Semuc Champey is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Guatemala. De kalkstenen baden hebben zich door de eeuwen heen boven de Cahabón rivier gevormd. De meesten bezoeken Semuc Champey dan ook vanuit Lanquin, wat verderop aan de rivier ligt. Lanquin is een prima tussenstop, wanneer je van Lake Atitlan naar Flores reist of andersom. Je moet er een stukje voor reizen, maar de kristalhelder blauwe wateren midden in de jungle van Guatemala zijn het meer dan waard!
What to do in Semuc Champey
There are several things you can do in and around the Semuc Champey Nature Reserve. To enter the park you pay 50 quetzales per person.
Visit the viewpoint
A short hike takes you to a viewpoint where you can admire the crystal blue baths from above. You climb up in about 30 minutes and are back down again in 20 minutes. We recommend that you do this hike first, so that you can then continue to the baths themselves.
Swim in the crystal clear blue pools
After you come back down from the hike, you can cool off in the cold water. There are changing rooms where you can change. There are also lockers where you can store your belongings. There are several pools where you can swim. On the way to the exit you will also come across several places along the river where you can take a wonderful dip.
Go tubing
At the beginning of the park you can choose to go tubing on the Cahabón River. Relax and float down the river on an inflatable tire, together with other travelers. You will of course pay separately for this.
TIP: Bring water shoes for swimming and wear good shoes for the hike. Also make sure you have enough food and drinks, because you can't get much more than a bottle of drink or a coconut in the park.
Transport to Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is located about 12 kilometers outside Lanquin. Due to the unpaved roads you can only get here with a 4x4. Some accommodations provide their own transport to Semuc Champey, but you can also simply board in the city. During the morning and afternoon several 4×4s drive back and forth. You pay 20 quetzales per person for this. Make sure you pay the exact amount, otherwise you may not see your change. The road there is really bumpy and you also have to stand in the 4×4. So hold on tight!
TIP: Go early in the morning, then it is not too busy and there is a chance that you will not have to stand in the 4×4 with 10 others.
Where to stay around Semuc Champey
There are a number of accommodations in Lanquin where you can spend the night. Don't expect too much, because most will be disappointing. We stayed in Rabin Itzam, not a great hotel, but fine for 2 nights. There are also lodges that are a little closer to Semuc Champey. You will sleep outside the city, but you have a better chance of being one of the first in the park.
Where to eat in Lanquin
There is not much choice in restaurants in Lanquin. Some hotels offer breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. We ate almost all our meals at KALULA cafe y restaurant. Here you can eat sandwiches, salad, pizza and much more. A great option for the 2 days we were there.
How to get to Lanquin
You can easily travel from Antigua, Lake Atitlan or Flores to Lanquin. You can take public transport for this, but this is not ideal for several reasons. So it is best to book a shuttle at your accommodation or a tour office nearby. This takes you to Lanquin in one go and costs about 225 quetzales per person. In Lanquin you will be met by 4×4s from various accommodations and tuktuks, which will take you to your accommodation.
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