It was not easy to leave the beautiful peaceful Lago Atitlan, but eventually decided to drive north to a mountain village called Lanquin. Slept in El-Retiro, a green valley ranch with huts and hammocks next to a flowing river with cloud forest around.
Went to see the famous, long waited for, Semuc Champey. It’s basically a river, one of many, yet at some point the water go under a mountain rock and fiercely row down till they go out from the other side of the rock. On the rock top, around 7 beautiful natural turquoise terrace-like pools, forming an incredible sight. Thinking of it, 'Semuc Champaign' is a better name, as I truly find it to be a superb ´Champaign of nature'.
Went down with a rope ladder to reach the other side of the rock, where you can watch the mighty water current flows intensely out of the rock - back to the river. Aside to Semuc, the day was with full with water activities – tubing down the river, jumping from a 15m bridge, and exploring caves with water and waterfalls inside. Definitely the best day I had in Guatemala!
Around Lanquin there are lots of caves, some of 30km length, some with water, other with stalactites, and all with loads of fruit bats that are hanging from the cave ceiling all day and fly out in masses towards sunset – an impressive phenomenon to watch. Road a ´chicken bus´ (a small local bus, dirty, smelly, noisy and overloaded with local men, women, babies, elderly, goods, fruits, vegetables, fruits, chickens, pigs - you name it...), on a shower rain and road blocks caused by a demonstration of the Maestors (teachers afraid to loose their job next year).
After changing few similar local buses, finally (10 hrs drive…) arrived to Rio Dulce - a tranquil village on the shores of Lago Izabel. Slept in a simple basic cabin with hammock on a wood wharf deck going inside and just above the lake water and planned the next day’s boat ride to Livingston.
Went to see the famous, long waited for, Semuc Champey. It’s basically a river, one of many, yet at some point the water go under a mountain rock and fiercely row down till they go out from the other side of the rock. On the rock top, around 7 beautiful natural turquoise terrace-like pools, forming an incredible sight. Thinking of it, 'Semuc Champaign' is a better name, as I truly find it to be a superb ´Champaign of nature'.
Went down with a rope ladder to reach the other side of the rock, where you can watch the mighty water current flows intensely out of the rock - back to the river. Aside to Semuc, the day was with full with water activities – tubing down the river, jumping from a 15m bridge, and exploring caves with water and waterfalls inside. Definitely the best day I had in Guatemala!
Around Lanquin there are lots of caves, some of 30km length, some with water, other with stalactites, and all with loads of fruit bats that are hanging from the cave ceiling all day and fly out in masses towards sunset – an impressive phenomenon to watch. Road a ´chicken bus´ (a small local bus, dirty, smelly, noisy and overloaded with local men, women, babies, elderly, goods, fruits, vegetables, fruits, chickens, pigs - you name it...), on a shower rain and road blocks caused by a demonstration of the Maestors (teachers afraid to loose their job next year).
After changing few similar local buses, finally (10 hrs drive…) arrived to Rio Dulce - a tranquil village on the shores of Lago Izabel. Slept in a simple basic cabin with hammock on a wood wharf deck going inside and just above the lake water and planned the next day’s boat ride to Livingston.
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