Sacred Water: Guatemala's Semuc Champey, which means "Sacred Water" in the Mayan Kekchi language, is a natural limestone land bridge studded with a series of freshwater pools, suspended over the Cahabon River.
Feast Your Eyes: Semuc Champey is the kind of natural wonder you have to see to believe. The pools range in color from emerald to near-violet, and the water is deliciously cool. Lush, forested hills cradle the river, which surges below the bridge in a ferocious undertow (don't try swimming in it!)
Did You Say Swimming?: Swimming is the best part -- as long as you stay in the pools atop the bridge. Relax and soak while teeny fish nip at your toes. Hop from pool to pool. Bolder souls enjoy diving from rocky outcrops into deeper pools, but do so at your own risk. But above, enjoy the scenery -- it's some of Central America's finest.
How to Get There: Tours to Semuc Champey from Guatemala City run about $35 for an all-day trip. Book at any local travel company. If you're on a limited budget, you can catch a chickenbus to Lanquin (you might have to head to the larger city of Coban first, and then transfer). From Lanquin, it's easy to find a ride to Semuc Champey for 25 Quetzales (about $3.50) round trip.
