Journey into Mayan Spirituality

In Guatemala – Lake Atitlan

From January 5th to 17th 2026

Indigenous Mayan spirituality was preserved with its rites and practices even after the advent of the Spanish invasion.

Pre-Columbian rites are still alive among this people; they have ancient origins that can be partly compared to shamanic practices.

The journey will follow a path of Mayan ceremonies, explorations, meditations and encounters in the cradle of Mayan civilization, Lake Atitlan , where according to the sacred book Popol Vuh the Mayan civilization arose.

The Mayan Fire ceremonies, conducted by different Ajq'ij Maya spiritual guides will be coordinated by the Ajq'ij Maya Tz'utujil Nana Maria and will take place partly in his Spiritual Center “El Nuevo Sol” in San Juan della Laguna.

The program includes the celebration of Mayan fire ceremonies in some sacred places where there are Mayan altars scattered throughout the mountains, the forest and the lake.

The powerful and enlightening Rite of Cacao will be celebrated with the Spiritual Guides Ana Maria and Sebastian and the ancient Rite of the Cigar, not yet studied by Western anthropologists, made with tobacco and seven other local mountain herbs, with the Spiritual Guides Kitche , Nikte and Rosalia.

A purification ceremony is also planned in the Temazcal .

Nature will take center stage, with small beaches, the clear waters of Lake Atitlan , mountains, tropical forests, and volcanoes offering moments of relaxation and connection with the elements. The mild climate, with highs of 25°C, will make it easy to spend time outdoors and connect with the stunning blue of the sky and lake.

The trip includes a stay in the traditional Pueblo (village) of San Juan la Laguna where the Mayan guide Nana Maria will make her Spiritual Center available.

The village is known for its tradition of weaving and dyeing fabrics, using traditional Mayan processes and patterns.

For some ceremonies it will be necessary to move to other nearby villages, Santiago d' Atitlan , St. Lucia Utatlan , as well as visiting the city of Chichicastenango and other archaeological sites in nearby towns.

A Shamanic Retreat is scheduled for December 29th to January 5th, 2026, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panama, among the pristine islands of the Caribbean Sea, home to unique animals such as the sloth. It will be an opportunity to spend the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 with shamanic rituals and rediscover the power of the elements in a tropical climate, amidst jungle, beaches, and...sloths!

Plan:

Monday, January 5, 2026

Arrival in Guatemala City

Meeting with the organizers

Tuesday, January 6, 2025

Arrival in San Juan La Laguna in the late morning

Accommodation in lodging

Free time for a walk around the village, lake, etc.

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Purification rite with the Temazcal and Nawales ceremony

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Individual consultation with the Tzité (Mayan Oracle) with Nana Maria, optional

Reading of the Mayan Cross, optional

Friday, January 9, 2026

Demonstration of the process and production of cocoa

Sacred Cocoa Ceremony with Nana Ana and Tata Sebastian

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Ceremony with a Mayan Spiritual Guide at an altar on Lake Atitlan or in the forest

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Visit to Chichicastenango and its market

Monday, January 12, 2026

Mayan Ceremony with Nana Nikte and Nana Rosalia

Individual consultation with Nana Rosalia and Nana Nikte , optional

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Cigar Ceremony with Nana Nikte and Nana Rosalia

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Tour of the botanical garden and demonstration of fabric dyeing with natural dyes

Evening with a traditional Tz'utujil musical group

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Visit to the villages of Santiago and San Marcos - optional walking tour

Friday, January 16, 2026

Return to Guatemala City

Return flight with evening departure, arriving in Italy on Saturday 17 January 

Additional Information

• This is a journey for spiritual experiences and personal development, so unless there are exceptional circumstances, participation in all scheduled ceremonies is expected.
• The purpose of the trip is to participate in Mayan spirituality, so it is not a tourist trip but a study trip.
• To participate in this program, good physical condition is required, as excursions are planned to visit ancient sacred sites, Mayan altars in nature.
• You must have valid travel insurance for Guatemala.
• The program is indicative and may be changed depending on the availability of the Mayan Spiritual Guides, the weather, and transportation.
• The climate is similar to our late spring, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C. Bring appropriate layered clothing and shoes for walking in nature.

Costs

Each participant will independently purchase their own flight tickets, health insurance, and expenses related to transportation, food, accommodation, ceremonies, etc.

You will only have to pay an initial travel organization fee of 500 euros, which includes the presence of two companions, Nello Ceccon and Ondina Montalto.

The indicative costs can be summarized as follows:

Accommodation in a double/triple room for 12 nights (2 in Guatemala City and 10 in San Juan la Laguna) approximately 350 Euros. The accommodations are very simple and spartan, therefore it is

A spirit of adaptability is required. Any requests for single rooms will be directed to other facilities, subject to availability and subject to additional costs .

Transportation (to and from Guatemala City, internal transportation to the various villages and locations indicated in the itinerary, including boat transportation on the lake) 130 Euro

Ceremonies with Spiritual Guides plus other activities (estimating the individual cost of each ceremony at 25 Euros) 300 Euros

Food (breakfast, lunch and dinner, estimated at 20 Euros per day) 300 Euros

total travel cost per person (including initial organization costs, accommodation, food, transportation, and ceremonies): 1700 Euros.

does not include flights to and from Italy, any insurance costs, personal expenses, and private consultations with Spiritual Guides.

The group will consist of a maximum of 10 participants.

Cancellation Policies

The event may be canceled for any reason, and only the amount of the event registration fees paid by the student will be refunded. The Coordinator is responsible for collecting Event fees from participants and managing all refunds. The Coordinator is responsible for refunding only the amount of the event registration fees paid by the student. The Coordinator is not responsible for travel expenses, lost deposits, or any other expenses incurred by the registrant in anticipation of participating in this event. No refunds will be made for travel expenses, lost deposits, or any other expenses incurred by the registrant in anticipation of participating in this event. Each participant assumes responsibility for any additional expenses incurred by registering to attend the event.

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