Major city · Guatemala
Lanquín
Stay 2 nights: one full day for Semuc Champey, one dusk for the Grutas bats. Skip it as a day trip — the last shuttle out leaves before the bats.
Lanquín is a hot river valley town in the Northern Lowlands, 7 km from Semuc Champey and next to the Grutas de Lanquín cave system. Almost everyone comes for those two things and stays two nights. Roads in are rough and slow, so treat arrival and departure as half-days.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GTQ
- Best months
- Feb–May (drier, pools clearest)
- avoid Sep–Oct (wettest, road washouts)
- Airports
- GUA · FRS
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Guatemala ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Guatemala's Migration Institute or a Guatemalan consulate. Guatemala shares a Central America border agreement (CA-4) with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, so your permitted stay may count across all four.
- Guatemala ↗Hike volcanoes (Acatenango, Pacaya) only with registered guides and check eruption alerts; Fuego is highly active.
- Guatemala ↗Avoid public chicken buses between cities: they are frequent targets of robbery. Use tourist shuttles or private transport.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Lanquín110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Lanquín, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, Q).Guatemala-wide
- SIM or eSIMTigo and Claro sell SIMs at the airport and shops; bring your passport.Guatemala-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations in Antigua and lake hotels.Guatemala-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: 10% — check if 'propina' is already on the bill.Guatemala-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Guatemala-wide
- SafetyLanquín itself is a small, low-crime town and the main risks are practical: slippery cave rock, deep water, rough roads and cash shortages.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPaper in the bin; public toilets charge Q1–5.Guatemala-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 122 fire and ambulance · 1500 Tourist assistance (INGUAT) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysAntigua's streets close for processions on Lenten Sundays and Semana Santa; museums may close on Mondays.Guatemala-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportGUA Guatemala City — La Aurora (No direct service to Lanquín; shuttle or bus via Cobán, or fly to Flores then come overland.).
- Getting aroundWalk: the town is small, most places are within a 20-minute walk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealSet lunch at a comedorQ25–40
- Beerbar / shopQ20–30Q12–18
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Tuk-tuk in townAgree the fare before you get in.Q5–15
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekQ100–200
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personGTQ 60
- Mid-range bedPrivate double room, a night, per roomGTQ 280
- High-end bedPrivate double room, a night, per roomGTQ 550
A day, not counting the bed: Budget GTQ 180 · Mid GTQ 320 · High GTQ 600
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GUA Guatemala City — La Aurora (No direct service to Lanquín; shuttle or bus via Cobán, or fly to Flores then come overland.) · FRS Flores — Mundo Maya (Closest useful airfield; about 5–7 h overland to Lanquín, check current road conditions.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Feb
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Mar
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Nov
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Dec
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Feb–May. Avoid: Sep–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Jul (22 rain days), driest Mar (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Lanquín: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12 rd
Feb
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
20 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
22 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
21 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
22 rd
Oct
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
20 rd
Nov
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
15 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk: the town is small, most places are within a 20-minute walk. Tuk-tuks run in town and sometimes as late as 23:00; agree the fare first. Pickup trucks to Semuc Champey cost about Q25 each way (2026 estimate).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Semuc Champey
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Pickup from town, about 30–45 min on a rough road
Tiered limestone pools with a river running underneath; climb to the mirador first, then swim. Park entry is charged separately — check current price.
Grutas de Lanquín
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Walk or tuk-tuk from town, then a short hike to the cave mouth
Lit walkways for roughly the first 400 m. Arrive before sunset for the bat exit; watching from the riverbank outside is free.
El Retiro river bend
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Walk 15–20 min, or tube down from upstream
Tubing with tube, ride and entrance runs about Q20; the driver usually stops for beers.
Cobán
cautionDoor to door: About 2–3 h
Minibus from Lanquín, stops to pick up locals
Useful as a connection, not a day out. Minibus fare about Q25 (2026 estimate).
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Lanquín town centre
Walkable, comedores and the Banrural ATM; cheapest beds, no river.
El Retiro / river road
Riverside guesthouses 10–20 min walk out of town; tubing, bar, communal dinner.
Hillside hostels above town
Valley views and river access; steep walk back up, bring a torch.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Q150–250 excl. bed
- Mid
- Q250–450 excl. bed
- High
- Q450+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Private double room1 × 2 nights × GTQ 280 | GTQ 560 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × GTQ 320 | GTQ 1,280 |
| Semuc Champey pickup, both ways2 × GTQ 50 | GTQ 100 |
| Semuc Champey park entry2 × GTQ 50 · check | GTQ 100 |
| Grutas de Lanquín park entry2 × GTQ 30 | GTQ 60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × GTQ 150 | GTQ 300 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | GTQ 240 |
| Trip total≈ GTQ 660 per person per day, bed included | GTQ 2,640 |
2026 estimate in quetzales; long-distance shuttles and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Set lunch at a comedor | Q25–40 |
| Beer: bar / shop | Q20–30 / Q12–18 |
| Hostel dinner or breakfast | Q20–40 |
| River tubing (tube, ride, entrance) | Q20 |
| Tuk-tuk in townAgree the fare before you get in. | Q5–15 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Q100–200 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The road to Semuc Champey is rough and under improvement: allow extra time and expect dust or mud.
- Cave paths and rocks are wet and covered in bat guano: sturdy non-slip shoes and a torch.
- Cave tours involve swimming, wading and jumps in the dark — only if you are comfortable in water.
- Some riverside guesthouses have a poor record of writing down reservations: have a backup bed.
- Carry cash. There is a Banrural ATM with a 5B machine in town, but it can be empty or offline.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 122
- Tourist assistance (INGUAT)
- 1500
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
LanquínLanquín
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance122
- Tourist assistance (INGUAT)1500
Embassy
No embassies in Lanquín. Most are in Guatemala City; the US, UK, Canada and Australia all operate from there. Consular help for the Petén is usually handled from Guatemala City or Flores.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Lanquín → Semuc Champey pickup: about Q25 each way, 30–45 min
- Lanquín → Cobán minibus: about Q25, 2–3 h
- Tuk-tuk in town: Q5–15, agree first
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Dónde está la gruta? — Where is the cave? (DON-deh es-TAH la GROO-tah)
- Dos entradas, por favor — Two tickets, please (dohs en-TRAH-dahs por fah-VOR)
- ¿Está pasable el camino? — Is the road passable? (es-TAH pah-SAH-bleh el kah-MEE-noh)
- Tengo una reservación — I have a reservation (TEN-goh OO-nah reh-ser-vah-SYON)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
Cash is king here. Draw quetzales in Cobán or Flores before you arrive.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lanquín. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–May (drier, pools clearest) · avoid Sep–Oct (wettest, road washouts) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for GUA and FRS: last shuttle departures field-checked, Cobán connection, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: town centre, El Retiro river road, hillside hostels.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Semuc Champey, Grutas de Lanquín, El Retiro) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-season and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.