LANQUIN CAVES NATIONAL PARK

LANQUIN CAVES NATIONAL PARK 
Versión Español
Located 1 km from the town center of Lanquin, off the highway that runs between Lanquin and Coban, this national park was one of the first protected areas declared in Guatemala. It is an enormous and beautiful complex with chambers and rooms, limestone formations of extraordinary beauty of an infinite nature- no one has discovered the end of the cave system! Some of the cave formations have names of animals or other figures. The Lanquin caves are also a sacred site used by the many of the Mayas from all over Guatemala, who believe the cave is the “heart of heaven”, and that in the depths of the cave “the secret of centuries is hidden”. The Lanquin Caves are also an important habitat for thousands of bats, which leave every day at dusk, a phenomenon that attracts many tourists.

Some of the interesting cave formations include: a sharp pointed rock altar, where the Maya Qeqchi ancestors carried out ceremonies and rituals, today it is still used for this. The Bridge of the Fallen King, whose name stems from when King Leopold of Belgium came to Guatemala and visited the Caves in 1958, When he crossed a wooden bridge, the bridge couldn’t support his weight and those with him and it broke, the King fell. When the bridge was reconstructed it was baptized with that name.
The lighted trail inside the cave is 400m long and takes 45 min round trip. There are bridges and stairs to facilitate access. However, it is always humid and thus a little slippery inside. Some tourists tube the Lanquin river which emerges from the depths of the cave, starting from below the mouth of the cave. Inner tubes can be rented at the hotels at the end of the stretch of river that one tubes. The entrance of the cave and parking area is surrounded by forest where one can view some birds and small animals.
The National Park has latrines, parking, 2 picnic areas and a small hut where one pays the entrance fee of Q20 (Guatemalans), Q30 (foreigners), Q10 (children 5-12), Q10 (parking). Park guards are available to accompany visitors in the cave. The caves are open 8am-5pm every day.
To see more photos: Gallery

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