How to arrive to Cobán?
Coban is located 216 km form Guatemala City. To get there, take the Atlantic Highway (CA-9) to El Rancho (Km 84), then turn north for another 128 km.

Tourist places

Candelaria caverns and Crystalline Rivers
Candelaria cave is a great ecotourism destination, located about four hours form Cobán. One of the largest caves in Guatemala, its network of caverns and underground rivers extends for about 80 kilometers. The cave is privately managed and is staffed by experienced guides who give tours lasting for about an hour.
Not far form the nearby town of Chisec, visitors may hike to the Sepalau Lakes, a great place for bird watching. The drive back to Cobán follows the crystalline river known as Chajmaic.

Traveling Along The Cahabon River
Semuc Champey, one of Guatemala's most beautiful tourism attractions, is an unusual natural bridge about half a kilometer long, with a series of turquoise-blue pools of water, perfect for swimming. At the upper end, the Cahabon river plunges into the black mouth of a cavern, roars below the bridge and emerges at the bridge's base on the lower side.
Lanquin Cave, found not far from Semuc Champey, is an enormous subterranean system with about 100 km of chambers. Visitors may tour the first 400 meters of the cave, which are illuminated with artificial lights.
A great way to travel through the Verapaces is by raft. Experienced professionals lead expeditions down the Cahabon River, traveling through beautiful scenery from the headwaters of the Cahabon to Lake Izabal in Guatemala's Caribbean region. Class III and IV rapids provide lots of excitement along the way.

Coffee Farms and a Taste of the Caribbean
This route takes visitors down the Polochic Valley, form Cobán to El Estor, passing through coffee and cardamom farms, Towns seen along the way include Tamahú, Teleman and Senahu. The road arrives finally at El Estor on Lake Izabal in the Caribbean. A great trip here is an expedition into the Bocas de Polochic Wildlife Refuge near El Estor, where manatees, howler monkeys and lots of birds can be found.

A large mirror in the forest
The centerpiece of a spectacular, 36,000 -acre national park, Lachua Lake covers about 1,000 acres and is surrounded by pristine, lowlands humid forest. The trip to the lake takes about five hours by car form Cobán, and another hour on foot, but is well worth the effort. The park has camping facilities, a thatched-roof rancho where hammocks can be slung, and canoes that can be rented for exploration and fishing on the lake.

Rey Marcos Caves
At only 16 kms. from Cobán, we found one of the most enigmatic places of the region, called by the natives the Navel of the World, this caves shelter a great number of stalagmite formations form thousands of years ago. It also has an energy concentration which is considered as one of the biggest concentrations of the world. In the place you can find a swimming pool, traditional food and other natural attractions.

Sepalau Lagoons
It is made of four lagoons in a special formation surrounded by primary tropical forest; the turquoise color of the waters is impressive and turns them into a unique attraction in the region. It has paths, canoe rides, swimming area, food service (if requested), camping area with tent rental, parking area, sanitary services and local store. Location: Sepalau Cataltzul Community at 8 Kms form the Chisec municipality.

Special events in Alta Verapaz
May: International Half Marathon: Guatemala's most important sports event, it gathers a lot of international athletes, is one of the most outstanding events of this region.
July: Election of the Rabin Ajau, National Folkloric Festival: During this month Coban receives a number of Mayan Princesses that represent different cities of the country. is an event where the King's Daughter is elected and where the folklore, religion, customs and traditions for each of these places can be observed. During this event the dances, the concerts of marimba, ancestral customs, the Paabank (ceremony for the transition of the natives authorities) and the exhibition of the beautiful suits of the natives of the whole country.

August: Town fair: festive event where the anniversary of the foundation of this place is remembered, in honor to santo Domingo de Guzman. A number of cultural, social and sports events are carried out.

November: Orchids Exhibition: Is the biggest Orchid Exhibition of this place, gathering a great number of expositors form all around the country that compete to be rewarded by the AOS (American Orchid Society). During this time unique species of Orchids can be admired.