Guatemala: Semuc Champey and Lanquín – turquoise pools in the jungle

After Tikal we headed south to the small town of Lanquín, which we reached on the evening of 22 December 2023. The town itself does not have much to offer, but a dozen or so kilometres away lies one of the best-known places in Guatemala – the natural monument of Semuc Champey: a cascade of limestone pools with turquoise water, with the Cahabón River flowing underneath. We visited it on 23 December, just before Christmas.

Table of contents

1. Lanquín
2. In the back of a pickup to Semuc Champey
3. The viewpoint above the pools
4. A swim in the turquoise pools
5. Practical information

---

Lanquín

There is not much to see in Lanquín – a market and a few churches, while pickups carrying people to Semuc Champey and the nearby villages drive along the main street every few minutes. It is a good base for Semuc Champey.

Back to table of contents

---

In the back of a pickup to Semuc Champey

As usual, though not always, we went on our own. Pickups leave the town regularly and take you there for 25 GTQ (about €3) one way. The road is interesting – bumpy and winding, through a green valley. On the way there we had seats in the cab, and on the way back we rode standing in the back, holding on to the rail and keeping our balance on every bend. We got wet, but we could feel like locals.

Back to table of contents

---

The viewpoint above the pools

Entry to Semuc Champey cost 50 GTQ (about €6). The jungle begins right behind the ticket office. First we took the path to the viewpoint (mirador), which offers a beautiful view of the turquoise pools in the river valley. By the steps along the trail, local women sell coconuts. At the viewpoint itself, groups turned out to matter more than individual tourists: the security guard practically chased us away because another group was about to arrive – and so on, group after group.

Back to table of contents

---

A swim in the turquoise pools

After coming down from the viewpoint you can go for a swim. The pools are fairly deep – you can swim in them and even jump in. The water is a bit cool, but it is definitely worth it. The pools lie at different levels and spill over into one another, forming small waterfalls, and the Cahabón River flows beneath them.

It is quite touristy – plenty of guided groups come here, so it is best to arrive first thing in the morning, because later it is hard to take a photo without a crowd. The loop we walked was more than 3 kilometres long. There are also caves in the area, but we gave them a miss.

On Christmas Eve we went to Antigua Guatemala, where we stayed for over a month for a Spanish course; I write about what Christmas was like there in the post Christmas in Latin America.

Back to table of contents

---

Practical information

• Pickup from Lanquín – 25 GTQ (about €3) per person one way (December 2023); they leave regularly from the town centre.
• Entrance ticket – 50 GTQ (about €6).
• Timing – best in the morning, before the organised tours arrive.

4:59

Back to table of contents

---

Photo gallery