Is Semuc Champey Worth It? A COMPLETE Guide For 2023

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The burning question for backpackers travelling Guatemala: is Semuc Champey worth it? There are a lot of contradictions and opinions on the Internet, and I’d say they’re pretty split.

Some say it’s totally worth it, the turquoise pools nestled in the jungle are worth the 12-hour journey. Whereas some say quite the opposite and wish they’d spent more of their time in Antigua or Lake Atitlan.

Whilst I always like to stay positive on my blog, I like to be honest. So in this post, I’m going to be brutally honest about whether the journey to Semuc Champey in Guatemala is worth it or not.

It’s important to note that to reach Semuc Champey, you need at least one full day of travel to get there. That’s why there’s so much talk about whether it’s ‘worth it’ or not.

Door-to-door, the journey to Semuc Champey can take up to 12 hours one way (coming from Flores, Antigua, Atitlan etc). Combined with the day you leave Semuc Champey, this is a 24-hour round trip to visit just one location in Guatemala!

It’s a long trip. It’s a lot of effort. So is it worth it?

Other Guatemala posts you may like:

• How To Get From Flores To Semuc Champey: Guide
• Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide
• How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide
• 15 Best Coffee Shops In Antigua Guatemala (+ Digital Nomad Spots)

Is Semuc Champey Worth It? My Personal Opinion

So, is Semuc Champey worth it? My brutally honest opinion:

⮕ Yes – if you stay in unique accommodation in the jungle. Somewhere that is off the beaten track, remote, and an experience in itself.

⮕ No – if you stay in a hotel or hostel in Lanquin and only visit Semuc Champey for a day.

Part of our experience when we stayed in Semuc Champey was down to our hostel. After a lot of research, we picked Greengo’s. Greengo’s is a hostel nestled in the middle of the jungle and mountains, which requires a 4×4 pick up truck to drive you 50 minutes off-road from Lanquin to get there.

Whilst we were there, we totally escaped reality. Our phones were switched off, we disconnected from the outside world and just enjoyed a few days of peace and quiet (with a few drinking games in the mix). We made a ton of new friends, adventured into the nature park to swim in the pools and even drank beers tubing down the lazy river.

We stayed at Greengo’s for 4 nights, meaning we had enough time to both relax and explore. I don’t know if I could have faced another 12 hour journey any sooner, and this worked out perfectly for us.

Greengo’s is also only a short 10-minute walk from the entrance of Semuc Champey. This means we didn’t have to clamber into any other vehicles to get anywhere, and could go at our own pace. We spent a day exploring Semuc Champey with our new group of friends, without hiring a tour guide or spending any additional money.

If we were staying in Lanquin, or one of the other hostels further from the park entrance, we would have needed to book transport to and from the park.

The park itself is really enough entertainment for about 5-6 hours, depending on whether or not you do the cave walk. As someone who is mildly claustrophobic, a walk through a pitch-black cave with only a candle to light my way wasn’t my idea of fun, so I gave this one a miss. We hiked to the Mirador viewpoint, swam in the pools and ended with a tube down the river and a couple of beers in hand.

Staying in Lanquin? It’s not worth it!

If we didn’t stay in Greengo’s, and didn’t have an epic hostel to go back to, I wouldn’t say the trip to Semuc Champey is worth it. It’s beautiful, but it isn’t worth a 24-hour round trip alone.

Lanquin is a small town with not much to do, and it is still a 50-minute journey from the entrance to Semuc Champey. We met some other backpackers who stayed in a hostel in Lanquin, and just didn’t enjoy the experience at all. They felt the journey to and from Semuc Champey just wasn’t worth it.

Where to stay in Semuc Champey

There are four main hostels to choose from when visiting Semuc Champey: Greengo’s, Utopia Eco Lodge, Ch’i Bocol and Zephyr Lodge. So, which is better? Well, they’re all off the beaten track, and all have their own pros and cons. 

• Greengo’s Hostel is just 400m from the Semuc Champey entrance, meaning you can visit the site without a guide. It has its own onsite bar and restaurant (with reasonable prices), with nightly backpacker activities such as trivia, bonfires and drinking games. Views of the surrounding mountains are unbeatable. Greengo’s tends to be booked up at least 3-4 weeks in advance, so get booking! ⮕ BOOK GREENGO’S HOSTEL NOW!

• Zephyr Lodge is another popular hostel near Semuc Champey. To reach the Semuc Champey waterfalls, you will need to take a 4×4 for around 45 minutes which can be arranged by the hostel. From other backpackers, I’ve heard it’s another great choice, and the jungle views from the dorm rooms are incredible. Again there’s an onsite bar and restaurant, so you don’t need to leave unless you’re visiting the Semuc Champey waterfalls. From what I’ve heard, Zephyr is more of a ‘party’ hostel than Greengo’s is. ⮕ BOOK ZEPHYR LODGE NOW!

• Utopia Eco Lodge: A unique natural lodge-style accommodation around 3.5km from the Semuc Champey entrance. ⮕ BOOK UTOPIA NOW!

• Ch’i Bocol: This is the most ‘off-the-beaten-track’ hostel, which requires a 30 minute uphill hike to reach even after the shuttles have dropped you off. Stay here if you want a true, authentic experience amongst Guatemalan nature! ⮕ BOOK CH’I BOCOL NOW!

Overall, they’re all great choices when it comes to staying in Semuc Champey. I’m biased because we stayed at Greengo’s and had such an epic time there, but I’m sure both hostels will give you an incredible experience. But things change quickly when it comes to hostels, so make sure you always read the reviews first.

Again, my biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We missed out on so many of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up so quickly – get booking!

How to spend a day at Semuc Champey Natural Monument

When visiting Semuc Champey, you do not need a guide. You can tour the park by yourself. However, if you want to explore the caves or go tubing, you will need to pay a local guide, as it is simply too dangerous to do it without.

SEMUC CHAMPEY VIEWPOINT

From the Semuc Champey entrance, you will pay your entrance fee, and then continue bearing left as you enter the park to reach the viewpoint. The viewpoint (named ‘El Mirador’) is around a 30-minute uphill hike. It is made of steps, rocks and uphill gravel. There are handrails for the majority of the hike, and no sheer edges or drops (making it perfect to hike for those with a fear of heights). There are a few locals selling water and coconuts en route, so be sure to have some small change!

I recommend doing this before the pools, so you can cool off after!

SWIMMING IN THE POOLS

The viewpoint then loops back down to the pools. This is again around a 20-30 downhill hike, mostly on man-made steps and rocks with handrails.

As you reach the pools, you will find lockers to store your belongings in (make sure to bring your own lock). You can change and use the bathroom here, then jump on in to enjoy the pools!

WARNING: do not cliff jump without a guide. Someone in our hostel dislocated their shoulder from cliff jumping in the wrong place! It isn’t worth the risk.

TUBING AT SEMUC CHAMPEY

After swimming in the pools, you can continue walking to find the tubing bridge. It is a yellow bridge (you can’t miss it) around 5 minutes from the Semuc Champey entrance. There are plenty of locals around to ask if you can’t find it.

From the yellow bridge, you can hire a guide and some tubes to tube down the river. Oh, and make sure you pick up some beers beforehand! Even with a guide and tube, this activity cost us just £2.50 per person. Barter if they try and charge more than this (and leave a nice tip!)

CAVING AT SEMUC CHAMPEY

If you want to explore the caves of Semuc Champey, this can either be squeezed into the same day as the viewpoint and the pools, or you can do it across two separate days. Most hostels and hotels will organise their own caving tours, or you can organise it with one of the locals near the park entrance or yellow bridge. The entire caving tour takes around 1-2 hours.

Regardless of who you organise the tour with, you should not be paying more than £5-10 per person for the caving and cliff-jumping tour. If you organise a tour directly with Greengo’s (which includes the pools and cliff jumping), you will pay 90 Q (£9/$10) in total for the whole trip.

If you choose to explore the caves, you will be swimming, squeezing, clambering and climbing through parts of a dark cave, all whilst holding a candle to light and wearing a headtorch to light your way.

What to pack for Semuc Champey

If you are heading to the pools, viewpoint and caves for the day, you need very little. There are lockers to store your belongings, but there’s a lot of walking so keep your bag light!

If you need some advice on what to take to Semuc Champey, here is a complete packing list:

• Padlock (for the lockers)
• Trainers to walk/hike in
• Sun cream (my favourite reef friendly one can be bought here)
• Day backpack 
• Reusable filter water bottle with at least 1L of water
• GoPro waterproof camera to film all of your underwater footage in the pools
• A bottle opener if you want to drink beer on the tubes – we use this portable opener that we keep on our keys!

How to get to Semuc Champey

This depends on where you are coming from, but it’s a long journey to Semuc Champey regardless.

• From Flores: If you are travelling from Flores, you will need to book a tourist shuttle. All information about this route can be found in my Flores to Semuc Champey guide here.

• From Panajachel: If you are travelling from Panajachel (Lake Atitlan), you will again need to book a shuttle bus. This should take approximately 10 hours (with the additional ride to your hostel on top of this).

• From Antigua: this is one of the closest stops before Semuc Champey, with only a 6-8 hour journey ahead. When we travelled from Semuc Champey to Antigua, it took approximately 8 hours with the 4×4 from Greengo’s to Lanquin included.

Related posts: Antigua to Semuc Champey | Lake Atitlan to Antigua

Where to go after Semuc Champey

If you are backpacking Guatemala, there are a few options when deciding where to go next. They are:

• Antigua (the most popular choice)
• Rio Dulce
• Flores (another popular choice, if you haven’t just come from there)
• Lake Atitlan

We decided to travel to Antigua after Semuc Champey. Antigua turned out to be another one of our favourite places in Guatemala, and I’m so glad we made this decision!

Related posts: Antigua to Leon | 3 Days in Antigua | 2 Weeks in Guatemala

How much does it cost to go to Semuc Champey?

Actually visiting Semuc Champey itself is budget friendly – the park entrance is just 100 Q (£10/$12) per person. However, if you don’t want to visit the park by yourself and would prefer a guide, tours range from 90 Q (£9/$11) booked directly with your hostel, or upwards of £20+ each by pre-booking online.

Do you need a tour guide to visit Semuc Champey?

No, you do not need a tour guide to visit Semuc Champey. If you are staying in one of the nearby hostels (like Greengo’s), you can actually walk to the entrance yourself. If you are staying in a hostel in Lanquin or a little further out, you will need to arrange transportation to reach Semuc Champey. But you can still explore the park by yourself without needing a guide or tour.

How long should I stay in Semuc Champey?

If you are visiting Semuc Champey for the first time, I highly recommend at least 3 nights. The journey to Semuc Champey from Flores takes near enough a whole day, and if you stay just 1 or 2 nights, you won’t have time to see it all!

We stayed for 4 nights at Greengo’s hostel, and found this was perfect to enjoy the hostel views, pool and atmosphere and explore Semuc Champey without rushing.

Can you swim in Semuc Champey?

Yes! You can swim in the pools at Semuc Champey. On a sunny day, the pools are clear and turquoise. However, on a rainy day, they can get quite muddy and murky (not ideal for swimming). There are also tiny fish that like to nibble on your skin – so be prepared! They’re harmless (but can be very annoying).

More Guatemala posts:

• Antigua To Lake Atitlan Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide
• BEST Hostels In Flores Guatemala For Backpackers
• Is Flores Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice

In Summary: Is Semuc Champey worth it?

In my opinion, yes. Semuc Champey is worth it, especially if you stay in a unique jungle hostel like Greengo’s or Utopia Eco Hostel. Semuc Champey is an off-the-beaten-track natural monument near Lanquin, Guatemala. It isn’t easy to reach – in fact, it’s quite the detour – which is why so many people question whether it is worth it or not.

If you do make the trip, you can spend your time at Semuc Champey cliff jumping into natural waterfalls and pools, hiking through caves, tubing down lazy rivers, meeting some of the locals in the nearby villages and swimming amongst some of the best views in Guatemala. To make your trip even more special, make sure to stay in one of the jungle hostels located in the mountains. The views are just unbeatable.

⮕ BOOK YOUR SEMUC CHAMPEY JUNGLE STAY HERE!

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Is Semuc Champey Worth It?: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Semuc Champey, including whether or not Semuc Champey is worth it when you’re backpacking Guatemala.

When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Guatemala posts:

• How To Get From Flores To Semuc Champey: 2023 Guide
• Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide
• How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide