Hidden Treasures of Chapinlandia

Las Conchas Waterfalls, Guatemala

25 May 2015 | From Richie of Guatemala

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Parque Natural Las Conchas is a set of waterfalls on the Río Chiyú tumbling into tranquil green pools amid tropical rainforest. While the highest of the waterfalls forms a white curtain several meters high, the currents beneath are not so strong and you can swim across the pools. Las Conchas Municipal Park comprises a series of spectacular waterfalls, turquoise pools and numerous, diverging rivulets and creeks.

Las Conchas is the translation of the place name Se Pemech (The Snails) in the local Q’eqchi’ Mayan language and refers to the many piles and deposits of mollusk shells found near the falls. The abundant, edible snails have been an attraction for the local indigenous population for countless generations. A wide variety of birds and other wildlife, including red-eyed tree frogs and a multitude of butterflies, can be seen in the area. If you’re lucky, you might see an arboreal kinkajou or inquisitive coatimundi.