For a video recap of our 48 hours in Semuc, click here.

These are the faces of two weary travelers.

Despite our late arrival back to Antigua, we were back on the road by 8am the next morning; we had already purchased shuttle tickets to go from Antigua to Semuc Champey, a lovely set of turquoise pools in central Guatemala. We boarded the shuttle with great hesitation, not only because we had crossed blockades twice in the last two days, but also because this particular Thursday was a national call to protest, businesses and universities shutting down to allow their workers and students to participate. Against all reason we decided to take our chances…

As we tried to leave Antigua, we got caught up in a protest. Luckily this one was just three minutes of blocking before we were allowed through.

Political billboards were everywhere, but I got a shot of this one partly because we had slowed to a stop with traffic in Guatemala City, but also because I found Zury Ríos’s photo (read, eyes) so chilling, an opinion perhaps helped along by the knowledge that it is her father who is the dictator now formally indicted on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. How does this cycle continue?

Protesters waiting to bus into Guatemala City; about 30,000 protesters gathered in the main square to urge congress to lift President Otto Perez’s immunity.

I think a total of five were awake the whole way to Cobán, two in the photo, me and Julien, and the driver. There were another six or so behind us.

Transport to Semuc Champey included 6 hours by bus followed by 45 minutes in the back of a pick-up. This was in the pick-up.

Man of the house; our lovely hostel, El Portal, just off the river.

Breakfast views

More breakfast views

Hiking up to the lookout point 300 meters above the pools. The Eiffel Tower guide in me knew this was the distance from the bottom of the Tower to the very top.

Semuc Champey

Travel mates: England, Australia, Taiwan, France, US, Germany

An easy visual of how the pools work. We hiked down, starting at the highest pool to the far left, and worked our way down from pool to pool.

Crystal clear waters

Scooting down to the next pool

Last pool gathering

Complimentary pedicure

Getting excited to go caving in the water!

We each had our own candle

And climbed down slippery rope ladders while holding our light-source. You can see the candle of the person ahead of me.

Squeezing into tight spaces

Off to lazy-river tubing!

Within five minutes of our lazy-river trip, three children and one adult came running from the hill, inner-tube in one hand, cooler in the other, to sell us beers. Unexpected and appreciated.

Hiking back to the hostel

The next day, we did the return trip the same way, but in reverse! Pick-up to shuttle to Cobán.

Landscape between Semuc Champey and Cobán