2027 Memoir Retreats in Guatemala

March 3-10, 2027

March 15-22, 2027

Write by the Lake

An unforgettable week designed for going deeper into the story only you can tell.

From the moment you get off the boat at Joyce’s dock, you’ll be transported away from the noise of daily life to what is likely to feel like a whole other world—and it’s  magical one.  In your time at Casa Paloma, Joyce will help every writer listen to the inner voice in each of us that too often gets drowned out.  You’ll look  (possibly as never before) at stories you have lived, but may never fully explored. Then comes the challenge, and reward, of bringing your story to the page, and doing it in a place designed to allow everyone who comes to feel safe, nurtured, inspired and supported.

❋ A Place Made with Care

Casa Paloma is Joyce Maynard’s home and retreat center on Lake Atitlán, lovingly built over twenty-five years. Each room and casita is unique, decorated with the work of local artisans, and offers lake and volcano views that invite rest and reflection.

❋   Craft at the Center

Joyce works with each writer in the writing circle and in a private one-on-one conference — offering close, detailed guidance informed by more than fifty years of her own writing and publishing life, and a quarter century of teaching.

❋ Culture, Curiosity, and Discovery

The retreat includes optional excursions into the rich Mayan culture of the region — from sunrise hikes over five volcanoes, to visits with local artisans, weaving collectives, a Mayan Shamanic ceremony, and more.

❋ Conversation and Connection

Each retreat creates a powerful circle of writers. Evening readings around the fire, shared meals in the garden, and daily conversation build a community of mutual support and creative courage.

“Write by the Lake gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to write my memoir. The setting alone is magical and transformative - but when combined with the teaching and support from other writers, the experience is truly life-changing.” — Gina B, Pennsylvania

“Write by the Lake gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to write my memoir. The setting alone is magical and transformative - but when combined with the teaching and support from other writers, the experience is truly life-changing.” — Gina B, Pennsylvania

Two women hugging on a wooden pier by the water with boats docked nearby, under a cloudy sky.
Group of 16 women and one man posing together outdoors in a lush garden with green plants and trees, some standing and others sitting on rocks.
A wooden pier extends into a body of water with a boat nearby, set against a large mountain landscape at sunset or sunrise.
An older woman and a young girl sitting on a terrace overlooking a body of water, holding hands and smiling at the camera.
Two women jumping into the lake with mountains and blue sky in the background.
View through open door and window showing a lake with mountains in the background, trees, and outdoor patio furniture.
Person practicing yoga on a wooden platform with a mountain and lake in the background, under a roofed structure with trees on the sides.
Several plates of food, possibly Mexican tacos, with shredded meat, onions, and lemon wedges, are arranged on a kitchen counter. Behind the counter are bottles of wine and liquor, and various kitchen items.

Days 1 and 2

The Journey Begins

Getting There

You’ll fly into the Guatemala City airport, an extremely easy airport to navigate, where getting through customs seldom takes more than a few minutes. Every writer who joins us will be met by a private driver who will bring her to a charming small hotel in the lovely Spanish colonial town of Antigua, a 45-minute drive from the airport.

Once you’ve settled in, you’ll meet your fellow writers—along with Casa Paloma retreats manager, Erica Dixon—at an opening-night get-acquainted dinner. Like everything else included over the course of your time with us, all costs are included, other than a tip for our workers at the end of the week.  


Evening in Antigua

There, you’ll meet your fellow travelers 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

Next morning, after a stroll through the cobblestone streets (with a little shopping, maybe) you’ll board a shuttle bus for the trip to the lake--usually a three to three- and-a-half hour trip.  From there, you’ll board a private boat that will bring you to the private dock at Casa Paloma, where Joyce will be waiting for you, with a pitcher of fresh margaritas (non-alcoholic for those who choose) and a bowl of Chef Rosa’s incomparable guacamole—and more.


Welcome at Casa Paloma

CASA PALOMA is Joyce Maynard’s home and retreat center on Lake Atitlán, lovingly built over more than twenty-five years. Each room and casita is unique, decorated with the work of local artisans, surrounded by lush gardens—some with deep-soaking tubs.  Each room or casita offers quality mattresses and linens, a writing desk, lake and volcano views that invite rest and reflection.

Once you’ve been brought to the room you’ve chosen (with the help of our U.S.-based retreats coordinator, Gina Alligood), you’ll have a little time to settle in. Throw the windows open, take in the views.  Then comes the first of many memorable meals.  We start the week off with pizza from our wood-fired oven, salad from the garden, good conversation and wine, and a little orientation talk from Joyce, over dessert.
Outdoor dining area with a long table set with colorful plates and glasses, under a wooden and corrugated metal roof, overlooking a lake with lush greenery and mountains in the background.

Days 3 to 7

The Week at Casa Paloma

YOUR DAYS will be shaped by Joyce's close guidance, shared meals, readings of your work by the fire, and the quiet hours between sessions, for writing or thinking or simply a much-needed opportunity for stillness. Whether joining your fellow writers in the writing circle, kayaking or swimming under the volcano, hiking to a waterfall, lying in a hammock, talking with a new friend, doing yoga or getting your complimentary massage by the water—whether you’re listening to the birds at sunrise on your balcony, or taking in the stars at night, the goal of Joyce and everyone on our team at Casa Paloma  is to ensure that you receive something most women don’t often allow themselves: unhurried time to consider who you are at this moment in time, where you’ve been , where you want to go.  And simply this: time for yourself.


HOW JOYCE WORKS WITH EACH WRITER IN THE GROUP:  This workshop is specifically designed for writing personal narrative and memoir.  A month or so before arriving at Casa Paloma, each participant in the retreat will be asked to submit a letter about herself, focused on aspects of her life experiences she’d like to explore in her writing. Those who choose may include, in their application, a short writing sample of no more than 1000 words, but this is not a requirement.

 Drawing from the letters she’s received from each member of the group, and what each participant in the group shares in our first circle—and often using her giant whiteboard to sketch out a story arc-- Joyce will devote significant time to transforming the raw material of each writer’s story into a personal essay or part of a longer piece of work. Each writer will receive close, detailed guidance informed by more than fifty years of her own writing and publishing life, and more than a quarter-century of mentoring writers as “a story midwife.” 

In addition to the workshop sessions devoted to the work of every individual writer, each day includes a sunset craft talk (accompanied by appetizers and hand-crafted fruit drinks for those who choose) addressing specific tools of the writing process—point of entry, story arc, descriptive language, dialogue, point of view, landing place--with lots of time for questions and discussion. We’ll definitely explore the question of what parts of our story a writer can share, and how to address the concerns most writers of memoir feel, about hurting the real people who may be part of her story.

BEYOND THE WRITING:  Your all-inclusive tuition fee covers an exciting range of optional excursions designte to give you a window into the rich Mayan culture of the region — from a personal Mayan calendar reading for each writer, to a hike to see the sunrise over all five volcanoes at the lake, or to the cloud forest in search of the rare quetzal, to visits with local artisans, weaving and herbal medicine collectives, a cacao ceremony over open fire, and more.

This is a week when the goal of every single member of the Casa Paloma team—gardeners, housecleaners, kitchen staff, yoga instructor—make it their goal that every woman in the retreat feel supremely well taken care of.  No clearing your own dishes allowed, or carrying your paddleboard down to the water, or putting away your yoga props, even.  Most of us have done enough of that, back home!

Every morning, the temescal (sauna) will be fired up—a great way to start the day or warm up before (or after) a swim.  We’ll also be offering a daily gentle yoga class on our lake-front yoga shala, led by one of our gifted teachers--Hannah Cunha, or Kelly Burns. Each participant in the retreat will also receive a complimentary hour-long massage—close enough to the lake that you’ll hear the water lapping as your massage therapist works out the knots.


MEALS at Casa Paloma will be served in our flower-filled garden overlooking the lake, or by candle light, on our beautiful hand-built conacaste-wood table.  Our chef, Rosa, has earned so much admiration and love from past retreat participants that many tell us they’d come back just for the food she prepares (including vegetarian or gluten-free , and dishes adapted for those with special dietary needs.) 

Though most meals will be served at Casa Paloma, we’ll also be visiting a very special local restaurant one day. We could say more about this magical place, but would rather surprise you.


EVENINGS AT CASA PALOMA, the group will gather around the fire in Joyce’s living room to share each others’ work.  This is a time for writers in the group to read out loud from their own writing (so you might want to bring some work with you. Or just write something new while you’re with us.)

Evenings at Casa Paloma are also a time for shared stories, laughter—singing, if there’s a guitarist in the group--and quiet moments together, before a good night’s sleep.



HOW TO APPLY:  To join the group, Joyce asks each applicant to submit a short letter about herself and her writing goals.  A writing sample of up to 1000 words is welcomed, but not required.  For anyone interested in joining Write by the Lake who’s telling herself “I’d love to come, but I’m not a writer”, here’s what Joyce has to say:  It is 100%  acceptable for a participant in Write by the Lake to  arrive at Casa Paloma without a single sentence written on paper. Joyce just asks you to tell her about yourself. She’ll take it from there.

Here's what Joyce’s more than twenty-five years of hosting memoir retreats at Casa Paloma has taught her:  Every writer who joins us at Write by the Lake is coming from her own unique place.  If you’re in the middle of writing a book-length memoir (stuck, maybe? Or just a little burned out?) you’ll find fresh inspiration and perspective, along with a wealth of new tools for continuing your project.  If you’ve just begun, this is a great moment to talk about it. And if you’re still in the stage of simply thinking about your story, Joyce will help you get started. 

OPTIONAL ADD-ON PRIVATE WRITING CONSULTATION:  The cost of Write by the Lake, as described here, is all-inclusive…But for those writers who seek an additional level of personal instruction and direction—most particularly, writers who have been devoting significant time and thought to a piece of ongoing memoir or short personal essay—we offer an option.  

For an additional fee of $500, those who choose may submit a manuscript of up to 2500 words to work on closely, one-on-one. For our first Write by the Lake retreat, March 3-10 2027, Joyce will offer the option of private consultation.  This option will be available to no more than six writers. 

For the second Write by the Lake session, March 15-22, Joyce’s sister, Rona Maynard—also a well-known and highly respected writer, in Canada—will step in as guest mentor, also working with no more than six writers in the group.  (If you’re unfamiliar with Rona’s work, you can check it out on her Substack, https://ronamaynard.substack.com .  Writers fortunate enough to work with Rona at last year’s Write by the Lake spoke of her as possibly the best mentor of writing they’d encountered. (We have to add, some offer the same assessment of Joyce.)


Outdoor wooden deck with yoga mats, surrounded by green plants and trees, overlooking a lake and mountains under a blue sky.

Day 8

Wrap Up

On our last night together, we’ll gather on the yoga platform for a Mayan fire healing ceremony with Shaman Tomas, followed by our final, blow-out dinner. 

Next morning, the boat pulls up at our dock to bring you on the first leg of the journey back to the airport.  It’s never easy saying goodbye, but we’ve also learned that many writers who join us at Casa Paloma return, and many stay in touch for months , and years, after their time together at the lake.  Our Write by the Lake retreat may only last a week.  But you’ll be part of a community of new friends who share your belief in the importance of brave, honest storytelling, forever.

 


What’s Included

Write by the Lake is an all-inclusive retreat. Everything below is covered in your tuition — you simply bring yourself and your story.

Writing & Instruction

  • Workshopping sessions with Joyce — each writer's work addressed twice

  • Private one-on-one conference with Joyce

  • Daily craft talks with appetizers and drinks

  • Evening readings by the fire

Hospitality & Accommodations

  • One night stay in a boutique hotel in Antigua, including dinner

  • All nights at Casa Paloma in your chosen room or casita

  • Three fresh, healthy meals daily prepared by private chef Rosa Navichoc Chac

  • Healthy homemade snacks, coffee, tea, and filtered water throughout the day

  • Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options available

Activities & Wellness

  • Yoga on the deck with professional instruction

  • One private professional one-hour lakeside massage

  • Daily sauna access

  • Swimming, paddle boards, and kayaks on the lake

  • Optional cultural excursions (see Day-by-Day itinerary)


Logistics

  • Wi-Fi throughout Casa Paloma

  • Airport transportation from Guatemala City

  • Shuttle and boat transportation to and from Lake Atitlán


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 villas on a hillside by a lake surrounded by lush green trees and mountain scenery under cloudy sky.
Map of Casa Paloma Attilan resort showing various buildings, gardens, swimming areas, docks, and activity zones, with labels for entry, employee entry, roads, and directions to nearby locations.

Apply for the Retreat

Questions? Email Gina Alligood. writewithjoycemaynard@gmail.com

What People Are Saying

  • “Those days with Joyce in Guatemala to dig into my story and to explore the structure of a memoir changed me as a person and a writer. The knowledge I gained equals an MFA (or two) in creative writing.”

    Mary B, Texas

  • “Each unique feature of this workshop, taken alone, is worth going back for: the creative boost to your writing, the truly divine food, and Joyce Maynard, who you really must see in action to believe.”

    Elizabeth H, Florida

  • “Great Writers who are great teachers are rare. Joyce possesses the talent to do both.”

    Priscilla B, New Hampshire

  • “When you think you’re not ready is the best time to attend a workshop offered by Joyce Maynard. Our time together was transformative to finding my voice and story.”

    — Jude S, Maine

  • “Write by the Lake gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to write my memoir. The setting alone is magical and transformative - but when combined with the teaching and support from other writers, the experience is truly life-changing.”

    — Gina B, Pennsylvania

  • I wish every adventurous traveler would choose a retreat at Casa Paloma. It is an adventure beyond description.

    —Margie Alexander

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