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Spanish Immersion
Spanish Immersion Retreats in Guatemala
March 25-April 2, 2027
A week designed for slowing down, listening closely, and learning through experience.
The Spanish Immersion Retreat invites you to step out of daily routines and into a more intentional rhythm at Casa Paloma, Joyce Maynard’s home on the shores of Lake Atitlán. Set between water and volcanoes, the retreat offers a rare combination of beauty, curiosity, and thoughtful hospitality—creating space to learn, explore, and be fully present in a new language and culture.
The experience unfolds gently, beginning in the historic streets of Antigua and continuing on the lake, where days are shaped by conversation, discovery, and unhurried time. Through daily language study and shared adventures, the week encourages connection—to place, to people, and to the living texture of Spanish as it’s spoken and experienced.
❋ A Light, Supportive Immersion
This is a weeklong, light-immersion Spanish retreat welcoming all levels, from complete beginners to advanced speakers. Before arrival, each guest evaluates their Spanish level so they can be paired with one or two others at a similar stage, creating a relaxed, supportive learning environment.
❋ Learning Rooted in Place
Each day, participants spend time with a professional local tutor, engaging in conversation and lessons that weave together Spanish language, Guatemalan history, and Mayan culture—learning that feels grounded, personal, and alive.
❋ Exploration and Cultural Exchange
Rather than a writing workshop, this retreat centers on experiencing the rich Mayan culture of the region. Included excursions may range from visiting a cloud forest in search of the quetzal to exploring local markets, learning traditional weaving, or taking a cooking class with Casa Paloma’s chef, Rosa.
❋ Conversation and Connection
Spanish comes to life through daily conversation—with local tutors, fellow participants, and the community around the lake. Group dinners are shared in English, offering space to relax, connect, and reflect together, while language practice unfolds naturally throughout the day in a supportive, unhurried rhythm.
“The in-person Spanish teachers were pros—friendly, responsive to my level of language confusion, and very effective in getting me speaking Spanish within days. - Bill Ratner, Los Angeles
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“The in-person Spanish teachers were pros—friendly, responsive to my level of language confusion, and very effective in getting me speaking Spanish within days. - Bill Ratner, Los Angeles 〰️
Days 1–2
The Journey Begins
The retreat begins with an easy landing and a gradual transition into the week ahead. From the moment you arrive, details are handled so you can slow down, get oriented, and begin connecting with the group.
Arrival in Guatemala City
Your journey begins in Guatemala City, where a car will be waiting to bring you to the small, beautiful, historic city of Antigua.
Evening in Antigua
There, you’ll meet your fellow writers over drinks and a celebratory dinner, and settle into a boutique hotel for the night. A member of the Casa Paloma team will be there to greet you, answer questions, and help you ease into the rhythm of the week ahead.
Exploration Time
The following morning is yours. Antigua is easy, walkable, and inviting—perfect for wandering cobblestone streets, visiting markets, or simply resting.
Journey to Lake Atitlán
Shortly after noon, the group travels together by shuttle, winding over the mountains toward Lake Atitlán. When you arrive at the water, a boat will be waiting to carry you across the lake to Joyce’s dock.
Welcome at Casa Paloma
Joyce will be there to welcome you—margaritas in hand (with or without alcohol)—as you step onto Casa Paloma and begin the retreat.
Days 3–7
The Week at Casa Paloma
Life at Casa Paloma unfolds slowly and with intention. Each day blends guided instruction with lived experience, allowing Spanish to be practiced naturally through conversation, culture, and daily life.
Daily Language Practice
Each morning and afternoon includes Spanish instruction tailored to your level, with an emphasis on conversation, listening, and confidence rather than memorization.
Cultural Immersion
Language learning extends beyond the classroom—into meals, excursions, markets, and everyday interactions around the lake.
Shared Meals
Meals are enjoyed together, offering relaxed, real-world opportunities to practice Spanish while connecting with the group.
Exploration & Excursions
Optional outings may include visits with artisans, fishermen, and coffee roasters; village walks; cooking experiences; and guided cultural explorations around Lake Atitlán.
Evenings at Ease
Evenings are unhurried and social, with time to reflect, converse, and enjoy the beauty of Casa Paloma as the day winds down.
Day 8
Wrap Up
The final morning is simple and well cared for. Before dawn, your packed and labeled bags are transported from your room to the dock. A boat carries you across the lake to Panajachel, where a shuttle continues on to the airport. Coffee, tea, fruit, and bread are provided for the journey—an easy, quiet close to the week. The final day offer space to integrate what you’ve learned—linguistically, culturally, and personally—before returning home.
Connection & Community
You leave with shared experiences, new friendships, and the satisfaction of having learned together in a supportive, welcoming environment.
A Lasting Takeaway
More than vocabulary, you carry home a deeper connection to language, culture, and yourself—along with memories rooted in place and presence.
Whats Included
Daily three hour private class with one or two of your fellow retreat participants at your level (beginner to advanced) with an experienced native speaker, taking place in Joyce’s home and gardens or walking to the village, on the dock, or in any of a wide variety of beautiful locations.
One hour late afternoon group class with sunset drinks and appetizers
Breakfast and lunch in Spanish for those who choose. (Dinners will be a time for English
speaking.)
Daily excursions to local markets, bird watching, shaman, visits to local weaving
collective, medicinal herbs, and more—all conducted in Spanish
Evening activities—films, music, a salsa class—conducted in Spanish (English
socializing for those who choose)
Lunch out to one of Joyce’s favorite restaurants on the lake
Three extraordinary and healthy meals a day prepared fresh and served by our private
chef, Rosa Navichoc Chac - vegetarian/gluten/dairy free options are available
Healthy homemade snacks, coffee, tea, and filtered water are available to all guests
throughout the duration of your stay, with wine or hand-crafted drinks at sunset for those
who choose
A talk from Joyce on writing memoir, along with the story of how the real-life Bird Hotel
came into being
One private professional one-hour lakeside massage
Wi-Fi and airport transportation
One night stay in lovely boutique hotel in Antigua and dinner
Daily sauna access
Swimming and water activities including paddle boards and kayaks
Daily morning group yoga class
Accommodations
Rooms are reserved on a first come, first served basis.
Before making your final decision, please carefully read the room description and click through the gallery of pictures. You want to be aware of each room's unique features.
Apply for the Retreat
Questions? Email Megan — lifebythelakewithjoyce@gmail.com
*Cancellation policy: Full refund (minus $500 admin fee) if cancellation is 10 weeks prior to retreat start date.
As a middling, not-fluent Spanish speaker, I attended Joyce Maynard’s Spanish Immersion Week at her breathtakingly beautiful retreat on the shore of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The in-person Spanish teachers were pros—friendly, responsive to my level of language confusion, and very effective in getting me speaking Spanish within days.
Plus Joyce’s kitchen staff prepared the most delicious breakfasts, lunches & dinners I’ve ever eaten. Plus Joyce accompanied us on sojourns to neighboring craft villages and towns that were far more than just charming. I would do the Spanish Immersion Week otra vez definitamente!
— Former Customer
FAQs
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While you don’t need to be an athlete, the week does require a lot of walking. The first night and day in Antigua requires walking on flat cobblestone roads. Tuk Tuks (small motorized vehicles) are available for hire. The trip to Casa Paloma requires stepping into a small boat to travel to the property. Once you’ve arrived at Casa Paloma, you will need to step up out of the boat onto the dock (Joyce’s staff is there to assist). Casa Paloma is built on the side of a hill so there are steps to take you from one casita to another, from your casita to dinner, down stone steps to the massage, up steps to yoga, etc. On excursions to neighboring lake villages, there may be uneven walkways and sloped roads. There are Tuk Tuks available to hire by the lake as well. As a participant of Joyce’s retreats, expect to be walking and climbing stairs every day.
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As of now, Guatemala is NOT requiring proof of a negative Covid test taken 3 days before departure, or proof of vaccination. In the interest of transparency, not everyone in the local Mayan indigenous community who is working at Casa Paloma has chosen to receive the vaccination. That being said, in our two years of hosting groups post-Covid, there has never been an issue.
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You will need a passport to enter Guatemala. If your passport is within six months of expiration, please renew it before you leave for Guatemala or you may encounter problems. We do recommend that you bring a photocopy of the first page of your passport and keep it separate from the passport itself. You do not need any special vaccinations to enter the country, although it is always wise to be up to date on tetanus, hepatitis, and rabies vaccinations when traveling to less-developed countries.
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Retreat participants are responsible for booking their flights. Direct flights to Guatemala City are available from Miami, Newark, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. For those flying to Guatemala from other cities, a change of planes will be required. Book your flights early because sometimes they sell out or get expensive the closer you get to your departure date.
In-country transportation to the lake, shuttles to and from the airport, and boat rides while at the lake are included.
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Please make sure that your flight will arrive in Guatemala City no later than 4 p.m. to make it on time to dinner in Antigua. When booking your departing flight, only book something that leaves after 12:30 p.m. on the date of your departure. You will need time to travel from Lake Atitlan back to Guatemala City that morning.
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Full refund (minus $500 admin fee) if cancellation is 8 weeks prior to retreat start date. 50% refund if cancellation is 6 weeks prior to the retreat start date. No Refund if cancellation is after 6 weeks prior to the retreat start date. You can purchase private travel insurance to reimburse you should you need to cancel after six weeks. We have had good experiences with the following travel insurance company:
Happy Extraordinary Travels
Bettye H. Ridley
Travel Insurance AdvisorDirect Phone: 1 - 888 - 474 - 0387
Office Hours: 9:15 AM - 5:30 PM EST (M - F )Email: bettye@travelinsurance.com
Website: www.travelinsurance.com
Reviews: www.trustpilot.com/review/travelinsurance.com -
There will be a bank at the Guatemala City airport when you arrive that offers a standard exchange rate on your American dollars. (Currently around 8 Quetzales to the dollar.) If your flight arrives late at night, you can use an ATM at the airport. There are no ATMs or banks in San Marcos, so I encourage you to get the money you need in Antigua. If you find yourself needing additional cash over the week, you can make a quick trip to the village of San Pedro, or take the boat to Panajachel. If you bring Traveler checks, they should be American Express only. Credit cards are not accepted in the village of San Marcos.
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Lake Atitlan is not in the tropics. There is no Malaria. One of the many great things about the region of Lake Atitlan is that there are almost no bugs. An occasional scorpion has been spotted, but they are not lethal if you are stung by one. There are harmless spiders and at night the trees and the sky sparkle with fireflies. The weather at Lake Atitlan in February and March is typically sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s by day, cooling down to the 50s at night. in the mornings and a little cooler at night. Please bring a sweater or shawl for evenings outdoors under the palapa.
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Yes, by all means, bring your laptop. Instead of carrying around a computer bag, you should use a simple backpack. The electrical current is the same as back in the U.S.
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There is a doctor and a small hospital run by Americans in Santiago, about 45 minutes away. San Marcos is a very health-conscious town, but the orientation in the village leans toward preventive medicine and alternative healing. There is a doctor in a nearby village, and the Clinica Naturista in the village is led by an American nurse, but the nearest hospital that I would want to go to would be in Antigua. Several people with health problems have joined our retreats over the years. We kindly ask that you let us know about any health issues you have so we can help accommodate them.
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There is a good internet connection at Casa Paloma. The best way to communicate with loved ones in the U.S. is on WhatsApp, which uses wifi for free messaging and calls. Family can use WhatsApp to makcallu or Manu (Casa Paloma retreat manager) for no freet is also the way to communicate with your retreat group and Gina, Megan, Manu, or Martha (travel coordinator in Guatemala) before and during the trip. The airport wifi is not always dependable. To troubleshoot this, it is recommended you bring a prepaid calling card. It can be costly to make international calls otherwise.
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Tuition to the workshop is all-inclusive, with the following exceptions:
● Tips for helpers
● Healing Work: You should know that the village of San Marcos offers a vast range of alternative healing and massage practitioners. A ninety-minute massage will cost $30-35.
Most other treatments are similarly priced.
● Phone: around a dollar a minute without your cell phone.
● Shopping budget: Your costs there can go from $4 for a pound of freshly picked and roasted local coffee or chocolate, to a couple hundred dollars if you want to fill your suitcase with textiles.
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● Soap and Shampoo
● Towels for shower and swimming
● Laundry service
Please note: there are no hair dryers in the rooms.
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When you tell your friends you’re coming to Guatemala, many may express concern that it’s a dangerous country. If you visit the U.S. State Department website you will see that Guatemala is still one of the countries with a travel advisory in place.
Guatemala earned its “dangerous” reputation during the 30 years of brutal internal war. In the years since the 1996 signing of the Peace Accords, the country has struggled with corrupt leaders, as many countries do. As with most cities, there are parts of Guatemala City that are unsafe. There have also been robberies on the highways and back roads around the countryside, but you will not be taking these roads at night.
The vast majority of the Mayan people in the village are peaceful, friendly, and trustworthy. They are the kind of people who would return a hundred quetzal notes they found in the pocket of your jeans when doing your laundry (as has happened to me). When traveling anywhere outside your country, be mindful not to flaunt expensive jewelry or cameras. It is recommended that women attending the workshop carry a backpack or a shoulder bag (there are beautiful ones for sale in Guatemala). We have never had a retreat attendee be a victim of physical violence.
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A part of the proceeds from the retreat always goes to worthwhile projects and groups in the villages of San Marcos La Laguna and Santiago. Your attendance at a retreat or workshop in Guatemala provides the best kind of help to the Mayan indigenous community: bringing jobs and tourism to an area that has experienced hardship over the years. Let us know if you are interested in any volunteer projects around the village and we can help facilitate that.
Poverty in Guatemala: Families in Guatemala do not go hungry, but in the villages, there is very little in the way of material possessions and comforts. While this may be difficult for Americans to see or understand, please know that a lack of money and possessions does not have any bearing on their happiness and ability to have fun. Guatemalan kids don’t have toys, but they tenderly care for babies and old people, and have a deep connection to earth. Little boys in the village roll hoops and catch fish at dawn. Girls help their mothers make fresh tortillas. One thing hardly ever hear in this community is the sound of a crying infant or child.
One thing we always ask of participants at my retreats and workshops which does not have to involve any expense: If you are not using your full two-suitcase luggage allotment, it would be much appreciated if you could bring with you a bag of used clothing, particularly sneakers for kids. Some students bring down one or two pairs; others collect them from friends or buy up a pile of shoes at the Goodwill and come with ten pairs or more.
Every year we have a giant shoe giveaway in town. One of the great things about living in this little village is that it’s a small enough place for your actions to make a difference. So, the month after the workshop, it’s easy for me to spot the effect of your time here. Children whose toes used to be sticking out of their sneakers can be seen jumping around in used but still-good Nikes. For a child here, shoes are among the few possessions that matter.