Vacilando in Guatemala

the art of noticing: a creative immersion rooted in presence

october 6 - 12, 2026 — antigua, Guatemala

Join us for a week in Guatemala to slow down, follow your curiosity, and make something from what you find.

This retreat blends guided workshops with spacious time to wander—moving from inspiration into hands-on making.

Together, we’ll learn natural dyeing and weaving, jewelry making with local artisans, and cooking rooted in regional tradition. We’ll gather to explore the city, discuss creativity and inspiration, and enjoy delicious meals. There will also be ample opportunity to relax, reflect, and move with intention.

It’s a balance of structure and openness — designed to help you reconnect with your creativity in a way that feels natural, not forced.

You’ll leave with pieces you’ve made — and a deeper sense of how to begin.

Reserve your place

tell me more

This is a small, intentional gathering in Guatemala designed for people who want to move through a place with attention.
To notice more.
To follow what draws you in.
And to make something from what you find.
Throughout the week, we’ll explore different ways of creating — working with our hands, learning from local artisans, and responding to our surroundings in real time.
Not to produce something perfect.
But to stay in conversation with inspiration while it’s happening.
We’ll be spending a week in Antigua, Guatemala, a UNESCO world heritage site that’s rich in culture, history, and craft. We’ll walk down cobblestone roads, past colorful colonial-style architecture with the smell of fresh tortillas in the air, all surrounded by three towering volcanos.
We’ll be staying in a luxury hacienda that was a former coffee plantation, just a short ten minute walk from Antigua’s historic center. There’s a heated pool, a rooftop terrace and ample space for relaxing and connecting.
Mornings begin slowly — coffee, quiet, journaling, or rest. Some days we’ll move into gentle yoga or a shared start to the day.
Midday is for engaging — through workshops, exploration, and hands-on making.
Evenings we gather — epic meals, conversation, late night roof terrace chats, and time to reflect or continue what you’ve started.
Over the course of the week, we’ll move through:
- a guided inspiration walk through Antigua, learning the art of noticing
- a natural dyeing workshop and a weaving workshop with Luna Zorro
- making a pendant or ring out of foraged Guatemalan jade with Xibalba
- a hand quilting workshop with Laura and a beaded bracelet session with Allison
- a hands-on cooking class rooted in local ingredients and tradition
- time in nature — hiking and visiting nearby hot springs
There will also be space woven throughout—
afternoons by the pool, time to wander the city, or simply to rest.
You’ll leave with more than memories.
You’ll leave with something you made along the way.
- 6 nights in a shared or private room at a luxury hacienda within walking distance to Antigua’s historic center
- All meals, except for a few lunches and dinners
- All workshops and excursions
- Private transportation to and from the airport and to and from all activities
- Gratuity for every experience
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to and from Guatemala
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
Tuesday October 6th - Monday October 12th
$4,200 for a shared room — $3,950 early bird through June 1st
$4,950 for a private room — $4,700 early bird through June 1st
A non-refundable 33% deposit is required to hold your place on the retreat. The second 33% will be invoiced on August 1st and the final balance will be invoiced October 1st.
Alongside the experience itself, you’ll leave with:
- naturally dyed textiles and a small hand-quilted piece
- woven materials from our workshop
- handmade jewelry
- recipes and techniques from our cooking class
And maybe more importantly—
a different relationship to inspiration, and what you do with it.
If you…
- feel creatively stuck or disconnected and want a new way back in
- are curious about working with your hands, even if you’re new to it
- want both inspiration and a way to express it
- want to explore a beautiful place with fellow inspiring, creative people
- want to cultivate embodiment practices that get out of your head and into your body
You don’t need to be a creative professional or even identify as “creative” - this journey is for anyone who wants to explore, or even find, their creative self.

This is not like other retreats

It’s not solely about craft, or wellness, or travel—but the way those things begin to overlap.

You gather inspiration from the place around you.
You reconnect with yourself in the process.
And you make something from what you find.

Itinerary

You’ll fly into Guatemala City and be picked up with the rest of the group in a private transport van. After 60-90 minute drive, you’ll arrive at the hacienda where Laura and Allison will greet you. Once everyone has arrived and settles in, we’ll take a short walk through the city before a group welcome dinner.
We’ll start the day with journaling and breakfast together at the hacienda before going to spend the day at Luna Zorro’s studio just outside of town. There, we will participate in a natural dye workshop, have a feast prepared for us by Wild Daughter for lunch, and then spend the afternoon learning how to weave. We’ll have a casual dinner together at the end of the day before heading home to the hacienda.
We’ll have a quick breakfast at the hacienda before getting picked up for a guided volcano hike and an afternoon at a nearby hot springs. After a full day in nature, we’ll arrive home to a beautifully prepared dinner at the hacienda, followed by a relaxing sound bath.
This will be our day reflecting and relaxing together at the hacienda, starting with morning yoga and breakfast. Laura will teach a hand-quilting workshop followed by making beaded bracelets with Allison. We’ll have lunch together at nearby Caoba Farms and then the rest of the day is yours to wander, rest, or relax.
We’ll start the day together with journaling and breakfast at the hacienda before going to make a pendant or ring out of Guatemalan jade with Xibalba. The rest of the day will be yours to wander, rest, or relax before we join together again for a dinner out in town.
For our last full day together, we’ll have a slow morning, starting the day with yoga and breakfast at the hacienda. In the late morning, we’ll head back to Wild Daughter for a lunchtime cooking class where we’ll learn the art of making masa. The rest of the afternoon will be yours before our farewell group dinner.
We'll have one last breakfast together before saying our goodbyes and journeying back to the airport.

Itinerary may be subject to change

meet your Hosts

Laura Preston

Laura is an artist, designer, quilter, baker, author, and founder of Vacilando Studios. Shaped by over a decade of creative work and six years of full-time Airstream travel, her aesthetic is deeply influenced by movement, minimalism, and a an instinct for noticing what feels meaningful. Through craft and community, Laura creates spaces that invite slowness, curiosity, and connection. She’s drawn to helping people reconnect with their creativity, follow what feels interesting, and notice the beauty that’s already around them.

Allison Brazil

Allison is a strength and mindset coach, yoga teacher, nervous system-informed breathwork guide, jewelry artist, world traveler, lover of food and art, and experienced retreat leader. With a grounded yet playful presence, she creates space for others to reconnect to their bodies, hearts, and the world around them. She is lit up by witnessing others liberate their true essence — guided by a deep reverence for the body, nature, and connection.

Your questions, answered. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us retreats@vacilandostudios.com.

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