lanquin caves

I'm not really a cave person but if you join an early evening tour you get a chance to see lots of Bats flying out of the cave! however, the best way to photograph the bats is with a DSLR camera as they do fly out in swarms and move pretty fast.It is best to have a headlamp with you and more importantly, watch your step and tread carefully as it tends to be slippery inside the cave.

The tour operator I was with too 26 people into the caves. He basically just told us to start walking into the caves - he didn't lead us in. There were some fairly dangerous ladders to climb up and nooks to climb through and half the time the guide wasn't even in sight because there were so many of us. On our way back, I was at the very end and my candle went out. I had to climb down two ladders in the pitch black. When I got out, the tour guide had already gone back to the reception and didn't even do a head count. The tour operator I went with was booked from Hostel Oasis (also the same company as El Portal in Semuc Champey).Pay more money if you have to and find a company that takes a smaller group, or has a guide at the front and end of the group. My experience was very frightening and when I tried to tell the tour guide how irresponsible he was, he practically laughed in my face.

A twenty minute walk from Lanquín to this wonderful place. Well lit with electric lights, but bring a light just in case. Don't waste time or money on a guide, it is self explanatory.

We spent an hour in the caves with our guide. If you're claustrophobic, no worries. The caves are massive. The guide found lots of rock formations that looked like everthing from whale to monkey's face to tiger. A good imagination along with hiking boots (it gets slippery), water and flashlight (cave is well lit but flashlight or torch came in handy) are what you'll need. Drive to caves is rough but journey is worth it.

1. Its nice and interesting.2. There is light inside.3. Be aware that everything is slippery.4. Be aware about the higene of the place.5. Go with a guide and for sure not aloneENJOY!!!

It is easy to get there, just walk (from Lanquin).Stay until sunset and watch the bats fly.Remember to go inside the cave, there are loads of them :)

Chainsaw banditos, don't even think about going in the caves!!! _ _ _ _ _ *cue theme song from twilight zone*

amazing, great guides, impressive water falls, and a tip - blow your candles out and do it in the dark, its more fun.

We had a great time. We only had candles to light our way and they would occasionally go out and had to relight them on another person's candle or a candle set along the way. You go through water falls swinging on a rope and climb a few ladders and wade through deep waters. We also got a chance to jump from a 15 foot cliff into a pool. Scary when it's dark except for the candles people are holding around the pool. Highly recommended if you go to Semuc Champey.

A guide is required. Try to go early so you do not bump into people inside the caves. You will walk in the water so take good sandals. Expect to get wet and swim.

the caves are interesting but for me the most fascinating was the bats who exit the cave at dusk, thousands of them fly out it is an incredible sight to see them flying at high speed out of the cave

Guides are compulsory, the cave was much fun. You have to swim most of the way, you get candles and in the end probably a bit cold. Also the cave is a must do!

Make sure you do the rope swing before the caves!!!! best rope swing ever seen! The caves are really something else, they blew us all away, candle lit tour with cliff jumping inside! Theres parts where the water is over head and you gotta save ya candle and your breath. This tour really did deliver an adventure.

Walking, climbing, swimming all by candle light in a pitch black cave! Kool! Cliff diving in a cave? Yes please! Dont miss it! Plus, there is a giant rope swing into the river outside when your done! :-)

To clarify:Lanquin Caves/Grutas de Lanquin- entrance before Lanquin (5 mins out of Lanquin by tuk-tuk)- by all accounts you can walk through these caves and at dusk heaps of bats fly out to feed, a safe, mildly interesting trip.- as per some of the correct photos posted here people remain fully clothed and dryKan'ba Caves (previously called Grutas Las Marias)- located across the river from the Semuc Champey national park (40min pick up truck ride after Lanquin)- this is the 'crazy, candlelit cave trip' people post about- you have to swim for most of the cave tour, you traverse waterfalls and can leap off a ledge- 90% of people think it's a lot of fun but some people have serious medical/safety concerns- not for the unfit or those who can't swimI have asked TA to update the name of Las Marias to Kan'ba and then someone needs to shift most of the reviews below to their correct location.My main concern is people thinking Kan'ba is easier than it is (as some who visited Lanquin posted there) but also I guess some would be rocking up to Lanquin expecting more than they actually get.(for the record I haven't been to the Lanquin caves but judging by other people's comments it seems a mild 3/5 for the purpose of this post)