The Spectacular Laguna Lachuá National Park in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
Have you been daydreaming about visiting the fresh, natural, and blue Laguna Lachuá in Guatemala? Its abundant blue waters and beautiful vegetation serve to build a paradise for Guatemalan wildlife.
It is one of the most important remnants of tropical forest. In fact, this ecosystem is globally recognized for its great biological diversity. The scenic beauty of Laguna Lachuá is what draws tourism to the place.
Here’s everything you need to know about this incredibly beautiful place; from its history, location, and how to arrive, to hotels, prices, and photos!
All About Laguna Lachuá in Guatemala
If you’re a lover of nature, this parque nacional in Guatemala is for you! It’s one of the most beautiful lagunas de Guatemala (lakes in Guatemala).
According to the Guatemalan National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH), there are 23 lakes and lagoons in Guatemala, and another 119 minor (that is, smaller) lagoons. Laguna Lachuá, Guatemala is one of these smaller lagoons.
It’s in the center of the Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá, which was founded in 1996. The park is
The park was created with the purpose of preserving nature and giving people a beautiful and natural place to camp, hike, discover flora and fauna, picnic, stay in a hotel, and more.
Conservation of the park is one of the priorities of local authorities. The site is home to jaguars, pumas, monkeys, and tapirs, as well as other nationally and globally threatened species. Waterbirds found in the park include the wood stork, black-bellied whistling duck, pied-billed grebe, brown pelican snowy egret, and green heron, among many others.
It’s a protected area and a RAMSAR site (a Wetland of World Importance). Sadly, the area around the park has been subject to heavy deforestation over the past several decades.
Important Info
Park Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Entry prices for foreigners: Q50.00 adults ($6.00), and Q25.00 kids under 12 years old ($3.00).
Laguna Lachuá Guatemala: Location and How to Arrive
The lake is almost a perfect circle, and it’s probably a cenote or doline. Its maximum depth is 222 meters. The water contains a relatively high level of calcite, so tree branches that fall into the lake are quickly covered with a layer of white calcite.
Laguna Lachuá is located in Alta Verapaz, Cobán, Guatemala. It’s 350 km from Guatemala City (approximately 8 hours away). To get there, you must take the CA-9 highway towards the city of Cobán.
Upon reaching Cobán, continue on the road that leads to a town in Alta Verapaz called Chisec (90 km), and then turn towards Playa Grande (a municipality of Guatemala). From there, it’s 60 kilometers to the entrance of the park.
Reaching the lagoon from the park entrance requires an easy hike of about 4 kilometers on foot that takes around 45 minutes.
If you’re traveling with GPS, type “Laguna Lachuá Guatemala” on Waze or “Laguna Lachua National Park” on Maps.
Check out the following map:
Laguna Lachuá Guatemala: Hotels
Although there is only one hotel inside the national park, there are other hotels that could work for you. Check them out below.
Hotel Lachuá Reserva Natural y Área Protegida
This hotel is located within the reserve, so it’s a perfect place to rest after a long day of travel. Many tourists stay in this hotel to be able to continue traveling to more distant places.
Find them on Facebook!
Hotel San Jerónimo
This hotel is located in San Jerónimo, a village 65 miles away from Laguna Lachuá. The hotel consists of colorful casitas (little houses) for about $40 per night . They have a restaurant, laundry facilities, a garden, wi-fi, free parking, and more.
Find them on Facebook!
Hotel Don Juan Matalbatz
This hotel is located in Cobán, 30 miles from Laguna Lachuá. Along with a restaurant, this hotel has a coffeeshop and 24-hour room service. They offer breakfast, free wi-fi in public areas, free parking, laundry facilities, and more. Rooms cost approximately $42 per night.
Find them on Facebook!
Laguna Lachuá Guatemala: Weather
It rains throughout the year, and the months of greatest rainfall are from June to October. The weather in Laguna Lachuá is hot and humid.
Since there’s a lot of fauna (a.k.a. insects), be sure to bring repellent, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, enough water to stay hydrated, and a swimsuit and towel.
Laguna Lachuá Guatemala: Important Notes
Here’s some additional information you need to know about this place!
- The water in the laguna has a sulfur smell, which explains the origin of its name Lachuá. It is derived from the Kekchí words “li chu ha” which means “fetid water”.
- Since the whole idea of this national park is to preserve nature, it’s not recommended to enter the laguna with sunscreen on.
- The laguna is so peaceful and there’s no fishing. You can swim and the fish will stay close by, and if you stand still they will come closer.
Practice Spanish Before Your Next Trip!
Did you know that learning Spanish can get you cooler and better-paid jobs? According to The Economist, a person can earn from $50,000 to $125,000 more just by knowing a second language! And of course, being bilingual opens the door to becoming an interpreter and translator. In fact, these are among the top five fastest growing occupations nowadays, and they’re expected to increase by 46% in the coming years! The world of languages is huge and is super useful not only for jobs, but also for trips around the globe.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a free class to practice your Spanish conversation with certified, native Spanish-speaking instructors from Guatemala. Get authentic language practice online before you arrive at the airport!
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