Semuc Champey - WOW
I´m in central Guatemala at the moment staying a lodge called El Remiro. I´m still traveling with my neuvo amigos, three Americans, a guy and girl from Beverly, and a flight attendant from San Francisco. Their spanish is far better than mine, so I´m sticking with these guys like white on rice!
We´ve been here two nights, having arrived after a 2 day journey to get here, which involved 4 buses and a river crossing on a boat. First, we arrived in Coban, where we had arranged in advance for the driver to continue on to the town of Lanquin where this place is. Upon arrival in Coban he changed his story and wanted to charge us more to continue the 2 hour drive. At that point it was dark and rainy and I was all too happy to tell him to pound sand. He put my driving to shame. So, we stayed the night and shared hostel room with 2 bunk beds.
The next morning we began our 2 hour drive to the lodge, El Remiro. The busses we´ve been taking are mostly extra long mini vans, that in the US might seat 10-12. However, here, I counted at one point 20 people. They just jam them in, with someone riding shotgun sitting out the window. At one point we picked up a Mayan woman with a live chicken stuffed in her basket.
This place is unbelievable. It´s on a river surrounded by very green mountains created out of limestone. There is cattle roaming the hills across the river. My private room is pretty cool, it´s a bit of a walk to the eco-friendly restrooms with cold showers. I´ll spare you the details of an eco friendly toilet.
We went tubing down the river the day we arrived. Man! It was a crazy ride....pretty strong river to say the least. Floating down the river and just soaking in the pristine view was very cool. Not a human is sight. I almost overshot the rope you need to grab to get out. This wasn´t the Saco, that´s for sure!!
Yesterday we went caving on the way to Semuc Champey. Words can´t describe it. After first walking along the river and jumping off a swing into the river, we hiked up the side of a waterfall. There we were all handed candles. The cave has a river running through it, so the entire 2 hours we were in the river, walking...or when too deep, swimming. It was absolutely magical with all the candle light. We climbed ladders and ropes (watch your head!) and made our way to an underground waterfall. Man oh man! Back home, without helmuts and life jackets this trip would be beyond illegal.
After the cave, we began a 1.2 kilometer hike...1.2 kilometers you say...peshaw...that´s nothing. NOT. It took us (well me, anyway) and hour and a half to make the vertical climb. I quickly ended up a the end of the line, which was fine with me. At the top, el mirador (the view) was indeed worth the hike. We looked down upon the aqua-green pools of Semuc Champey. Gorgeous. After hiking down to the pools, I was shown where the raging river runs underneath the limestone forming a natural bridge. Conversely, the pools are gentle waters where you can dive, float or just play.
Last night I was bone weary and counted up the bruises on my legs. ouch! I´m a little sore today, but it´s a good sore.
Staff here is very friendly, mostly European. There are always great tunes playing it´s kinda sureal to to in the jungle listening to cool music. It´s amazing to meet people on this trip. I feel very vanilla in my world experiences. Just listening to people talk about where they´ve been and what they´ve done makes me feel like a church mouse.
We´re staying here one more day to chill out. Yay! Tomorrow we will make the trek back to Guat city and then to Antigua.
Bye for now!
We´ve been here two nights, having arrived after a 2 day journey to get here, which involved 4 buses and a river crossing on a boat. First, we arrived in Coban, where we had arranged in advance for the driver to continue on to the town of Lanquin where this place is. Upon arrival in Coban he changed his story and wanted to charge us more to continue the 2 hour drive. At that point it was dark and rainy and I was all too happy to tell him to pound sand. He put my driving to shame. So, we stayed the night and shared hostel room with 2 bunk beds.
The next morning we began our 2 hour drive to the lodge, El Remiro. The busses we´ve been taking are mostly extra long mini vans, that in the US might seat 10-12. However, here, I counted at one point 20 people. They just jam them in, with someone riding shotgun sitting out the window. At one point we picked up a Mayan woman with a live chicken stuffed in her basket.
This place is unbelievable. It´s on a river surrounded by very green mountains created out of limestone. There is cattle roaming the hills across the river. My private room is pretty cool, it´s a bit of a walk to the eco-friendly restrooms with cold showers. I´ll spare you the details of an eco friendly toilet.
We went tubing down the river the day we arrived. Man! It was a crazy ride....pretty strong river to say the least. Floating down the river and just soaking in the pristine view was very cool. Not a human is sight. I almost overshot the rope you need to grab to get out. This wasn´t the Saco, that´s for sure!!
Yesterday we went caving on the way to Semuc Champey. Words can´t describe it. After first walking along the river and jumping off a swing into the river, we hiked up the side of a waterfall. There we were all handed candles. The cave has a river running through it, so the entire 2 hours we were in the river, walking...or when too deep, swimming. It was absolutely magical with all the candle light. We climbed ladders and ropes (watch your head!) and made our way to an underground waterfall. Man oh man! Back home, without helmuts and life jackets this trip would be beyond illegal.
After the cave, we began a 1.2 kilometer hike...1.2 kilometers you say...peshaw...that´s nothing. NOT. It took us (well me, anyway) and hour and a half to make the vertical climb. I quickly ended up a the end of the line, which was fine with me. At the top, el mirador (the view) was indeed worth the hike. We looked down upon the aqua-green pools of Semuc Champey. Gorgeous. After hiking down to the pools, I was shown where the raging river runs underneath the limestone forming a natural bridge. Conversely, the pools are gentle waters where you can dive, float or just play.
Last night I was bone weary and counted up the bruises on my legs. ouch! I´m a little sore today, but it´s a good sore.
Staff here is very friendly, mostly European. There are always great tunes playing it´s kinda sureal to to in the jungle listening to cool music. It´s amazing to meet people on this trip. I feel very vanilla in my world experiences. Just listening to people talk about where they´ve been and what they´ve done makes me feel like a church mouse.
We´re staying here one more day to chill out. Yay! Tomorrow we will make the trek back to Guat city and then to Antigua.
Bye for now!
posted by amy at 9:26 AM
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