How To Visit Semuc Champey In Guatemala

In this article, I share all the logistics of visiting Semuc Champey in Guatemala. 

I drove to Lanquin town myself, but you can also find many buses to get you there from Coban. 

But we all need to get on the communal transport from Lanquin to Semuc Champey, and you will see that it’s really easy to go. 

Also, in about a year (hopefully less), the entire road to Semuc Champey will be paved and all cars will be able to get there on a new and paved road. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to get all the way up the mountain to the famous viewpoint, but this video is more about logistics than the view. 

What to know about Semuc Champey before you go

If you get there early, you will find time to hike up to the viewpoint, which takes 45 minutes.  

To get that exact view from the top, you will need a drone, which I didn’t bring with me to Guatemala because I was travelling through many different countries in Latin America and didn’t want to get into trouble. 

Also, drones are not allowed at Semuc Champey, so maybe that’s why there aren’t many drone pictures from this place. It would also be a hassle to carry a drone with you through Guatemala. 

So, let’s talk about the most important logistical steps if you want to visit Semuc Champey in Guatemala:

1. How to get from Guatemala City to Coban and then from Coban to Lanquin
2. Going from Lanquin to Semuc Champey
3. Where to stay in Semuc Champey
4. What to bring and to expect in Semuc Champey 

How to get to Semuc Champey?

You have a few options to reach Semuc Champey:

• Rent a car
• Private tour
• Shared shuttles
• Public transport

Rent a car and drive to Semuc Champey

If you have experience driving in Guatemala or in similar countries, then you should rent a car to explore Guatemala. Driving to Semuc is the best option. 

This might be a more expensive option, but if you are a small group, then it will be worth it. And it is much more comfortable and faster than any of the other options. 

I rented a car for my Guatemala road trip, and it was the best decision ever. 

In my Guatemala road trip itinerary, I also included all the stops and hotels I made, all with private parking, which is a must in Guatemala. 

Private tour to Semuc Champey

If you want an organised tour of Semuc Champey, then you can book a tour from Guatemala City to Semuc. 

However, this is a one-day tour, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you really lack the time to plan. From Guatemala City to Semuc is a really long journey, even for one day. 

So I doubt that you can do this return trip and have the time to enjoy Semuc. But this is one option for those on a tight schedule in Guatemala. 

Shared shuttle to Semuc Champey

You can book a private transport or tourist shuttle from Antigua or Guatemala City. 

Considering that most foreigners will go to Antigua after they first land in Guatemala, booking this shared shuttle from Antigua to Lanquin seems like the best option. 

It saves you a lot more time and effort than taking the public transport options, which would require you to go to Guatemala City, change buses, go to Coban, change buses again and then go to Lanquin. 

If you are in Guatemala City, then you can book a shared transfer to Lanquin. 

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Public transport to Semuc Champey

Firstly, you need to get to Lanquin, the touristy village that’s only 11 kilometres away from Semuc Champey.

Coban is a big city in Guatemala, and you can get there by jumping on a direct bus from Guatemala City. 

From Guatemala City to Coban

I am just assuming you are in Guatemala City, and there are no direct buses to Lanquin, but you can get there using public shuttles that operate between the big cities of Guatemala.

The bus station in Guatemala City is Transportes Monja Blanca. You can get there by taxi. Go to the ticket office of the Monja Blanca company and get your bus ticket for Coban. The shuttle is used by locals and should take about 5 hours. 

The bus terminal Transportes Monja Blanca in Coban is located here. 

Depending on the time of your arrival and day, there might not be any buses that leave for Lanquín by the time you get to Coban. 

In that case, you should plan to spend the rest of the day in Coban. Usually, buses don’t run too late on weekend days, especially on Sundays. But you should check with the company. 

In Coban, I stayed at Hotel Don Juan Matalbatz. 

From Coban to Lanquín

In Coban, use the Transportes Martinez (Google Maps location here) bus company to get from Coban to Lanquín. This bus ride should take about two hours. 

The two bus terminals are fairly close to each other, so it should be easy to get from one to the other. 

Note that even if you catch all buses in one day, it will take the entire day to get from Guatemala City to Lanquin, and you won’t have time to get to Semuc Champey when you arrive. 

Lanquin to Semuc Champey

For most of the road, the conditions were ok for any vehicle, but the last part, after crossing the bridge, has a small uphill part, which is very narrow, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a 4WD with higher clearance. 

But there was a small parking spot just before the bridge, and you could walk from there to the entrance. 

The local authorities are actively working on the road. The first 6 km were already paved in March 2024, and they were working on the other half of the road. 

The entrance to Semuc Natural Park closes at 5 PM, and then you have to get out of the park by 6 PM.

Also, after 5 PM, they start working on the road, so you might have to wait a bit to get the road cleared so you can pass. They might not allow you to pass with your car if you start driving too late. 

My personal recommendation is to ask the hotel where you’re staying about the current state of the road or ask the locals working on the road or providing communal transport. 

As of March 2024, the road from Lanquin to Semuc Champey was under construction, and half of it was already done. If they keep up the pace, the entire road (11 km) should be finished by the end of 2024. 

This means that any kind of car will be able to drive all the way to Semuc Champey. But note that at the very end, the road narrows, and it’s better to park just before the bridge, as the last part is steep and narrow between the houses. 

I’ve posted a video on my YouTube channel to show the state of the road from Lanquin to Semuc in March 2024. The video was shot from the back of a communal transport pick-up truck. 

Once the road is finished, it may be possible that a bus will be organised to take tourists from Lanquin to Semuc, but this is all my speculation. If you are reading this and you are planning to go or have already gone to Semuc, please send me a message on Instagram to update this info so we can help future travellers, as this transport situation might change. 

It is also possible to organise a trip in a private car and driver.

We asked at our hotel, and the receptionist knew who to call and ask. They asked through the phone for a price of 250 Q (~$32.30), for the two of us for the entire trip, and the driver would have waited for us. But this includes only the transport, not the entrance. 

However, if you are a group of 2 up to 4, this is worth it, and you don’t have to stress yourself with finding a local transport. But don’t worry if you don’t want to pay for a private driver. It’s really easy to get transport from locals, they will be around the area, searching for clients. 

Private tour from Lanquin to Semuc Champey

If you want to skip the hassle of getting on the local transport and want a guide to show you around, then you can also book a private tour. 

This is a good option for smaller groups. The guide will pick you up from your hotel in Lanquin and drive you to Kanba Cave and Semuc Champey. 

Where to stay if you are visiting Semuc Champey?

Most travellers stay in Lanquin, which is 11 km away from Semuc Champey.

In Lanquin, you will find many hostels, guesthouses, and hotels to suit all budgets. From Lanquin, you can easily catch a communal transport (locals with 4WD) that will get you to Semuc, once their truck is full, and the price for a trip is 25 Quetzals (~$3.20). 

The advantage of staying in Lanquin is that it is a small town and you will find some restaurants and shops.

If you are travelling via public buses in Guatemala, then the bus will get you to Lanquin (the last stop), and then you only have to arrange with your hosts to pick you up, or you can easily walk to your accommodation.

Here are the top places to stay in Lanquín if you want to visit Semuc Champey:

• Hotel El Recreo Lanquín-Champey
• El Retiro Lanquin
• Lauris Hotel
• Viñas Hotel
• Hotel Kopal

Others might want to stay closer to Semuc Champey. These are less accessible, but you can arrange with the staff to be picked up. Here are a few hostels on the road from Lanquin, mostly hostels:

• Pachamaya Hostel (only 16 minutes on foot from Semuc Champey)
• Utopia Eco Hotel (8.1 km from Semuc Champey)
• Mountain Nest (only accessible by a 4 x 4 vehicle, but transport can be arranged)

I also found these options if you want to stay right at the entrance to Semuc Champey, and don’t worry, you won’t be alone in the jungle there. Right at the entrance, there are a few locals’ houses, so it looks like a nice and peaceful place to stay. 

What to bring with you to Semuc Champey?

Semuc Champey is a natural wonder of Guatemala, and it allows you to experience one of the most raw adventures of them all—swimming in natural pools deep in the Guatemalan jungle. 

This is a mountainous area that offers a humid tropical climate, so bring everything you need to make yourself comfortable. 

I would recommend that you bring the following to Semuc Champey:

• Swimming suit
• Towels 
• sandals/flip-flops
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito spray
• Hat
• Backpack to hold all your stuff
• Camera (drones are not allowed)
• Water
• Cash (50 Q is the entrance ticket and 50Q for local transport, road trip, so at least 100Q per person, which is ~ $13.00) Prices were valid in March 2024. 

And of course, bring anything else that you might need. 

Is Semuc Champey in Guatemala worth the visit?

I drove a rental car to get to Lanquin and then got the local transport to Semuc Champey. But many travellers will get to Lanquin by bus, as most tourists here are budget travellers. 

So, getting there is not easy and requires some effort and planning. I wasn’t sure that I was going to visit Semuc Champey during my trip to Guatemala. 

When I first looked at its location on the map, I thought it was in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. I was afraid the roads were going to be bad, but it turned out that most of the roads were actually new and in really good condition. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to spend at Semuc Champey, but I really wanted to check it out, even for a bit, so I could give you all this logistical information so you can plan your trip to Semuc Champey in Guatemala. 

From a personal point of view, it reminded me of many of Bali’s hidden gems in the jungle, where you can see lush vegetation and a string of water in the middle of it. 

If you’ve seen magnificent waterfalls before, you might not be too impressed by Semuc Champey. 

But it has a certain charm to it, as it is tucked away in the middle of the mountains, feels like the jungle will eat you up, and then you can freely go for a swim wherever you like. It’s so hot and humid that taking a bath in nature is a must after going through all the effort of reaching this place. 

In the end, you travel to Guatemala to experience raw tropical nature, and Semuc Champey is just that. 

I was deeply impressed by the government’s efforts to make this place more accessible to the public by building a road. The entrance is needed to preserve the walk paths and keep the place clean. 

I think a visit to Semuc Champey is worth it if you’re in Guatemala and have the time to arrange for at least two days (one full day) there. 

If you want to check what the entire experience looks like, I posted a video on my YouTube channel, which hopefully will give you a better idea of what to expect if you’re planning a trip to Semuc Champey.