Grutas de Lanquín
Parque Nacional Grutas de Lanquín
A large limestone cave park on the edge of Lanquín town, with stalactite forests inside and thousands of bats pouring out at dusk.
Lanquín Caves is a large cave system at the source of the Lanquín River. It became a national park in 1955, and its explored length runs to several kilometers. The open section has lighting and slippery walkways, where you can see stalactites, stalagmites and underground chambers in all sorts of shapes. Local Maya regard the cave as sacred, and offerings of candles are sometimes seen. The highlight is sunset, when huge numbers of bats fly out from the cave mouth to forage. It is spectacular and thrilling, and you can simply sit at the entrance to watch. Outside the cave, the Lanquín River is crystal clear and good for swimming. Entry for foreigners costs about 30-50 quetzales, and the cave is open until about 6:00 PM. It is about 1.5 km from Lanquín town, reachable on foot or by tuk-tuk. The cave floor is slippery, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a flashlight.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00