Semuc Champey, Guatemala Travel Guide

Why should you trust me and take my advice? 

I moved to Guatemala to be with my husband, and I’ve been lucky to call this country my new home.  We spend all our free time traveling all over this incredible country and we’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala.  My advice and travel tips are based on extensive experience.

If you have a long list of questions or if you need help creating a customized Guatemala itinerary then please click here to book a travel consultation with me. For an introduction to traveling to Guatemala, click here for my Ultimate Guatemala Travel Guide.

An overview of Semuc Champey

The landscape at Semuc Champey is one of the most dramatic and unique in Guatemala.  It’s located in the jungle in the department of Alta Verapaz near the small town of Lanquín. Semuc Champey is a breathtaking landmark with a series of turquoise pools sitting on top of a natural limestone bridge.

Semuc Champey is a special place for tourists to visit the Cahabón River flows underground beneath the limestone bridge.  On top of the bridge are natural pools filled with clear, turqoise water which are natural swimming areas.  The waters are calm and refreshing and attract local tourists as well as visitors around the world.

Surrounding the pools is a thick, humid jungle and steep hills and mountains.  The hills rise sharply above the river and provide dramatic viewpoints overlooking the pools.  The terrain gives a sense of a secluded and hidden feeling.  It’s a remote part of Guatemala with minimal infrastructure and surrounded by raw jungle.

Please keep in mind that Semuc Champey is far from most of the popular tourist destinations in Guatemala.  If you want to visit, you’ll need ample time to travel there.  

Transportation options and how to get to Semuc Champey

Most tourists arrive in the town of Lanquín which is approximately 30 minutes from Semuc Champey.  Most of the hotels are in Lanquín althogh there are a few hotels just outside of Semuc Champey which is in a very remote village.

If you stay at a hotel just near Semuc Champey you can walk to the entrance.  However, if you stay at a hotel in Lanquín then you can book a tour and/or transportation to Semuc Champey through your hotel or hostel.  If you book a private driver and if they stay in the area, then the driver can you take from your hotel to Semuc Champey.

There are not any flights that arrive at Lanquín or Semuc Champey.  In order to arrive in this part of Guatemala from Guatemala City or Antigua, you should expect to drive 6 – 8 hours.  From From Lake Atitlán the drive is 9 hours, from Flores, Petén it’s an 8 hour drive and from Río Dulce it takes just over 5 hours to arrive at  Semuc Champey.

Private Transportation:

For the most secure and convenient option, I suggest booking a private driver with GuateDriver.  They are my go-to private transfer company in Guatemala and you can contact them at +502-3775-7831 or info@guatedriver.com.

I have compared Guate Driver’s prices to other transportation companies in Guatemala and their rates are either better or equal.  Please note that I cannot provide specific prices for GuateDriver because every trip is different.  GuateDriver will provide you with a quote based on the date (sometimes holidays can cost more), the time of day (the middle of the night will cost more), and the size of your group.  Moreover, if you ask to make a detour or stop somewhere then the cost could be different.  For example, if you want to stop at Hobbitenango before getting dropped off at your hotel in Antigua then they can do this but it will be an additional cost.

I do not recommend booking one of the random private drivers listed online or in Facebook groups.  I have received very bad feedback about these drivers that aren’t fully vetted.  One named Mohammed in particular who ends up charging too much and acting in a bad way.

Uber:

You can use Uber to take you from Guatemala City or Antigua to Semuc Champey.  Moreover, Uber is not available in this part of Guatemala.

Shared tourist shuttles:

An economical transportation option is to book a shared shuttle from Guatemala City, Antigua, Flores, Panajachel or Río Dulce (as of 2026 these are the only routes) to arrive in Lanquín.  I recommend using the GuateGo platform to search for a specific route.  Some of the shuttles are available only once per day or multiple times a day leaving and arriving in Lanquín and you can view all the times on the GuateGo platform.

The shuttles will usually drop you off at your hotel in Lanquín or if your accomodation is closer to Semuc Champey, you’ll need to arrange transportation through your hotel.  Lanquín is very small so it won’t take long to arrive to your hotel in and near the hotel.  However, if you are staying just next to Semuc Champey then you’ll need to anticipate a 30-minute drive to arrive.

Click here to search for shuttles to and from Lanquín, Guatemala

The shuttles transport a number of tourists together and everyone pays a reduced price compared to private transportation.  The price is especially affordable for solo travelers but if you are a group of 3 or more than the price is not as economical and I recommend booking private transportation.

The shuttles are safe.  However, some of them drive quickly and tourists (including myself) sometimes complain about motion sickness.  Especially when they are driving through mountains and on curved roads.  If you suffer from motion sickness and plan to use the tourist shuttles then I recommend buying less-drowsy dramamine (click here for my favorite product) or a motion sickness patch (click here).

Where to stay in Lanquín/Semuc Champey

This is one of the places in Guatemala that I think is lacking in high-quality accommodation.  There are plenty of backpacker hostels and

I like to use Booking.com to find and reserve hotels.  I recommend this because if someone frequently uses the platform, it rewards loyalty with different tiers of customer service, free breakfasts and discounts off bookings.

Below are a few of my Antigua hotel recommendations (I’ve stayed at every hotel on this list):

• Budget-friendly hotel:  Click here to book Hotel Meson de Maria.  This hotel is located near the central plaza and is a charming colonial has that has been converted to a hotel.  This hotel is in an amazing location, has high reviews, and is an affordable price.
• Mid-range hotel:  Click here to book Mestizo Antigua.  This is a modern hotel with high reviews, a terrace, and a lush garden.  It’s a great hotel to book for the price point.
• Luxury hotel: Click here to book Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo.  This might just be the best hotel in Guatemala!  The hotel is located in the impressive ruins of a former convent.  The hotel has a spa, a museum, a lush garden, and beautiful rooms!