Lost in the middle of the jungle, Semuc Champey stands out as a true gem of Guatemala. Its numerous crystal-clear water pools make it a must-visit destination when traveling in this country.

Semuc Champey, translated from the Maya language as “the river that hides in the mountain,” is located in a protected area near the city of Lanquin in the Alta Verapaz department. Whether you’re coming from the Pacific or Caribbean coast, the journey to get there is quite extensive.

However, let us assure you that it’s entirely worth it. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to embark on an epic adventure at Semuc Champey. Let’s dive in!

Transportation

During our journey, we departed from Antigua and arranged a shuttle through Zephyr Lodge, which dropped us off at Lanquin. Once there, 4×4 vehicles, necessary for the jungle terrain, were dispatched by the lodge to pick us up. The journey took approximately 8 hours, and the cost was Q225 per person, payable in cash to the driver.

Zephyr Lodge offers daily shuttles, and booking is convenient through email. If you’re already at the hostel, you can secure your ride the day before. The available routes include Antigua-Lanquin, Guatemala City-Lanquin, Flores-Lanquin, and Panajachel-Lanquin.

Following our exploration of Semuc Champey, our next destination was Lake Atitlan. Opting for another shuttle with Zephyr Lodge, the trip to Panajachel lasted 10 hours, and the cost was Q300 per person. Despite the apparent length of these journeys, time passed relatively quickly as we immersed ourselves in the breathtaking landscapes of Guatemala.

In Lanquin, we chose not to extensively explore the small city, as Zephyr Lodge provided all the amenities we needed. Let’s dive into why staying there is a fantastic choice!

Where to stay: Zephyr Lodge

You’ll definitely be charmed by the infinity pool surrounded by the jungle trees and the Lanquin river… and the pool bar! In addition, Zephyr Lodge has a nice backpacking vibe, the employees are really sweet and the dorms as well as the rooms are very nice.

Dorms and rooms

You have many options when you stay here. You can book a bed in regular dorms (Q125/night) or in deluxe dorms (Q150/night) which have a view on the river and a private fan.

If you want more privacy, you can book a semi-private or a private room. The semi-private rooms are like a loft and cost Q300 per night. For the private ones, the prices go from Q300 to Q500 per night. There are many levels of luxury you can have here at Zephyr Lodge. You can also share a room with other people like family or friends for a maximum of 6 people.

During our stay, as Elizabeth’s birthday coincided with our time at Zephyr Lodge, we initially had our sights set on the deluxe room 8. However, when bookings opened, it was quickly claimed. Despite this, we were not disappointed with our eventual choice of private room 7. It proved to be a delightful space equipped with A/C and a private bathroom. Our advice would be to promptly book the room you desire as soon as reservations become available.

Good to know

Overall review

Best things to do in Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey tour (with Zephyr Lodge)

• Price : Q200 per person
• Duration : from 9 AM to 4-5:30 PM

9 AM : we leave the hostel with guides and 4×4 trucks. The route is really intense so make sure you grab something and let the fun begin.

10 AM : we arrive at the Semuc Champey park. You can rent water shoes from locals if needed.

The rest of the itinerary depends on the order you do the next activities. The order can change if there’s already too many people at one place. We’ll explain the itinerary we had:

Activity 1: Hike to the Semuc Champey viewpoint

This moderate hike takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to the viewpoint. The majority of the trail is made by wooden stairs so it’s easier to hike. What makes it a little more hard is that it can be very slippery, especially during the rainy season. So make sure you bring hiking shoes and not only water shoes.

When you arrive at the viewpoint, you’ll be blown away! The view of the natural pools is SO beautiful. You’ll understand why it’s a must when you travel in Guatemala. Then, you take some pictures, but it’s a quick stop. After that, we go back down.

Activity 2 : Swimming in the natural pools of Semuc Champey

When you come back from the hike, you can leave all your stuff in lockers watched by the guides. You then can enjoy the beauty of these natural pools. The water is so blue you’ll never want to leave. It can be slippery to walk in the pools so we strongly suggest wearing water shoes. Enjoy and relax!

Activity 3 : Lunch time

After swimming in the pools, you can get your things in your locker and follow the guides to the lunch spot. For lunch, you have two options. You can take the lunch box at Zephyr Lodge in the morning (Q40 extra). It’s a sandwich with snacks and we think there were like 3 choices. You can also buy some food from the locals that are on site. Afterwards, the lunch box from Zephyr Lodge was deceiving and it would have been a better choice to eat on site. The food looked better (chicken, rice, etc.), but we didn’t taste it so it’s up to you.

Activity 4 : Candles in the cave of Semuc Champey

This activity gives a rush of adrenaline! The guides give you a candle, light it up and then everybody goes into the huge dark cave. You walk, you swim, you climb… We can’t say everything because we want to keep the mystery. But, one thing we can say is that even if it seems scary, it’s a unique activity that you’ll always remember. Of course, if you’re too scared, you don’t have to do it, but it’s really fun.

Activity 5 : Jump from swing and waterfall of Cahabon River

After the cave, the guides bring you further on the Cahabon river where you can jump from a swing. It’s like a 5 minute walk. When everyone who wanted to jump did it, you’ll walk about 10 minutes and arrive at a really beautiful waterfall. It’s like a 10 minute stop and then you go back to the entrance and get back in the trucks to return to the hostel

Tubing on the river Lanquin

Relax at the Zephyr Lodge’s pool

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