Discovered in 1992, the Rey Marcos Caves are home to
impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations. The
As far as whitewater rafting and kayaking go, the
Cahabón is pretty much as good as it gets in Guatemala.
The river itself stretches about 196 km through Alta
Verapaz before emptying into the Polochic, passing
through remote jungles, caves, and underneath the
unmistakable Semuc Champey land bridge.
Lachuá Lake is a karstic lake in Guatemala. It is located in
ghostly stalagmites can be reached by crossing an
underground river. The Rey Marcos Caves are a kilometer
long, but you won’t explore the whole thing during a tour.
The caves are fairly undeveloped—there are no lights or
steps inside, so travelers should be prepared for uneven,
dimly lit surroundings.
@ Designed by José Carlos Lima Castañeda
the middle of a national park covered with tropical rain
forest. The lake is near circular in shape and is probably a
cenote or doline. With 120 species of mammals (50% of
mammal species found in Guatemala), 30-40 species of
reptiles, 177 bird species (40% of bird species in
Guatemala), and 36 fish species[5] it is a sanctuary for a
varied fauna population.

Biotopo de Quetzal, also known as
Biotopo Mario Dary Rivera, is a 2,580-
acre (1,044-ha) protected area that’s
about an hour from Cobán. While you
may or may not see the namesake bird,
the reserve’s convenient location makes
it a good place to stop and explore the
region’s dense cloud forests.
The reserve protects a vast swath of
cloud forest that includes the
endangered habitat of the quetzal.
Although you’re more likely to see a
quetzal in Sierra de Las Minas, your
chances of spotting a quetzal in this
area are still decent. Your best bet is to
visit the park at sunrise and search for
the birds near the aguacatillo tree,
where they may be feasting on avocado-
The caves, which were recently awarded
like fruits. The best time of year to see
them is just before or after the nesting
season in March or June.
Even if you don’t see one of these elusive
birds, you will likely still enjoy a visit to
Biotopo de Quetzal.
Semuc Champey is one of the most
beautiful places in Guatemala.
It is located in the middle of the jungle,
where the natural world flourishes free
from the constrictions of humankind.
Well, almost free. As Semuc Champey
becomes more and more popular
among tourists, the area becomes more
developed.
Backpacker lodges and hotels keep
popping up and locals congregate
outside the park entrance eager to sell
plastic bottles of soda and snacks to the
tourists.
Despite this growing touristy
atmosphere around Semuc Champey,
the area itself still remains pure.
The fantastic limestone caves of
Candelaria are composed of seven
separate caves that are interconnected
by the Río Candelaria. The caves are
spread across 14 miles (22 km) and have
ceilings that reach as high as 200 feet
(60 m). Candelaria is one of Central
America’s largest cave systems.
Set within the limestone mountains in
northern Alta Verapaz, the Candelaria
caves were long sacred for Q’eqchi
Mayans. The caves were thought of as
passages into the underworld and were
likely used as a place of worship. The
caves of Candelaria were lost with the
disappearance of the Maya, but were
rediscovered by Frenchman Daniel
Dreux in 1974.
national park status, were formed by the
persistent flow of the Río Candelaria. The
caves are 60–100 feet (20–30 m) wide,
30–200 feet (10–60 m) tall, and
occasionally punctuated by skylights. It’s
possible to explore them by foot or in an
inflatable raft.