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At The Hermitage we hold a free guided dynamic morning practice every morning at 6:30 AM (except Sundays), which is open to anyone who is staying on the property doing an individual retreat. We are not offering any daily classes open to the public.

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Yes. If you would like to have a private yoga or meditation session guided by  Severin it is no problem. The cost is $80 per class and each class will last around one hour and a half and be tailored to suit your personal needs.

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The Hermitage provides sheets for your bed, meditation pillows, benches, chairs, yoga mats, and warm blankets. We can provide you with a towel if needed and we have some other essential items that you can buy from our reception – natural soap, toothpaste, shampoo, notebooks, etc. At The Hermitage we also grow and harvest our own organic coffee, and we make homemade kombucha and vegan treats which are available to buy during your stay. There is also a Tea station available for every day with fresh herbs from our own garden.

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Apart from the spaces that are available for all retreaters to use, such as the permaculture gardens, the lakefront beach and dock, the meditation hall, and the outdoor dining area, The Hermitage also has an excellent library of spiritual books that you are welcome to borrow from. There is also a small shop in the reception area that sells essentials such as organic toothpaste and shampoo, notebooks, homegrown coffee and kombucha, coconut oil, and homemade vegan treats and chutneys. Severin offers longer personal Birth Chart Readings (1.15 hrs) for $120.

Yes, support is available during your retreat at The Hermitage. Depending on the type of retreat you choose, you will have access to varying levels of guidance:

• For Guided Retreats: A professional Dark Retreat facilitator will support you with regular check-ins, preparation, and integration talks to help navigate your process.

• For Self-Led Retreats: Initial preparation and integration talks are offered to help you settle in and process your experience afterward.

Additionally, the staff at The Hermitage is available to assist with practical needs, and the serene environment itself is designed to provide a nurturing space for your journey. If you'd like specific details about the kind of support you'd receive, feel free to ask!

Staying at The Hermitage is intended to support a focused, introspective retreat experience rather than serving as a base for general travel or sightseeing. The space is designed to provide an atmosphere of reflection and contemplation, encouraging guests to immerse themselves fully in their inner work while still being able to engage with other people.

If you're planning to explore Lake Atitlan and visit different places, it might be best to stay at accommodations more suited to flexible travel plans. However, if you’d like to combine a retreat with some downtime for exploration, you could discuss your intentions with the team to see if there’s a way to align your plans with the ethos of The Hermitage.

The Hermitage asks for a full payment upfront to confirm all bookings for Solitary and Dark Retreats. If its further than three months in advance you can confirm your booking with a 50% deposit.
For Group Retreats we ask for a deposit of 50%. The Full payment has to be done 2 Months in advance.

All payments are fully refundable, minus a $50 processing fee, up to three months in advance.

Three months or less before your retreat is due to begin, the payment is completely non-refundable. Once your retreat has begun, The Hermitage is not able to give a refund if you decide to leave early or skip meals that you ordered in advance. 

Corona Virus Update:

We understand & are compassionate for the additional difficulties of travelling at this time. There are often changes in COVID regulations and the rules set by the Guatemalan Government seem to be under constant reconsideration. So we, as the Hermitage must keep our focus on the space we offer and allow those travelling here to take ownership to inform themselves on how to get here. If you are travelling from overseas to the Hermitage please be up to date with the latest travel restrictions and requirements. We know that it can more challenging & risky to travel at this time. At the same time the circumstances are making us grow by facing the unknown and trusting that there are always solutions. We at the Hermitage experience a high interest in what we are offering and this makes us trust that our services are in more need than ever before and doing our best to make this place a refuge for who wants to come here.

Making sure we are able to operate during these conditions The Hermitage accepts no cancellation but does allow a rescheduling of date. No money paid, partial or total, will be reimbursed, in any situation including force majeure.

In the exceptional situation of travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a guest prevented to travel may request to cancel the reservation and convert the payment made into a credit to be used in a future reservation of a room at the prevailing price. This credit will be valid for 12 months counting from the check-in date of the canceled reservation. The request must be made more than 30 days before the check-in date.

Staying Informed:

We will continue monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, and will respond based on the advice of governments, public health authorities, and medical professionals.

For further information of the COVID-19 in Guatemala please inform yourself here:

Here you can find the current requirement to enter Guatemala:
https://gt.usembassy.gov/health-alert-updated-requirements-for-travel-to-guatemala-23-december-2021/

And here you can get a PCR test done which is close from the airport and 24h open.
https://mibluemedical.com/pruebas-covid-19/

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No, The Hermitage does not belong to any particular religion or tradition. It is a secular, inclusive space that welcomes people from all backgrounds and spiritual paths. While many guests come for meditative, introspective, or spiritual practices, the retreat environment is designed to support personal growth and self-discovery in whatever form resonates with you.

The emphasis at The Hermitage is on creating a quiet and nurturing space where you can engage with your inner journey, regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs.

The Hermitage is a serene retreat center located in a naturally peaceful area by Lake Atitlan, offering an environment conducive to deep introspection and meditation, though you might occasionally hear the sounds of nature, local village life, or boats on the lake.

While we focus on cultivating awareness and embracing the entire range of emotions that make us human, we also celebrate our human nature—our needs, desires, and joy in connection. The Hermitage is a space where you are invited to engage, laugh, and even dance together, balancing introspection with shared humanity. For those seeking total silence, especially during Dark Retreats, the dedicated spaces like the Buddha Cave and Tara Room are designed to provide profound stillness and minimize distractions.

Yes, there are several beautiful walks to take around the lake front from The Hermitage gate. Stroll to the left, or to the right around the lake and enjoy gardens, local fishermen and farmers planting their fields, and (to the right) a white sand beach to swim from. We can give you more instructions, or other recommendations once you are here.

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Bring a notebook and pen for writing, a torch (flash light), bathing suit for swimming and some warm socks and a jumper for the evenings. Bring an umbrella for rainy season. You can bring a towel if you like, or use one of ours. You may like to bring some of your favourite teas to drink during your retreat as this is not provided by The Hermitage and also any snacks or health food supplements that you can´t go without.

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There is electricity in all of our cabins. We are off the grid here at The Hermitage, so we ask that electricity is used consciously and that devices are not plugged in over night to charge. There is plenty of electricity for lights at night. None of the cabins at The Hermitage have fridges.

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Yes. It is no problem for us to make the meals to suit your dietary requirements. We mostly provide vegan food although we offer an option to have eggs sometimes if you wish as we have chickens producing delicious organic free range eggs each day. We also have local honey from the neighbouring beekeepers. We use all organic and locally grown produce.

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No, self-catering is not part of the retreat experience at The Hermitage. All meals are lovingly prepared in-house, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in your retreat without the need to worry about cooking. The kitchen team thoughtfully accommodates dietary preferences, such as vegan or gluten-free options, so your meals can be tailored to your needs while you focus on your inner journey.

We have a lovely local woman from the village who comes to wash clothes two days per week for a cost of Q35 per load (around $4). Alternatively we have a washing station where you can wash your clothes yourself (we sell eco washing powder in our reception).

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Yes, The Hermitage does provide WiFi, but the intention is to maintain a peaceful, retreat-focused environment. WiFi is available in common areas, but it’s encouraged to limit its use to support your process of introspection and disconnection from the outside world.

Preparation Tips:

1. Set Clear Intentions: Reflect on why you’re coming to the retreat. Clarifying your intentions can help you focus and deepen your experience.

2. Disconnect: Plan to disconnect from digital devices as much as possible. This creates space for more profound introspection and presence.

3. Pack Light: Bring comfortable clothing, personal essentials, and anything that will support your comfort during the retreat. We recommend bringing a journal for reflection.

4. Review Dietary Preferences: If you have specific dietary needs, let the team know in advance so they can prepare accordingly. Vegan and gluten-free options are available.

5. Bring Open-mindedness and Flexibility: Retreats often bring up unexpected emotions or insights. Be prepared to embrace whatever arises during your time at The Hermitage.

Guatemala is called “the land of eternal spring” as the climate here is always temperate. The temperature at the lake sits all year round at a comfortable 24 to 27 degrees Celsius (75 to 80 degrees Farenheit). The dry season lasts from December to May, and the rainy season is from May to December. During the rainy season you can expect bright sunny mornings and thunder storms with heavy rain most afternoons – a beautiful time for meditation.

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To get to The Hermitage from the airport, here are the general steps, depending on your arrival point:

From La Aurora International Airport (Guatemala City):

1. Private Transfer: The easiest and most direct option is to arrange a private transfer from the airport to The Hermitage. This can be pre-arranged with the retreat center, and the driver will meet you at the airport and take you directly to the retreat (approximately 3.5–4 hours depending on traffic).

2. Shuttle Services: You can also take a shuttle service, which may be less expensive but could involve a transfer in Antigua or Panajachel before reaching Lake Atitlan.

3. Public Transport: If you prefer a more adventurous route, you can take a public bus to Antigua (about 1.5 hours), then transfer to a bus or shuttle to Panajachel (another 2.5–3 hours), followed by a boat ride across the lake to your destination. However, this is less convenient and can take several hours.

Once you arrive in the nearby town of Panajachel, a boat ride can be arranged to take you directly to The Hermitage, which is located near the lake.

It’s best to check with the retreat center for the most convenient options, especially if you're looking for a smooth and stress-free arrival!

Guatemala offers instant three month visitor visas for travellers on all passports upon arrival by land or air. If you want to do a retreat for longer than three months, we can either take your passport for you to the Visa Office in Panajachel on the lake and renew the visa for you ($50 for another three months) or you can simply overstay, and pay a fee of $1 per day when you do leave the country – no questions asked. If you have more questions about this, send us an email.

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The online information on Guatemala unfortunately does not paint a pretty picture. The reality is that Guatemala City is notoriously dangerous in certain areas (there are some neighbourhoods that are better to avoid), but when you arrive, if you stay in a good tourist hotel near to the airport you should have no problems at all – all these areas are very safe.

The tourist shuttles from the airport to the lake (via Antigua) are very safe, as is our personal driver Tony. He has been driving to the City from the Lake for many years and has an excellent American-standard car and is a great driver. He is extremely trustworthy and a really lovely friendly man who speaks a bit of English too. There are no problems at all on the road regarding safety between the City and the lake. As above, there are just a few neighbourhoods in Guatemala City central where the crime is concentrated and where it is better to avoid.

Here at the lake and at our property it is very safe and there are few reports of crime apart from opportunistic petty theft. So as long as you are careful with your belongings, you should have no problems here.

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