There are 2 main attractions here...the Water Caves and a Limestone bridge with 8 or more naturals spring pools. After a great night chatting with our new friends we went to the cave first. Our guide greeted us by tying our sandals to our feet with string and giving each of us a candle. Rather than going with the large tour group, we had gone on our own, Sophia, me, Sebastian and his father. The caves were unlike anything I´d ever seen. We were climbing up, down everywhere, we were wading through pools, and when the pools got deep...we were swimming...yes candle in one had for light and doggie paddle with the other! Only problem, havana sandles...not great for caving...mine broke, so I did most of cave barefoot...no cuts, only bruises. We climbed through a waterfall (some go around, I went through)...at one point the ceiling was 20 feet high. We were able to climb the wall and jump off a small cliff maybe 10 feet above the water...doing it in the dark was awesome! At the end of cave (deepest part) the guide had us blow out our candles and just chill out in the water...yeah, scary!
After making our way out...it was time to grab tubes and float down the Rio Cahabon...amazing views and the huge trees hang over the river and shade us most of the way down.
After lunch, we headed to Semuc Champey, national park...I guess. This is where pools are. Honestly, I had dreamed we would find something like this, somewhere along this journey...I never would have guessed it would have happened so soon. Again, rather than me explain it, just check the pic´s and videos. (hopefully, I can upload a lot before everyone here freaks out). We ending up at a clear blue lagoon...and because the rain earlier in the day...we were completely alone...seriously like something out of a movie!
Next day we got a shuttle to Lago Izabal and Rio Dulce...we were packed, 15 people in a mini shuttle that was built for 12...sophia and getting last meant, yup, I did not get a seat, for a drive down a dirt road for 5 hrs. That was not so great. But, I did get a nice chance to stretch when our van got stuck in mudslide.
Between the 15 of us, we got it through....but it got real dirty. After, to cheer up we through some michael jackson...and there we were, 6 israeli´s , 2 brits, 4 americans and 1 Guatemalan rocking MJ, cruising through the jungle covered in mud! It was awesome! And when I say jungle...were talking women carrying fruit on their heads and breastfeeding everywhere!
We made it to Rio Dulce, grabbed a boat across the lake and are now as El Perrico, a swiss owned hostel with a very eclectic crowd, great food and nice little bungalow for Brett and Sophia! Today we went to Finco Paraiso...another natural hot spring and waterfall, great for relaxing in the natural sauna and cliff jumping off the waterfall...see video...hopefully.
That´s all for now...I´m feeling the pressure to finish...Love ya´ll...Brett
