safety at Lake Atitlán

June 20, 2024: Peace Statement on the Summer Solstice

On this Holy Solstice Day, as we celebrate the balance between light and dark on this glorious planet, we also want to acknowledge certain imbalances that are currently troubling our shared Earth. 

We are heartbroken for our siblings in Palestine, Sudan and other territories of the world, where violence is prevailing. Our solidarity is fueled by our historical memory, for we continue to hold sorrow and pain in our bodies & spirits from the genocide that plagued our Mayan territories as recently as 30 years ago. Systematic violence and oppression are an open wound that bleeds into the heart of our collective humanity, and which deprives us of the harmony and well-being that every human being deserves.

Peace is our birthright. As a sanctuary, we believe in the importance of creating & protecting safe external environments so that, internally, we may cultivate a sense of peace and tranquility. For when peace exists within us, it ripples outside of us in every interaction. We pray that sanctuaries may continue to be nurtured for those who are yearning to experience a sense of peace. 

From the land of the Ixim Ulew and the ancestral Maya powers, from the heart of heaven and earth, from the waters and the fire, and on behalf of Kawoq Forest, we offer this heartfelt prayer that is an urgent call for peace and an invitation to compassion.

May all beings live free of violence. May all children be protected from exploitation & abuse. May all parents know the joy of watching their children play in freedom and safety. May all who take up arms against another human life, be called to a more dignified path. And may the balance be restored.

As a sanctuary built on the foundation of peace, we hold conviction in our hearts for an end to war, for the liberation of suffering and for the awakening of awareness in our ecosystems. In the name of justice and humanity, we are dedicated to building a world where peace, balance and well-being are a reality for all.

Be the Sanctuary. 

Dec 10, 2023: Nancy Ng Statement

We want to address a recent tragedy that is impacting the Atitlán community.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Nancy Ng & disappointed by the negligence which contributed to her disappearance and to its aftermaths. Our prayers are with her friends and family during this difficult time.

Although she was not our guest, it feels important to us to honor Nancy’s legacy by directly addressing safety concerns about travel to Lake Atitlán.

Lake Atitlán has been a home to indigenous communities for milleniums & remains a stronghold for Maya culture. Even as tourism has increased exponentially in recent years, Lake Atitlán remains incredibly peaceful & welcoming to foreigners.

At Kawoq Forest we assume the wellbeing of our guests as an honor and responsibility. Our safety protocols are designed to ensure safety & security for our guests while en route to, upon arrival and departure of our sanctuary. We provide private ground transportation with highly qualified drivers, foot accompaniment with experienced escorts and porterage all while in virtual communication with our guests. We also provide a guest handbook with clear guidelines so our guests are educated about staying at Kawoq Forest and the Lake.

We want you to feel at peace while you’re with us and work so that harmony can inform both your arrival as well as departure. 

We take great care in preparing our retreat facilitators before their stay with us, by addressing their itineraries including any special activities that necessitate more poignant attention and care. We are an entheogen friendly sanctuary, prioritizing traditional forms of plant ceremony. As such, we ensure that our sanctuary is sensitive to any altered states of consciousness that our participants may be experiencing during their stay with us.

We provide 24/7 availability of team members who can support in holding space during transformative experiences. We also have a rigorous screening process in place for facilitators who host plant medicine ceremonies to ensure that the containers being offered are of a caliber that is in alignment with our values of spiritual integrity, indigenous stewardship and so that the experiences of the participants are safely guided. 

We have departure protocols in place for our guests’ ease and safety when they leave the Forest and provide transportation as well as ask for feedback on how we can continuously improve our services. 

We invite a discernment practice when traveling and especially when engaging with large bodies of water. Mother nature can be both marvelous and unmerciful and so we encourage travelers to exercise proper water safety measures, including the use of life jackets.

As a wellness center, we are devoted to facilitating healing. In the case of guests’ sickness or injury we call upon our robust network of healers and professionals, report any major incidents to National Civil Police and consult the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism and Red Cross on first aid and contingency plans.

May Nancy’s life and circumstances serve as a guiding light into a deeper practice of discernment and mutual care. May we be conscientious and informed about the decisions we are making while traveling. May we be discerning about who we surround ourselves with & in what environments we allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

Finally, may we cherish each other, take care of one another & honor our common humanity in strangers & friends alike.