Semuc Champay

Sorry for the delay in posts, but the two of us have been completely busy for the last week and a half.  Rachel has been doing most of the work on the blog, up to this point, and I think she has done a wonderful job if I might say.  However, its only fair that I share the work. 

The last place we wrote about was Tikal and the massive spectacle that it is.  After camping out for one night in Tikal we headed back to Flores for one more night and stayed in the hostel Los Amigos. We knew that there was a long journey ahead of us and but didn't really understand truly how long the trip was going to be.  We went to the local bus station, and Rachel did her best to get us onto a small minibus headed to Coban.  Well we were right that it was heading to Coban, but this bus was only going to take us 1/5 of the way.  This was the start of 5 buses totaling 7 hours on the way to Coban.  Each bus was more packed than the next.  After each bus Rachel and I would say, ''Well, there is no way a bus can fit more people that that ride.'' We were mistaken every time.  People were sitting on other people laps. One trip I had to sit on a wooden block in between the isles.  Oh well, it was quite the experience! This picture was taken on the most roomy ride of the trip.  Double the amount of people in this picture and you will have the most crowded bus trip.

We arrived in Semuc Champay district right before the sunset, and made it to our hotel.  We paid 7$ each for a private room which consisted of a bed and .... well just the bed.  The room seemed to have been built around the bed.  In the morning we were ready to see what the minerals waters of Semuc Champay had to offer.

The pools lived up the their hype and were beautiful beyond belief. Apparently there is a raging river that runs beneath an underground cave, but the residual overflow created natural pools, which seems to be specifically for swimming.   The water was surprisingly warm and there were even area to dive off of some of the short waterfalls.  Due to the minerals in the water, there is a slight green/turquoise color and there are hundreds of little fish swimming around you at all times.  There were very few people at the pools, but more seemed to arrive later in the afternoon.  The birds-eye-view was taken from the lookout, which takes a good 45 minute hike, straight up.  All in all, Semuc Champay was gorgeous and it is no wonder why is it

 considered one of the most beautiful places in all of Guatemala.