As of 4 November 2026, three operators in San Marcos La Laguna publish cacao ceremonies on their own websites: Kawoq Forest (next listed: a Maya Fire & Cacao Ceremony on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 12:00 PM, $50 per person), Eagle’s Nest (cacao ceremonies and a ticketed Cacao Dance among its events) and Keith’s Cacao (a seven-day Homecoming in San Marcos, 1 to 7 March 2027, $1,999). Kawoq Forest and Keith’s Cacao price in US dollars; Eagle’s Nest’s events page gives no cacao price.
The format differs by host: Kawoq Forest pairs cacao with a Maya fire ceremony, Eagle’s Nest with dance, and Keith’s Cacao with a week of training. Everything below is from each operator’s own website, read on 4 November 2026. For the ajq’ij-led fire ceremonies at archaeological sites, see attending a Maya ceremony in Guatemala.
Quick summary
| Operator | What it publishes | Price | Date | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawoq Forest | Maya Fire & Cacao Ceremony · 7 Aj, at Nimalaj Abaj | $50 per person (current ceremony range $40-47) | Wednesday 11 November 2026, 12:00 PM | info@kawoqforest.com; WhatsApp +502 3301-1835 |
| Eagle’s Nest | Cacao ceremonies and a ticketed Cacao Dance; weekly Tuesday Mayan Fire Ceremony | No Cacao Dance price on the events page | Not dated on the events page | Via its website |
| Keith’s Cacao | Homecoming 2027 (The Source Certification), 25 places, English and Spanish | $1,999; $1,799 for KC Practitioners; accommodation extra | 1-7 March 2027, departure 8 March | Via its website |
In other currencies, at Banguat’s rates for 3 November 2026 (USD 1 = Q7.63621; CAD 1 = Q5.46087; GBP 1 = Q9.8002): $50 is about Q382, CAD 70 or £39; $40-47 is about Q305-359, CAD 56-66 or £31-37; $1,999 is about Q15,265, CAD 2,795 or £1,558; and $1,799 is about Q13,738, CAD 2,516 or £1,402.
Kawoq Forest: fire and cacao ceremony at Nimalaj Abaj
Kawoq Forest’s ceremonies page carries the title of ceremonies led by indigenous facilitators, Maya fire and cacao ceremonies among them. It places them at a stone it calls Nimalaj Abaj (the Great Stone in Kaqchikel), in the part of the property it describes as a sacred cave area, guided, it says, by Maya altars.
The next ceremony on the page:
| Detail | As published |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | Maya Fire & Cacao Ceremony · 7 Aj |
| Date and time | Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 12:00 PM |
| Place | Nimalaj Abaj · Kawoq Forest · Lake Atitlán |
| Contribution | $50 USD per person |
| What happens | A gathering around the sacred fire for gratitude, intention and connection, with ceremonial cacao and intentional offerings |
The same page says every ceremony is priced in US dollars whatever country you come from, and that current ceremony prices are $40-47 per person, which is lower than the $50 on the 11 November listing; confirm the amount when you book.
Getting there. Kawoq Forest gives its address as Barrio 3, Xe Abaj, San Marcos La Laguna, Sololá, a 15-minute walk from the village centre and accessible on foot only; it warns of a hike with steps. Its contact page offers a free escort from Circles Cafe at 1 pm when you tell staff your arrival date, suggests an 8-9 am collective shuttle from Antigua (Q100, about $13), and, if you need porters for your bags, adds a porterage charge of $10 per bag to your bill. For boats into San Marcos, see Panajachel to San Marcos and the full Lake Atitlán lancha routes.
Eagle’s Nest: cacao ceremonies and the Cacao Dance
Eagle’s Nest, a retreat centre in Barrio 2 of San Marcos La Laguna, lists festivals, ecstatic dance, weekly community events and cacao ceremonies on its events page, all on land it calls sacred Mayan land above the lake. What it publishes about cacao:
- The Cacao Dance is a ticketed event, and Eagle’s Nest sells stays that bundle event entry. For the Cacao Dance, phones stay behind in your room.
- Its weekly schedule lists a Mayan Fire Ceremony on Tuesday, a sound journey on Saturday and Community Day on Friday, which it says is free and open to everyone.
The events page names no date or price for the next Cacao Dance. Eagle’s Nest’s retreat packages are compared on our Lake Atitlán yoga retreats page.
Keith’s Cacao: the Homecoming week
Keith’s Cacao says its founder, Keith Wilson, was working as a geologist, herbalist and healer in 2003 when, in Guatemala, cacao turned his life in a new direction, and that for about twenty years afterwards he studied and shared it on his San Marcos La Laguna porch. In the company’s words, “Those gatherings grew into the modern cacao ceremony movement.” It says its cacao is still made in San Marcos by the same families, by hand.
What the Homecoming page lists:
| Detail | As published |
|---|---|
| Event | Homecoming 2027, The Source Certification |
| Dates | March 1 to 7, 2027 (departure March 8): 7 days and 7 nights |
| Place | San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitlán |
| Size and language | 25 places; held in English and Spanish |
| Price | Retail $1,999; KC Practitioners $1,799 |
| Not included | Accommodation, booked separately |
| Content | Morning ceremony, Keith’s teachings, and time with the families who farm, harvest and roast its cacao |
What is in the cup, and the cautions the operators publish
Kawoq Forest’s and Eagle’s Nest’s event pages do not list what goes into the drink, so ask your facilitator what is in it and how much you will be served. Keith’s Cacao describes its own product in its FAQ and home page:
- The cacao bean is the only ingredient in its 100% Pure Ceremonial Grade cacao.
- It says the cacao is high in theobromine and low in caffeine, and that it is “not a mind-altering substance”.
- “Our cacao will raise your heart rate slightly.” Its advice: if a higher heart rate could cause you a medical problem, drink less, and check with your doctor.
- It warns that cacao is poisonous to many animals, so keep it away from pets.
These are the company’s statements about its own product, not medical advice.
Plan your San Marcos day
San Marcos has more than ceremonies: the cliff jump at Cerro Tzankujil, and the village’s other activities on things to do in San Marcos La Laguna. The town’s background and population are on the San Marcos La Laguna municipality page.
Sources
- Kawoq Forest, Ceremonies: kawoqforest.com/ceremonies, read 4 November 2026
- Kawoq Forest, Contact Us: kawoqforest.com/contact-us, read 4 November 2026
- Eagle’s Nest Atitlán, Events & Festivals: eaglesnestatitlan.com/events, read 4 November 2026
- Keith’s Cacao, home page: keithscacao.com, read 4 November 2026
- Keith’s Cacao, Homecoming 2027: keithscacao.com/pages/homecoming-2027, read 4 November 2026
- Keith’s Cacao, FAQs: keithscacao.com/pages/faqs, read 4 November 2026
- Exchange rates: Banguat reference rates for 3 November 2026 (banguat.gob.gt)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cacao ceremony cost in San Marcos La Laguna?
Kawoq Forest lists its Maya Fire & Cacao Ceremony on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at a $50 contribution per person and says its current ceremony prices are $40 to $47 per person, all priced in US dollars. Keith’s Cacao sells its seven-day Homecoming 2027 in San Marcos at $1,999 ($1,799 for its certified practitioners), accommodation not included. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
Who runs cacao ceremonies at Lake Atitlán?
Three San Marcos La Laguna operators publish them on their own websites: Kawoq Forest, which says its ceremonies are facilitated by indigenous facilitators; Eagle’s Nest, which lists cacao ceremonies and a ticketed Cacao Dance among its events; and Keith’s Cacao, the company founded by Keith Wilson, whose site credits his porch gatherings in San Marcos with starting the modern cacao ceremony movement.
What is in the drink at a cacao ceremony?
It depends on the host, so ask. Keith’s Cacao says the cacao bean is the only ingredient in its 100% Pure Ceremonial Grade cacao, that it does not alter the mind, and that it raises your heart rate slightly; its FAQ advises drinking less if that could cause a medical problem and to check with your doctor.
Do I need to stay at the centre to attend?
Not at Kawoq Forest, which sells ceremony places on its own. Eagle’s Nest says Community Day on Fridays is open to everyone and free, and that lodging packages including admission are available for ticketed events such as the Cacao Dance; its events page does not give a separate Cacao Dance price.
How do I get to Kawoq Forest?
Kawoq Forest is at Barrio 3, Xe Abaj, San Marcos La Laguna, a 15-minute walk from the village centre and reachable on foot only; it warns of a hike with steps. Kawoq’s contact page suggests an early collective shuttle from Antigua (Q100) and offers a free escort from Circles Cafe in San Marcos at 1 pm if you tell staff your arrival date in advance.
