The hidden oasis of Semuc Champey is a must visit destination in Guatemala! Visiting Semuc Champey Guatemala is a journey off the beaten path, even when backpacking through Central America. Once there, you will be rewarded with a jungle paradise. The Semuc Champey tour is a day full of adventure! Swim in the stunning turquoise Semuc Champey Pools, cave by candlelight in Semuc Champey Caves, visit the waterfalls and hike to the lookout! This article will give you everything you need to know to plan your trip to Semuc Champey. We also share some accommodation options when staying in nearby Lanquín.
About Semuc Champey Guatemala
The beautiful jungle paradise Semuc Champey needs to be seen to be believed! Embedded into limestone rock, a series of pools shimmer in a magnificent turquoise hue. A 45 minute jungle hike will lead you to the perfect viewing spot – a lookout where you can see spectacular aerial views of this national monument and also get the perfect photo. Spend a few hours swimming in the cool clear waters and hop from pool to pool as the water cascades down along the formation. The pristine beauty of this places is unrivalled and makes the rough day long journey to get here seem like a distant memory. If you are backpacking through Central America this hidden oasis is a must visit destination in Guatemala.
Tours of Semuc Champey
Booking tours of Semuc Champey through hostels
The hostels in Semuc Champey or nearby Lanquín can organise the day tours to Semuc Champey. We booked our tour through La Poza River Lodge in Lanquín. The cost of the tour for us was 195 quetzales per person (prices as at 2020), which included transport to and from Lanquín to Semuc Champey as well as a full day guided tour of the area. Different hostels charge slightly different prices but put you on the same tour, so to get the best price, ask around. We subsequently found the prices to be slightly cheaper at El Retiro.
Visiting Semuc Champey Guatemala without a tour group
It is possible to do the trip yourself rather than with a tour group. If you’re planning to catch a taxi or hitchhike back keep in mind that this area doesn’t get a lot of traffic, so you run the risk of walking 2.5 hours back to Lanquín if you can’t get a ride. However the plus of going to Semuc Champey yourself is that you can go at your own pace and not have to jostle for a spot to get a good photo.
Our experience of Semuc Champey Guatemala
Semuc Champey Caves
Our tour started with caving by candlelight. Walking around only with candles for light was a really quirky experience and it gave great ambience at the same time. This was really fun, but be prepared to get very wet! We were in a big group of about 20 people and there was another group right behind us, so that made things quite tight in the cave at times.
The rope swing at Semuc Champey
Once out of the caves, we then got time to play in the river and explore the waterfall area. This was a lot of fun!
Lunch at Semuc Champey
Next we had some free time for lunch. We brought a packed lunch, but you can also buy lunch there. Locals sell grilled food, drinks and chocolate near the bridge. This is one of the main cacao growing areas of Guatemala, so make sure you try some chocolate when you’re there.
Semuc Champey Mirador
After lunch, we did a short hike to the lookout point (the Semuc Champey Mirador). The hike takes around 30min each way. From the lookout you get the most iconic shots of the turquoise waters of Semuc Champey. We’d recommend you trying to get to the summit before the rest of your group as there was a bit of jostling to get good shots with the rest of the crowd.
Swimming at the Semuc Champey pools
After the hike we were very happy to finally get to the pools for a refreshing dip! The water was so clear and the limestone created vivid blues and greens in the water. There were spots in the lower sections of the pools that had natural slides into the water. We had a great time hopping from pool to pool and soaking in the beauty of the area. We spent around an hour at the pools in total.
If you’re doing your own self guided tour then you should go straight to the pools as soon as you get there. Most people and tour groups will do the other activities and the hike first so this will ensure that you have the place all to yourself.
Where is Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is in the department of Alta Verapaz in Guatemala. The closest town to Semuc Champey is San Agustín Lanquín, which is about 1 hour drive away.
Getting to Semuc Champey Guatemala
Visiting Semuc Champey Guatemala is challenging to get to, being a day’s hard travel to get here in both directions from your entry point into Guatemala. Lanquín is the gateway town on your way to Semuc Champey. Lanquín is up in the highlands of Guatemala and is gruelling 8-10 hour minibus ride either from Flores or Antigua.
Cost of minibuses to Lanquín
We were coming from Flores, after spending an awesome day at Tikal. After a few nights in the area we continued our onward journey to Antigua. We paid 100 quetzales per person from Flores to Lanquín and 125 quetzales per person from Lanquín to Antigua (prices as at 2020).
What are minibuses like in Guatemala?
Beware, legroom is minimal on these minibuses, and they pack them really full! If you’re lucky your minibus will have some form of air conditioning, but that isn’t guaranteed. We managed to get air conditioned minibus both ways, however fellow travellers who went on different minibuses on the same day weren’t so fortunate!
Where do minibuses stop on the way to Lanquín?
All minibuses stop at the gas station in Cobán on the way to Lanquín for a short rest stop. There are some shops and fast food outlets in Cobán. We’d recommend going to the supermarket in the Centro Comercial Plaza Magdalena shopping centre across the road from the gas station to get some snacks, fill up your water bottle with complementary filtered water and use their bathroom. There’s a fast food takeaway restaurant called Dónde Guicho on the main road around the corner from the gas station which is particularly good. You won’t regret getting their friend chicken and fries!
How are the roads around Lanquín Guatemala?
Towards the end of the journey you’ll get to some mountains and there are some really windy roads that you go through. When we went in February 2020 a significant amount of roadwork was being done, which also added to our journey time, we assume the roads will be much better and journey times shorter after the roadwork is completed.
Once at Lanquín, the onward journey to Semuc Champey gets even rougher with a 1 hour bumpy ride, standing up on the back of a pickup truck!
How long to spend at Semuc Champey / Lanquín
After a full day of hard travel, you’re not going to want to get back on a minibus straight away. The area is beautiful and is a great place to relax. Most travellers spend at least 2-3 days in the area. We spent 3 nights and if you’re in the mood for relaxing you could easily spend a week here.
Where to stay when visiting Semuc Champey Guatemala
Most people stay at nearby Lanquín as there are more hostels there than around Semuc Champey.
We stayed at 2 places at Lanquín.
- La Poza River Lodge – this is a backpacker hostel set on the banks of the river. We loved its tranquil setting. The owner Mike is a lovely guy, who is exceptional at customer service. There are dormitories only here, but a lot of thought had gone into making the experience really comfortable.
- El Retiro – this is a short walk from La Poza River Lodge. This is situated in an amazing spot along the river and has private rooms in addition to dormitories. It’s a great place to spend a few days relaxing and taking in the gorgeous scenery. We enjoyed lazing in the hammocks, swimming in the river and chilling out in the common areas (they even have arcade video games!) Their dinner meals were great value smorgasbords with different cuisines every night.
Final thoughts on Semuc Champey
We loved our stay at Semuc Champey and Lanquín. We had originally planed to be there for 2 nights, but ended up staying for 3. Unsurprisingly, this was a common theme with everyone we spoke to.
The place is so peaceful and beautiful. If you want time to take it slow from your busy travelling itinerary then this is the place to do it.
If you want to learn more about visiting Semuc Champey, then check out our Semuc Champey video.
Guatemala Blogs
You can find our Guatemala travel blogs below.
Why you need to visit Guatemala right now!
Top 5 Things to do in Antigua Guatemala
Why 4 days at Lake Atitlán was not nearly enough!
Tikal: Exploring Mayan Ruins in Guatemala
Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike: Everything you need to know (updated 2023)
Semuc Champey Guatemala: A Hidden Oasis
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