Grutas de Lanquín (Lanquín Caves)

Northeast of Coban lies the Lanqun Caves, which are deep limestone caverns with an underground river, a number of lagoons, and unusual rock formations. A section of the cave, which has some rocky paths and dim lighting, is accessible for tours. A large mass migration of the thousands of bats who live here each night to feed in the neighboring woodland makes for an amusing sight. Plan to tour the cave in the late afternoon and stay until sunset if you're interested in viewing this unusual location. The caves, which are revered by the indigenous people of the area, also house a religious shrine.

The ancestors of the Mayans lived in Guatemala. Even though rain forests have engulfed most of them, their magnificent historic cities stand tall. The Mayans were the first to recognize this sacred area, along with their cities. These Lanquin caves were viewed by them as entrances to the underworld. They continue to execute various types of ceremonies in them, as they have for many years. As the Lanquin cave system is so extensive, neither a hard-core spelunker nor an explorer has ever been known to see where it stops.

Location: H2H6+X63, Lanqúin, Guatemala

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0