We’ve discovered hidden hiking trails, surf spots, kayak routes, and cultural experiences that bring you closest to the raw, untouched beauty of Central America.
Lakeview Journeys was born from the desire to move beyond the typical tourist experience. We design custom, unique adventures that reflect our clients’ desires and dreams.
Starting with permaculture and yoga trainings around Lake Atitlán, the company has expanded to offer impact travel tours across Guatemala and — coming soon — other breathtaking parts of Central and South America.
Over nearly two decades in Guatemala, we have cultivated strong relationships with local communities, tour guides, high-impact nonprofit projects, and an array of accommodations, ensuring that every traveler experiences the heart of the region.
Our Vision and Mission
Our vision is a world where people are deeply interconnected, with a rich understanding of the lives and cultures of our fellow humans across the globe.
We believe that travel should inspire compassion, broaden perspectives, and foster a sense of global community. By experiencing new cultures firsthand, travelers can gain insights that transform not only how they see the world but also how they choose to live within it.
Lakeview Journeys is dedicated to crafting customized, unique travel experiences for small groups.
We aim to provide journeys that encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in meaningful adventures.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to protecting the natural environment. Each of our tours supports local organizations working on ecological restoration, reforestation, environmental education, and natural resource conservation.
Our Founder
Shad grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a double major in Applied Mathematics & Statistics and Psychology. After two years in the corporate world, he embarked on a life-changing adventure, settling by stunning Lake Atitlán in 2009 with his wife, Colleen.
After a decade of building a thriving permaculture farm called Atitlán Organics that not only supports multiple Guatemalan families but also provides the local community with access to fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, Shad was inspired to share his profound experiences in Guatemala with others.
Understanding that travel has the power to change lives, he wanted to create opportunities for people to experience the world in a new way.
As Shad’s connection to the land and the people deepened, he expanded his focus to include travel, founding Lakeview Journeys and a small retreat center called Bambu Guest House. Together, Lakeview Journeys and the Bambu have inspired hundreds of travelers, offering them a chance to learn about Guatemalan culture, the natural world, and the vast possibilities for their own lives.
In 2019, Shad deepened his commitment to sustainability and community empowerment by founding Wellkind Guatemala ONG, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation and the preservation of natural species and endangered plants. Wellkind has planted over 100,000 trees in the western highlands and is poised for even greater growth. With an incredible team of local Guatemalans leading the charge, the organization is building new nurseries, saving rare seeds, and empowering communities to take control of their natural resources. Wellkind is a key impact partners that Lakeview Journeys connects with to provide meaningful experiences to travelers.
Shad’s deep passion for the natural world and dedication to working closely with local communities drive the vision of Lakeview Journeys, ensuring that every adventure is unique, fulfilling, and ethically sustainable.
Our Team of Service Providers
We work with a dedicated team of contractors at Lake Atitlan and throughout Guatemala. We’re here to help you create a meaningful and memorable journey to Central America!
Our close-knit team members support each other to ensure that we collectively achieve our goals and create a greater impact in the communities we work with.
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Sales/Marketing Manager and Adventure Retreat Leader
Kyle was born and raised in Lake Atitlan in the highlands of Guatemala to Canadian American parents. He's a lifelong hiker and explorer of the mountains of Atitlan who loves being close to nature. Kyle has been involved in sustainable development and adventure tourism for the past decade, having worked for several international travel companies in Central America. He believes in supporting local communities through tourism redistributing wealth in the world, one adventure at a time.
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Operations Manager
Isaías supervises and optimizes Wellkind’s operational processes to ensure that they operate efficiently and sustainably. He also supports the reforestation program, coffee pilot project, and is involved in the logistics of all the NGO’s programs. He enjoys working at WellKind because he can apply his existing knowledge to his work and constantly gain new knowledge. In his daily work, Isaías focuses on creating a better environment that benefits his community and our natural environment for generations to come. He is particularly interested in the Reforestation program and finds great joy in planting trees and spending time in nature.
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Content Creator and Social Media Coordinator
Damian’s main job is to document Wellkind’s project activities through photography and videography. He then shares this inspiring content with the organization’s network to ensure adequate visibility. In addition to creating amazing digital media for our programs, Damian manages Wellkind’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. He especially enjoys working on the reforestation program, as it contributes to the conservation and restoration of the environment. Damian uses software to track the location of GPS points and view satellite images of where trees were planted.
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Communications Director and Yoga Retreat Leader
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Michelle moved to Guatemala in 2009. With a background in advertising copywriting and K-12 school teaching, Michelle enjoys her current work as communications guru for Lakeview Journeys and retreat manager for Bambu Guest House. She is also a freelance writer, editor, translator, and interpreter. A lifelong yogi and spiritual practitioner, Michelle has joyfully led small group yoga retreats, primarily at Lake Atitlan, since 2010.
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Ecology Program Director
As a child, Antonio was one of the first students to graduate in his community, where studying was difficult because most children had to work at an early age. He studied business administration and runs his own business called Casa Miel, working with several beekeepers to sell honey around Lake Atitlán. One of Antonio’s main functions at Wellkind is to coordinate the reforestation program. Antonio helps secure tree donations, communicate with local families, and distribute and monitor the trees once they have been planted. His work fills him with pride and joy to contribute to the community’s’ sustainable development.
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General Manager and Graphic Designer
In addition to managing the reception desk and accounting at Bambu Guest House, Marícela supports Wellkind’s programs that focus on education, ecology, and economy and supports the management of the women’s artisan collective. Maricela is passionate about supporting the community through environmental conservation and educational projects. Maricela is also a skilled graphic designer who creates designs and branding for Lakeview Journeys, Wellkind, and Bambu Guest House.
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Administrative Assistant
Cruz works at Wellkind Guatemala to support the management of administrative work. She also guides a group of women in a community savings cooperative, with the goal of fostering collaboration and economic empowerment within the group to achieve their financial goals. Cruz finds contributing to an environment that focuses on improving the environment and supporting communities satisfying and she feels motivated knowing that the work we do not only has a positive impact on local development, but also supports larger causes that benefit our society.