Blatts in Guatemala: Turquoise Pools at Semuc Champay

We knew it was a bad decision.  But it was too late to turn back.

The Waze link and Google maps both showed the two routes to Semuc Champay from Tikal.  But one said 10 hours, and the other said five.  But the 10 hour route looked so much shorter.  The technology must be wrong.  I insisted we take the "shortcut" in our rental car.

Ten minutes into the rock-filled, pot-holed cliff edged road, we both said, "Maybe we should turn back," but the other turn-off was an hour behind us.  Two young girls shouted at our car in Spanish, "Cuidate!"  "Be careful," but we paid no heed.  We saw an indigenous family sitting on the roadside, "Does this road get any better?"  They nodded.  "Does it go through to Lanquin?"  Again, they nodded.   Later, I realized, what do they know about this road....It would be about a two day walk to Lanquin.

After about an hour and a half Steve said,"I hope it doesn't get dark on us."  I laughed nervously.  We still had almost two hours til sunset.  But we were moving at a snail's pace.  There was nobody around, not a house or a car in sight.

Suddenly, there was a group of 8 men blocking the road with a chain, and large rocks.  They were holding jackhammers, axes and machetes.   We could pass if we paid them, because they were "fixing the road."   "How much," Steve asked, hoping they wouldn't take the car and all of our luggage. "Okay, I'll pay, but only after you open up the gate and let us through."

We got off easy for about 7 bucks, but we wondered how many more "road workers" we'd find before we made it to a drive-able road.

In the pitch black, we made it to Lanquin and stayed in separate, single cot,  mold-infested prison cells for the night.

But the morning was worth it.  We hiked an hour or so to the Mirador lookout and saw the spectacular view, and spent the rest of the morning playing in the turquoise, cool pools of other-worldly Semuc Champey.  Ultimately, it was worth it, but I'd recommend spending a couple of days instead of one morning to play there.  And take the road from Coban, instead of the 'shortcut'!