Semuc Champey

Once again, my friends and I took a long weekend adventure to a tourist attraction of Guatemala, Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey means water over the rocks, in the local indigenous language, Q'eqchi'. They are pools beyond pools of pristine, mineral water, gently flowing over the rock formations beneath. We’d only seen pictures, but it looked like some sort of paradise!

We piled into a private shuttle in Pana and headed for Antigua where we were going to transfer to a group shuttle and head out to Lanquín,  the northern part of the country. We were riding comfortably in the private shuttle but were the last group pick up for the group shuttle. I wish someone had filmed out faces as we loaded the group shuttle and saw literally, not one single seat available. “Room room, plenty of room, hay espacio para ustedes….” the driver encouraged from the from seat, as he climbed over the 16 passengers already packed like sardines in this van, unfolding the half, bucket-type, seats that filled the aisle space. Yes we each completed 6 to a row, that seated really only 4 comfortably, and oh…did I mention the ride was 9 hours! Let the adventures begin.

We drove through cities and Guatemalan country-side, climbed hill faces, and dropped into valleys, catching 20 minutes glimpses of the lives of people in 15+ pueblos. Even from my middle, fold down seat, I saw into the various lifestyles of so many, in this 9 hour shuttle ride.

We arrived in Lanquín and explored the hostel/ lodge in which we were booked. It was a true camp-like setting, with one big eating area, hammocks for reading and journaling around every corner, young adventurous Guatemalan staff (or camp-like counselors), and board games provided for all to share during off hours. The next morning we piled into the back of a pick-up and rode up a rugged, river-side road, white knuckles hanging on from the chicken bars, bodies jerking at every pot hole.  I can only compare it to the real life version of Disney Land’s Indiana Jones jeep ride….dodging telephone wires, bruising elbows as you hit every bump, muscles cramping from holding so tightly, as the tires of our truck spin out in the mud. But for the locals who rode along with us…this was their daily commute.

El Retiro Lodge. Our  humble abode.

Group setting out on our day full of tours

riding through Lanquín

piled in the back of a pick up

we may be bruised up….but we made it!

The day that entailed is one that I could have never imagined. First up….swimming through the caves beneath the Semuc pools. And by swimming, they mean floundering with one hand, while the other flails to hold a candle out of the water. We took a tour through these pools in the caves, jumped from the cave edges into pools of blackness, crevasses deeper within the earth, and climbed man-made ladders within the rock faces….all by candle light! It was absolutely incredible!

Next up…rope swinging, inter-tubing and bridge jumping into the river. Really we could have been done for the day at that, but it was only lunch time at this point, and we hadn’t even seen the pools of Semuc Champey yet.

our caving candles 

bridge jumping

the bridge from afar

After lunch we hiked up over the pools to get  a better view, before dropping down and getting a chance to swim. It was some of the neatest swimming, clear, natural pools dropping into more pools via natural rock waterslides! We spent the day there before heading back to our hostel for a great meal and game of cards It truly was a needed and great vacation!

Semuc spotting!

most turquoise, tranquil water I've ever see….