Retreat with me...
To Guatemala!
It Was All A Dream - A Retreat to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
October 14th-21st, 2023
The best dreams are the ones you don’t want to wake up from, and after spending a week on the majestic shores of Lake Atitlán, you may want to hit permanent snooze.
Join Ben Kalra (he/him) and Grace Millsap (she/her) for a week-long vacation of your dreams. In Sanskrit, Sumaya means a long-awaited dream come true, while in Arabic it translates as a little piece of paradise. Both of these definitions mirror the energy found at Villa Sumaya - a gem when it comes to style, service, and sustainability.
Every retreat with Ben and Grace is curated with love, magic, and respect as core tenants. We will join together in community and engage in the traditions of movement, pranayama, meditation, and inquiry - as tools towards self-discovery and personal growth.
Our home away from home: Villa Sumaya!
Villa Sumaya is located in Santa Cruz la Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlán. It was conceived in 2001 with the purchase of the lakefront Maya Rose House, originally the vacation home of a Guatemalan family. The center now includes a restaurant with splendid lake views that offers a blend of local and international vegetarian cuisine, fair-trade boutique stocked with local treasures and custom designed Eco Sumaya crafts, lush gardens, hammocks and cozy shaded or full sun sitting areas, solar heated hot tub and wood burning sauna, as well as four healing huts with a full-service spa.
Villa Sumaya is dedicated to rejuvenating holistic practices and healing modalities as well as preserving Mayan traditions and facilitating outdoor adventure in the heart of the Altiplano.
Each room at Villa Sumaya is truly unique, all with outdoor spaces and lake views. There are options for many budgets, beds and privacy.
What's Included?
7 nights/8 days accommodations at Villa Sumaya
Private transport to/from GUA airport
Boat ride to private dock in Santa Cruz la Laguna
3 daily meals - blend of local and international vegetarian cuisine
2 daily Yoga classes or workshops to rejuvenate your mind and body
2-3 off-site excursion tbd based on season
Sound journey with local musicians
Fire ceremony with local healers
What’s not Included:
Plane tickets
Massage/spa services
Alcohol
About Lake Atitlán:
Imagine an immense body of water sparkling in the sunlight, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes covered with blooming wildflowers. Welcome to Lake Atitlan - located in the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands, and is the deepest lake in Central America.
The weather has been called “perfect” — temperatures hover around 70s-80s during the day and 50s-60s at night. No need for heating or air conditioning. With dozens of town sprinkled around the shores of the lake, each with a unique pulse and peek into Mayan culture.
The Tree House Bungalow
This unique room is perched on the top of the Villa Sumaya property.
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Accommodates 1-2
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Queen bed
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Red velvet sitting area
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Private, exotic bathroom with a 100-year-old Chipilin tree and stunning views
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Large patio and hammock, with lake view.
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107 Stairs from main courtyard
Room: 230 ft² Patio: 210 ft² Single: $2695
Double: $2195
Water Suite - SOLD!
This warm and welcoming deluxe suite is located on the second floor of a two-story house in the heart of our center.
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Accommodates 1-2
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King bed
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Outstanding view
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Elegant bathroom with deep soaking tub and outdoor shower
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Cozy reading nook
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Spacious patio with seating for two
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65 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 375 ft² Patio: 240 ft² Single: $2995
Double: $2495
Fire Suite - SOLD!
This gorgeous, spacious suite is the ground floor of a two-story house in the heart of our center.
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Accommodates 1-2
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King bed
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Fireplace with cozy seating area
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Panoramic bay windows with seating area
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Large writing desk
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Kitchenette with bar
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Private patio with a handmade hammock
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50 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 934 ft² Patio: 325 ft² Single: $2995
Double: $2595
Air Suite - SOLD!
This posh junior suite is ideal for solo travelers or couples on personal retreat.
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Accommodates 1-2
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Queen bed
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Antique woodwork
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Modern stylized marble bathroom
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Patio with panoramic views
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Charming window seat
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50 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 249 ft² Patio: 58 ft² Single: $2895
Double: $2395
Crown Jewel Suite - SOLD!
Located near the top of our property, this elegant studio is the crown jewel of our collection.
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Accommodates 1-2
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Queen bed + two twin beds
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Overhead fan
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Glorious, 180-degree view of the lake
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Modern, spacious bathroom
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Wraparound patio with seating for 3
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Hammock overlooking the exquisite gardens
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85 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 850 ft² Patio: 270 ft² Single $2995
Double $2595
Cozy Corner Bungalow -SOLD!
This secluded, brick and thatched-roof hut is surrounded by lush vegetation.
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Accommodates 1-2
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Queen bed
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Large private bathroom with stunning view
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Artistically-crafted river rock shower
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Cozy outdoor space with panoramic views
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70 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 102 ft² Patio: 114 ft² Single: $2495
Double: $1995
Earth Suite - SOLD!
Nestled in the trees, this is a lovely room decorated in soothing shades of blue and purple. Make yourself at home in this cozy suite.
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Accommodates 1-2 people
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Queen bed + Twin bed in separate rooms
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Large patio with handcrafted hammock
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Splendid lake views
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50 Stairs above main courtyard
Room: 290 ft² Patio: 450 ft² Single: $2895
Double: $2395
The Roost Bungalow - SOLD!
Our Writers’ Roost is perched on the top corner of the center - 5-10 minute hike above the courtyard.
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Accommodates 1-2
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Queen bed
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Private bathroom
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Supreme views of the lake and volcanoes
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Cozy patio with loveseat
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Private hammock in colorful garden area
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112 Stairs from main courtyard
Room: 239 ft² Patio: 117 ft² Single: $2595
Double: $2095
Lotus Be Lovers Room
Perched on the third floor of Lotus House just below Tara Temple.
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Accommodates 1-3
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1 King + 1 twin bed
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Private bathroom with stone shower
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Private balcony with seating area overlooking gardens and lake
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49 Stairs from main courtyard
Room: 309 ft² Patio: 80 ft² Single: $2795
Double: $2295
Triple: $1895
Lotus Be Friends Room -SOLD!
Perched on the third floor of Lotus House just below Tara Temple.
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Accommodates 1-3
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3 Twin beds
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Private bathroom with stone shower
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Private balcony with seating area overlooking gardens and lake
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49 Stairs from main courtyard
Room: 309 ft² Patio: 80 ft² Single $2795
Double $2295
Triple $1895
VIP Early bird offer!!
Deposits paid by January 21st will receive:
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30-minute 1:1 photo shoot with Ben Kalra
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60-minute massage (arranged with resort upon arrival)
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30-minute mini Ayurvedic consultation with Grace Millsap
Meet Grace
Grace Millsap (she/her) is currently located in Charlotte, NC (Catawba Land). Her passions are rooted in science and equality, which inform her teaching of Yoga, and how she shows up in the world.
Grace studies, and teaches, from a long lineage that believes that life is inherently beautiful, and that the path of Yoga is a tool set to better navigate the many twists and turns.
Grace is a 500 ERYT, a YACEP provider, and an Ayurveda Wellness Counselor. Her classes, whether restorative or flow, are infused with her passions, and quest for magic and joy.
Other joys: chasing sunsets, discovering the "best" taco while traveling, and puppy cuddles
Meet Ben
Ben Kalra (he/him) is a student and teacher of Yoga as a means to deepen the connection between his mind, body, breath, and community.
He is also a photographer, coffee drinker, cat dad, and music lover who tries his best to spread peace and growth through his actions and teachings.
On the mat, Ben practices and teaches many styles of Yoga including energizing vinyasa flow, mellow deep stretch, and breathwork. Off the mat, Ben’s goal is to uplift marginalized voices while promoting compassion.
He believes that Yoga provides us with a beautiful toolkit of practices that we can utilize to create a more loving and connected world.
WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING:
This yoga retreat was so special and magical, Ben and Grace are like no other yoga teachers. The thoughtfulness showed through the diversity of teachings, knowledge shared and their respect and love for all living things. Grace and Ben’s passion is seen in their movements and heard in their beautiful voices. I am so grateful for this experience, to take a pause , to laugh, to cry, to be, to connect with other beautiful souls on their own spiritual evolution and gain a deeper connection with myself. Thank you and much love!
Grace & Ben provided an amazing experience for us. Every detail of the trip was handled gracefully from the moment we landed at the airport to our departure. It was so nice to be able to come on vacation without having to plan out much of anything. You could tell they put a lot of hard work and consideration into planning this trip & I feel so grateful to have been a part of it. I look forward to traveling with them again!
Truly amazing time. I found a grounding and a re-centering of my soul and consciousness. The workshop helped me grow as a person and feel more confident about who I am and how I live my life. Living from the heart can be scary, but also deeply rewarding.
The amount of love and planning that went into this retreat was so obvious. i appreciated all of the different forms of yoga we practiced, as well as gaining an understanding of the local culture. I swam in a waterfall, did yoga on the beach as the sun rose, pet some local puppies, rode horses as the sun set and I made friends that i hope to have for a lifetime. The past few years have been hard for almost all of the world, and what a gift to find some healing surrounded by such beauty and love.
Grace and Ben did a wonderful job. They found a great resort in a beautiful location. ... They were quick to respond to my emails leading up to the trip. The accommodations were very comfortable, and I felt connected to nature while we were there. The food was fantastic. Ben and Grace led twice daily yoga classes in a variety of styles, and they imparted a lot of intention and themes into our practice. The experience was healing. They also did a fantastic job of balancing activities with free time, and there were several fun activities / excursions. Overall the trip was great - checked all the boxes!
Cancellation and Payment Policies:
$500 deposit required to reserve your space
33% of balance due April 1st, 2023
33% of balance due July 1st, 2023
Final balance due September 1st, 2023
Full refunds given until March 1st, 2023
50% refunds given until July 1st, 2023
*After July 1st, cancellations will be considered on a case-by-case basis*
