Rey Marcos Caves
Located in: San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz
Time trip: One day tour with other attractions
Attractions and activities: Caving, hiking trails, swimming, natural river ponds in Balneario Cecilinda, orchids, typical food
Point of departure: Coban City
Do you want to go to this place?
Laguna de Chichoj from the Calvario
Facts about de site:
Grutas Rey Marcos is recent discovery and is said to contain some of the most beautiful decorations of any cave in Central America. There are huge stalagmites with filigree translucent ornamentation. You have to wade across the underground river at one point to see some of the best stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is located above Cecilinda, a famous bathing and picnic spot, where a spring gushes forth from the mountainside into a series of pools and waterfalls. There is also an artificial children's pool and scenic hiking trails up the mountain through lush rainforest. A restaurant, open on weekends, features typical Guatemalan cuisine, and a tienda offers soft drinks and snacks.
A kilometre-long series of caves, though the tour only takes you a little way into the complex - you have to wade across an underground river at one stage to see some of the best stalactites and stalagmites, including one that's a dead ringer for the leaning tower of Pisa. Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.
Other attractions near: Mayan Art Museum, Orchids Nursery Verapaz, National Park Las Victorias.
