As a full-time traveler who’s been to over 40 countries, I’ve done a lot of tours, some wild, some completely unique, and some just unforgettable. But recently, I had an experience in Lanquín, Guatemala that I never saw coming. Deep in the jungle, I went on a tour to reach the infamous pools of Semuc Champey, but the day turned into something far more surprising. From crawling through caves to jumping into hidden rivers, climbing slippery rocks, and navigating unexpected trails, every moment was unpredictable and completely thrilling.
Before actually arriving in Lanquín, all I knew was that I had seen pictures of these waterfall pools that I wanted to see for myself. I also knew that you could climb up to a lookout point to see the pools, and that was about it. This place is really far from most of the major tourist spots in Guatemala. It’s a 12-hour bus ride from Antigua or Lake Atitlán and about nine hours from Flores. Not many people make the trip because it is so remote, and most visitors are there solely for the pools. Aside from exploring the natural pools in the middle of the jungle, there isn’t much else to do, which is why many people only stay for a couple of days.
Like I said, before arriving I really did not know what to expect. I thought the tour would just involve hiking up to a viewpoint, seeing the pools, and that would be it. But I could not have been more wrong. I did a tour with the hostel I was staying at, Zephyr Lodge, which is honestly one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at in my life. It is an amazing place and I highly recommend it. If you are heading to this area, they have everything you could possibly need. The tour I did with them was absolutely incredible. For 200 quetzal, I went on a full-day tour, and before going, I was only given a few instructions on what to bring. I really had no idea what was going to happen, but it ended up being one of the most unique and memorable tours I have ever done, completely unexpected in every way.
So let me break down how the day went and why it was such a unique and exciting tour. On top of being in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Guatemala, the tour guides made it completely unforgettable.
The day started early at 8:30 a.m., leaving the hostel in the back of pickup trucks. Driving thirty minutes into the middle of the jungle was already amazing. Standing in the back, looking at the lush surroundings and chatting with everyone, the ride itself felt like part of the adventure.
Our first stop wasn’t actually Semuc Champey yet. It was an area just before the entrance to the park. We walked down a river to some lockers, dropped off most of our stuff, and kept only our bathing suits and waterproof cameras. Then we were led to a massive cave, where we were each given a huge candle. We had to wear water shoes and were told we would be swimming and walking through this cave for over an hour along a 2-kilometer stretch of an enormous 11-kilometer cave system.
This cave was insane. We obviously didn’t explore all of it, but even the part we did was mind-blowing. Swimming with a candle in hand as our only light, holding onto ropes, we navigated narrow passages, slid down natural rock slides, and jumped off cliffs into dark, mysterious pools. I’m super claustrophobic, but I loved every second of it. The guides were whistling, singing, and cheering, making the whole experience even more surreal and fun. Headlamps might have been more practical, but there was something iconic about holding a giant candle while swimming through a pitch-dark cave.
We also climbed ladders, scaled walls to reach the next passage, and at one point had to squeeze through a tiny crevice to shortcut back to the entrance. The entire time, we were laughing and giggling because what we were doing felt ridiculous but was so thrilling.
After the cave, the guides led us to an incredible rope swing above the river. Jumping from it, watching others belly flop or backflip, and taking in the stunning jungle around us was unreal. The guides were dancing, playing music, and hyping everyone up, which made the experience ten times better. I cannot recommend going with Zephyr Lodge enough.
From there, we headed to some of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen. Each waterfall was surrounded by dense, lush jungle and completely unique. We swam, explored, and climbed to the top of one area to take a super high cliff jump into the river. The combination of waterfalls, jungle, and the sounds of nature made it feel like we were in a completely different world. It was the perfect mix of adventure, beauty, and pure fun
After the beautiful waterfalls and the crazy cave experience, which I was not expecting at all in the morning, the first few hours of the tour had already exceeded everything I thought the day would be. I had only imagined going to the pools and hiking up to the viewpoint, so by this point I was already completely satisfied with all the surprises the morning had brought.
After the waterfalls, we stopped for lunch. You could bring a packed lunch, which I did from Zephyr Lodge and it was amazing, or you could try a local barbecue in the jungle. Once we had eaten and refueled, we put our sneakers back on and hiked about thirty minutes to the viewpoint of Semuc Champey. The view from above is absolutely breathtaking. From this height, you can see the natural pools carved out by a flowing river in the limestone rocks. The water is a stunning shade of blue and looks almost too perfect to be real, nestled between towering green mountains with limestone cliffs rising through the jungle. No photo could ever truly capture the beauty of this place.
From above, we watched people enjoying the pools, then headed down to check them out for ourselves. The guides led us through different sections, showing us more natural slides and jumps. Sliding down the rocky formations into the pools, swimming, and relaxing in the sun while being surrounded by the lush jungle made it feel like a dream come true. This is one of those places you constantly see in photos online and might worry is overhyped, but I promise it is just as beautiful, if not more, in real life. Being there, in the middle of such stunning nature, with such an amazing group of people and guides, made it an unforgettable experience.
After hours of exploring, swimming, and soaking up the sun, we headed back to the main area and got back in the pickup trucks for the ride to the hostel. Taking in the views one last time from the back of the truck was the perfect way to end the day. I met so many travelers in Guatemala who had never even heard of Lanquín or did not want to make the journey, but it is completely worth it. The combination of the cave, waterfalls, natural pools, and incredible guides made it one of the most unique and adventurous days I have ever had. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life, and it might just be one of my favorite days in Central America so far. Anyone reading this should make the journey because it is truly that amazing.
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