El Paredón Writing Retreat with Kate Gale

Experience the magic of El Paredón—a place where the beauty of nature and the power of words converge to transform your writing journey.

I have always found that when I want to write more deeply and connect with the joy of my work, I turn to the places, communities, and experiences that make writing feel like magic. One place that I believe holds this quality is El Paredón, Guatemala. The sunsets are breathtaking, the fresh fruit and fish are delicious, and the mangrove swamps burst with wildlife. When I am there, I know: I am visiting the place where sunshine comes from.

Next year, I am delighted to be hosting a writing retreat in El Paredón, and I hope you will consider joining me. Through intensive writing, workshops, and community-building practices, we will all work to refine our craft while receiving valuable feedback from one another. Whether you’re working on a novel, poetry, or memoir, I truly believe this landscape provides the perfect backdrop to unlock your imagination.

I’ve built the retreat curriculum to not only encourage attendees as unique writers, but to allow us all to connect to our place in our shared literary community. We’ll start each morning with an optional yoga class, then move into a writing warmup, an intensive workshop, and intermittent independent writing time. The afternoons are yours to explore. You can read, write, swim in the ocean, kayak in the swamps, and find your center in the lush, tranquil landscape.

The retreat will take place from February 15th to February 20th, 2026. We will stay at the stunning Casa Zala hotel, which, in the heart of El Paredón, provides true immersion into the tropical joy of Guatemala. If you’re anything like me, this peaceful environment for reflection and writing feels like a haven. I’m excited to spend the afternoons exploring the mangrove swamps, where bird-watching as you float through the waterways creates a powerful and inspiring connection with nature.

The cost is $2,150 for a single room and $1,450 for a shared room, and includes daily breakfast and lunch, housekeeping, WiFi, and transportation from the airport to Casa Zala. To sign up, you can email me at drkategale@gmail.com.

I’m so grateful to be cultivating this retreat somewhere so alive with energy, inspiration, and space to breathe through this great practice we call writing. Thank you for considering joining me on this literary adventure.