Kawoq Forest guest handbook
Dear Guest,
To best prepare for your journey at Kawoq Forest, we ask that you reflect on the three main principles that we live by.
Kawoq Forest is a living community gathering space, where we come together to live simply and in communion with the land, the culture, our bodies and the people around us.
We have three main principles that we live by to ensure that the culture of Kawoq Forest is respected and upheld by each new group that enters the space.
Our three main principles
Relationship
We want you to be aware of the sacredness of the land that you tread. The land of Kawoq Forest has been protected and tended to by the Maya people for over 30k years. It is the ancient power of this reciprocal relationship, of mutual care and of holy benevolence which permeates and graciously holds you in your healing and transformation.
We therefore encourage you to give back in all the ways that you can, whether it’s a physical offering to the land, a song, a prayer, or anything that brings you into direct relationship with the grounding beauty that it provides.
We ask that you reduce your footprint with eco-friendly products and leave spaces even cleaner and brighter than when you first entered.
We are also interested in developing relationships with YOU, and want our connection to be long-lasting and have our gathering space be somewhere that you continue to come back to.
Reciprocity
Kawoq Forest thrives on reciprocity of energy and connection. We hope that there is a reciprocal relationship between what the land, the culture and the people can provide for you and your group, and what you can also give back to them.
We hope that you feel the generosity of our staff and this space and that you are able to reciprocate through sincere words, financial support, physical offerings, or simply with a heartfelt smile.
We ask that you take the time to slow down and feel the impact that you have on the forest and the impact that your time at Kawoq Forest has on you and your group.
Reverence
We ask that each participant who enters Kawoq Forest reflect on the reality that they are entering a whole new ecosystem that might feel foreign to them. We have a hard working, indigenous Maya team that is dedicated to giving you the best experience possible, while also tending to their families and dealing with the unique complexities that come with living in a developing country.
Please show your utmost gratitude to them for committing their hearts and bodies into the service they provide, and please be sensitive to the requests that you make.
We ask that you be humbly curious, accepting & respectful of the culture unto which you are a guest, including the aspects that might challenge your comfort zones. We lovingly suggest utilizing the mindfulness practices of deep listening and witnessing as the ideal tools to learn how to navigate and interact with our workers and the people of Guatemala.
COMMUNITY DAILY SCHEDULE
7.30-8.00am Meditation
8.00-9.30am Yoga class
10.00-11.00am Brunch
3.00-4.30pm Restorative yoga
5.00-6.00pm Dinner
OBSERVING QUIET TIMES
Kawoq Forest is a place of tranquility and peace. We maintain quiet times from 9.00pm to 9.00am to respect the serenity of the natural setting and encourage inward reflection. Lights in communal areas will be switched off and silence is requested. Please respect and show kindness to all staff and other guests.
Also be aware that when retreats are happening, there tends to be more activity at the Forest and groups will be using particular spaces at particular times.
You can see our group retreat calendar for more information about dates when there’s more noise happening here.
ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Please be aware of leaving all spaces more beautiful than when you arrived. We request not to use plastic, or bring plastic bottles or plastic bags to the mountain.
Currently, there is inadequate waste management infrastructure for collecting and processing garbage, so it ends up in the forests and in Lake Atitlán. Please be a conscious traveler. If you bring it, please take it back home with you.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Hike the volcanoes, pamper yourself with amazing treatments and massages, detox in the forest sauna, and enjoy additional workshops offered at Kawoq Forest.
MONEY & PAYMENTS
If you are enjoying your time with us and plan to extend your stay, we ask that you pay in advance for any extra days/weeks in cash or credit card. Kawoq Forest café bills must be settled upon departure.
There is an ATM machine in the town of San Marcos la Laguna at Super Tienda José behind the Libreria Arco Iris and beside the bridge of the dry river bed.
FOOD
We serve local organic produce whenever possible and prepare our delicious vegetarian meals with love. We can cater to certain dietary restrictions, such as vegan and gluten free.
Please advise management of your needs as well as any allergies upon arrival.
INTERNET
We have a co-working space available in Paz daily to encourage a productive and tranquil setting for work. We have wifi available for guests in communal spaces only for an additional fee that will be added to your Kawoq Forest tab to be paid upon checkout.
The rates are as follows: $5/day, $10/3 days, and $20/week.
HEALTH
Our water is filtered and accessible for human consumption. While we take steps to ensure that drinking water is filtered and food is prepared safely and cleanly, we encourage you to take responsibility for your health in Guatemala. You can bring LifeStraw or similar equipment to purify water.
It is common for travelers in Guatemala to experience some digestive discomforts such as upset stomachs, diarrhea and/or vomiting from exposure to different bacterias.
If you do fall sick during your time with us, our wellness staff is available to offer palliative therapies. We encourage you to navigate your discomfort with equanimity and clear communication. As a wellness center, we have experience with traveler’s sicknesses and are best able to support your needs when we are made aware of them.
We can also facilitate medical health care options such as a personalized visit from a local nurse or an escort to a private clinic in San Pedro La Laguna. However, please be aware that medical services in town are limited as we are located in a rural, mountainous zone. Guests are responsible for any additional medical services.
Lastly, to prevent such scenarios, we encourage you to practice good hygiene, regularly eat papaya seeds, probiotic foods such as kimchi, add kombucha vinegar to your water, and take Grapefruit Seed Extract and Activated Charcoal if you have a sensitive system. (We kindly discourage our guests from eating street food).
OFFICE HOURS
Our manager can assist you between 9:30 AM-6:00 PM each day for reception assistance and access to the safe. The Office is closed outside these times.
TELEPHONE
We have access to Wi-Fi for international calls via Whatsapp (check the rates in the Internet section).
We also recommend that you give your family our contact details so that you can be contacted in the unlikely event of an emergency back home. Phone +502 3301 1835 and email us at info@kawoqforest.com.
WEATHER
Weather in San Marcos La Laguna is usually very mild. Most days the temperature is around 17-24 degrees Celsius, however due to the altitude here at Lake Atitlán (1500m), nights can be as low as 8 degrees.
Guatemala has a dry season (November to April) and a wet season (May to October) each year. July and August are often also dry with a break in the rains. Please pack accordingly for stays during the wet season.
PACKING LIST
Towels and bed linens are provided at Kawoq Forest for our guests.
Loose comfortable clothes for yoga practice
Long pants and sleeves if you are prone to bug bites, as well as closed in shoes
Natural insect repellent
Shoes for hiking and gardening
Warm comfortable clothes for evenings (it can be cold at night, see Weather above)
A head torch and spare batteries
An alarm clock
A journal for self-reflection and note taking
Wet weather gear for stays during the wet season, including rain jacket and rain boots (simple rain boots can be bought in nearby villages)
Activated Charcoal, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Oil of Oregano, Probiotics for possible upset bellies
Pepper spray (optional) for additional safety whilst traveling
Organic/bio washing supplies (soaps, shampoos etc.)
A moon cup (for ladies)
HYGIENE
Please wear shoes and keep clean feet at all times, especially in sacred spaces. Wash your hands regularly with filtered water and soap, especially before meals.
CAFÉ SPACE
We have raw and plant-based desserts, fresh fruit smoothies and juices, and delicious hot drinks and cacao available for purchase from 8 am-6 pm daily.
Our café space is small and easily becomes cluttered with personal items. Please be conscious of picking up your belongings and keeping them in your room, in your bag hung on the office wall hooks, or on the shelves there. Any loose items left in the café space will be put in our LOST & FOUND and are available for anyone to claim.
Sauna
The sauna is lit once a week on Wednesdays and available for use for guests of Kawoq Forest. This is due to the conscious use of wood for fire.
SHOWER & WASHING SUPPLIES
As Kawoq Forest operates using organic farming principles, we insist that our guests use ONLY organic and environmentally friendly bathroom and cleaning products that are biodegradable. Lake Atitlán is an endangered lake and we hope to educate and promote the use of bio cleaning alternatives around the lake basin. Unnatural soaps will be removed from bathrooms. We have natural soaps and moon cups for sale if needed.
LAUNDRY
Laundry can be sent to town for our local ladies to wash your clothes in their homes and will be brought back to you once they are line dry, which can be a few days in the wet season. You can also take your washing to laundry services offering wash/dry service by machine if you prefer, cost is usually Q50 per 12 lb load.
GIFT STORE
Our gift store is open from 9am-6 pm for purchase of sacred instruments, medicines, incense, clothing, and jewelry to bring a piece of Guatemala back home with you.