Semuc Champey

The natural pools of Semuc Champey are one of the most popular places to visit in Verapaz, Guatemala. To get there from Cobán, you need to take a shared minibus until Lanquín or a direct minibus to Semuc. From Lanquín, you can easily find transportation on the street or via your hotel which will surely offer to arrange a trip for only 20 Quetzals or so for only transportation or around 120-160 Queztals for a full tour including visits to the caves and tubing.

The entrance fee to the park is 50 Queztals (a bit over $5.00) and the park is open until 4:00pm. If you go with a tour, you probably won't have too much time to enjoy the pools, but if you go on your own you can spend all day enjoying the amazing lookout post and splashing around in the pools.

Semuc Champey is the most beautiful place in all of Guatemala and, in my opinion, the world. It's on the same level as Iguazu Falls, the Grand Canyon, or Halong Bay...seriously. Sempuc Champey is made of amazing natural pools resting on limestone platforms which have formed over the Cahabón River, but what I love most about the site is the feeling of peace and quiet that reigns. The emerald waters are perfect for tubing and you can even float down the river a few miles if you like, just clearing your mind and enjoying the sound of the birds chirping in the trees. There usually aren't very many people there since getting there is a bit tricky and there really aren't many lodging options in the area.

During our trip to Guatemala, we had the amazing opportunity to spend a day at Semuc Champey, one of the most incredible places I've ever been to. We started the day bright and early in Flores and after a long trip along a dirt road, we reached Lanquín. There, we got a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Semuc Champey and spend the night at a hostel near the entrance to the park.

The next day, we spent the morning exploring the trails and visiting the viewpoint that overlooks the amazing blue-green pools. Finally, we went down for a swim and a ride down the natural slides. It was an amazing experience!

The pools of Semuc Champey near Coban in Alta Verapaz are a natural wonder in Guatemala. They are a succession of natural stone bridges and waterfalls. When weather permits, which is most of the year, it is an amazing place to swim and explore and there is a wooden staircase which takes you to a breathtaking lookout point! From the town of Lanquin, you can take a minibus there for a couple of dollars. The entrance to the pools is very cheap and you can camp out or return to Lanquín to sleep. It is a region where it rains a lot so take care when camping, but the hotels are very cheap (2-3 dollars

After a long walk to view the pools from the upper viewpoint, we hiked down to the natural pools of Semuc Champey to enjoy their warm, emerald waters.

This is a disputed territory between the Guatemalan government and the local people from Semuc Champey, you may hear that it is not very safe to go when the place is ruled by the local people, but that is totally wrong.

I went to Semuc Champey when the place was controlled by local people and it is totally safe. Local people from Semuc Champey are the ones that have been in that place the longest and they know how to take care of their land. Don't believe when people say it is not safe. You have to understand that the standard of living in that area is very low so if you visit while the place is controlled by locals you are contributing to their economy otherwise when the place is controlled by government the local people do not get any type of benefit from the government.