Discover Guatemala - Semuc Champey

A Guatemalan natural park with a succession of turquoise blue pools sounds familiar ???? Discover them with this Tuesday inspiration ??

Where is Semuc Champey located?

Things to know about Semuc Champey

This natural gem located in the heart of a thick jungle in the department of Alta Verapaz, near the Mayan town of Lanquín offers a walk through the rainforest and an absolutely divine swim in the heavenly pools. ??

Lanquín is a small and very peaceful village surrounded by hills. It is located at the gateway to the famous Semuc Champey Natural Park in central Guatemala. It is the closest village to the site. It warmly welcomes tourists who come to visit the natural pools. You will find a small park, shops, a market, some restaurants, hotels, a beautiful church and friendly people. ??

Semuc Champey is considered by the Maya to be a sacred site and translates to "where the river hides under the stones" in Mayan language. These turquoise pools, no more than three metres deep, are renowned for their exquisite bathing and the rich biodiversity surrounding them. Over 120 species of trees, over 100 species of birds, 34 species of mammals, 25 species of amphibians and reptiles and 10 species of fish. ??

This string of turquoise pools also consists of a 300-metre natural limestone bridge, under which the Rio Cahabón passes, a medium-sized river of 196 km where rafting is quite possible. At the top of this bridge is a series of cascading pools. ?

It will also be an opportunity to explore the jungle along the Rio Cahabon where you can visit the caves of Lanquin or Kamba. One of the caves is half immersed in water and the visit is done by candlelight. An unforgettable and unusual experience! ??

This still little visited natural park was only discovered in the 1950s, when some Guatemalan officials from the Lanquin region, decided to venture into the heart of the very dense jungle of the area. It was thanks to the municipal secretary who decided to send a note describing the unique and singular beauty of this site, that the tourist development of Semuc Champey took off and was classified as a national monument in 1999, thus becoming one of the many protected areas in Guatemala. ????

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