2027 Memoir Retreats in Guatemala
March 3-10, 2027
March 15-22, 2027
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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 CareCasa 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 CenterJoyce 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 DiscoveryThe 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 ConnectionEach 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
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.
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.)
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.
Apply for the Retreat
Questions? Email Gina Alligood. writewithjoycemaynard@gmail.com
What People Are Saying
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“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
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“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
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“Great Writers who are great teachers are rare. Joyce possesses the talent to do both.”
— Priscilla B, New Hampshire
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“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
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“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
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I wish every adventurous traveler would choose a retreat at Casa Paloma. It is an adventure beyond description.
—Margie Alexander
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.