Vacation Packages
Spring and Summer Specials May 1-August 31
6 nights accommodations, 2 vegetarian meals per day (breakfast, dinner), 2 hours of private Spanish lessons for 5 days, 2 tours with a guide (Santiago and San Juan), and 1 one hour massage. Single occupancy $739 and Double occupancy $569 each.
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Spanish Emersion Vacation Package
Treat yourself to a week of learning, relaxation, rejuvenation and adventure. Villa Sumaya offers special packages for those interested in learning Spanish in the magnificent location of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
We have crafted a comprehensive vacation package that would include two to four hours per day of 1 to 1-2 students for Spanish lessons, deluxe accommodations, and 1-3 yummy vegetarian meals per day (chicken/fish is additional). In addition, we can arrange for bodywork treatments, tours and other activities (see our Activity Page). We are also happy to organize your ground transportation.
Prices start at $599 per week for double occupancy, 3 meals per day and a 2-hour class per day. Please contact us for a quote since prices depend on time of year, type of room/occupancy, length of stay, and number of hours for your Spanish course.
Summer Vacation Packages
From June 1st to August 31st you can take advantage of our summer pricing. We offer 10% off the room price listed on our rates page, plus a unique opportunity to include 2-3 meals. If you book for 7 nights or more, take an additional 5% off the room price.
Mayan Studies: Lectures, Workshops and Storytelling
Villa Sumaya is dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the Mayan culture, its history and spiritual traditions. We have been lucky enough to find Vincent Stanzione who heads up our Mayan Studies project and has lived and researched Mesoamerican ways for over twenty years. He has published several books on Mayan Traditions and their ancient knowledge. Vincent has given lectures at Harvard, Princeton and University of Colorado, I.N.A.H. in Mexico City, at the University of Bonn in Germany and many venues in Guatemala. Stanzione is an engaging speaker and entertaining storyteller.
"Vinnie's talk about the Mayan calendar was fascinating! He is a great storyteller with a deep knowledge of the Mayan history and culture. He opened our eyes to the importance of tracking and ordering time. His lively descriptions of Daykeepers, Shamans and of the various deities who ruled time made us eager to learn more."
--Mary
Let us arrange the perfect exploration vacation for your small group (minimum 4 people) who would like to expand their knowledge and understanding of the Mayan culture while luxuriating in our peaceful and stunning hotel. See the listing below of possible lectures for your group and contact us for pricing.
Lectures
The following lectures are given in an informal setting lasting for two hours with a third hour spent answering questions and dialoguing with participants. You can arrange for one lecture to planning your entire week around furthering your education in Mayan Studies. Below is a sampling of our most popular lectures. Vinnie can customize a program for your needs and interests.
Introduction to Mayan Day-Keeping and the Mayan Calendar: This highly engaging lecture presents the basic movements of the Day-Keeping calendar very much in use in the Mayan Highlands of Guatemala today. This whirlwind tour of the twenty days will give the participants all they will need to know to begin their on journey down the path of the Mayan Calendar and the practice of Day-Keeping.
Drawing the Mayan Days Workshop: Learn to draw the Mayan day glyphs to become better acquainted with the twenty archetypal forms of the Mayan days. This hands-on course is of interest to all those individuals who learn better through visual stimulus and drawing.
Two Calendars in One – the Solar Round: This lecture talks of the syncretism of the Highland Mayas 365 Solar and Agricultural Round and the Franciscans 365 Day Liturgical Year of Saints, Mothers and Virgins. Learn how these two calendars intermeshed through Five Hundred Years of storytelling, maize growing and catholic indoctrination, pageantry and ritual.
Introduction to the Mayan Gods and Goddesses: Learn the basic archetypes of the Mayan Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. This lecture gives the bones and marrow of the many forms and transformations that Mayan deities have taken through out their millennial existence.
