Semuc Champey Guatemala: Things to Know Before You Visit

Semuc Champey is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Guatemala. It consists of a series of turquoise pools nestled in the middle of the jungle in the Alta Verapaz region of Central Guatemala. This not-so-hidden gem has been attracting more and more tourists over the years. However, unlike other popular places like Antigua and Lake Atitlan, it still doesn’t get the sheer volume of tourists that those places do, thanks to its fairly isolated location.

Semuc Champey is the perfect place to break up the incredibly long bus journey between Antigua or Lake Atitlan and Flores because it’s centrally placed en-route between the two. In this guide we’ve put together a list of things that you should be aware of before you decide to actually travel to Semuc Champey from either Antigua or Flores. We’ll cover information about the journey, how long you should stay for, when the best time to visit is and what other things you can do in the area.

If you’d like to see our adventures, then make sure to watch our dedicated Semuc Champey video on our YouTube channel. For more Guatemala videos, you can also check out our Guatemala series.

Things to Know Before You Visit Semuc Champey in Guatemala

What is Semuc Champey and why should it be on your itinerary

Semuc Champey is a natural 300m-long limestone bridge that is a part of, and crosses over, the Cahabon River. The name comes from the Maya Q’eqchi language and means ‘where the river hides under the Earth’.

Semuc Champey was formed over many years as the river slowly carved a tunnel through the rock. Whilst most of the river runs through caves under the bridge, some of the water flows more gently over the top, creating the beautiful pools we can see today.

These pools are attracting more and more tourists to this remote location. They’re considered one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Guatemala and, in 2005, the government listed Semuc Champey as a Natural Monument. So, if you have enough time to visit these amazing pools, they should definitely be added to your itinerary.

You have to travel to Lanquin to visit Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey is located in Central Guatemala, in the Alta Verapaz region. The closest town is San Agustin Lanquin. For reference, Antigua and Guatemala City are over 300km (about an 8-9 hours’ drive) to the southwest of Lanquin and Flores is located about a similar distance to the north.

You can get to Lanquin from places such as Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Flores, Rio Dulce and Livingston. (Note that you would need to take a boat to/from Livingston first). We travelled to Lanquin from Antigua, and then to Flores from there, which is a very popular route amongst backpackers.

From Lanquin, it’s a further 10km to Semuc Champey.

You should take the tourist shuttle to Lanquin

Here’s the thing: we love to travel on public transport. And we don’t just mean hopping onto the subway or BRT to get around Mexico City, or taking a colectivo to visit Chichen Itza instead of a tour.

We love doing those too but what we mean here is, instead of taking private or shared tourist shuttles, we enjoy travelling through countries on public buses. We’ve travelled across many Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, using mainly long-haul buses. We even took an over 20-hour long bus from Cordoba to Puerto Iguazu in Argentina.

So, when we say that you should travel to Lanquin on a tourist shuttle instead of using public transport, you have to trust us that it’s the best option. Based on our initial research, it would take you basically the whole day, and MANY changes, if you wanted to travel there on chicken buses. And there’s no guarantee that you would reach Lanquin the same day either.

On the other hand, you can book a tourist shuttle at most tour agencies or hotels, get picked up from your hotel or designated pick up location, and be dropped off in Lanquin without having to navigate the crazy world of chicken buses through a large part of the country.

Top Tip. Book your journey early in the high season!

The journey to Lanquin is going to be long and uncomfortable

Based on the distance alone, you can probably guess that getting to Lanquin is going to be a long journey. Now, add some windy roads into the mix and season it with some good old-fashioned Latin American time-keeping, and you’ll probably end up in Lanquin about 8 or 9 hours after leaving your original destination. It takes about the same amount of time to get to Lanquin from Antigua, Flores and Lake Atitlan. From Rio Dulce or Livingston, it takes around 6 to 7 hours.

Unfortunately, once you’ve arrived in Lanquin, you’ve still got a little further to go to reach Semuc Champey. If you’re staying at one of the hostels close to the park entrance, you’ll have another roughly 45-minute ride squeezed on the back of a pick up truck to reach your final destination. (Normally this is included in the price of your hotel).

Now, don’t expect to be travelling to Lanquin in luxury just because you’re on a shared tourist shuttle. They are quite small minivans and will most likely be packed with fellow travellers and their belongings. If you travel with everything but the kitchen sink like us, then you’ll probably end up having to store some of those belongings on your lap too.

The minivan stops a few times along the way, mainly at gas stations, where you can use the toilet or purchase some snacks.

Top Tip. You can book your onward journey from your hotel in Lanquin.

Staying in Lanquin or close to Semuc Champey: Which one is better?

There are both pros and cons to booking your stay in either Lanquin or closer to Semuc Champey. Let’s run through them.

Pros of staying in Lanquin

• After an 8-9 hour journey you won’t need to travel another 40-45 minutes to get to your accommodation.
• There are other things to do in Lanquin besides Semuc Champey. So, if you want to make the most out of your visit, consider staying in Lanquin, as you’ll be closer to these attractions.
• Although Lanquin is small, there are slightly more amenities in town. You can eat somewhere other than your hotel if you want to, or pop into a local store for some snacks.
• You don’t need to leave super early from your hotel to catch your onward shuttle.
• Lanquin has ATM’s. (The hotels normally have a surcharge on card payments).

Cons of staying in Lanquin

• You’re not right on the doorstep of Semuc Champey, so you need to either get there with a colectivo or book a tour.

Pros of staying close to Semuc Champey

• You’re right at the entrance to Semuc Champey, so you can visit super early to beat the heat and the crowds.

Cons of staying close to Semuc Champey

• After an 8-9 hour journey, you’ll need to travel another 40-45 minutes to get to your accommodation.
• If you’d like to do something else in Lanquin, you would need to take a colectivo back to town.
• You’ll have to rely on your hotel for food and drink options, which could be more pricey.
• Your hotel shuttle will need to depart a good 45 minutes earlier when you leave, to get you back to Lanquin in time to catch your onward transport.

You’ll Need to Book at Least Two Nights in Lanquin or close to Semuc Champey

Regardless of whether you book a stay in Lanquin or close to Semuc Champey, one thing remains the same: you’ll need to book for at least 2 nights. This is mainly for logistical reasons, as you won’t arrive to Lanquin until late in the afternoon / evening and the shuttles normally depart for your next destination early in the morning. Now, in Antigua we saw some options to travel overnight. This option would get you there in the morning, so you could spend the day at Semuc Champey and be on your way the following morning.

However, based on how cramped we were in the minibus during the day, we can’t imagine trying to get some sleep on one of those at night. Not to mention that several sources we read suggested that travelling overnight isn’t the safest option either.

Below we’ve listed some hotel / hostel options you can consider booking in either Lanquin or closer to Semuc Champey:

• Greengos Hotel. It’s one of the most popular options when it comes to accommodation around Semuc Champey. The hotel is located only a few minutes’ walk from the entrance to the natural monument. It serves food and drinks, and also has a lovely pool.
• El Portal De Champey. Another hotel that’s located super close to the park entrance, it has a swimming pool and serves food and drinks.
• Utopia Eco Hotel. This one is still located close to Semuc, but is more affordable than Greengos Hotel.
• El Retiro Lanquin. We ended up booking this hotel in Lanquin. It’s located right next to the river, so you could go for a little swim there to cool off. They also had great food and drink options. A good option if you’re on a budget.
• Zephyr Lodge. Another popular place to stay in Lanquin.
• Mountain Nest. This one is perfect if you’re on a slightly bigger budget and are after a quieter stay.

How to get to Semuc Champey from Lanquin

If you’ve decided to book your stay in Lanquin, there are two main options for getting to Semuc Champey from there: either on a tour or with a colectivo.

• Pick-up truck from Lanquin. Colectivos depart from Lanquin’s Parque Central (main square), located here on the map. They start running from 7am and, as usual, will wait around until they have enough people to make the journey worthwhile. A one way ticket should cost around Q25 per person. However, on the way back we paid slightly more, as not many people were returning at that time. We actually ended up joining a few locals, who’d just finished chopping wood in the forest.
• Organised day tour. If you only have one full day and want to squeeze in some other activities, then book an organised tour. Your hotel will offer different packages, with most including some time at Semuc Champey followed either by a visit to the thrilling Cuevas de K’anba, or a more relaxing activity like tubing. These tours normally include your transport and lunch. Tours cost around Q200, or more depending on what’s included.

You should visit Semuc Champey in the dry season

There are two main seasons in Guatemala: dry and rainy. Whilst technically you could visit Semuc Champey all year round, we recommend travelling here in the dry or shoulder season. The dry season is between November and April in Guatemala.

The issue with visiting during the rainy season is that, due to regular rainfall, the colour of the pools tends to look brown and a lot less dreamy than you may have seen on social media. Not to mention that the water levels can get very high and the path could flood, or at the very least be extremely muddy. During some heavy downpours they might even close Semuc completely.

During weekends and national holidays, such as Easter (Semana Santa), Semuc gets really crowded. For this reason, we suggest visiting on a neutral weekday.

Semuc Champey entry fee and opening hours

Semuc Champey is open every day from 8AM to 4PM.

Entry fee is currently Q50 per person and you can only pay it in cash.

Note. With your ticket you can leave and re-enter the site on the same day. This is great if you want to pop out for lunch at some of the vendors located outside.

It’s also worth noting that you’re not allowed to use drones! There were clear signs at the entrance.

Facilities at Semuc Champey

Changing rooms. There are changing rooms around the pools. Although you could just wear your swimming gear under your clothes to make things easier.

Lockers. We saw some lockers, although it seemed like you needed to bring your own padlock. If you don’t use the lockers, definitely keep an eye on your belongings.

Toilets. There are toilets right outside the ticket office, as well as some inside the park.

Restaurants and cafes. There are no restaurants, cafes or even food vendors inside the park, so make sure to bring enough water with you. You can also bring snacks and food in if you wish. However, since you can leave and re-enter the site, it’s easy to pop out to get something to eat from the food vendors around the entrance.

Lifeguards. There were lifeguards on duty around the pools.

What to bring with you to Semuc Champey

Below are the things you should bring with you in a daypack when visiting Semuc Champey:

• Clothes to wear when hiking / getting to and from the park
• Swimwear + towels
• Water-shoes if you have them (the pools are very slippery to get in and out of, and the bottom can be a bit rocky).
• Shoes for hiking the trails
• Enough drinking water + food and snacks (you can get food and drinks outside the entrance)
• Camera gear + waterproof case (note that drones aren’t allowed)
• Enough cash to cover entry fees, colectivos and other expenses
• Padlock (if you want to use the lockers)

Things to do in Semuc Champey

Okay, so one way or another you’ve successfully made it to Semuc Champey and have everything you need to spend the day there. Let’s discuss the main things you can do inside the park.

1. Hike up to the viewpoint (El Mirador). We suggest starting your day in Semuc Champey by hiking up to the main viewpoint. It’s a pretty steep hike and jumping into the pools at the end of it will be extremely refreshing, trust us. A short walk from the entrance the gravel path will carry on ahead, but on your left there’ll be a set of stairs leading up. These will take you all the way up to the Mirador. The path is steep and rough, so be prepared to sweat a lot. From the top, you can enjoy the iconic view of the turquoise pools. Another good reason for going up early is that you won’t need to queue to get out onto the viewing platform and snap some photos.
2. Swim in the Upper Pools. The viewpoint hike is a circular walk, so afterwards you’ll end up at the Upper Pools. There are lockers and changing rooms here, so it can be quite busy. We really enjoyed hanging out at the Upper Pools. The water was nice and cool, especially after the sweaty hike. Most parts of the pools were shallow enough to stand up in too.
3. Swim in the Lower Pools. Once you’ve spent some time at the Upper Pools, make sure to walk further down the path to the Lower Pools too. These were a little deeper, although the water was super clear here as well. There were waterfalls flowing down from the Upper Pools and people were literally sliding down them to get between the pools.

Things to do around Semuc Champey

There are a few other activities you can do in the vicinity of Semuc Champey. Even if you only have one full day in the area, you would still probably have time to sign up for an additional activity. Many day tours combine one of the below activities with a visit to Semuc Champey.

1. Cuevas de K’anba. For adventure seekers, a visit to the K’anba Caves is a must. It’s a similar experience to the ATM caves in Belize. Although we weren’t brave enough to sign up for this particular adventure, a few people we chatted to on the overnight Acatenango hike said that you enter a dark cave holding only a candle. Then you’ll swim, scramble, climb and squeeze your way through the cave whilst trying not to extinguish your candle. If you suffer from claustrophobia or are not a strong swimmer (like me), then it may not be the right activity for you.
2. Tubing on Cahabon River. Don’t think we need to explain too much here. Tubing down the river is a popular activity just outside Semuc Champey.
3. Rafting on Cahabon River. A little more adventurous than tubing, but nowhere near as hard-core as the cave tour.

Things to do around Lanquin

As briefly mentioned before, one of the pros of booking your stay in Lanquin is that there are a few other things you can do around the town. So, if you’re currently planning your Guatemala trip, we highly recommend spending an extra night in Lanquin and adding the following activities to your itinerary.

1. Join a Cacao Tour at Julhalaw. Our hotel arranged a cacao tour for us with a local, family-run business located just outside of Lanquin (here on Google Maps). Elsa and her son were very knowledgeable and told us everything we needed to know about the different types of cacao, the Maya traditions and more. They also got us involved in the cacao-making process which was a lot of fun. Just note that the tour is only run in Spanish. It costs Q150 per person and lasted just over an hour. Even though we’d attended chocolate tours before in Mindo, Ecuador and in Santa Elena, Costa Rica, we still managed to learn something new.
2. Visit the Bat Cave (Grutas de Lanquín). A cool evening activity to do in Lanquin is to visit the bat cave. It’s located just outside of Lanquin, so you can either walk or take a tuk-tuk there, which should only cost you about Q5-10. There is a map close to the entrance that shows where the easier and more difficult sections start and finish. We don’t recommend going in too deep on your own though. The route becomes very slippery and you’ll want to be out of the cave around 6PM when the bats start to emerge. We had to wait about 45 minutes from 6pm before it got dark enough for them to fly out in bigger groups. This experience was similar to watching birds fly out of the largest cave shaft in the world in the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico. The entry fee was Q30 per person without a tour guide.

Even if you don’t fancy doing any of these activities, booking an extra night near Semuc Champey, and enjoying your hotel’s facilities and the pools, is something you should consider.

Is Semuc Champey really worth a visit

You’re probably wondering if travelling to Semuc Champey is actually worth all that effort or not. In our opinion it’s worth it, and here’s why:

• It’s pretty easy to get there on a shared tourist shuttle, even if it does take a long time.
• Although Semuc is getting more and more touristy, in reality, not everyone who visits Guatemala has the time to get there.
• It really is as beautiful as you’ve seen on the pictures. We especially loved the viewing platform that allowed us to enjoy that iconic overview.
• Lastly, it’s definitely a great way to break up the long journey between places like Lake Atitlan, Antigua, Flores or Rio Dulce.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Semuc Champey in Guatemala

We really enjoyed our visit to Semuc Champey in Guatemala. It was a well needed stop to break up the otherwise extremely long journey we would’ve had to do to get to Flores from Antigua. We booked an extra night there, which was perfect for us as we could do a few more activities besides just visiting the pools.

Have you ever been to Semuc Champey in Guatemala before? If so, how long did you stay there for and what other things did you do? If not, would you consider stopping here during your trip to Guatemala? Let us know in the comments below.