Semuc Champey

I'm back from the wilds, am actually now in Panajachel on the shores of Lago de Atitlan (but that will have to be saved for the next post).

After my last post I stayed one more night in Flores (Raechel and Tiff got waylaid but I met up with an Aussie and some Israelis) and then took a bus to Coban the next morning. On the bus I met Lynnae and Amanda from Arizona and we stayed one night in Coban where the Aussie (another Amanda) met us. From Copan we bounced along country roads through the beautiful Guatemalan highlands to Semuc Champey. Raechel and Tiff joined us there that night after bussing all the way from Tikal.

A stall at a market in Coban

Semuc Champey is a natural wonder tucked away in the mountains. The river at this point plunges underground only to reappear a couple of hundred metres further down. Small streams, however, fill beautiful pools along the bridge above the underground torrent. Its very difficult to describe or capture, but undeniably beautiful in person.

A view of Semuc from the cliffs above. These are the pools along the natural 'bridge'.

Where the river disappears underground.

Amanda, Stephanie (Switzerland), Raechel, Tiff, Lynnae and Amanda (Aus) enjoying the pools

Yesterday Raechel, Tiff, the Aussie Amanda and I travelled from Semuc at 5am via Coban, Guatemala City and Antigua to here. We plan to cross the lake to the village of San Pedro later this morning.