Habitat for Simple and Intentional Living
Puertecita is a habitat rooted in a small bay of San Pablo La Laguna, on the shores of Lake Atitlán. What began as a search for a simpler and more intentional way of living gradually evolved into a collection of places, practices and relationships connected by a shared vision.
It did not begin as a master plan. Over time, spaces for dwelling, nourishment, restoration, creativity and learning emerged naturally in response to the needs of everyday life. Together, these spaces form a living habitat where people can participate in different ways — whether by staying for a few nights, sharing a meal, joining a workshop, restoring body and mind, or becoming part of the community for a longer season.
At its heart, Puertecita is an exploration of how life can be lived in closer relationship with the land, with food, with meaningful work and with one another. It is a place shaped by natural rhythms, thoughtful design and the belief that simple living can be both beautiful and deeply fulfilling.
Today, the habitat continues to evolve through the people who inhabit it, the land that sustains it, and the practices that bring it to life.
LIFE WITHIN THE HABITAT
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DWELL
To dwell is more than simply having a place to stay. It is about feeling at home in a landscape, settling into a slower rhythm and allowing space for rest.
Within the habitat, dwelling takes place through a collection of rooms, suites and homes designed to support comfort, simplicity and a close relationship with the natural surroundings. Guided by the principles of Nature Aligned Architecture, these spaces are thoughtfully designed to foster harmony, well-being and a deeper connection with place. Whether for a few nights or a longer season, they invite guests to wake with the light, rest deeply and experience daily life by the lake.
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NOURISH
Nourishment begins with simple ingredients, carefully prepared and shared around the table. It is found in slow-fermented breads, seasonal produce, homegrown ingredients and meals made by hand.
Within the habitat, food is more than sustenance. It is a way of cultivating connection — to the land, to those who grow and prepare it, and to the people with whom it is shared. Through baking, gardening, cooking and gathering, nourishment becomes part of everyday life, inviting us to slow down, savor and reconnect with what truly feeds us.
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RESTORE
Restoration is an essential part of living well. It creates space to slow down, recover balance and reconnect with oneself and the natural world.
Within the habitat, restoration takes many forms: quiet mornings by the lake, time spent in the gardens, moments of stillness, restorative practices, heat and water therapies, and the simple act of stepping away from the demands of daily life. Together, these experiences support physical well-being, mental clarity and a renewed sense of vitality.
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CULTIVATE
To cultivate is to participate in the growth and care of living systems. It is a practice of working with the land, tending plants, shaping spaces and contributing to the ongoing development of the habitat.
Within the habitat, cultivation is guided by the principles of permaculture and regenerative land stewardship. Food forests, cacao groves, fruit trees, medicinal plants, terraces, gardens and creative projects all contribute to a living landscape that continues to evolve through observation, care and participation. Cultivation invites people to engage directly with the processes that shape both land and life.
THE TERRITORY
Long before Puertecita existed, these lands formed part of the agricultural landscape of San Pablo La Laguna. Along the shores of Lake Atitlán, generations of Tz'utujil families cultivated maize, maguey and other crops that sustained daily life and shaped the cultural identity of the region. The names that still define this territory today — Xepotrela, Tzanzuj, Patzaquel and Panuleu — carry the memory of those relationships between people, land and livelihood.
The habitat now known as Puertecita is located in a small bay within this larger landscape. While the places that form the habitat are relatively recent, the relationship with the land is not. The properties that make up Puertecita have been under the care of the same family for more than four decades, preserving a continuity that extends far beyond the projects that exist today.
One of the most prominent landmarks of the bay is Xepotrela, a dramatic rocky formation that rises above the lake. Hidden within its crevices and caves are places that have long been regarded as sacred by local communities. To this day, these spaces continue to be visited for prayer, ceremony and offerings.
Local tradition tells of a great serpent that emerges from the caves of Xepotrela, descends to the lake to drink, and then returns to the mountain. For generations, this serpent has been remembered as a guardian presence, listening to requests and carrying prayers between the people and the land. Whether understood as legend, memory or symbol, the story remains part of the living cultural heritage of the bay.
Beginning in 2018, several families, collaborators and caretakers gradually made this territory their permanent home. What started as a commitment to living closer to the land evolved into a shared effort to restore, inhabit, cultivate and create within it. Over time, this gave rise to the habitat that exists today.
For us, the territory is more than a setting. It is the foundation that sustains everything else. The land provides food, beauty, work, learning and a sense of belonging. Its rhythms continue to shape daily life, reminding us that we are participants in a much older story that began long before our arrival and will continue long after us.
