One of the primary reasons we wanted to go to Guatemala was to visit Semuc Champey. The problem is that Semuc Champey is very hard to get to, the roads in Guatemala are not very good, and the travel distances and times make it very difficult to see if you want to do anything else while you are in Guatemala. We figured out a relatively cheap (not completely) way to do this. Yep, we chartered a prop plane...which was an amazing experience in and of itself. The plane had a capacity of 8 passengers, so it fit us perfectly. We were picked up from the airport in Flores and flown to a place called Coban, which was still a 2.5 hour drive out to our destination at Semuc Champey, but a lot more doable than the 13-14 hour drive (each way) that we would have had otherwise. We also benefited from using the charter plane to take us from Coban (after the visit to Semuc Champey) to the southern coast of Guatemala for the last portion of our trip, which was amazing as well considering we were able to fly right up to some active volcanoes and take in some amazing sights.
Semuc Champey lived up to all the hype. It was a beautiful place. We started off by hiking to an overlook, which was not very easy because we didn't have the proper footwear. Cody ended up descending the hike barefoot since his flip flops were completely destroyed due to the mud and slippery conditions of the climb. The views were worth it though and it was an incredible experience.
We then descended and were able to swim in the crystal clear waters that were created by these special pools. The most unique thing about this place was that there was a raging river running below it and these pools were tranquil and came from spring water and the pools were literally on top of the raging stream. The Cahabon River drops below the limestone bridge where the spring water comes forth and forms the natural pools of Semuc Champey. We swam around the pools for a while, there were some natural water slides that we played on and some caves to explore. It was an absolutely magical place.
After we were done swimming, we were off to our next adventure where we were taken through some dark caves and given wax candles to light our way. The caves were filled with water and waterfalls...it was amazing to be exploring the underground with nothing more than candles in our hands. Often the candles would go out and we'd have to relight them with the other candles...just part of the adventure.
After our caving adventure, we did some tubing down the river and some rope swings, then we were back to Coban to sleep and catch our charter flight the next morning to the southern coast of Guatemala for some deep sea fishing for sailfish and tuna.
Selfie inside our small private airplane on our way from Flores (where we visited Tikal) to Coban (where we visited Semuc Champey) in Guatemala.
The kids, checking out the airplane after landing in Coban, on our way to Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Sawyer, Grandma Toni, Ryder, and Zander as we exit our private airplane traveling between destinations in Guatemala.
Video of the sunrise from our private airplane early in the morning as we travelled between Coban, Guatemala (after visiting Semuc Champey) and San Jose, Guatemala (on the Pacific Coast as we prepared for our day of sail fishing).
View of Semuc Champey, Guatemala from atop the "mirador" (lookout).
View of Semuc Champey, Guatemala from atop the "mirador" (lookout).
Video from atop the "mirador" (lookout) above Semuc Champey, Guatemala. It took us about 30 minutes to make our way up the slippery, wet steps and rocks to the top to be able to look down on this incredible place.
Ryder, looking down on the Cahabon River as it dips down below Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Video of where the Cahabon River drops below the limestone bridge where the spring water comes forth and forms the natural pools of Semuc Champey in Guatemala.
Some of the crew, swimming in the top pool at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Our crew, swimming in the pools at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Grandma Toni and the kids jumping into the pools at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Looking down on the turquoise pools at Semuc Champey, Central Guatemala.
Zander, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Nash, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Ryder, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Sawyer, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Cody, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Cody, sliding down another natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Grandpa Scott, sliding down a natural water slide at Semuc Champey in Central Guatemala.
Ryder, Sawyer, and Grandma Toni inside a cave near the bottom of one of the pools at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Video entering one of the small caves in the pools at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Our crew, getting ready to enter a dark cave filled with water armed with candles at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Lighting our candles before entering our watery cave at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Video inside the cave at Semuc Champey, Guatemala...we only had candles to light our way and were often having to swim in water deeper than where we could touch the ground.
Making a train down the river with tubes at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Cody, Sawyer, and Nash, tubing down the river at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
Cody, doing a backflip off the rope swing at Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
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