COBAN, SEMUC CHAMPEY, LANQUIN

Another weekend adventure. This time the transport went smoothly and the mini van was comfortable (no flat tires etc). I left on Fri afternoon with a group from my Spanish school. We arrived a our hotel near the town of Coban (north west of guatemala, up in the mountains) after 8 p.m. We drove up a dirt road to our hotel. On arriving we were led off to our respective rooms - this involved walking up the hillside, on stoney steps, in the dark and the mist. we did have torches but hadnt taken them out of our bags yet! Seven of us slept in a large dorm room. I didnt get much sleep (bed near the bathroom) and it was cold so slept in the foetal position. We were up at 5.30 and it was still dark. We could make out the valley below but the cloud/mist hanging over it resembled a lake. As it became light we were able to see the mountains in the distance - a high mountain range that runs the length of Guatemala. In this region there are cloud forests. We had breakfast at 8.30 then travelled on to our hotel in Lanquin. The hotel looked pretty -a large wooden building set in gardens. Our group were shown to the rooms downstairs and these resembled stables. However they were quite comfortable. we had ten minutes to change into swimming costumes and head for the caves near Semuc Champey. At Semuc Champey the river disappears underground and runs through a series of caves; it emerges and then forms a series of pools which are ideal for swimming. At the cave entrance we had a guide leading us and one bringing up the rear. We had a candle in one hand and the other free to hold onto rocks or aid our swimming. Initially you wade through the water and in parts you have to swim. There were areas where we had to clamber up and down rocky areas using ladders. Without our candles, it was pitchdark. It was great fun and we spent about 2 hours doing this. After lunch we walked in the heat of the day to a viewing point on the cliffs above. The turquoise pools looked so inviting and we wasted no time in getting down and going swimming.