your spirit.

Cacao & Fire Ceremonies

Immerse yourself in the ancient tradition of Cacao and Fire Ceremonies. With the rich, heart-opening properties of cacao, you'll participate in a collective ritual that fosters connection, love, and intention. The fire serves as a powerful symbol of transformation, allowing you to release what no longer serves you and ignite the powerful manifestations of your desires.

Connecting with Indigenous Healers

In this retreat, you'll have the opportunity to connect directly with Indigenous healers who carry a wealth of knowledge and traditions. Their wisdom and guidance will help you navigate your personal healing journey, offering insights rooted in ancestral practices. Through storytelling, ancestral wisdom, and traditional healing techniques, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your own path.

Intro to Maya Abdominal Massage

Enhance your healing experience with an introduction to Maya Abdominal Massage. This ancient technique focuses on the alignment of the abdominal organs, promoting physical and emotional wellness. You'll learn how this practice can help release tension and promote inner balance, making it a fundamental aspect of your holistic healing journey.

Visiting Tecpan Maya Ruins

Experience the awe of the Tecpan Maya Ruins, where history whispers through the stones. Guided by local experts, you will explore these sacred sites, learning about their significance in Maya culture. This excursion offers a profound connection to the past, allowing you to reflect on the resilience and strength of Indigenous traditions.

Visiting Weaving Collective

At the Weaving Collective, you'll witness the beautiful artistry of local weavers who maintain ancestral textile traditions. This hands-on experience fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural significance behind the crafts, and you’ll have the chance to support local artisans by purchasing their creations. Allow their stories and skills to inspire your own journey.

Yaabil Retreat Center, San Marcos de Laguna, Guatemala

Nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of San Marcos de Laguna, the Yaabil Retreat Center serves as our home base for this enriching experience. Surrounded by nature's beauty, this tranquil space provides the perfect environment for reflection, connection, and growth. It's here that you’ll build community, support one another, and cultivate a practice of mindfulness, leaving you rejuvenated and inspired.

Join us for this sacred retreat and embark on a profound journey of healing, connection, and personal transformation. Your soul deserves this!

We will also offer an excursion across the lake to San Juan to visit some of the women’s weaving collectives, and explore the special town of San Juan.

Maya healing practices and practitioners could include bone healers, womb healers, cacao and fire ceremonialists, and more.  

  • Bone Healers: These practitioners are steeped in the ancient art of bone-setting and alignment of tendons. The healer Shaela has worked with in the past has a very natural mystic modality that I hope she can share a little bit about with us, and then can be available for private sessions.  

  • Womb Healers: Maya culture places a profound emphasis on the sacred nature of the womb, and centering it. Womb healers specialize in balancing and nurturing the feminine energy, offering a range of practices. Shaela knows a handful of amazing practitioners, she’s excited to connect us with some of them so we can experience their work and energy.  

  • Cacao Ceremonialists: Cacao holds a sacred place in Maya tradition, known for its heart-opening and mood-enhancing properties. Cacao ceremonialists guide participants through rituals involving the drinking of ceremonial-grade cacao. These ceremonies often include meditation, chanting, and a deep connection with the spirit of the cacao plant, fostering a sense of unity and love. Nana Mariam is Shaela’s dear friend whom she loves and honors and will invite her to visit us or we can go see her in San Juan.

  • Fire Ceremonialists: Fire is a powerful symbol in Maya cosmology, representing transformation and purification. Fire ceremonialists lead rituals that harness the energy of flames for healing and spiritual growth. Participants may engage in guided meditation, prayer, and symbolic offerings to the fire, facilitating personal and collective transformation.

Maya healing practices and practitioners could include bone healers, womb healers, cacao and fire ceremonialists, and more.  

  • Bone Healers: These practitioners are steeped in the ancient art of bone-setting and alignment of tendons. The healer Shaela has worked with in the past has a very natural mystic modality that I hope she can share a little bit about with us, and then can be available for private sessions.  

  • Womb Healers: Maya culture places a profound emphasis on the sacred nature of the womb, and centering it. Womb healers specialize in balancing and nurturing the feminine energy, offering a range of practices. Shaela knows a handful of amazing practitioners, she’s excited to connect us with some of them so we can experience their work and energy.  

  • Cacao Ceremonialists: Cacao holds a sacred place in Maya tradition, known for its heart-opening and mood-enhancing properties. Cacao ceremonialists guide participants through rituals involving the drinking of ceremonial-grade cacao. These ceremonies often include meditation, chanting, and a deep connection with the spirit of the cacao plant, fostering a sense of unity and love. Nana Mariam is Shaela’s dear friend whom she loves and honors and will invite her to visit us or we can go see her in San Juan.

  • Fire Ceremonialists: Fire is a powerful symbol in Maya cosmology, representing transformation and purification. Fire ceremonialists lead rituals that harness the energy of flames for healing and spiritual growth. Participants may engage in guided meditation, prayer, and symbolic offerings to the fire, facilitating personal and collective transformation.

  • Shaela Noella

    Visionary ~ Founder/Organizer ~ Songstress ~ Intuitive

  • Nana Berta

    Huesera (Bone Healer) ~ Weaver ~ Activist: Water Protector

  • Maria Feliciana

    Seed Reader ~ Ceremonialist of Fire & Temazcal

  • Lucia Culum

    Healer ~ Womb Massage ~ Ancestral Lineage Healing

  • Nana Mimi

    Cacao Ceremony passed down to her from her Grandmother ~ Fire Ceremonialist ~Womb Healer

  • Rosa Maya

    Temazcali ~ Womb Healing

  • Mary

    Womb Healer ~ therapist of the mind and soul

  • Ruth

    New generation Midwife ~ Maya Abdominal Massage ~ Makes Salves ~ Tobacco Cleanses