Top Things to do in Alta Verapaz Department
What to do and see in Alta Verapaz Department, Alta Verapaz Department: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala including Semuc Champey, Orquigonia, Parque Natural Las Conchas, Cuevas de B'omb'il Pek y Jul Iq', Las Cuevas de Bombil Pek, Lanquin Caves, Cuevas de Se'tzol, Grutas Las Marias, Biotopo del Quetzal, Parque Nacional Laguna Lachua.
Restaurants in Alta Verapaz Department
1. Semuc Champey
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,216 reviews
Reviewed By bucketlisttravellers - Sydney, Australia
Semuc Champey is absolutely stunning and well worth the trek to get there! The pools have a stunning greeny turquoise colour and are very clear. You can see fish clearly and they are the ones that harmlessly nibble away at your feet if you sit still enough. There are a large number of pools and it is worth popping into each as most people stay on the top ones. The lower pools even have natural rock waterslides too if you like a bit of adventure! We did a day tour from Lanquin and this tour also covered a candlelight adventure into nearby caves, a couple of hikes and also a few jumps and swing rope into the river. The pools are visited in the tour after lunch and the one hour round trip hike up to the lookout. There are a lot of steps for this hike and a moderate work out, I wouldn't recommend if you don't have good knees. It is a rough 45min trip to get there from Lanquin standing up in a ute, but this is all part of the adventure. We purchased through La Poza River Lodge for Q195, however we later realised that other hostels are cheaper for the same tour. You could also stay at a hostel near the pools as well, however these are typically not as rated in TA as highly as others in Lanquin.
2. Orquigonia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 243 reviews
Reviewed By GabidelCid - Guatemala City, Guatemala
15 min drive from Coban downtown. We were greeted by a warm-friendly hostess whom shared highlights on the tour before jumping into it. We were provided with organic-mosquito repellent, te and magnifying glasses (for the miniature orquids). Eric, our guide is deeply knowledgable and all 500 species nurtured in the property. We took a 45-60 min hike through the whole place and still had time for some fun pics. You will still have time to do other activities during the day (we took this on our way back to Guatemala city). We totally recommend this all nature-peaceful walk.
3. Parque Natural Las Conchas
4. Cuevas de B'omb'il Pek y Jul Iq'
5. Las Cuevas de Bombil Pek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By ricochetjuliett - Sassari, Italy
Awesome and incredible experience. The rappelling is a must, to go into the cave itself you will need to be on the more fit side, as it is not easy and you have to use your body to get through very small spaces. Absolutely worth everything.
6. Lanquin Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
These limestone caves are part of a national park system, with many of the caverns lit by lanterns for visitors to explore.
Reviewed By aph1985 - Melbourne, Australia
It was our first ever cave experience. The guide gave everyone a candle. There is a rope that goes to the cave, so we don't get lost. The cave had everything, jumping from a waterfall, climbing a waterfall inside the cave, swim in the dark pool. It's very slippery, and luckily we wore tracking sandals and helped us a little. Lots of people were barefooted and struggled. After the caves, we were given tubes to do tubing in the river. Overall, a very spooky day for us in the caves. It's a must do in Semuc Champey.
7. Cuevas de Se'tzol
8. Grutas Las Marias
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By bucketlisttravellers - Sydney, Australia
We went to these caves as part of a Semac Champey tour. The caves are right next to the river and there is water running through the cave that you need to swim through in parts. At the entrance to the cave everyone is given a candle, and exploring the cave by candlelight really adds to the atmosphere of the tour. There is a bit of climbing involved in the tour and the cave exploration definitely wouldn't pass western safety standards, but it is loads of fun. At the furthest point in the cave that the tour goes to you have the option of jumping from a 2 metre ledge into the water. There is also a part that you can slide down. We really enjoyed this cave and would recommend visiting it if you are in the area.
9. Biotopo del Quetzal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By teejaydblyu - Montreal, Canada
We walked the long trail and enjoyed every minute of it! We arrived too late to see a Quetzal, and I think they would be pretty hard to spot anyway, but it was still a gorgeous walk.
10. Parque Nacional Laguna Lachua
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
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