Spanish Immersion

Spanish Immersion Retreats in Guatemala

April 1-9, 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

〰️

“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 〰️

Two women cooking in a kitchen, preparing traditional Mexican dishes with ingredients like tamales and shredded chicken, surrounded by bowls of sauce and fresh vegetables.
A man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a gray long sleeve shirt and light-colored pants, is seated on a wooden floor and reading a paper. Behind him, there is a whiteboard and some artwork, in a rustic setting with wooden walls and furniture.
Cozy living room corner with built-in bench seating, decorative pillows, and a fireplace with candles and floral arrangements on top. Large windows show trees and outdoor lights at night.
Two women smiling and sitting outdoors near a lake, with green trees and cloudy sky in the background.
A wooden pier extends into a calm lake with a mountain in the background. There are wooden stumps in the water around the pier, and a boat with people is approaching from the left.
Aerial view of a river surrounded by lush green trees and a small town, with mountains in the background during sunset.
A woman standing in the back of a white pickup truck with a metal railing, surrounded by plants and flowers, with one person kneeling beside the truck.
Group of six people sitting and standing around an outdoor table, smiling and enjoying a gathering, with colorful decorations and trees in the background.
Group of women and a young man posing on the back of a pickup truck on a colorful city street.
Sunset over a lake with a mountain in the background, surrounded by green trees and bushes.
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.


A hot tub in a lush tropical garden with a thatched-roof hut in the background under a blue sky with clouds.
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.


View of a lush tropical garden with trees and plants on the left, and a small interior room with rounded walls, candles, and decorative wall lights on the right.
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.


Want To Stay an Extra Week?

Stay on for a second week take off $400

If you'd like to further immerse yourself in the language and enjoy the lake's tranquility, we have a second week available from April 8th to 16th, adding seven additional nights to your stay.

Should you decide to continue your learning journey, you'll have the pleasure of working with your first week's instructor for consistent guidance.

During the changeover between weeks, we'll ensure a Spanish learning opportunity is available on both departure and arrival days.

If you choose to attend two weeks of Spanish Immersion, we will discount your price $400 for the second week.

What’s 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.

Houses and cottages with tiled roofs on a lakeshore, surrounded by lush green trees and hills, with a mountain in the background under a cloudy sky.
Map of Casa Paloma Atitlán with various labeled areas including entry, outdoor kitchen, yoga platform, Casa Una 1 and 2, worker's entry, bird nest, Casa Paloma, Casa Estrella, bamboo, pergola, lake with dock 1 and 2, herb garden, reception, sauna, massage, pizza, to die for, Pedra, Azul, Pájaro, Tuk Tuk, and Lake Atitlán. A compass rose and icons indicating directions are also present.

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

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