April Ladies hiking retreat, 2025
Complete a bucket list hike up Acatenango Volcano and see lava eruptions up close. Discover villages around Lake Atitlan, eat fresh local food, stay at lakeview accommodations, explore Antigua, and engage in cultural activities!
TRIP DATES: MARCH 1-7, 2025
10 Available spots.
What is included:
6 Nights Accommodations
18 Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 4 Suppers
Delicious snacks, smoothies and refreshments
Camping gear for Volcano Hike
2 Local guides
English speaking host and leader that will be with group for the duration of the trip.
Airport Shuttles
Transportation throughout Guatemala
Activities:
San Juan walking tour
Lake Atitlan Boat tour
Rostro Maya Sunrise Hike and summit breakfast over the campfire
Traditional Bracelet Weaving
Pickup truck ride through villages
Acatenango + Fuego Hike
WhatsApp group chat leading up to the trip for continual support and questions answered.
What is not included:
Flights
Personal Travel Insurance (Required)
Gratuity for guides/hotel staff
5 meals out while exploring Antigua and San Juan
The Full Itinerary
Day 1
April 1, 2025
11am
Shuttle pick up in Guatemala City.
3pm
Arrive at San Juan accommodations
Settle in, welcome charcuterie snack spread, cultural orientation and schedule review.
5pm
Walking tour through San Juan
7pm
Special welcome dinner with live music at accommodations
Day 2
April 2, 2025
Sleep in
9am
Breakfast on deck and outdoor kitchen
10am
Boat tour of Lake Atitlan stopping in different villages, swimming rock jumping at Nature Reserve
Packed picnic Lunch on the boat!
Shopping in different Villages
Guatemalan History and Folklore told by boat Captain.
5pm
Arrival at Accommodations
6pm
Dinner
7pm
Optional Bonfire, free time
Day 3
April 3, 2025
3:45am
Wake up, meet in garden and head out for first hike up Rostro Maya trail.
5:45am
Summit View and campfire breakfast.
7:30am
Pickup truck ride down through villages.
8am
Free morning to explore San Juan
Optional time slots to book in room massages booked with our masseuse Esther. (35$/hour)
1pm
Comfort Food lunch - homemade soup and sandwiches
3pm
Traditional Bracelet weaving with Abuela Concepcion.
Click here to check out the experience.
6:30pm
Special San Juan good-bye dinner at "Ancestral Delight"
Day 4
April 4, 2025
8am
Breakfast served and leave to Antigua
11am-2pm
Shuttle to Antigua then lunch
Free afternoon to explore
7pm
Optional card/board games, chill time as a group.
Day 5
April 5, 2025
4am
Wake up, shuttle to Acatenango trail head.
V-Hiking Tours guides group up Acatenengo. Food, camping gear and snacks provided.
An incredible, bucket-list hike that offers a front row seat to the neighbouring, most active volcano in Central America, "Fuego".
Exact hiking/meal itinerary to be announced closer to the date. (Hike pack list and specifications available at bottom of this page)
To learn more about Acatenango, click here.
Day 6
April 6, 2025
4am
Hike to the closest (Safe) point of Fuego to enjoy sunrise and volcanic erruptions.
Coffee and Light breakfast
7am
Hike down!
1pm
An afternoon of delicious food, pampering and relaxation back at Antigua accommodations
Free time to explore during the last night.
Day 7
April 7, 2025
10am
Breakfast at Hotel. Final goodbyes.
Noon
Shuttle to Guatemala City/Airport
Where you'll be staying while in Guatemala:
Each one of the rooms offered in this package boast two double beds and a beautiful east facing view so you enjoy the daily sun rising during your time at Lake Atitlan.
Private bathrooms, beautiful views, local decor.
Total Price:
$1875
Bring a friend:
2 for $3400! (Save 175 dollars each!)
Payment plans available
Accepted applicants can reserve their spot with a deposit of $500
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Hiking Disclaimer: Acatenango Volcano’s peak is at 13,045 feet. This trip’s itinerary involves hiking 4 steep and challenging miles up on an established trail for 4-6 hours to about 11,800 feet. Those with little experience hiking high altitudes should prepare accordingly and discuss preparation with their doctor. The group will have professional guides with them, along with the Culture Chalk host and group leader. The hikers will take many breaks, and the guide will assess regularly for anyone feeling unwell. Anyone who anticipates that they will be unable or unwilling to complete the hike up Acatenango and then back down the next day should contact us prior to make alternate arrangements in schedule.
HIKING PACK LIST!
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Head lamp
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Portable charger
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Medications if needed (acetaminophen is recommended to have on hand)
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Electrolyte tabs
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Dry bag (for passports and wallets)
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Walking stick or poles (optional)
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Daypack (10-20 litre capacity)
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Water bottles, 4 litre capacity recommended
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Extra snacks: granola bars, chocolate, nuts.
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Layers of Clothing: Acatenango hike gets gradually colder and colder.
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Mits and beanie
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Hiking shoes
CLOTHES PACK LIST
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7-8 Pairs socks and underwear
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4 Pants
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Comfortable hiking pants
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3 pairs of shorts
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8 shirts/tops
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Toiletries, brush, hair ellastics
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Swimwear
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Sandals -hiking type recommended for versatility
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Sport Bras
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Base layer of thermo-wear
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Jacket AND sweater
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Walking shoes
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Earplugs and headphones
GENERAL INFORMATION
Join us for an incredible 6 night stay of work hard - play hard fun! We are so proud to offer this experience! Once registered, you will be invited to the gals' WhatsApp group party-line where registered guests are posting ideas, preparation hike photos, tips and questions for the hosts to answer.
The hikes:
Acatenango
Distance: 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) return
Elevation Gain: 1,615 meters (5,300 feet)
Top Elevation: 3,976 meters (13,045 feet)
Duration: 7 – 10 hours return
Rostro Maya: (warm up)
Distance to top from San Juan: 4 miles
Top elevation: 2250 metres Hike up 2 hours.
Way down is a scenic pickup truck tour.
Lake Atitlan remains extremely traditional and conservative in nature. Please remember that we are guests and as such we should dress and behave respectfully towards our hosts. Please dress modestly during your time here.
Bringing a small gift is optional but recommended to give to some of the families we support in our community. (Quality socks, non-lingual games (like UNO, a quality decks of cards, Blockus), children's toys or a quality kitchen utensil/gadget.)
As our name Culture Chalk implies, we specialize in Cultural Education. We truly want you to experience the best of Guatemalan culture while representing your own culture with class, sensitivity and objectivity. And trust us, we know it's not always easy when experiencing new things, as good as they may be, they are still different and different can be challenging. We encourage visitors to come with an attitude of loving Guatemala for what it is and not judging it for what it is not.
Guatemala is a vibrant place and roosters crowing, dogs barking, music playing and fireworks being set off at all times of the day is considered normal. Come ready to laugh, dance, sing, and see yourself in a brand new light.
Also... Please bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper! ;)
Our goal as your hosts is for you to leave our place BETTER, in so many ways.
*Accommodations while in Antigua will be announced once total number of participants is confirmed.
Cultural Immersion Retreats