Semuc Champey & Kanba Caves tour from Lanquin: Swim & cave hike
Swim turquoise pools and cave-dive by candlelight in one day
A full-day shared tour from Lanquin to Semuc Champey and Kanba Caves with licensed guide, entrance fees, lunch and private group transport. Hike to the viewpoint above the 300-meter limestone bridge and its natural pools, swim in the Cahabón River waters, then descend into the K'amba Caves for an underground adventure lit only by candles.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Semuc Champey and Kanba Caves
- Drive 30 minutes to Semuc Champey
- Hike to viewpoint for photos
- Swim in turquoise pools
- Explore Kanba Caves with candlelight
- Return 30 minutes to hotel
The experience
You have a free day in the Central Highlands and want to see the two things everyone talks about: the turquoise pools and the caves. A 30-minute drive from Lanquin gets you to Semuc Champey, where the Cahabón River flows beneath a 300-meter limestone bridge that the local Q'eqchi' Mayan people named "Where the river hides." The tour starts with a hike to the park's viewpoint (the vantage where the photos come from), then you drop down to swim in the pools themselves. The water is cold and clear, and the subtropical forest closes in around you.
After you dry off, the group moves to the K'amba Caves, a short distance away. This is where the day shifts: you wade into complete darkness with only a candle in your hand, navigating slippery rocks underfoot. Water shoes are essential, sandals will slip. The caves are a genuine adventure, not a walk-through, and the darkness is total. You'll need to watch your footing and trust the guide's lead.
The tour runs seven hours start to finish and includes a box lunch partway through, so you eat before the cave section. Your licensed guide speaks English or Spanish, and the entrance fees to both Semuc Champey and the caves are covered. On the return drive to the Guayaha Hotel, you have time to settle into the quiet after a full day of water and stone.
What’s included
- Licensed tour guide in English or Spanish.
- entrance fee to Semuc Champey.
- entrance fee to Kanba Caves.
- box lunch.
- private transportation for the group.
Before you book
Prices and times updated today
Operated by Guat2do Travel Experiences
Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want both the turquoise pools and the cave system in one day: the full-day format covers both Semuc Champey and Kanba Caves without splitting your time between separate trips.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What is Semuc Champey actually like when I get there?
Semuc Champey is a natural limestone bridge 300 meters long with a series of turquoise pools formed where the Cahabón River flows beneath it. You hike to a viewpoint first for the overview, then descend to swim in the pools themselves, which sit in a subtropical forest setting with no cell signal.
Do I need to be fit to do this tour?
The tour requires at least moderate physical fitness. You'll hike to the viewpoint, swim, and wade through caves on slippery rocks in darkness, so comfort with uneven terrain and water is necessary.
What should I bring for the caves?
Bring water shoes, not sandals: the rocks inside the K'amba Caves are slippery and you'll be wading. The caves are explored by candlelight in complete darkness, so the guide provides candles but you need secure footwear.
How long is the drive to Semuc Champey?
The drive from Lanquin to Semuc Champey is 30 minutes. The full tour is seven hours including the hike, swim, cave exploration, lunch and return transport.
Is lunch included, and when do we eat?
A box lunch is included and served partway through the day, before the cave section, so you have fuel for the underground adventure.
Semuc Champey & Kanba Caves tour from Lanquin: Swim & cave hike
7h · EN · ES
from US$ 85 per person
5.001 reviewVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider