Come home to you retreat
January 1-9, 2027
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Come home to your truth. To your peace. to your power.
Immerse yourself in soul nourishment.
The Come Home to You Transformational retreat is for you if you are ready to open up to yourself and your aliveness on a SOUL level.
You’ll be nurtured by the energy of the volcano, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and the spirit of the local Mayan indigenous village of San Marco la Laguna.
You’ll be nourished you’ll with mind-body-soul practices, joy-filling local adventures that connect you with nature, delicious cuisine, and heartfelt conversations.
And you’ll connect to a deep sense of belonging – to parts of you that perhaps you've lost touch with over the years, and to the shared energy of the community that is circled around you.
Because You deserve to feel alive and awake on the inside.
You’ve been craving peace, fulfillment, joy, connection…and freedom.
This is your chance.
You’ll return home with re-awakened inner peace and POWER.
You’ll feel recalibrated to your inner truth, and your inner wisdom.
You’ll remember what it looks and feels like to embody a soul-guided path to your truest self.
Created by Elena Sonnino, the Come Home to YOU retreat meets you where you are. And reminds you that you CANNOT get it wrong.
These transformational retreats are built on the belief that you carry deeply rooted inner strength and wisdom, everywhere you go.
Sometimes it is bold and audacious. Sometimes it is subdued and subtle.
But it is always there.
Just like the sunrise.
Sometimes the sunrise is like a painting. Sometimes it is obscured by clouds.
But you don’t need to SEE the sun rising each morning to know that it is there. To believe in it.
But sometimes. you need a reminder to remember. To stop doubting and start trusting.
To be present. To be curious. To embody your aliveness.
Why Lake Atitlan in Guatemala?If the last few years have taught me anything, it is that living fully begins with a decision.
To meet ourselves where we are.
To create space to listen to our inner whispers.
To trust.
To be guided by ease, delight, and sweet, sweet love.
I was reminded of the power of this decision during the countless hours I spent hiking in 2025. To be where my feet are. Where my breath is.
To be present in a way that clears space for truth.
Enter Lake Atitlan.
I’d read about and been curious about Lake Atitlan years for several years.
This turquoise freshwater lake sits over 5,000 feet above sea level. It is surrounded by indigenous Mayan villages, 3 dormant volcanoes, hot springs, and is known as the “land of the eternal spring."
And I decided that it was time to create a retreat that harnesses that energy as the backdrop and guide for our journey to RECEIVE our truth and SOAR on the wings of our inner power.
this year, we are activating our inner power…
Yes, we will be surrounded by community.
Yes, we will breathe and REST.
AND… we’ll remember our truest and deepest potential with 3 hikes throughout the week that will help us feel rooted and connected to our power.
This retreat is for you if:
You are ready to remember what makes you YOU.
You are ready to connect to your inner power, one step of trail and presence at a time.
You are ready to step out of your comfort zone with an open heart.
And… if:
You LOVE the idea of watching the sun rise over the lake from a vista on the trail (after an early morning wake-up).
You are comfortable hiking on uneven terrain for 2-4 hours at a higher altitude. Don’t worry. These hikes are not a race. We’ll stop. Breathe. Meditate. Savor. We’ll likely even laugh or maybe cry somewhere along the way.
An Invitation to Live Fully
You need time and space to remember…That the path you’ve been waiting for…is already illuminated.You just need to take the first step.
To reconnect with your most important relationship – the one with yourself.
What can you expect during the retreat?
This isn’t just a yoga retreat.
It is a transformational retreat.
No feeling guilty.
No apologizing.
No waiting for the perfect moment or conditions.
You’ll release the self-imposed WALLS of self-doubt, second-guessing, and the pattern of waiting for the “:just right” moment.
You’ll learn how to reconnect, attune to, and embody (and TRUST) your inner strength and wisdom, no matter what life throws at you.
Maybe you’ll even envision a new wild and audacious dream or two along the way.
“I keep coming back to “magic” to describe this retreat. Every bit of our week fit me. Not a vacation… but a lifestyle.”
What people are saying about these retreats…“I had no idea what to expect, as I’d never attended a retreat before. As a business owner, my life is extremely busy so I was hesitant at first to even take that time for myself. However, after participating in the Nurture and Nourish Retreat I feel rejuvenated and have a list of purposeful action items to keep the nourishment going. What a great way to start the year! I’d like to make this an annual event in my life! Elena does such an amazing job in organizing and leading a perfect blend of activities that make your soul sing!”
“Before the retreat I was a ball of stress and guilt. Because of things going on with my family I kept thinking that I shouldn’t go.
I immersed myself into every practice, lesson, and moment. I recognize that it is SO important for me to listen to my wants and needs. I have slowed down, take mini breaks during the day to check in with myself, and haven’t jumped every time I get a call or text from my family.
Instead, I sit in a rock in Central Park, feel the wind blow, listen to the leaves fall, and enjoy watching dogs run around the dog park. I’m feeling my aliveness.””
“I was “stuck” before the retreat not even knowing how “stuck” I was. The retreat awakened me and showed me so many possibilities that are truly at my fingertips if I just reached a little further. It exceeded my expectations and taught me valuable skills that will help me continue to grow. This is just the beginning”
The week is designed to help you remember, honor, and re-awaken your aliveness and connect to the power and wisdom of your body, your intuition, and the truth of what it means to be YOU.
What does a retreat day look like?Elena loves to surprise you during retreats, so please know that this is a draft schedule to give you a sense of what one day might look like.
(In fact, the surprises and attention to every detail are what keep so many retreaters coming back year after year.)
Daily Schedule (on non-hike days)
7:00 am Coffee/Tea/Fruit
7:15 - 7:45 am Meditation
7:45 am - 9:00 am Morning Practice
9:00 - 10:00 am Breakfast
10:15-12:00 pm Coaching Workshop or Local Adventure
1:00 Lunch
1:45 Free time for a massage, naps in the hammock, kayaking or SUP in the lake, or just BEING.
4:00 - 6:30 Evening Practice & Coaching
7:00 pm Dinner
On our hike days…
We’ll head out in the morning (at least once before sunrise) for our adventure. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon and then a restorative or rest practice in the evening before dinner.
All the details...Where and when is this retreat?
The retreat takes place at Casa Paloma in San Marco La Laguna on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala from January 1-9, 2027. You’ll fly into Guatemala City on January 1st – be transported to the charming town of Antigua for one night, and then travel to the lake on January 2nd – for our week of awakening and delight.
What is included? So much. And more.
Group transportation to/from Guatemala City to Antigua and then Casa Paloma (and then back to Guatemala City for departures)
One night luxury boutique hotel stay in Antigua, welcome dinner, and breakfast
7 nights’ accommodation at the delightful Casa Paloma retreat center
3 local, delicious meals* per day prepared by our private chef, including fresh juices and snacks (vegetarian/dairy/gluten-free options available)
3 guided hikes throughout the week (ranging in distance and time from 2-4+ hours)
Daily guided meditation
1-2 daily yoga classes that focus on creating a deeper mind-body connection with necessary props, including accessible and intuitive slow flow, nurturing and relaxing yin yoga, and yoga nidra for deep rest
Group coaching and inquiry sessions to remember, awaken, and receive the feeling of coming home to YOU
Rituals to connect to the truest parts of yourself
1 relaxation lakeside massage
Daily sauna access
Swimming and water activities, including stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking
Local experiences that will make your heart swoon
Daily downtime to RELAX
Opportunities for 1:1 time with Elena for extra support
A welcome bag of goodies to make your week even more fabulous
AND….
All the surprise delight. One of the things that makes a retreat with Elena so fabulous is the surprises that she’ll shower upon you along the way.
Yoga mats and props
Transformation (and friendships) that will last a lifetime
Not included:
Airfare to and from Guatemala City
Potential overnight hotel in Guatemala City on January 9th (Elena will suggest hotels).
Tips
“Elena created and fostered an environment that allowed all of us to feel safe and supported and loved - so we were all able to open up and truly get to the root of some really deep stuff. I came home with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for myself, and what I can do to truly ‘nurture and nourish’ ME in my daily life in the ‘real world’.”
These transformational retreats are an opportunity to open up to yourself and your aliveness on a SOUL level.
These immersive experiences blend the power of presence, intention, and community to help you expand your capacity for peace, freedom, connection, and joy.
I chose this particular region and retreat home because I was curious…to see what would be possible if we gave ourselves permission to fully immerse ourselves in all things AWAKENING.
To be in the presence of volcanoes, a healing lake, and an indigenous culture that invites us to remember our truest power.
My retreats have never been about “go,go,go” energy. In fact, I’ve always prioritized REST and LESS doing.
That is still important to me. But the schedule will look a bit different this year with 3 hikes throughout the week. Our meditations or practices might take place on a trail instead of in the shala on some days.
And we might be a bit breathless.
Not because we are moving fast, but because we’ll be at over 5,000 feet above sea level and hiking. I do know about you, but in the past, I’ve judged myself for getting “breathy.”
But in the last year or so, I’ve remembered that being “breathy” doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Because oh by the way, being “breathy” is also a metaphor for how we show up when life gets hard.
These moments pass. If we let them. If we stop judging and pause long enough to offer ourselves presence and compassion. If we give ourselves permission to check-in, recalibrate, and remember what feels true.
I always design these experiences to cultivate and celebrate the power of community and connection.
This retreat is no different.
While all activities are always optional, my hope is these activating and awakening experiences call to your soul.
That if you say YES to this retreat, you are doing so with an open heart that is ready to meet yourself where you are AND allow yourself to be nudged, one step at a time, perhaps beyond what you thought was possible. To meet the truest version of you. The one that you can come home to, not just on retreat, but every day after that.
I can’t wait to retreat with you!
xo,
Elena
sweet friend,
A note from Elena
AccomodationsThe rooms at Casa Paloma are each unique. They are colorful, comfortable, and have views of the gardens, volcano, and/or the lake.
They are appointed with top-quality mattresses and linens, and the rooms are decorated with the work of local artisans.
Please find all the room details at Casa Paloma to read the full descriptions. Prices vary by room size and whether the bathroom is shared or private.
Retreat PricingEstrella: Queen bed, private bath: $5200
Pajaro: 2 full-size beds, private bath: $4000/per person
Tuk Tuk: 2 full-size beds, private bath: $3800/per person
Bambu: Queen bed, private bath: $4200
Azul: Queen bed, shared bath: $4400
Piedra: Twin bed, shared bath: $4300
Count the Ways: Queen bed, private bath: $4600
At Home in the World: 2 twin beds, private bath: $4200/per person
Casa Una 1: 2 queen beds, private bath: $4400/per person
Casa Una 2: Queen bed, private bath: $5400
Birds Nest Vila: Queen bed, private bath: $5400
**Prices are per person.
~A deposit of $900 is due to secure your registration.
~Choose to pay monthly, in full, or in two payments. The final payment of any remaining balance is due 10/01/2026.
~ Please note: a 3% credit card fee will be added to the remaining balance after the deposit. Option to pay in full via ACH by July 1, without fee.
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended for both flight and retreat costs.
Meet the Founder of The Thrive Sanctuary and retreat host...Elena Sonnino
The idea for the Thrive Sanctuary came to Elena while training for an ultra-endurance hiking event. And because one of her core values is curiosity, she allowed the seed of possibility to be planted, reminding her of the whisper she’d heard long ago to create a retreat center.
The Thrive Sanctuary is designed to feel like a warm hug, an urban retreat sanctuary that meets you where you are. It reminds us that tending to our thriving is an ongoing journey. A journey that requires trust, ease, and curiosity and is nourished by the wonder of mini-moments.
While this holistic plant shop is home base for all things THRIVING, Elena has been leading transformational retreats for the last 10 years. These retreats come with a GUARANTEE.
That if you show up for the practices and experiences each day with an open mind and heart and integrate your takeaways once you get home…this transformative experience will be a catalyst for you to thrive from the inside out.
Yes, you’ll need to show up and do the sometimes not-easy work of “being” – but the COME HOME to YOU retreat will create and hold space for you to…
Identify and release old patterns and stories that keep you stuck in survival mode and out of alignment with your intuition.
Nurture the truths that make you YOU.
Remember and re-awaken your inner power.
Immerse yourself in deep soul nourishment.
Recalibrate to your inner child with adventure, play, laughter, and vulnerability to expand your capacity to RECEIVE.
Learn embodiment practices to connect to your aliveness.
Create your own heart-centered path for the life you want to live.
Laugh. And maybe cry. And probably laugh again.
Connect to yourself, to nature, and to the circle of women around you.
What most people say about Elena is that she brings delightful sparks of energy to everything she does. And she is over the moon to bring that spark of unapologetic, easeful, and delighted energy to life with this new retreat destination.
Frequently asked questions-
You’ll get a full packing list as we get closer. Think super casual. Yoga, lounging, and hiking/adventure attire.
-
Excellent question. This day in Antigua gives everyone a chance to land, rest, and ease into the experience, and makes the following day to Casa Paloma much smoother. It also allows for more flexibility with flight times.
In Antigua, we’ll be staying at the luxurious El Convento boutique hotel located in a beautifully restored colonial building.
Going straight from Guatemala City can be a very long travel day, and the Casa Paloma team have seen that the Antigua night really benefits the group overall.
-
I love to plan ahead too, and will send more details about time ranges soon.
To get started, look for flights that arrive in Guatemala City by 3 pm on 1/1, so that you can arrive in Antigua in time for our welcome dinner. Travel will be provided as long as you arrive with the recommended window.
You can choose to arrive later or on the morning of January 2, but will need to arrange your own transport to Antigua to meet the group before leaving for the lake in the early afternoon on January 2nd.
For your return, you’ll want an afternoon flight that allows enough time to travel back from Lake Atitlan. You may decide to spend an extra night in Guatemala City – I’ll have hotel suggestions. -
The drive from Guatemala City to Antigua is about 1.5 hours.
The drive from Antigua to Panajachel (where we’ll catch a boat to Casa Paloma) is about 2.5 hours.
Travel from the airport to Antigua will be arranged within a certain time window. And then we’ll travel from Antigua to the lake as a group on Saturday afternoon. (And then back again on the moening of Jan 9th for departures.)
-
The lake sits at just over 5,000 feet which means that you’ll potentially feel the altitude impact your breathing even on the atirs and paths of our retreat center home.
Our hikes will range from easy to moderate to start the week climbing 950 feet on our shorter days (about 3 miles, 2.5 -3 hours).
At the end of the week we’'ll venture to one of the volcanoes , for a more strenuous hike up 3,800 feet over 5.2 miles, and 6+ hours.
We won’t be rushing, infact we’ll stop to breathe, reflect, and just BE along the trail- but these trails do require do require a sustained effort and a strong fitness base.
While all activities are always optional, this retreat is planned with these 3 hikes by intention. Elena will offer suggestions for training to help prepare for this.
-
Casa Paloma is on a lake and the bathrooms feature compostible toilets – so it is possible (likely even) that you might see some bugs. There are harmless spiders and at night, you might be lucky enough to see fireflies.
-
Casa Paloma is a gem all by itself for just BEING.
The rose garden or terraces invite you to rest,. You can kayak, SUP, or swim in the lake. Everyone will be treated to a lakeside massage. You can also explore the local village of San Marcos la Laguna.
-
Chef Rosa is a legend at Casa Paloma. Her healthy and delicious meals will nourish you from the inside out. Vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options will be available.
-
This retreat, like all of Elena’s retreats, is designed to by DRY. The intention of a dry retreat is to help you fully connect with your aliveness without anything that might “numb” you.
-
The electrical current is the same system is in the United States.
-
Travel insurance is required or your release to acknowledge this, because every single year, someone has to cancel for an unforeseen reason. Insurance helps you recuperate flight and retreat costs since the investment is non-refundable.
-
his is going to sound harsh. But…There isn’t a refund or cancellation policy.
In the event of an unexpected medical or life-threatening emergency (on a case-by-case basis), we can work together to find someone else for your spot.
In case of our postponement due to pandemics, natural disasters, and other unforeseeable events beyond our control, we will transfer your full balance to a future retreat.
It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policies. No refunds or credits will be given for failure to attend or failure to complete the retreat, or for arriving late or leaving early.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended to help offset any cancellation costs.
Elena Sonnino reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary by our team or partners.
