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The Artists Play - Embodied Creativity for Earthlings in Modern Flux | July 20-25, 2026 / Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
How long have you felt on the cusp of creative transformation? What if the path to your artistry was paved with pleasure and connection, rather than pressure?
The Artists Play was inspired by (not affiliated with) The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, a book you might have picked up and put down, wrestled through or given up on, had sitting on your nightstand for 3 years - if you’re like us. You do not have to have “done“ the book to participate - in fact, we designed this for those who found it enticing but inaccessible amidst their daily lives. Some familiarity with the terminology of The Artist’s Way is helpful, but not strictly necessary to have a rich and fulfilling experience. This 6 day retreat prioritizes somatic embodiment as an added layer in the stumbleborn, sacred dream of creating with curiosity and wonder.
Through movement, ritual, morning pages, group explorations, excursions, and long blocks of parallel play for working in a chosen art form, we offer a container for beings who work best plugged into others and crave to be cocooned in their process. A primary feature of this retreat is the invitation to work intensively in one medium where you want to deepen your practice, be it writing, music, painting, sculpture, or any other creative practice. There will be multi-hour blocks each afternoon for participants to sink into their individual process while sharing the same physical space, body mirroring in a way that allows many an artist to ground down and find flow through the group frequency of creative openness. You do NOT have to be experienced in any technique, make money off art, or even call yourself an artist - only be willing to meet the part of you that already knows how to create and the child within who knows the ecstasy of exploration.
This retreat is a formal invitation to cultivate devotion over discipline and revel in play as prayer!
What’s Included:
✅ 6 days/5 nights at Villa Sumaya retreat center on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala in a single or double occupancy room
✅ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Villa Sumaya’s renowned vegetarian kitchen (chicken/fish available for a fee per portion)
✅ Twice daily yoga: gentle flow in the morning, yin/nidra in the evening
✅ Silent breakfast for morning pages/journaling
✅ Self-exploration sessions inspired by The Artist’s Way alongside somatic exercises to reconnect the body with the imagination
✅ Afternoon creative action blocks to embrace an extended flow state in your chosen medium alongside others
✅ Inspiration excursion to the expansive Chichicastenago market
✅ Sacred sweat lodge ceremony
✅ Waterfall hike with optional microdose (offered by trained facilitator)
✅ Access to solar hot tub, pool, and lakefront hammocks
✅ 24-hour self-serve tea, coffee, and filtered water
✅ Ongoing Whatsapp community for pre- and post-retreat contact
What’s NOT Included:
🚫 Round trip flights to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (GUA)
🚫 Shuttle transportation to Panajachel on Lake Atitlán from/to the airport - we highly recommend booking with trusted company Kan Tours; if you are interested in sharing a private shuttle we may be able to help you coordinate with other participants based on flight times, send us a message as soon as possible!
🚫 Short boat taxi ride across the lake from Panajachal to Villa Sumaya
🚫 Art supplies: this retreat offers the freedom for participants to delve into a deeply personal artistic practice each afternoon, therefore, due to the individual nature of the mediums employed you are responsible for arriving with everything you need for the creative practice you chose to work with (anything like paints, paper, clay, writing utensils, brushes, instruments, recording devices, notebooks, beads, raw materials, easels, glue, etc. - consider in detail, remembering that we are quite isolated at the retreat). We will have folding tables and tarps on hand, however with no mail service on most of Lake Atitlán we unfortunately cannot ship down any materials, they must be transported with your luggage. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about getting your materials here!
🚫 Spa services are available to book on-site, but are not included in the package price
Accommodations
🏡 Villa Sumaya is a luxurious eco-retreat center on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala — a geographic location that we can attest has stunningly palpable energetic charge. Every room offers breathtaking lake views, individual patios, and private bathrooms with hot water. Like most places around the lake Villa Sumaya is only accessible by boat, fostering a delicious sense of true retreat from the ordinary.
🏡 Choose single or double occupancy; when you click Add to Cart there will be an intro form with a place to name intended roommates if you are planning to share with a friend or partner (make sure they register separately and also list your name), otherwise we are happy to pair you with someone. While most rooms are near the main dining and activity space, some are placed around 50 steps up into the hillside, with sprawling volcano vistas for your reward. Please indicate in the introduction form if you have mobility concerns, we want to place everyone comfortably! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about accessibility or accommodations for individual health needs.
🏡 Check in on our first day is at 3 pm. If you are flying in that day, plan for your flight to land in Guatemala City before 12 pm to allow for travel time to Villa Sumaya (2.5-3 hours shuttle + 20 minute boat taxi). Check out on our last day is at 11 am. We highly recommend booking airport transportation with trusted company Kan Tours.
Payments
💖 Double occupancy: $2400
💖 Single occupancy: $2900
💖 Pay in full for simplicity or make a 50% deposit to hold your spot, with the balance due April 20, 2026. Cancellations within 90 days of the retreat start date cannot be refunded, though you may transfer your spot to another person without penalty.
How long have you felt on the cusp of creative transformation? What if the path to your artistry was paved with pleasure and connection, rather than pressure?
The Artists Play was inspired by (not affiliated with) The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, a book you might have picked up and put down, wrestled through or given up on, had sitting on your nightstand for 3 years - if you’re like us. You do not have to have “done“ the book to participate - in fact, we designed this for those who found it enticing but inaccessible amidst their daily lives. Some familiarity with the terminology of The Artist’s Way is helpful, but not strictly necessary to have a rich and fulfilling experience. This 6 day retreat prioritizes somatic embodiment as an added layer in the stumbleborn, sacred dream of creating with curiosity and wonder.
Through movement, ritual, morning pages, group explorations, excursions, and long blocks of parallel play for working in a chosen art form, we offer a container for beings who work best plugged into others and crave to be cocooned in their process. A primary feature of this retreat is the invitation to work intensively in one medium where you want to deepen your practice, be it writing, music, painting, sculpture, or any other creative practice. There will be multi-hour blocks each afternoon for participants to sink into their individual process while sharing the same physical space, body mirroring in a way that allows many an artist to ground down and find flow through the group frequency of creative openness. You do NOT have to be experienced in any technique, make money off art, or even call yourself an artist - only be willing to meet the part of you that already knows how to create and the child within who knows the ecstasy of exploration.
This retreat is a formal invitation to cultivate devotion over discipline and revel in play as prayer!
What’s Included:
✅ 6 days/5 nights at Villa Sumaya retreat center on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala in a single or double occupancy room
✅ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Villa Sumaya’s renowned vegetarian kitchen (chicken/fish available for a fee per portion)
✅ Twice daily yoga: gentle flow in the morning, yin/nidra in the evening
✅ Silent breakfast for morning pages/journaling
✅ Self-exploration sessions inspired by The Artist’s Way alongside somatic exercises to reconnect the body with the imagination
✅ Afternoon creative action blocks to embrace an extended flow state in your chosen medium alongside others
✅ Inspiration excursion to the expansive Chichicastenago market
✅ Sacred sweat lodge ceremony
✅ Waterfall hike with optional microdose (offered by trained facilitator)
✅ Access to solar hot tub, pool, and lakefront hammocks
✅ 24-hour self-serve tea, coffee, and filtered water
✅ Ongoing Whatsapp community for pre- and post-retreat contact
What’s NOT Included:
🚫 Round trip flights to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (GUA)
🚫 Shuttle transportation to Panajachel on Lake Atitlán from/to the airport - we highly recommend booking with trusted company Kan Tours; if you are interested in sharing a private shuttle we may be able to help you coordinate with other participants based on flight times, send us a message as soon as possible!
🚫 Short boat taxi ride across the lake from Panajachal to Villa Sumaya
🚫 Art supplies: this retreat offers the freedom for participants to delve into a deeply personal artistic practice each afternoon, therefore, due to the individual nature of the mediums employed you are responsible for arriving with everything you need for the creative practice you chose to work with (anything like paints, paper, clay, writing utensils, brushes, instruments, recording devices, notebooks, beads, raw materials, easels, glue, etc. - consider in detail, remembering that we are quite isolated at the retreat). We will have folding tables and tarps on hand, however with no mail service on most of Lake Atitlán we unfortunately cannot ship down any materials, they must be transported with your luggage. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about getting your materials here!
🚫 Spa services are available to book on-site, but are not included in the package price
Accommodations
🏡 Villa Sumaya is a luxurious eco-retreat center on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala — a geographic location that we can attest has stunningly palpable energetic charge. Every room offers breathtaking lake views, individual patios, and private bathrooms with hot water. Like most places around the lake Villa Sumaya is only accessible by boat, fostering a delicious sense of true retreat from the ordinary.
🏡 Choose single or double occupancy; when you click Add to Cart there will be an intro form with a place to name intended roommates if you are planning to share with a friend or partner (make sure they register separately and also list your name), otherwise we are happy to pair you with someone. While most rooms are near the main dining and activity space, some are placed around 50 steps up into the hillside, with sprawling volcano vistas for your reward. Please indicate in the introduction form if you have mobility concerns, we want to place everyone comfortably! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about accessibility or accommodations for individual health needs.
🏡 Check in on our first day is at 3 pm. If you are flying in that day, plan for your flight to land in Guatemala City before 12 pm to allow for travel time to Villa Sumaya (2.5-3 hours shuttle + 20 minute boat taxi). Check out on our last day is at 11 am. We highly recommend booking airport transportation with trusted company Kan Tours.
Payments
💖 Double occupancy: $2400
💖 Single occupancy: $2900
💖 Pay in full for simplicity or make a 50% deposit to hold your spot, with the balance due April 20, 2026. Cancellations within 90 days of the retreat start date cannot be refunded, though you may transfer your spot to another person without penalty.