Yes, an application is required to attend this retreat. You will be prompted to complete your application during the check out process. Payment of the nonrefundable deposit is required to submit your application. If more information is needed, we will reach out to you. If your application is not accepted for any reason, you will receive a full refund including the deposit.

No, the entirety of this retreat will be held at the retreat center, Yoga Forest. We will ask that you remain within the grounds of Yoga Forest for the duration of the retreat.

If you’d like to explore Lake Atitlan during your visit, we’re offering a 2-day extension at the end of this retreat to explore the lake and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Yes! The extension is perfect for anyone who wants to explore Lake Atitlan after our retreat. We’ve partnered with some of our favorite guides on the lake to give you an absolutely memorable tour. You’ll journey deep into geological time as you learn the history of this land while sipping local coffee and watching the sun rise over the lake from atop Indian Nose. You’ll also cross the lake to the local village of San Pedro where you will tour a local market, learn to cook and eat like a Mayan local with Anita in her kitchen overlooking the lake. While you cook you will hear incredible, heart-lifting stories of what it was like for her growing up on the lake. Afterwards, you’ll have an opportunity to buy authentic handmade souvenirs that support local women from her women’s co-op.

Yoga Forest is a 25-minute hike from the center of San Marcos (the final climb includes a section of steep stairs). We’ll meet at Circles Cafe on the main street in San Marcos at 1:00 PM sharp and escort you to the retreat center. We recommend flying into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City at least one day ahead of the retreat and spending the first night in Antigua which is  a popular tourist hub (45 minutes - 1.5 hours by taxi depending on traffic). From there we will have a shuttle pick up on the morning of the 12th that takes you directly to Circles cafe in San Marcos (2-3 hours). After you’ve signed up, we can help you arrange your travel plans and recommendations where to stay. Please do not book a flight before discussing with us.

No, but it’s a great opportunity to learn and practice!

While it is not mandatory, we strongly recommend trip insurance so that you are covered in the case of medical emergencies or if you have to cancel your trip due to injury/illness or unforeseen circumstances (while we hope it doesn’t happen to you, we see cancellations happen on almost every trip). You will find links for trip insurance companies we love and use in the details on the booking page.

The Yoga Forest was founded with a desire for living simply, greenly and in communion with everything surrounding us. Expect composting bathrooms, outdoor showers and naturally built cabañas.

Delicious! Two, hearty vegetarian meals are served daily with local and fresh ingredients. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request. You can see a sample menu here. If you have other dietary restrictions please discuss with us so we can check. Fruit is available all day and you are welcome to bring your own snacks as well. There is also a cafe/bakery onsite where you can purchase snacks, smoothies, and deserts throughout the day.

January is the beginning of the dry season and one of the best times to be at the lake. The days are sunny and warm and the nights are cool and refreshing. Expect day-time temps in the 70s farenheit and the nights to get down as low as the 50s farenheit. It’s unlikely to rain. We are in the mountains so we recommend packing layers that you can easily put on or take off.

Yes, there will be time to rest, relax and integrate your experiences.

Yes. Contraindications are discussed during the application process. We will book a call to discuss these with you personally after your application has been accepted.

We see ceremony not only as a place for personal healing and connection, but also where we go to connect as a community and commune with spirit. Ceremony is structured to support deep introspection and journeying. After opening the space and calling in the spirits to support our work, we will offer guided meditations, sound healing with a variety of instruments (drums, rattles, bowls, chakapas, etc.), icaros (healing songs or prayers) and personal support when necessary to help assist you in your experience. You will also have the opportunity to be served sananga and rapé, two other sacred medicines we work with frequently. Our ceremonies are deeply influenced by the lineage of Peruvian Mestizo shamanism that we’ve studied for years and have been given permission to share by our teachers.

Oh, so many reasons! Kambo is an excellent way to prepare the mind, body and spirit for a psychedelic journey and more generally, for all the work we do on retreat. People who sit with Kambo beforehand often say they feel much more open and receptive to the medicine and that they felt better prepared than they would have been otherwise. From personal experience we find that all the work we do greatly benefits from Kambo. If you have more questions about joining us for Kambo before the retreat, reach out to us directly at info@thewildwithin.org. Read more about Kambo here.