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.
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 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’.”
Retreat PricingEstrella: Queen bed, private bath: SOLD OUT
Pajaro: 2 full-size beds, private bath: SOLD OUT
Tuk Tuk: 2 full-size beds, private bath: ONE SPOT LEFT $3800/per person
Bambu: Queen bed, private bath: $4200
Azul: SOLD OUT
Piedra: Twin bed, shared bath: SOLD OUT
Count the Ways: Queen bed, private bath: $4600
At Home in the World: 2 twin beds, private bath: SOLD OUT
Casa Una 1: SOLD OUT
Casa Una 2: Queen bed, private bath: $5400
Birds Nest Vila: Queen bed, private bath: $5400 SOLD OUT
**Prices are per person.
~A deposit of $900 is due to secure your registration.
~ Please note the addition of a 3% credit card processing fee on the remaining balance. Option to pay in full via ACH by July 1st without the fee.
~Choose to pay monthly, in full, or in two payments. The final payment of any remaining balance is due 09/01/2026.
Payment plans available.
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended for both flight and retreat costs.
Choose your room:
Please make sure you’ve reviewed room specifics at the Casa Paloma website to learn about each space.
Part of a two story casita with access to a shared full kitchen (shared with those staying in Casa Una 1). Please note – accessing Casa Una requires going up a stone staircase.
Private Queen bed, high ceilings and balcony.
$5400 plus 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.
Simple room with a queen bed, simple bath, and terrace with lake view.
$4200 plus 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.
Queen bed, rustic finishings, private bath right outside the casita.
$4600 plus 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.
On the ground floor of the main house.
Two queen beds and a private bath.
$3800 plus 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.
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.
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.
Have a question about whether this retreat is right for you?
Email Elena at elena@thethrivesanctuary.com
