Semuc Champey in 4 days
A staircase of turquoise limestone pools on a 300-metre natural bridge, with the Cahabón River roaring through a tunnel underneath. It sits at the bottom of a jungle valley in Alta Verapaz, an hour of dirt track from the nearest paved village, and the effort of getting there is part of the deal.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- Morning
The turquoise pools of Semuc Champeyabout 2 hSix to eight stepped limestone pools over 300 metres, fed by springs, clear to the bottom and around 24°C, for swimming.
- Afternoon
The Semuc Champey viewpointabout 1 h 30A steep 30 to 45-minute climb on roots and wooden ladders, about 200 metres up, to the famous view; the heat makes it harder.
Day 2
- Morning
The Cahabón sinkholea few minutesUpstream of the pools, the wide, muddy river plunges under the limestone bridge with a constant roar, a few metres from the clear water above.
- Afternoon
K'anba caves by candlelightabout 1 h 30Around 300 metres of flooded passages with a candle in hand: swimming, wading chest-deep, climbing ladders and an optional jump into a dark pool.
Day 3
- Morning
Tubing down the Cahabónabout 1 hThirty minutes to an hour floating on an inner tube down a calm, forested stretch below the site, with valley lodges as exit points.
- Afternoon
Ch'i Bocól waterfallsabout 1 hCommunity-run falls and swimming pools a few kilometres downstream, shaded, cool and usually empty compared with the main pools.
Day 4
- Morning
Lanquín villagefree · about 30 minThe Q'eqchi' village that serves as the base, with pick-ups to the site, shuttles onward and one of the valley's few reliable phone signals.
- Afternoon
Lanquín cavesabout 1 h 30Lit limestone caves a kilometre from the village; at dusk, tens of thousands of bats pour out over the river for half an hour.
Plan this trip
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