Grutas de Lanquín

The caves at Lanquín are a large river cave system on the edge of the village of the same name, about 10 kilometres from Semuc Champey. A river flows through much of the system, and visitors follow a path through illuminated chambers hung with stalactites and stalagmites. The path is uneven and wet in places; sandals are strongly discouraged.

The cave is typically visited as part of a day tour from Cobán that also takes in Semuc Champey — the village of Lanquín is on the route and the caves are an easy addition before continuing to the pools. The village has basic accommodation for those who prefer to break the journey and explore the area at their own pace rather than on a day trip.

The cave entrance is guarded by a local cooperative that collects the entrance fee; the cooperative also manages the bat emergence viewpoint in the evenings.

things to do sight
A story
At dusk every evening, thousands of bats emerge from the cave entrance in a column that takes several minutes to fully exit — a spectacle that has nothing to do with the cave's geological or archaeological significance but is one of the more memorable things to witness in Alta Verapaz.