Semuc Champey and Lanquin Caves

We shelled out some dinero for a full day tour which began with transportation to Semuc in the back of a pick up bumbling along a dirt road through the rainforest. There was a typical Guatemalan hike (practically vertical, stairs that are more like ladders) to a mirador where you could see all the turquoise pools sectioned off by mineral deposits. We headed back down the limestone cliffs and were soon relieved by swimming in the gorgeous pools and sliding from one to another. After a tasty peanut butter and jelly sandwich we went to the caves. Armed with one white tapper candlestick we plunged into the dark cave where the river rushed out. We wadded through the water under magnificent stalactites in almost complete darkness. At parts we would have to swim up river with one arm waving the candle above water and the other keeping you barley afloat. All hopes were lost for the candle though when we went under and then up a small hazardous ladder in a waterfall. This lead us to a spider web of ropes secured to stalactites where we struggled our way up the rapidly moving river. There was more meandering and scrambling in the cave and then we headed out back into the sunshine for some tubing.

As we were thoroughly impressed with the Semuc caves we headed to the Lanquin caves the following night. There was no trudging through water but a bigger and better view of the rock formations- there were huge bacon like strips protruding, stalactites like beards and curtains, growing stalagmites that glistened etc. Since we went around nighttime we also got to witness thousands of bats escaping the caves for their dinner. Many would zoom right past your face in the mad chaos. Both the caves also struck up an urge for me to climb which sadly might be hard to fulfill.