Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Victoria. To get here on your own, drive to the point where the Río Sachichaj crosses the
road at Km. 24 of the road to Chisec. Just past this point on the left-hand side is Tienda y
Comedor Reina, where you can hire a guide, which is highly recommended as it's easy to
get lost in the twisting maze of paths. It's a 40-minute walk from here to the falls.
Lanquín and its caves, along with the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey, are quickly be-
comingrequisitestopsfortravelersmakingtheirwaythroughGuatemala.Recreational op-
portunities abound and you may find yourself spending more time here than you had ori-
ginally planned. Whether it's exploring caves, whitewater rafting, river tubing, or swim-
ming that suits your fancy, you'll find plenty to see and do in these parts.
From San Pedro Carchá , a paved road diverts northeast through coffee and cardamom
plantations to El Pajal, where there is a turn-off for a dirt road that twists and turns for
another 12 kilometers to the small town of Lanquín. Lanquín is home to some interesting
caves and has some comfortable accommodations to use as a base for exploring the nearby
countryside.
Lanquín Caves National Park
The Lanquín caves (8 A.M.-6 P.M. daily, $4) lie one kilometer northwest of town. They
are several kilometers long, though only a small part is open to visitors. Although there are
diesel generator-powered lights, these sometimes fail so bring a flashlight and good shoes
for the slippery, guano-laden surfaces inside. The entire cave system has yet to be fully
explored or mapped, so don't wander too far into the cavern's core. There are some inter-
esting stalactites to be found here.
Another highlight of a visit to these caves is the thousands of bats flying out from the
cavern at dusk. The Río Lanquín also flows out of this cave and forms a turquoise ribbon
meandering through the surrounding jungle. It's perfect for a refreshing swim.
Rafting the Río Cahabón
In addition to the caves, Lanquín serves as a departure point for white-water rafting
trips down the Class III-IV Río Cahabón.
Maya Expeditions
(tel. 2363-4955,
www.mayaexpeditions.com
)
, pioneered white-water rafting in Guatemala starting in 1987
and was named one of the “Top 20 Eco-Outfitters in the World” by
Condé Nast Traveler
in the 1990s. It does both the upper and lower gorges as day trips ($115/155), but it
