✦ Sacred Travel
Walk the living temples of the earth.
Small-group pilgrimages led with ceremony, story, and reverence, guided by Kristina Wood and trusted local wisdom keepers.
✦ WHAT IS SACRED TRAVEL
More than a journey — a remembering.
For thousands of years, people have made pilgrimage to the ancient sites of the earth: temples, stone circles, healing wells, sacred mountains. These places were chosen for the quality of their energy, and held sacred through the ages by the rites of those who came before.
Sacred travel is the practice of meeting these places with intention. We arrive not as tourists but as students of the land, willing to be moved, taught, opened. Together we walk the path of the mystics.
✦ WHY SACRED TRAVEL
Three thresholds we cross together.
Every pilgrimage we lead is built on the same principles — the practices that make a journey become a turning point.
PLACE
The land remembers.
Temples, stone circles, mountains, and waters have held ceremony for thousands of years. These energies remain eager to meet us with patience and listening.
PRACTICE
We travel inward.
Sacred travel is not sightseeing. Each site becomes a mirror; a doorway for ceremony, reflection, and the slow work of remembering who we are.
PEOPLE
Small circles, deep care.
Our groups stay intentionally small. You are held by skilled guides, local wisdom keepers, and a circle of fellow seekers walking beside you.
✦ CURRENT & UPCOMING
Autumn Equinox · Sept 17 – 28, 2026
Journey through the Sacred Southwest.
Discover America's deepest roots in the high deserts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah — no passport required to stand in the presence of ancient majesty.
✦ THE INVITATION
Before Rome built the Colosseum, an empire rose in the American Southwest.
When we think of ancient history we often drift across the Atlantic or Pacific, chasing stone monuments, celestial maps, and sweeping empires in distant lands. But there is an older, profoundly American story etched into the canyon walls and sacred peaks of our own Southwest, waiting for you to discover it.
To travel through the American Southwest isn't a vacation. It is a pilgrimage to the cradle of American civilization, and this is exactly where we are going during this autumn equinox time.
✦ WHERE WE WILL WALK
Four sacred thresholds.
NEW MEXICO
Chaco Canyon — step into the center of the world
Deep in New Mexico lies the political and spiritual heart of the Ancestral Puebloan world. Multi-story great houses built of tens of thousands of perfectly shaped stones, precisely aligned with the cycles of the sun and moon. Stand in the center of Pueblo Bonito and feel the pulse of a society that mastered mathematics, engineering, and astronomy in the heart of the desert, led by our Native, Navajo guide Kialo.
COLORADO
Chimney Rock — touch the sky
Twin rock spires cut into the Colorado sky. A millennium ago, ancient scientists used these natural pillars as a celestial observatory to track the Major Lunar Standstill, a rare event occurring only once every 18.6 years. America's first astronomers saw the desert not as wasteland but as a perfect canvas for the universe.
UTE MOUNTAIN & DINÉ NATION
Honor the Keepers of the land
History here isn't trapped in the past. It is alive, carried forward by the people who still guard these landscapes. At Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park we walk ancestral cliff dwellings completely undisturbed, led by Native guides carrying uninterrupted oral histories. Across the Diné (Navajo) Nation, the connection between land, language, and ancestors remains unbroken, a living philosophy of Hózhó — the profound tradition of living in harmony with the earth.
CRESTONE, COLORADO
The Bloodless Valley — a shamanic day with John Milton
Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Crestone is regarded as a powerful spiritual vortex, a pre-colonial Native neutral zone dedicated to peace, healing, and ceremony. Attracting over two dozen religious traditions, including Tibetan Buddhist centers, Hindu ashrams, and Zen centers, Crestone is currently considered the new Crown Chakra of the Earth. We spend an all-day shamanic immersion with the legendary John Milton and Way of Nature.
✦ AND MORE
Hot springs, steam trains, temples.
Beyond the sacred sites, a thread of healing and wonder runs through every day.
All-day shamanic experience with John Milton (Way of Nature)
Healing soaks at Joyful Journey Hot Springs
Historic narrow-gauge steam train through the San Juan Mountains
Visit to the magnificent Tara Mandala Tibetan temple
Autumn equinox ceremony at Chaco Canyon with our Navajo guide
✦ THE PROGRAM
Day by day.
Eleven days through the red desert, the high mountains, and the ancient great houses, held with intention from arrival to departure.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 17
Arrive Denver
Fly into Denver International. Airport shuttle to the Spark Hilton DIA (check-in 3pm). Arrive on the evening of September 17, or early the next morning, no later than 11am.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 18
Denver → Salida
Breakfast included. Depart 11am in our private 15-passenger van for Salida, Colorado (about 3.5 hours via US-285) — over Kenosha Pass and along the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway. Check in to our charming downtown Salida AirBnB's at 4pm. Dinner included at a local restaurant.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 19
Joyful Journey Hot Springs
Brunch at a local deli, included. Afternoon healing soak at Joyful Journey, three geothermal pools and two jacuzzis, naturally lithium-rich, with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. All outdoor pools are chemical-free, odor-free, and gravity-fed, then drained and cleaned nightly. Dinner included on site. Optional spa appointments (booked individually days in advance of arrival at 1pm). Return to Salida at approximately 8pm.
Alternatively, for September 19, you may schedule an optional river raft trip down the beautiful Arkansas River. This must be purchased individually, on your own before the start of the trip. (info@Salidariveradventures.com — 719-626-1350) We will not accompany you on this adventure. You will have dinner on your own in Salida.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 20
Crestone — Way of Nature
Depart Salida 9:15am for an all-day shamanic immersion in Crestone with John Milton. Picnic lunch included. Return for dinner at Joyful Journey, then continue to Pagosa Springs and check in to the Alpine Inn.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 21
Tara Mandala & Chimney Rock
Breakfast included. Visit Tara Mandala Retreat Center, a 700-acre Tibetan Buddhist center near Pagosa Springs, anchored by the hand-painted Trikaya Tara Temple. Lunch included. Continue to Chimney Rock National Monument for a self-guided tour. The 4,726-acre site features two prominent rock pinnacles and numerous archaeological structures, including a Great Kiva and a Ridge House. Then on to Durango for four nights at the Holiday Inn Express on the Animas River. Dinner on your own - we suggest you go to town and visit one of the great restaurants there, within walking distance.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 22
Autumnal Equinox at Chaco Canyon
Early breakfast at the hotel, then a 2-hour drive to Chaco Canyon with box lunch included. Our guide Kialo will share how meaningful this equinox is at Chaco, the unparalleled ceremonial center of the Ancestral Puebloan world, where great houses, sun-dagger petroglyphs, and 400 miles of engineered roads tell the story of a civilization aligned to the cosmos.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 23
Durango & Silverton
Four nights in historic Durango, including our ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through the San Juan Mountains. It features historic coal-powered steam engines, open-air gondolas, and closed coaches with amenities like restrooms and concessions. With continued exploration of the sacred sites of the Four Corners region, experience beautiful autumn with the aspen trees beginning to turn golden. We will return by our own van. It is recommended to dress in layers for changing mountain temperatures and to bring sunglasses. Upon, your return, there is an optional dinner in downtown Durango.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 24
Ute Mountain Tribal Park
Enjoy a breakfast included at the hotel, along with a boxed lunch for the day’s journeys. On our final evening together, we will gather for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant in town.
Our visit to the Ute Mountain Tribal Park will also include a meaningful ceremonial experience, offering a deeper connection to the sacred spirit and traditions of the land.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 25
Departure
Breakfast included. Shuttle from hotel to The Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) for the flight home.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
✦ SEPTEMBER 25 – 29 · DURANGO → GRAND JUNCTION
Extend into the red rock country.
A five-day continuation for travelers who want to keep going — from Durango through Hovenweep and Newspaper Rock, into Moab and Arches, and out along the Colorado River to Grand Junction. Pricing is set once we know who's coming, so let us know early if you'd like to join.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 25
Durango → Moab via Hovenweep & Newspaper Rock
Depart Durango on a scenic road trip toward Moab, Utah (~2h 40m), with two extraordinary stops along the way. First: Hovenweep National Monument on the Utah/Colorado border — six groups of 800-year-old Ancestral Puebloan villages with remarkable masonry towers, kivas, and defensive structures, set in an International Dark Sky Park. Then: Newspaper Rock, one of the most impressive petroglyph panels in the Southwest, along Indian Creek. Arrive in Moab — a very fun town — for the evening.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 26
Arches National Park
Breakfast included. Guided tour through Arches National Park with Moab Adventure Tours. Lunch back in Moab on your own. Dinner at a Moab restaurant, included.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 27
Optional — Lavender Canyon 4×4 & Hike
Breakfast included at the hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. Optional add-on adventure ($350/person): a 4×4 ride into the southern Canyonlands followed by a 3-mile moderate hike through Lavender Canyon — red sandstone, stone arches, ancient cliff dwellings in a hidden alcove, and two creek crossings into the Needles District. Buffet lunch with water and lemonade included. Other less arduous Moab Adventure Center options are available to book individually.
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 28
Moab → Grand Junction via Highway 128
Breakfast at the hotel, included. Check out and drive the stunning scenic byway along the Colorado River to Grand Junction, Colorado. Stop in Fruita for lunch at a farmer's market and pick fresh fruit (apples, peaches, or pears) from a working orchard. Check in to Grand Junction lodging, dinner out, and depart the next day from Grand Junction Airport (GJ).
SEPTEMBER 17
A note — the extension schedule is still taking its final shape. Pricing depends on group size, and the optional Lavender Canyon 4×4 hike is a $350/person add-on for those who want it.
✦ INVESTMENT
Your seat at the circle.
Limited to ten travelers — an intentionally small circle so the land, the guides, and the ceremony can be met fully.
EARLY BIRD
$3,700
Save $200 when you reserve your seat before July 1.
UNTIL JULY 1STANDARD
$3,900
All transportation, lodging, included meals, and program activities for the full 11-day journey.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
$4,700
For travelers who prefer their own room throughout the journey.
✦ WHAT’S INCLUDED
Everything you need, held with care.
All ground transportation in our private 15-passenger van
Hotels & charming Airbnb lodging throughout
Meals as described — 7 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Joyful Journey Hot Springs soak
All-day shamanic program with John Milton in Crestone
Visit to Tara Mandala Tibetan Temple
Chimney Rock National Monument
Guided Chaco Canyon tour with our Native, Navajo guide Kialo
Historic Durango & Silverton narrow-gauge train ride
Self-guided tour through Ute Mountain Tribal Park
Notes Regarding Hotels:
The standard price of $4900 includes hotel rooms which are double rooms, meant for two people, with a private bathroom. If you are traveling with someone and wish to room together, you can inform us in your registration process so we can assign you together. In the case you are traveling alone, we will pair you with another journeyer to share a room if you signed up for double occupancy. Closer to the start of the trip, we will host a community meeting Zoom call to assist in organizing room shares.
If you would like a single, the supplement is $1,500.00 for the 14 nights.
If you would like to stay in a triple, the reduction is $100.00 total per person for the 14 nights.
What is Not Included:
Flights to and from Guatemala
Visa costs
Alcoholic beverages
Any item of a personal nature (Laundry, drinks, telephone calls)
Any item not specifically detailed on our website
Trip Cancellation/ Travel Insurance which is REQUIRED
Cancellation Policy:
Before July 1, 2025, you can receive a full refund, less the deposit of $800.
From July 1 - Aug 1, 2025, you can receive a refund of 50% refund, less the deposit of $800.
After Aug 15, 2025, there are no refunds.
We are intentionally keeping this circle small. Reserve your seat as soon as you know it's calling you.
✦ ONLY 10 SEATS
✦ WALK WITH US
Don't just travel this year — connect.
Come to the Southwest. Listen to the stories whispered by the canyon winds. Discover the epic history that belongs to all of us.
FAQ
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Visit this link for more details on your Accommodations during the journey.
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If you are traveling with someone and wish to room together, you can inform us in your registration process so we can assign you together.
In the case you are traveling alone, we will pair you with another journeyer to share a room if you signed up for double occupancy.
Closer to the start of the trip, we will host a community meeting Zoom call to assist in organizing room shares.
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A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya by Linda Schele and David Freidel
Available on Amazon HERE
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Mystical Nature Journeys requires purchasing Trip Cancellation /Travel Insurance.
We recommend these companies if you don’t have a company you normally use:
In the United States: Allianz Travel Insurance
Outside of US: Travel insurance from World Nomads is available to people from over 130 countries.
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Before July 1, 2025, you can receive a full refund, less the deposit of $800.
From July 1 - Aug 1, 2025, you can receive a refund of 50% refund, less the deposit of $800.
After Aug 15, 2025, there are no refunds.
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Please visit our contact page to submit any questions and we will happily respond within 24-48 hours during weekdays.
✦ PAST PILGRIMAGES
Where we have walked.
A living archive of journeys completed; the ceremonies, the landscapes, and the circles of seekers we have been blessed to guide.
Guatemala · November 8 – 21, 2025
Journey to the Sacred Maya Lands
Fourteen days through Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the temples of Tikal, guided by revered Maya Priest Miguel Ángel Vergara and Kristina Wood. A preparation pilgrimage for the rare Chickaban portal, with fire ceremony, cacao, and four intentional nature experiences.
Maya fire & cacao ceremonies with Miguel Ángel Vergara
Walking the temples of Tikal & the energies of Lake Atitlán
Four guided nature experiences with Kristina Wood
Antigua markets, volcanoes, and the butterfly nature reserve
✦ YOUR GUIDES
Travel with Kristina Wood.
Kristina has spent decades walking the sacred sites of the world, and decades more learning how to hold space for others to do the same. Every journey is curated with care, kept intentionally small, and tended with the reverence the land deserves.
Learn with John P. Milton.
One of the founding fathers of the environmental movement, John P. Milton has studied extensively many of the world's great spiritual traditions with enlightened masters and in deep communion with Nature. John's love of Nature led him to do his first vision quest at the age of seven. Through Way of Nature, John introduces students to the power of immersing oneself alone in Nature and Spirit, and allowing the innate wisdom of our Three Natures (Outer, Inner and True Nature) to emerge. John is a frequent lecturer, workshop/retreat leader, meditation teacher, T'ai Chi, Qigong and Tantra Master and author of many books.
✦ A REFLECTION
"I traveled with Kristina to Bhutan. It was an extraordinary journey. One night, we camped out in a high valley, next to a river roaring down from the Himalayas with a huge, warming fire near by; had tea with the head Lama at Tigers Nest Monastery and many paranormal conversations with lamas at other monasteries. Our guide was the King's photographer! This resulted in rare and beautiful experiences, such as being outfited in traditional Bhutanese dress, being present at the black-necked crane celebration in Phojika Valley, and climbing to Himalayan heights to witness the spectacle of sacred sites, prayer flags flying in the winds. We stayed in homes with the local people who bathed us in their hot tubs with iris roots and hot rocks! We visited a rural elementary school where children walked for miles to attend class and were invited to join the children in a group sing of the Bhutanese national anthem. We later sponsored this struggling school. It was a treasure of a trip!! I highly recommend traveling with Kristina, if you like adventure, especially off the beaten track and with a bent towards spiritual enlightenment."
LANA FREDRICKSON | PILGRIMAGE GUEST, BHUTAN
Join Miguel Angel, Maya Priest and Kristina Wood, founder of Mystical Nature Journeys on an exploration of self-discovery to the Maya temples and boundless nature preserves of Guatemala, with ceremonies to experience the magic that beats in the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth.
Travel is one of the most powerful ways to open to a Mystical Nature Journey during spiritual exploration of self-discovery. But, it takes more than just traveling to a destination. Instead, we want to focus on an inner unfoldment in these beautiful places.
That is why we are currently offering this spiritual journey to Guatemala. We are giving you the opportunity to not just see the beautiful country, but to feel the Magic and Mysticism that beat in the Heart of the Earth and the Heart of the Sky. We will experience the Maya sacred teachings and the traditions there, since Guatemala is known as the Heart of the Maya-World.
Join us on our next pilgrimage to Guatemala in November 2025.
Register now or scroll down for more information.
Curious to Learn More!
Watch the Replay of our FREE online event.
“Preparing for Chickaban:
A Maya Portal for Planetary Awakening”
Every 52 years, the Sun, Moon, and Pleiades align in a rare Maya event known as Chickaban—a portal of sacred renewal and awakening. For thousands of years, Maya Elders and Priests have preserved this oral teaching for a future time when it would be needed most. That time is now.
Join Maya Priest Miguel Ángel Vergara and spiritual guide Kristina Wood for a FREE online event to explore the 2027 Chickaban portal and how to prepare for this once-in-a-generation cosmic shift through inner work, ceremony, and sacred travel—including a glimpse into their November 2025 Guatemala pilgrimage.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE REPLAY!
As we travel on this journey, you will learn:
1) How we can feel the beautiful energy of Atlantis in the Maya lands.
2) What happens when we look into the eye of the jaguar?
3) What actually happened in 2012?
4) What is the Maya connection with Venus?
5) Are UFO's spotted over the Maya Lands?
6) What do the crystal skulls represent and why are the Maya Elders guarding 520 of them underground in sacred places?
7) How do the Maya work with the chakras?
8) Experience and learn about the Cacao Ceremony
9) Experience and learn about the Maya Fire Ceremony
10) And you are welcome to ask more questions!
We also recommend reading A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya by Linda Schele and David Freidel. Available on Amazon HERE.
Guatemala Journey Overview
You will Feel the Vibration of Connecting to the Energy of the Maya Spiritual-Teachers. Their power still remains latent in the Temples and Pyramids, especially in Guatemala. According to their Holy Tradition, these Teachers came-from the Pleiades Constellation.
Join us on this amazing journey to the sacred temples and wonderful Nature experiences in the National Parks and Biospheres of Guatemala.
On this Mystical Nature Journey, we will be guided by Wisdom Keeper, Miguel Angel Vergara, a Maya Priest, who has made his life's work teaching about the Maya ceremonial centers, which are true Cosmic Universities. Miguel Angel was the Director of Maya Center, Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and there, he experienced many amazing wonders.
Besides all the ceremonies that Miguel Angel will conduct, over the 14 days, Kristina Wood, will guide you in four Intentional Nature Experiences. Each one will help you to develop a different relationship with Nature for healing.
Here you will learn practices that open profound connections to Source Awareness and the Elements in order to activate self healing and release blockages. Inner and Outer Nature open to a new way of being through the Nature.
You will be surrounded by the Mountains, the Jungle, the Sacred Waters, the Singing of the Birds, Howling of the Monkeys and the Beauty of its Skies, which frame the Amazing Manifestation of Mother-Earth, just as the ancient Maya experienced their world. All of this will also deepen our connection to outer Nature. Mystical Nature Journeys emphasizes a path committed to healing our human relationships with each other and with the outer world.
This November in Guatemala is unlike any other. Learn Why...
A Rare Portal in Time:
Preparing for the Sacred Shift of Chickaban
The timing of this trip is extraordinary.
According to the sacred Maya calendar, we are approaching a rare alignment known as Chickaban, which occurs once every 52 years. As master time-keepers, the Maya priests and elders understand that this is a powerful and unique moment in time, known as an era of healing, peace, and tranquility, when a major SHIFT will occur.
The next Chickaban will occur in November 2028—a portal for planetary healing, feminine rebalancing, and collective awakening.
Our upcoming November 2025 pilgrimage is seen by the Maya priests and elders as a powerful preparation window.
This is our chance to align with the energy ahead of the SHIFT, to walk the temples of Tikal, feel the magic of Lake Atitlán, and receive teachings that will clarify your life’s path.
This is an essential time to connect with the ancient mysticism and new beginnings.
Itinerary for Guatemala Journey
to the Sacred Maya Lands
Click each day for more info.
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Nov 8, Saturday
Fly into Guatemala City. Arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. Meet your driver and transfer to Antigua. Plan to arrive in the afternoon, no later than 5pm.
Overnight stay at Hotel Genessis, Standard Room.
Included: private airport transfer, room and breakfast.
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Nov 9, Sunday
Explore Antigua, a walking visit of the city.
One of the most lovely cities in Guatemala, Antigua is surrounded by three majestic volcanoes: Fuego, Agua and Acatenango. We will introduce you to the beautiful Maya people and their markets where they showcase their amazing handiwork. They embroider important symbols such as the jaguar, serpent, frog, turtle, lizards, and more into their fabrics. Miguel Angel will explain what all these symbols mean and why they are important to the people. We will work with the powerful energies of the volcanoes, called Hunabku.
The cobblestone streets adjoin the colorful patios of the colonial houses and it is lovely to walk along the arcades of Parque Central.
This evening, we will host a Welcome Dinner.
Overnight stay at the Hotel Genessis, standard room.
Included: room and breakfast and Welcome Dinner; tour of the markets and work with Hunabku
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Nov 10, Monday
Explore Antigua, with a leisurely morning and after lunch, drive to lake Atitlan.
In the morning, we can continue to explore lovely Antigua.
After an early lunch, we board our transportation for Lake Atitlan. The lake is nestled between the three volcanoes at an altitude of 1,562 meters (4,600 ft), offering magnificent panoramas. The small villages along the lake, often only accessible by boat, perpetuate festivals and markets rooted in local traditions. We will arrive at our hotel in Panajachel.
After leaving our suitcases at the hotel, we will explore the amazing Atitlan Nature Reserve, nearby. Here we will have our first nature experience, led by Kristina.
Near the entrance, we will find a butterfly enclosure that we will walk through. Watch the butterflies, and if you are lucky, some might even end up sitting on your hand or shoulder. The butterfly is the symbol of Atlantis, so Miguel Angel will educate us about this connection.
There are animals, such as coatis and a few monkeys around on the reserve. We will follow a trail that goes along a stream. After a bit of walking you will come out right by the beautiful Lake Atitlan. At some point, we will each find a place to spend some alone time to commune with the forces of Nature in this beautiful place. Kristina will give you an exercise to help you connect with the Nature Spirits.
You may find some waterfalls at the nature reserve and lots of hanging bridges that you will need to walk across.
At the end of our time at Atitlan Nature Reserve, we will go back to our hotel for dinner and a good night sleep.
Overnight stay at Porta Hotel del Lago.
Private transport, admission to Atitlan Nature Preserve, Guided Nature experience, room and breakfast.
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Nov 11, Tuesday
This day we will get on a private boat and head out onto Lake Atitlan. One thing that is little known is that there is a hidden Maya City full of temples at the bottom of the lake, the deepest in Central America. The Mayan culture attributes the birth of the lake to supernatural events, which are explained in the Popol Vuh, a historical document about the creation of the world for this culture. Miguel Angel will explain about the mysteries of Lake Atitlan.
We will have a ceremony to ask the Spirit of the Lake for permission to be there.
We will motor over to visit the small Maya village of San Juan La Laguna. Here the weavers' cooperative will open its doors to teach us about the techniques of natural coloring and traditional weaving. The village also showcases amazing, colorful paintings of daily life in the area.
Return to your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure in the small town of Panajachel, where along the famous Santander Street, you will find all kinds of crafts, utensils, furniture, knick-knacks and other things.
Overnight stay at at Porta Hotel del Lago.
Included: Private lake transport, Lake Ceremony, local guide, entrance fees to the weavers' guild, room and breakfast.
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Nov 12, Wednesday
This day, we will also go on the boat across Lake Atitlan. We will meet with the local people in the small villages around the lake and have a ceremony to connect with the Maya Teachers of the Light. This will be a cacao ceremony to ignite our inner fire and reactivate our consciousness. Miguel Angel will conduct this ceremony together with some local Maya Shamans.
Cacao is a teacher that is skilled at helping us reconnect with our own hearts, tend to our relationships, and walk through life purposefully and guided by clear vision. The three universal pillars that are core to creating cacao ceremonies are: gratitude, intention, and reciprocity.
Return to your hotel and the late afternoon is free.
Stay at Porta Hotel del Lago.
Included: private lake transport, local guide, Cacao Ceremony led by Shamans, room and breakfast.
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Nov 13, Thursday
Departure at 8:00am to Chichicastenango (11/2 hr drive), famous for its market.The Kaqchikel Indians come down twice a week from the surrounding villages to sell their products. The women wear the traditional Huipil, dresses representing the seasons of the Maya Calendar. The city turns into a kaleidescope of colors and smells on this festive day!
After enjoying this wonderful market, we will walk 3 kilometers to what Miguel Angel believes is a most important site, featuring a Maya University. We will walk to Mount Pascual Abaj, a legendary place, where many ancestral rites are practiced. There we will find local Maya Shamans performing ceremonies for spiritual purification, protection and good fortune. We will enjoy a box lunch of traditional Maya food.
Overnight stay in Chichicastenango at Hotel Mayan Inn.
Included: Private, guided excursion to the market and shaman ceremonial location, with Miguel Angel and local English and Spanish guide, Box Lunch, room and breakfast.
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Nov 14, Friday
Drive to the Maya site of Iximcha, the capital of the Maya Kaqchikel. There are pyramids in this area. It is dedicated to the Maya Mother, Ixchel. She is Mother Nature, Mother of the Light. We will have a meditation here with the Mother of our Earth, conducted by Miguel Angel. After our time here, we will transfer to Guatemala City and prepare for our National flight to Flores the next morning.
Overnight Hotel Stofella
Included: Private transportation, entrance fee to Iximcha, meditation with Ixchel, breakfast buffet, room.
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Nov 15, Saturday
Meet your driver and transfer to Guatemala City Airport.
Depart: 8:10, arrive 10:10am.
Arrive at Flores airport and private transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon, we will spend gathered together for a lecture by Miguel Angel about Tikal, the sacred Maya site where we will spend the next 2 days. We will prepare for our time at Tikal, the jewel of the Maya World. Tonight we will have another group dinner. Our hotel has kayaks that can be used on the lake and a Temascual, which is like a Maya sweat lodge.
Overnight: Hotel Camino Real Tikal
Included: Private transport, domestic, national flight, group lecture, group dinner, room and breakfast
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Nov 16, Sunday
Tikal! Here there are 5,000-6,000 pyramids. There are still undiscovered pyramids here, many mysteries left to find. It is a vast site located in the Tikal National Park.
Tikal National Park is 57,600 hectares (220 sq mi), it contains the ancient Mayan city of Tikal and the surrounding tropical forests, savannas, and wetlands. In 1979, Tikal National Park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of the outstanding Mesoamerican ruins at Tikal and the unique ecology of the surrounding landscape.
Tikal National Park makes up part of the global Man and the Biosphere Program, within the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Because of its lush and varied ecosystem, many species of plants and animals thrive within the park boundaries. Five species of cats reside within the park, including the jaguar and puma, along with several species of monkeys and anteaters. In addition, more than 300 species of birds are found in the park, including the crane hawk and the ocellated turkey.
Tikal has been called the "sacred place of the voices" and the Maya teachers shared their wisdom here. It was the capital of the ancient ones from around this vast area. There is a place in Tikal called the Lost World. This is where we can connect with the Beings from the Pleiades.
After leaving Tikal, we will transfer to our hotel.
We will start our day with a ceremony for permission to be in this sacred place and end our day after dinner with a quiet reflection sharing of our experiences.
Stay at the Hotel Camino Real Tikal
Included: Private transfer, entrance fee to Tikal, 2 Tikal guides, ceremony with Miguel Angel, room and breakfast.
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Nov 17, Monday
Today, will be dedicated to further exploring the site of Tikal. You are encouraged to climb the 65 meter Pyramid of the Serpent (like in the Star Wars movie!). We will visit the main plaza of the great jaguar faces. This is where the Maya Crystal Heart of Tikal can be found. It is the most sacred part of the site and here, we will hopefully get permission to have a Fire Ceremony, conducted by Miguel Angel. We will also have another Nature Experience in the great National Park of Tikal.
At the end of our day, transfer back to our hotel.
Stay at Camino Real Tikal
Included: Private transport, Entrance Fee to Tikal, 2 Tikal guides, Fire Ceremony, Nature Experience, room and breakfast.
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Nov 18, Tuesday
Depart our hotel to Uaxactun, a remote community in the heart of the Maya Biosphere. We will explore the archaeological site. This is the "Place of Eight Sacred Stones", which means it is the Connection to the sacredness of the Infinite. There are beautiful stelas here. Miguel Angel will explain these to us. He will also introduce us to some ancient Maya Olmec exercises (a bit like Maya Yoga)! We will have a box lunch, enjoy an hour in Nature, and visit the special museum there. There is an unusual museum that houses superb Mayan artifacts. After leaving Uaxactun we will drive to the Peten Itza Peninsula to enjoy the lakeside town of Flores. Explore the town and great restaurants, dinner on your own. In the evening, we will bus back to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Camino Real Tikal
Included: Private transportation, entrance fee to Uaxactun, Olmec exercises, box lunch, Guided Nature Experience, local guide, bus trip to Flores, room and breakfast included.
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Nov 19, Wednesday
Today we will go to a special place, called Yaxha, which is the Maya word for green water. This was an important source of water for the ancient Maya. There are pyramids and temples here which we will explore. Miguel Angel will conduct a special meditation for us. We will have a box lunch. At the end of the day, back at our hotel, we will possibly have an optional, guided Temescual (Maya sweatlodge) Ceremony. Then, gather for some reflection time with question and answers regarding all that we have seen, heard and felt during our travels in Guatemala.
Overnight: Hotel Camino Real Tikal.
Included: private transport, entrance fees, local guide, English guide, box lunch, room and breakfast, question, answer and sharing session.
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Nov 20, Thursday
Optional Nature Experience with Kristina at the Lake after breakfast in the morning
Late morning, depart from your hotel in Tikal for the airport in private transportation.
National Flight: Flores to Guatemala City.
Flight Departure: 2:25, arrive 3:20. Arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.
Farewell Dinner.
Overnight Stay at Hotel Stofella.
Included: Optional Nature experience at the Lake with Kristina in the morning, private transport, domestic flight, Farewell Dinner, room, breakfast buffet.
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Nov 21, Friday
Private transfer from your hotel to the International Airport of Guatemala City.
Included: private transport.
Meet your Guides
Miguel Ángel Vergara
Maya Teacher / Guide / Priest
Miguel Angel is a Maya Priest and Master Teacher who lives and works in Yucatán, Mexico. He studied with Maya Elder Vicente Martín for 17 years and continues to work with the Elders and Priests who are keeping the Maya Sacred Wisdom very much alive today.
He teaches us how to connect with the Maya Masters of Light who are still at the sacred sites ready to guide us today as in ancient times. Going to the source of the Maya knowledge: to the ceremonies, rituals, mantras, sacred books, pyramids, temples, stele, pottery, paintings, sculptures, and oral traditions that are available today, he finds the essence of their knowledge and then teaches it in a heart centered style that connects rapidly and profoundly with his students.
Kristina Wood
Author • Spiritual Guide • Pilgrimage Leader
Kristina Wood is a spiritual guide, author, and founder of Mystical Nature Journeys. For over 14 years, she has led sacred pilgrimages around the world and believes that Nature and ancient wisdom hold the keys to healing and remembering our true path.
She is the author of Why the Sunflower Smiles and the forthcoming The Magic of the Real World, and her online offerings—guided meditations, storytelling, and experiential courses—support seekers in reawakening their connection to nature spirits, ancestral wisdom, and the light within.
Kristina walks as an Elder and mentor, here to bless others into their own sacred path. She believes we each carry our own medicine, and that through shared remembrance, we come home to who we truly are.
Invitation to Open Your Heart
On our journey through Guatemala, we will connect with the ancient Olmec Civilization.
Praise For Pilgrimages with Kristina Wood, Author, Spiritual Guide, And Pilgrimage Leader
Program Cost & Registration
Price: $4,900.00
Deposit: $800.00 secures your spot.
Balance due: August 15, 2025
What is Included:
All ground transportation in modern, air-conditioned bus, including airport transfers.
Two National flights
Two private boat rides on Lake Atitlan
14 nights in unique and comfortable Guatemalan hotels (see note below)
14 Breakfasts, 3 box lunches, 3 dinners (Budget for an average cost of $5-$15 per person per extra meal)
Six Maya ceremonies with Maya Priest, Miguel Angel
Six Lectures/Special Teachings with Miguel Angel
Four Guided Nature Experiences with Kristina
All entrance fees and local English and/or Spanish speaking guides to places we visit
Tips for helpers: $200.00 per traveler is already included in your payment
Time for reflection and integration
Travel with like-minded companions
Notes Regarding Hotels:
The standard price of $4900 includes hotel rooms which are double rooms, meant for two people, with a private bathroom. If you are traveling with someone and wish to room together, you can inform us in your registration process so we can assign you together. In the case you are traveling alone, we will pair you with another journeyer to share a room if you signed up for double occupancy. Closer to the start of the trip, we will host a community meeting Zoom call to assist in organizing room shares.
If you would like a single, the supplement is $1,500.00 for the 14 nights.
If you would like to stay in a triple, the reduction is $100.00 total per person for the 14 nights.
What is Not Included:
Flights to and from Guatemala
Visa costs
Alcoholic beverages
Any item of a personal nature (Laundry, drinks, telephone calls)
Any item not specifically detailed on our website
Trip Cancellation/ Travel Insurance which is REQUIRED
Cancellation Policy:
Before July 1, 2025, you can receive a full refund, less the deposit of $800.
From July 1 - Aug 1, 2025, you can receive a refund of 50% refund, less the deposit of $800.
After Aug 15, 2025, there are no refunds.