62 YOGA JOURNAL
SORINCOLAC/ISTOCK- GUATEMALA
Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in
Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene
in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos
la Laguna, the Yoga Forest Conscious Living Retreat
Center is setting the stage for responsible tourism, funding
community projects such as shoreline restoration via
reed planting and midwife education. Drop in for a class
or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana,
Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.
22. THE SACRED
VALLEY, PERU
Traditionally, travelers here
head straight to historic
sanctuary Machu Picchu—but
culturally immersive retreats
nestled in the heart of the
Sacred Valley offer a new draw
of their own. Splurge on a
stay at Sol y Luna boutique
hotel knowing a portion of the
hotel’s profits fund an adjacent
school that provides education,
art, and sports for the valley’s
youth—and take advantage of
outdoor yoga classes. Travelers
seeking a more immersive
experience should consider
eco-retreat Willka T’ika, which
incorporates Andean traditions
and Q’ero healers. Portions
of retreat proceeds support
childhood education in remote
villages. Organic gardening,
sustainable living, and acts of
generosity are all woven into
the fabric of Willka T’ika. For
a more holistic experience in
Peru, consider volunteering
at Eco Truly Park in Lima.
Volunteers participate in
teaching yoga classes, organic
gardening, and cooking. - EL SALVADOR
In the early 1970s, El Salvador was a top surf destination, but the civil
war took a heavy toll on residents and tourism. “Now, you see hermanos
lejanos [El Salvadorans who moved to the United States and Canada] and
tourism returning,” says yoga teacher Lindsay Gonzalez, who operates
Balancé Yoga Studio and wellness retreats in the surf town El Tunco. An
open-air yoga shala catches the ocean breeze from Balancé’s beachfront
setting. “In El Trunco, days revolve around the tides, the wind, and the
best surfing conditions,” Gonzalez says. Now that it has a dedicated yoga
hub, this surf town just might be the next Nosara.
CENTRAL
+ SOUTH
AMERICA22