There are many places that are fun to swim in Guatemala, these range from swimming holes to rivers and swimming pools. The few places mentioned in this post are my favorite and sort of not really favorite places that we as a family have swam during our 2.5 months living in Guatemala.
1. (Not because it’s the best) Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is a series of pools located deep in the jungle, it is only accessible by an approximately (traffic and such) six hour drive (it took us about 8 hours). So why should you risk an aching butt and a stuffy car for this? Well I don’t really know because it’s not that amazing. This place is very beautiful full of small falls and crystal clear water but it’s not all amazing and great, the rocks are slippery and the water is cold, there isn’t many deep areas and places to jump are limited. Semuc Champey is one of the most advertised place along with Lake Atitlan (later) so it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to go.
2.(because It looks nice) Lake Atitlan
To avoid saying the obvious Lake Atitlan is a lake called Atitlan, no it’s really quite beautiful, it has clear water and very cute villages and lakeside homes. We stayed at a hotel on the lake known as Casa Del Mundo, it is situated on the edge of the lake terraced down a steep mountain. Travel is mostly by boat and there are many fun activities, this may not be the number one place to swim but it is a very nice place to stay, cool off, and just relax.
3.(it’s a cave!) Cueva Setzol
Cueva Setzol is a cave filled with water! After a small hike you will arrive at a large open cave with several areas both underground and above. The rocks are sharp but its alright when you are in the water, the water is deep enough to comfortably swim and there are several places to jump, the caves are large, stretching in many different directions. There are wonderful stalactite/stalagmite formations and interesting flora. After or before your swim you can explore numerous caves with some cool places! Remember to bring your flashlight and have a wonderful time!
4.(Numero uno) Las Conchas
Las Conchas is my personal favorite swimming area, comprising of several pools and waterfalls it is very beautiful. There is even a rope swing and pools of different depths. The area has places for camping and a waterfall to jump off, it is about twenty feet tall! The nice atmosphere combined with the water and waterfall make it worth it! It is not as famous as Semuc Champey but in my opinion is way more fun! The only downsides are that it can get cold and that it is out of the way and a bit of a hike without a car. It also has nice smooth not slippery rocks (Makes more difference than you think).
In conclusion these are all fun places to swim and you should definitely check out at least a few. The beaches I have gone too have been cool although I am going to Roatan so I may have different opinion (Roatan is in Honduras though so….)! Safe travels. 😀
I’m glad you are having fun. I hope you are being careful in slippery rock areas and have tested out safety issues before jumping in! Better stay healthy when you are in out of the way places! ¡Mejor seguro que lo siento!
Any natural pools within a few hours of Antigua? What about beaches within a few hours? Thanks!
Finca El Pilar is a farm with natural pools just outside Antigua. The closest beach west of Antigua is Monterrico, but not very swimmable due to the currents. There’s also Sipacate, Las Lisas, and Tulate. I wouldn’t necessarily visit Antigua, Guatemala for the beaches, but there are some if you are dead set on visiting them.
I’m a gringo who has visited Guatemala many times over the past 13 years. My first trip was in 2010 and I was in Guatemala for only 2 weeks. But because I ran out of time and money I did not go to Finca Paraiso, which is basically half way between the towns of Rio Dulce and El Estor. Despite my short time there, I had fun, I liked the people and the country. so I came back for trip #2 in December 2012.
Finca Paraiso is a waterfall, a cascada but what makes it very special in my opinion is the fact that the water is HOT !! Of course, like most waterfalls, a swimming hole is created. this is a very nice place to go to.
Admission in 2012 was Q10 ($1.30). well worth it.
Hi! thanks for the info on the Semuc Champey & Las Conchas. I saw a tour for those two that was 3 days/2 nights for $155USD with hotel, food, and tour guide. Did you do something similar or how did you get to those locations? Is there a good place to stay in the area or is it better to just book the whole tour? Thank you!
If you don’t want to worry about logistics then a tour might be a good option. You can take a tourist / backpacker bus to Semuc Champey from Antigua or Guate city. You could also hire a private van with driver if you have a small group or family. Renting a car is a possibility, but I wouldn’t recommend driving in Guatemala. The transportation can take ~8+ hours. Las Conchas is another ~6ish hours from Semuc Champey.
Thanks for sharing this it’s really helpful! How do you actually get to Chahal to visit Las Conchas and Cuevas de Setzol? Do you rent a car? I tried finding a shuttle from Guatemala city to Chahal but there doesn’t seem to be any.
Thank you!
It’s off the beaten path and you may need some flexibility in your schedule. We took a backpacker bus from Antigua (you could take one from Guatemala City) to Semuc Champey, then another bus to Livingston on the east coast. We took a large local bus from Livingston to Chahal, then got picked up in a pickup truck to get to Oasis Chiyu, which may be the only place to stay near the falls (if still open). Other options are ~30 miles away.