semuc champey, gt
This is going to be a relatively brief overview of a beautiful place to visit in Guatemala. It is called Semuc Champey. One of the more popular places to visit in the entire country. Semuc is a series of small little waterfalls and calm pools that you can swim in and explore around. — Tucked into the jungle, it's a pretty spectacular spot. It is very hard to get to though. It's in the middle of nowhere, and just coming to Semuc Champey is an adventure of its own. It's not really near anything at all. In order to get there you will have to take a bus or a shuttle from Flores or Guatemala City. Each way is going to take you about 6 hours at least. That's if everything goes to plan. So essentially getting to this remote spot in the rural and trying jungle is a full day trip. The trip is worth it though, if you love waterfalls and naturally beautiful things. Many people who are traveling up or down the country will make a stop here on the way to, or from Flores. It's practically on the way, so it makes sense to make this stop while you are doing that trip. The trip is about half a day from Flores to Guatemala City, so it's nice to break up the trip anyways. However, I would say, that personally I don't know if the juice is worth the squeeze on this one. If you are making the trip between Flores already, or are traveling slowly with no real timeline, I would say that it's totally worth it. But if you are on a short timeline, Semuc Champey is probably something that I would skip. It's just such a mission to get there, and it's not the most amazing thing you will ever see in your life. — That's just me. There's better, less inconvenient things to do in Guatemala, like Acatenango, if you are on a short timeline. That being said, if you have time, do it. So what exactly is it? It's just a series of little pools and waterfalls inside of a river. The water glows a stunning blue color, also in the limestone pools. It's pretty cool. You can swim around, enjoy the views in the rainforest, and they have tubing tours you can go on as well. It's a one-day thing, — spend an afternoon there, and you've done all there is to do. On top of the actual thing to see, there's a really good hostel scene up here, which was really surprising to me. Come for the waterfall river — stay for the hostels. They are beautiful and nestled into the jungle. Some with spectacular views. One of the most beautiful hostels I have ever been to is up here actually. So that's a big plus about this place. BIG TIP - If you are driving your own vehicle here, AVOID HIGHWAY 5. It is the worst road I drove on in Latin America, I legitimately almost didn't make it out of this tiny and rugged road carved into the side of the mountain.
Semuc Champey is located deep in the jungle and rainforest of Guatemala. It's extremely hard to get to as I briefly touched on above in the overview section. I mean it's going to take you at least 6 hours to get there from any other legitimate population center. But if you have time and the will to go, it's going to be a memorable experience high in the jungle, and an infrequently traveled hard-to-get-to authentic place.
The nearest town to Semuc is going to be called Lanquin. So if you are trying to get there via bus, the way is to just try and get to Lanquin. The small town has a population of about 16,500 people, but for this rural jungle region of Panama it's a very large place. The town is going to be filled with Indigenous. Almost exclusively, I would say. Which in and of itself is extremely interesting. I found walking around and exploring Lanquin to be one of my favorite memories from my time up here in the high Guatemalan jungle.
So your methods of getting here are going to be by bus or shuttle, or by driving. If you are driving, read carefully my warning. It's important.
1. By Bus/Shuttle - Easily the most common way to get up here. Well, really the only way, unless you have your own vehicle, which is typically not the case. There's a few ways, as always.
- CHICKEN BUS - If your Spanish is good and you want to save money, take the local bus or chicken bus route. Get to Guatemala City first, from wherever you are. Then get a bus to Coban. From Coban you need to transfer buses, and get to Lanquin. From Lanquin you will just have to take a tuk tuk to get to wherever your accommodation is. This is going to cost you about $10, take the better part of a day, — be extremely hot, sweaty and cramped. The transfers will not be easy, and will be confusing. You will save money, and have a story to tell. But if you don't speak good Spanish, or aren't with someone who does, this probably will be too difficult and not worth the money and time you will save by going with the shuttle option.
- SHUTTLE - From Antigua - By far the most common way to do this. Any hostel or hotel in Antigua will have information regarding the journey up to Semuc Champey. You can book your shuttle here. Expect the journey to take about 10 hours, and it's going to cost 250-300Q ($35USD). The shuttles leave every morning, and you will arrive up in Semuc late in the afternoon. It's a long day... - From Flores - Pretty much the same process coming from Flores. Book your transport here, the journey will be around 300Q or $40 USD. It's also going to take 9 hours. So now you understand just how long and hard it is to get here. When you get dropped off by either of these shuttles in Lanquin, there will be free transportation to take you up to your hotel or hostel.
2. By Car - This is for the overlanders. Now if you are driving, you pretty much just need to follow instructions to get from either Flores or anywhere in Southern Guate to get here, but this is VERY IMPORTANT. If you are coming down from Flores, Google Maps is going to tell you to get on the 5 right here. Avoid this highway like the plague. Do no get on highway 5. You must go around using AV9 through Coban. It will add a few hours to your trip. But in no circumstance should you take this road. It is without a doubt the most perilous moment from my entire trip. The road is scarred into the jungle-ous mountain. The rocks in the road are the size of boulders. I practically crawled my way through this 50 km stretch of jungle track. It was the scariest road I have ever been on. There are also men on the road who will stop you and make you pay about $20 taxes to get through. It's the worst road I drove on here, and it's is just not safe. I averaged about 5mph here. It's a terrible, scary drive, and will not save you any time. AVOID THIS ROAD. If you don't have 4x4, you won't be able to make it anyways.
- If you avoid the stretch of the 5 stretching north from Lanquin, the drive will be easy enough. Just get there. It's going to take you about 8-10 hours to make the drive. Gas stations are rare, so gas up when you can. Just get to Lanquin, then get wherever you need to in Semuc.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
This is going to be the only section that has any real meat in it. There's no nightlife up here outside of the nightlife you can find in the hostels. The main food options are going to be in your hostel, unless you venture into Lanquin for some food. So this is an important part I guess.
The housing options up here are great. I am just going to get into a few of the hostels that are good up here, and you shouldn't really need to look further. I am sure there is some nicer accommodation too, but that wasn't on my radar. The hostels here are beautiful, typically full of travelers and a great time.
This is the most popular spot up here for sure. It's stunningly beautiful. Right on the top of a mountain in a valley. There's a beautiful pool, a great common area, a good food menu, a pool table, bar, nice dorms, stunning views. It's got everything that you need. I would recommend booking this place in advance, and probably from their website rather than Hostelworld. It's going to sell out fast, and be full of travelers. It's an unreal experience to be honest. It's not very close to actual Semuc Champey though, but they have tours that will take you down daily.
Another good option. I didn't stay here, but I know a lot of people that did stay here. It's kind of a party hostel from what I heard. But certainly nice — with a pool and stuff. It's a lot closer to actual Semuc Champey, and you can actually walk there. Good option if you want to be closer to the waterfall.
EATS
Don't have much in the way of food recs here. You're probably going to eat at your hostel a good amount, but I would recommend making your way into Lanquin to try some local food options.
NIGHTLIFE
Nothing outside of the hostels. But the drinking and partying can be really good in the hostels.
SIGHTS
Well you are up here to see Semuc Champey, so that's really all that there is to do. It's a full day activity, and beautiful.
However, there are a few other things that I would say are worth doing. Like going tubing for the afternoon, or going into Lanquin for the afternoon, or something to experience some of the unique culture up here in the high jungle of Guatemala.
Go swim around, jump off the little waterfalls into the little pools. If you are going to be coming here it's relatively self-explanatory that you are going to be coming here. I don't even know why I am writing this.
GO TUBING
A fun activity for the afternoon is to go tubing down the river. Usually a large group does this, and most people turn it into a fun day drinking activity as well.
I found Lanquin to be an interesting little place. There will be a lot of Indigenous people walking around, and it's cool to see this authentic culture up here removed from the tourist centers where it can at times feel a little bit artificial. Walk around, explore the main plaza and streets. There's not a whole lot to do, but it's a good way to pass an afternoon.
There are some caves called the 'Lanquin Caves' outside of the town of Lanquin that make for a nice afternoon. At around sunset, you will be able to see thousands of bats fly out of the cave, which is pretty cool also.
SURFING
You in the jungle. Nada.