Discover Lanquín: Caves and Cocoa

Around Lanquín, two very different discoveries come into view: the extensive cave system in the nearby Parque Nacional Grutas de Lanquín and the AWANIMA cocoa tour in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Lanquín, you can first consider whether natural formations underground or the process of making cocoa appeals more.

Cave landscapes around Lanquín

The Parque Nacional Grutas de Lanquín was one of Guatemala’s first designated protected areas. Its cave system is very extensive, and where it ends is still unknown. This combination of great expanse and an open-ended boundary shapes the natural landscape around Lanquín. The size of the system and the duration of an individual tour are two different measures.

The Río Lanquín is also associated with the park’s cave system: the river is believed to originate there, but its exact source is unknown. This connection therefore remains an assumption and does not identify a precisely located source.

Cave tour and cocoa tour

A tour of the Grutas de Lanquín takes about 45 minutes. People who find time in enclosed spaces difficult are advised not to enter the caves. For your planning, the time estimate answers the question of the approximate time commitment; the advice about the enclosed environment, on the other hand, concerns whether this experience is right for you personally. The short duration should not overshadow this explicit advice.

The AWANIMA cocoa tour in the area around Lanquín offers a different perspective: participants learn the entire cocoa-processing process and make chocolate themselves in the traditional Q’eqchi’ style. The appeal lies not only in the finished product, but also in learning the process and making it yourself. Tours are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and last about two hours. Times may change; check the date and availability before your trip.

Q’eqchi’ connections and accommodation choices

The population of the municipality of San Agustín Lanquín is considered to be predominantly Q’eqchi’. The cocoa tour also has a Q’eqchi’ connection, here through the traditional way of making chocolate. For visitors who want to include cultural aspects in their trip as well as nature, a connection to the community and a hands-on activity are available side by side.

When choosing a holiday rental in Lanquín, comparing the experiences can help: the cave tour is the shorter time commitment and requires you to heed the advice about enclosed spaces; the cocoa tour lasts about two hours and requires you to plan around the scheduled time. The cocoa tour therefore lasts about 75 minutes longer than the cave tour.

Discover more destinations: Chahal, Cobán, Santa Cruz Verapaz, Actelá.

See the regional travel overview: Alta Verapaz.