This was only going to be my stopover on the way to Belize and I’m sure glad I decided to stop here. Deep in the middle of no where in Guatemala lies a hidden gem of the country. A spectacular array of crystal clear cascade of pools within the jungle, perfect for swimming, relaxing and photos.

I took a $250Q ($32USD) and 8hr shuttle from Antigua at to arrive to the town Lanquin at 4pm. From Lanquin the shuttle drops you off and 4×4 cars organised by the hostel will be waiting at the petrol station to pick you up and drop you off at your hostel for free.

When it comes to choosing accommodation, you have 2 choices:

1. Stay in Lanquin, which is about a 40min drive in a 4×4 car to Semuc Champey but closer to town or;

2. Stay next to Semuc Champey and be walking distance from the pools

It’s best to do a mix of both and this is what I did:

Night 1: I stayed at El Portal hostel ($11USD/night) which is right next to the pools which means you save on travel time and allows you to go early to beat the crowds and without paying for a tour. It’s an Eco hostel so it runs on a generator and only has power between 6pm-10pm and no wifi.

Night 2: Oasis hostel (Same company as El Portal and $11USD/night) which is in Lanquin and closer to the shuttle buses to take you to the next city. This hostel has electricity and Wifi.

The entry to the Semuc Champey pools are only are 1 min walk from the hostel and by going early you can beat the tour groups who usually arrive there around 10am. From there you can also go to the Mirador (lookout) for birds eye view of the pools. Entry for the pools is $50Q ($6.50USD).

You can also visit the K’an Ba caves for $60Q entry ($7.80USD) which are definitely worth it. A guide gives you candles and helps you navigate through the dark caves which can reach up to chest high in water as you walk through them.

As an extra fun activity for cheap you can also go tubing in an inflatable donut for only $10Q ($1.30USD)

In total this will cost you $120Q ($15.50USD) with tours on offer going for $175Q ($22.80USD) Once you’re done with the day the 4×4 cars pass by El Portal hostel every 30mins to take you to Oasis Hostel and Lanquin for only $20Q ($2.60USD) From Oasis hostel it is possible to books shuttle departing at 8am to either Antigua or Flores to continue your journey. This beauty is definitely worth the stopover and I hope the above helps information and photos has helped to motivate you to do it