Blogs from Verapaz Region, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 9

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Vanuit Flores de bus naar Semuc Champey genomen met kleine tussenstop in Coban, waar de andere passagiers gretig een fastfoodhap binnenschrokten, bewoonde wereld zou nameljik niet meer lang duren. Semuc Chempey ligt namelijk in de bergen van Guatemala op een slecht bereikbare plek, in Lanquin moesten we dan ook overstappen op een pick-up, of toch de laadbak ervan. Goed vasthouden want soms ging het echt steil omhoog of naar beneden, met ruige wegen. Ik raakte aan de praat met een meisje uit Californie, die rond aan het reizen was met haar moeder. Zij had het jaar ervoor als vrijwilligster op Galapagos gewerkt. In hostel El Postal verbleven we (2 Israelis, 2 Ned.meisjes, Brit), maar er waren ook andere backpackers present, allen wilden de grottour doen. Het werd een gezellige avond, iedereen at aan 1 lange tafel ... read more


Yesterday we spent the day at Samuc Champey and the Kan'ba caves. This is where the bulk of the Rio Cahabon cuts underground creating a suspended limestone bridge forming the series of pools and waterfalls that are Samuc Champey. We started the day in the Kan'ba caves doing a tour by candlelight. This turned out to be walking and climbing through the caves whilst holding a stubby candle as our only source of light. The caves were partly underwater so at times we were swimming one handed whilst trying to keep our candles alight and aviod all of the rocks that we under the water. The result was a lot of cuts and bruises but a lot of fun. The caves go about 11km deep but due to the temperature in the caves and the temperature ... read more
Samuc Champey
Samuc Champey
Samuc Champey


So our first blog entry has been some time in coming but here it is! We finally made it to Guatemala City on the evening of 4th May, the hostel we had booked for our first night was very good and picked us up from the airport, pointed us in the direction of a money changer and generally sorted us out. The guidebook advertised it as a hostel in the safe neighbourhood of the city. This turned out to be in an armed compound, army style! In addition to the armed guards and barbed wire fence surrounding it, each hostel or house had their own heavy duty fences and locks. At least it was secure but probably not the best first impression of Guatemala for us!! From there we got the bus the next day, first ... read more
View from my bed in El Remate
Temple 5 Tikal
View from the top of Temple 5


Nachdem wir uns nach langer Zeit von Antigua loesen konnten. Ist unsere Reise nach Lanquin weiter gegangen. Hier sind wir wieder in einem kleine Paradies gelandet. Gestern haben wir einen Ausflug nach Semuc Champey gemacht und dort eine Hoehle besichtigt. (fast) nur mit Kerzenlicht ausgeruestet sind wir gewatet, geklettert, gesprungen und haben die unglaubliche Hoehle erforscht. Am Nachmittag haben wir dann einen wunderschoenen Aussichtspunkt erklommen und uns danach das entspannende baden verdient. Morgen geht es voraussichtlich schon nach Rio dulce weiter. Fotos muessen noch etwas warten, werden dann aber um so toller...jippie... Die Schweinegrippe hat es noch nicht bis nach Guatemala geschafft....die (teils fraglichen) Informationen allerdings schon. Klar ist auf jeden Fall, dass ich meinen uebrigen Mexicanischen Pesos, welche ich gerne mit anderen Travellern getauscht haette, jetzt ... read more
Semuc Champey
Livia
Nina


What can I say about my time as a bartender/waitress in Lanquin? Well half the time I was sick with an intestinal infection and the other half was like being sick with an intestinal infection at a big party. El Retiro is a place of excess (think back towards the donkey playground in pinocchio), in which no social stigma is unaccounted. People tend not to sleep well at night and resting in the heat of the afternoon sun proves difficult. The combination of these factors led to a slightly tumultuous, at times physically, mentally and spiritually-trying, although not altogether terrible experience. And there were a lot of big bugs (i.e. put your hands out, palms facing you, fingers closed, palm-sides touching...and you're looking at the average size, yes average, of a local cave spider-in our ... read more
local boys dancing with us
P1030045
el bar


biotopo del quetzal, aux environs de salama... ... read more
plantation de café (officiellement...)
broméliacées
orchidé


c'est beau mais c'est loin ! (à l'époque !) ... read more
cascades
semuc champey
transparence


Destination 3: Lanquin & Semuc Champey It was supposed to be easy. We were to catch the 6am bus leaving Rio D to take us to Coban via El Retcho on the bus that was heading towards Guatemala City. Fine! No problems! We got on board, found our seat and dozed in preparation for the 4+ hour journey to El Retcho. We stopped at numerous points, not uncommon on the Guatemalan bus journey to pick up and drop of random passengers. Its not as if they have set stops or city signs for that matter. Its also important to note that they dont sometimes tell you the place where they are stopping at, or dont announce it all the way down the bus....It was this that was our ultimate downfall. Some 6 hours later we were ... read more
Me in the pools.
Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey


The transport links in Guatemala got a little more complex from Xela. The options were a two day six bus combo or a long day with Guatemala City bus changeover. Whilst not ecstatic about heading back through Guatemala City, Guate as the locals call it, it seemed the best choice to get to Coban. Between Guatemala City and San Salvador (El Salvador) it’s a close call as to which is the most dangerous Central American capital city. As we crossed Guate for the second time in a taxi to switch between bus depots it once again appeared calm and up together it was only the omnipresent security guards most sporting full army style gear and a large shot gun that suggested otherwise. Although in Central America the sight of this style of security has been far ... read more
Taking a dip in the pools at Semuc
Soot covered formations in Lanquin Caves




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