So we got an early start on our trip to semuc champey. We had to catch the bus around 8 am and would have almost missed it if it werent for the help of our friendly local Tigo Van. After a couple blocks crammed in the back of the van and enjoying some bumping music, we made it to the bus station to head off for another adventure. After just a few hours we arrived at our destination and home for the next 24 hours, Hostel El Portal. After arrival we immediately put our stuff in our rooms and prepared for our cave exploration. Once we had our swimsuits and watershoes on we headed off for the cave. We slowly breached the entrance to the cave. Lit solely by candle light the cave seemed like something out of a movie. We slowly waded our way through the semiflooded caverns, climbed up a waterfall on nothing but a rope, and venturing further into bat filled caves with our candles held high. We arrived at a deep pool next to a wall adorned with even more candles and were told by our guide that we were meant to climb this wall, so we climbed. When we reached the top of the wall we jumped one after the other into the dark pool below. We ventured on further into pitch black until we reached the end of our descent into the cave. Our guide indicated that we had gone 1 kilometer in but the caves continued for another 10 km. After that we headed back towards the entrance to the cave. We had to wade quickely because our candles, our only source of light, were down to knubs and started to go out. Finally, we reached the light of day and were met by a warm rain; but the adventure wasnt over yet. After our exodus out of the cave, running through the rain, jumping in puddles, and just having fun, we grabbed intertubes and headed toward the bridge. We all lined up on the edge of the bridge watching our guide jump into the river below. Full of excitement and adrenaline from our cave exploration we jumped off the side of the bridge plunging into the waters below. We swam to the side of the river and got out and retrieved our intertubes for a relaxing 15 minute float down the river. We walked back to the hostel still laughing and reeling from our experiences, for a warm meal and some much needed rest.
We started off the second morning to a pancake and coffee breakfast, the beginning of a beautiful day, and an adventure in Semuc Champey. After a short hike we made it to a lookout of the stepped pools coming off the Rio Cohabon. Due to the heavy rains the river and pools were high. Enjoying the sun and the beauty of the pools we spent a couple hours swimming and exploring. Sadly our stay in Semuc Champey came to an end and we took the long ride back to Coban. We enjoyed another wonderful home cooked dinner thanks to Robbie, Jacob, Mariya, Aaron, Callie, Alaina, and Rachel. Though we improvised most of this week at the last minute, it turned out to be an unforgetable experiences, and by far one of the best parts of the trip for most of us. Tomorrow we have another early day as we travel to San Andres for a week of Spanish school and a trip to the Mayan ruins of Tikal.
Wish us well on our travels, we miss everyone back home, and we are excited to see what new memories are made on our next adventure.
Hasta Luego
Turner and Aaron