Lanquin, Guatemala
After a picturesque hike through the Guatemalan jungle, I found paradise. The natural limestone span in addition to turquoise bluish pools of Semuc Champey had revealed themselves.
From the town of Lanquin, the national commons of Semuc Champey is a bumpy in addition to winding 40-minute pickup-truck ride into the jungle—and definitely non for the faint of pump (or the carsick).
Standing inward the dorsum of the truck, y'all larn a cracking thought of the scenery or in addition to therefore y'all spell thumping along the road.
Then the Cahabòn River comes into thought for the get-go time.
As far every bit whitewater rafting in addition to kayaking go, this river is pretty much every bit goodness every bit it gets inward Guatemala. Stretching most 196 kilometers, it winds through caves in addition to jungles, in addition to snakes through the Semuc Champey state bridge.
Not to advert the river’s color—which is incredible—a potent vivid turquoise bluish that sharply stands out from the surrounding light-green jungle.
Though non totally undiscovered past times tourists, Semuc Champey soundless definitely feels similar a hidden wonder!
A Jungle Paradise
After arriving to Semuc Champey in addition to entering the park, a brusk merely steep 45-minute hike volition set y'all high upward inward the cliffs where y'all tin can await downward at the beautiful limestone shelf far below.
This thought is the coin shot, in addition to therefore develop accordingly. Some H2O soundless passes over the top of the shelf, which creates the magnificent blue-green pools in addition to small-scale waterfalls.
Hiking dorsum downward the other side of the viewpoint, you’ll reckon upward amongst the H2O itself. H5N1 brusk walk up-river reveals where the H2O rushes underground.
A few people receive got fallen inward hither before, never to live found again… in addition to therefore live careful!
Because of the risk, the commons hired a guy to stand upward close the hole amongst a whistle to warn people when they larn likewise unopen to the edge.
But putting all this aside, Semuc Champey is a must-visit if you’re traveling to Guatemala.
Semuc Champey Pools
Semuc Champey is a natural waterpark inward the middle of nowhere. Some areas are deep plenty to dive into from high points on the limestone shelf—but brand certain y'all double banking concern gibe the depth yourself earlier diving in!
Since the H2O is in addition to therefore clear, y'all tin can reckon everything —- fish swimming inward the pools, the stone surfaces, the sandy ground.
Semuc Champey’s limestone formations include piddling caves too, in addition to y'all tin can swim into them in addition to await out from underneath a waterfall. After a piddling exploring, I found i cave that was alone accessible past times swimming to it underwater.
In general, there’s no shortage of hidden enclaves at Semuc Champey, in addition to therefore live certain y'all larn out plenty fourth dimension for adequate exploration.
Temperature-wise, the H2O is comfortable without beingness likewise warm, in addition to provides much-needed refuge from the Guatemalan heat.
History Of The Area
Semuc Champey (which agency “sacred water” inward the Maya language) has ever been renowned for its swimming spots, along amongst its 300-meter limestone formation nether which the Cahabón River flows.
Despite the difficulty inward getting here, Semuc Champey remains an attraction for visitors in addition to locals alike.
The nearby town of Lanquín, established inward 1540 (!), is habitation to most 16,500 people in addition to situated at 380 meters above sea level.
Culturally speaking, this portion of Republic of Guatemala is founded on the basic regulation of q’eqchi’—which involves a deep abide by of one’s natural surround in addition to people.
Keep this inward heed every bit y'all go through, in addition to the state volition care for y'all every bit y'all care for it!
Guatemalan Adventure
Although incredible, visiting the limestone pools at Semuc Champey is alone business office of the cracking Guatemalan adventure y'all tin can have, where every town in addition to bumpy journeying presents some other lead chances to experience a rich, vibrant culture.
After spending the twenty-four hr menses diving from waterfalls, swimming into caves, in addition to chasing fish around, it was fourth dimension for me to caput dorsum to the town of Lanquin—a lovely piddling tropical enclave inward its ain right.
Because I didn’t become amongst a tour, I needed to hitch a ride dorsum amongst someone.
On the way out of the park, I ran into some other grouping of international travelers who had the same idea, in addition to and therefore nosotros all started walking dorsum to town afterward waiting for a spell without seeing whatever trucks drive by.
We found a roadside bar in addition to ordered a few cervezas spell nosotros waited. Roadside bars are mutual inward Guatemala, in addition to they introduce fantastic opportunities to reckon immature human being travelers in addition to practise your Spanish.
Stone Fire Pizza!
One truck lastly stopped, in addition to nosotros tried to create create amongst the driver on a price. Our efforts failed when he all of a precipitous drove off without us!
It was getting dark, in addition to nosotros actually didn’t desire to walk ix km (14 miles) through the jungle at night. Generally speaking though, it isn’t likewise hard to hitch a ride inward Guatemala. Just live certain y'all purpose goodness judgement, concur on a toll beforehand, in addition to never forget to smile.
Luckily some other truck came past times eventually, in addition to nosotros speedily agreed to his inflated toll because sacrifices, sometimes, are necessary to brand spell traveling!
After getting dropped off inward the middle of town, I walked dorsum to my hostel to savor some other beer in addition to some delicious stone-fire oven pizza. This was the perfect way to halt an adventure at Semuc Champey National Park.
How To Get to Semuc Champey
Your get-go monastic state of draw of piece of employment concern is to larn to Lanquin. If you’re coming from Flores, Antigua or Guatemala City, y'all receive got the alternative of traveling past times bus—which tin can receive got upward to 12 hours.
The shortest trip would receive got to live from Republic of Guatemala City, which soundless volition run most 6-8 hours.
Semuc Champey is alone most 10 kilometers from Lanquin, merely those 10 kilometers are peculiarly hard to go (which is, of course, all business office of the fun).
In Lanquin, you’ll observe a expose of pick-up trucks ready in addition to eager to receive got travelers to Semuc Champey. Many of these trucks are business office of hostels, merely pretty much anyone tin can hitch a ride amongst i of them.
The 40-minute drive to the pools is a ridiculously winding, bumpy journey, merely the goal is well-worth whatever bruises gained inward the process.
Where To Stay In Semuc Champey
If you’re wondering where to remain inward Semuc Champey, hither are my recommendations:
Hostel El Retiro Lanquin
Great place unopen to town, amongst a alternative of unlike room types. Cool terrace in addition to goodness nutrient too!
Check Prices / Read Reviews
Hostal Vista Verde Lanquin
Located 5.6 km from Semuc Champey, hither y'all tin can sit down past times the infinity puddle in addition to savor the stunning surroundings.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
Ch’i Bocól Community Hostel
Just two minutes walk from the beach, this accomodation is known for its friendly staff in addition to cracking food.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
El Portal De Champey
9 infinitesimal walk from Semuc Champey, El Portal De Champey features views of the mount in addition to cracking hospitality.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
COUPON CODE! For a special $30 off your adjacent Booking.com hotel remain over $60, brand certain to use my special link.
Tips For Visiting
Because of the seek in addition to fourth dimension involved inward getting to both Lanquin in addition to Semuc Champey, making it a twenty-four hr menses trip is to a greater extent than or less impossible.
If you’re trying to crush every bit much adventure every bit y'all tin can out of things, consider a iii or 4-day journeying downward the river that tin can live paired amongst caving in addition to visiting the Quirigua Mayan ruins.
Also, brand certain y'all choose plenty cash to Semuc Champey, every bit at that spot is no ATM at that spot (the closest is inward Lanquin). The entrance fee to the commons is roughly $6 USD.
You don’t involve to become amongst a guided tour, soundless they create brand getting to the commons a chip easier. ★
Accommodation: Zephyr Lodge
Cost: $6 USD entry fee
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid y'all start packing for your trip. Pick upward a go backpack, photographic television set camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to observe deals. Also read my tips for how I observe the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a cracking site for comparison machine prices to observe the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than most why y'all should ever acquit go insurance.
Have whatever questions most Semuc Champey? How beautiful does this house look?! Drop me a message inward the comments below!
Sumber lksmadrasah.blogspot.com
