 Cobán is a town in the Guatemalan highlands with a historically high number of German settlers (though they're hard to spot now). While the town itself has some charm, most visitors merely use Cobán as a base point to explore the beautiful natural surroundings.The area of Coban is incredibly rich in flora and fauna and lakes are found throughout. Large, dense cloud forests of exceptional beauty, sparkling waterfalls and several incredible cave systems make it an ideal place for true Eco-tourists. A charming city of 70,000 in habitants, Coban is the state capital of Alta Verapaz and a  convenient base for exploring the area. Coban was founded in 1543 by Dominican priests and today is an important center of coffee and cardamom production. At the vivero Verapaz more than 650 species of orchids are cultivated (including the Monja Blanca, Guatemala’s national flower).
In the region of Lanquin, water and minerals have created unique geologic formations. One such formation is Semuc Champey. Declared national monument, it is a series of waterholes cascading down through the cloud forest. The caves of Lanquin, close to the community with the same name, are the most visited in Guatemala and easy accessable. |
- Semuc Champey, an incredibly beautiful natural limestone bridge resting on top of a river, with little waterfalls and pools of crystal clear water that are excellent for swimming.
- Las Grutas de Lanquin, a large cave with excellent formations and a river that flows under it.
- El Biotopo de Quetzal, a nature reserve. Despite the name, you will find very few quetzales (Guatemala's national bird) there; they have moved to higher ground. Nonetheless, you will find tranquil hiking trails with lush plant life in the Biotopo.
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