National park · Guatemala
Laguna Lachuá National Park
Visit Laguna Lachuá for a lake swim and short jungle hike: buy entry at the gate, walk the 2.4 km (1.5 mi) trail to the lake (≈30 min), and stay in a cabin or camp near the water; avoid the rainy season for better roads.Visit Laguna Lachuá for a lake swim and short jungle hike: buy entry at the gate, walk the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) trail to the lake (≈30 min), and stay in a cabin or camp near the water; avoid the rainy season for better roads.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²)
approximate
Established
1990
Best months
Apr
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Guatemala, 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.
- Central Highlands ↗Tourist shuttles between Antigua, the airport and Lake Atitlán run by day; they stop in the evening.
- Central Highlands ↗Antigua sits about 1,530 m; Cobán about 1,320 m. Neither usually causes altitude problems, but nights are cool.
At a glance
- Country
- Guatemala
- Area
- 45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²)
- Park covers more than 45 km² (check).
- Established
- 1990
- Best months
- Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
Laguna Lachuá National Park in Guatemala’s Central Highlands offers a clear deep lake for swimming, a short marked jungle trail, cabins and camping sites, with entry bought at the gate and roads best in the dry season.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetlandDesignated Ramsar wetland.
Size and age
45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²) · national park since 1990
Park covers more than 45 km² (check).
Why go
- Swim in a clear, 200 m‑deep lake surrounded by tropical rainforest.
- Walk a short, well‑marked jungle trail to the lake and explore cabins and camping sites.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, roads clearer.
- FebDry, good for hiking.
- MarDry, pleasant temperatures.
- AprPeak dry season, best road conditions.
- MayStart of rains, roads get muddy.
- JunRainy, trail may be slippery.
- JulRainy, road potholes worsen.
- AugRainy, high humidity.
- SepRainy, occasional storms.
- OctRain tapers, roads improve.
- NovDry season returns.
- DecDry, cooler evenings.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds (toucans, hummingbirds, macaws, waterbirds)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mammals (jaguar, puma, tapir, peccary, coati, howler monkey)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reptiles (orange‑belly swamp snake, other snakes)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Alligators in the lakeAll year · Observe from shore; swimming allowed but respect warnings. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Coban
Drive 4 h via AV‑9 to Chisec, then west on Franja Transversal; road is dirt with potholes, 4WD recommended.
4 h
From Cobán (bus)
Take a chicken bus toward Semuc Champey, alight at Chisec, then another bus toward Playa Grande and ask to stop at Laguna Lachuá (≈2.5 h).
4–5 h total
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Park entrance | Gate, small store, information board; trailhead to lake. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Lake area | Lake, pier, swimming spot, cabins and camping sites. | Walk from entrance (2.4 km (1.5 mi)).Walk from entrance (1.5 mi (2.4 km)). |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre of the park; exact trailheads may vary.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | check |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Swimming restrictions
- No swimming with insect repellent or soap; respect alligator signs.
- Camping
- Allowed only in designated areas near the lake; bring own water and supplies.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves in cabins.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; park provides limited bins.
Where to stay
In the park
Cabins
Simple wooden cabins with cooking facilities in the lake camping zone.
Near the park
Camping sites
Unimproved sites with showers and toilets; bring all gear.
Safety
Alligators medium
Road condition medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Trail to lake is flat and suitable for most walkers; cabins reachable by short walk.
Visiting lightly
- Bring reusable water bottles; avoid single‑use plastics.
- Do not feed wildlife or disturb nesting birds.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Laguna Lachuá National Park?
Entry fee is not published online; buy the ticket at the gate (check for current price).
What are the best hikes in Laguna Lachuá National Park?
The main trail is a 2.4 km walk from the entrance to the lake; it is well marked and takes about 30 minutes.
When is the best time to visit Laguna Lachuá National Park?
Visit in the dry season (Nov–Apr) for better road conditions and fewer rains.
Can I swim in the lake?
Yes, but avoid insect repellent, soap, and respect alligator warnings.
Are there restaurants inside the park?
No; bring your own food or buy supplies at the small entrance store.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Laguna Lachuá National Park
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