Bad Road (Being Upgraded 2021) | Warning

December 29th, 2021 by julieo81

Yea the road to Lanquin has been paved, but past that the road is still a rough local road. With our truck camper it was a tight fit when passing someone and we used 4x4 during the dry season since we are so heavy.

June 11th, 2021 by tanguy.adriaenssen

Just changed the position hopefully to the right Road. Conditions as described, would be challenging when wet unless with 4x4, on dry days AWD or 2WD will be ok.

June 1st, 2021 by Everlanders.com

At the time of our visit, they were just finishing upgrading this road (AV-6) to a 20 meter wide, concrete roadway, you could skateboard down. From Highway 5 to Lanquin is currently the best road we've seen in Guatemala.

March 4th, 2020 by amraja

road is being paved so it's a very smooth dirt road as of writing and passable with even a family sedan. that said it's frequently closed and many sections are one lane meaning you'll be sitting around waiting quite often. beautiful scenery along the way

February 28th, 2020 by Sean Emerson

the road to linquin is doable in any car but be careful as some slick sections. We stayed at the Exxon fuel station and got the colectivo from there. the town is full of small streets and nowhere to park

February 4th, 2020 by kaladeviaje

Se puede llegar sin problemas a Lanquin, cualquier tipo de vehículo podría llegar teniendo cuidado. De ahí es recomendable tomar un 4x4 a Semuc Champey, no es tan caro comparado al daño que se podría tener en el mal camino.

Lanquin can be reached without problems, any type of vehicle could do it being carefully. From there, it is better to take a 4x4 to Semuc Champey, it is not as expensive compared to the damage that could be taken to our car because of the bad street.

January 9th, 2020 by hinter-dem.horizont.net

Lanquín to Semuc Champey: We drove that road in a modified Toyota Land Cruiser Station Wagon (3.2 tons) after it had been raining a couple of days in a row. Mud was no issue as the underground is rocky. Slippery in some parts but all in all not a big deal. Wouldn’t recommend without 4X4 and a low gear box though (even locals use 4WD vehicles only). After all it’s still a beautiful road.

August 15th, 2019 by Expedition Twin America

Especially the part between Lanquin and Semuc is ‘an experience’. The steep parts where really challenging. We drove it with two persons on a heavy motorcycle. When the road is dry, it is doable. The way back we did it after a long heavy shower and the road was wet and slippery. Dropped the bike twice. And got a little lost. No road signs here. But off course we survived. With the knowledge I have now, I would park the motor in Lanquin and use for the last part a shuttle 4x4. If you are gonna do it on a motorcycle, good luck you badass!

April 30th, 2019 by jumeauxetjumelles.fr

We confirmed that access by campervan is possible to lanquin, our vehicle is 6m50 long and 2m50 wide. Since lanquin we took a collectivo to go up to semuc champey, the journey lasts 40 minutes and costs 25 quetzal per adults, free for children.

April 7th, 2019 by familybehindthecurve

As described below, paved road until here. It took us 4h to do Raxruhal - Lanquin and although the last 12km to Lanquin is a dirt road, it's doable by any rig.

November 28th, 2018 by TheBethovan

The comment below this is very accurate. Just did the road from COban to Lanquin. There I recommend you zephyr lodge. You Can Stay in the ir park and pay the tour for the next day 9 am. Whole day doing hiking. Swimming and walking in beautiful caves. Is perfect. The road to the zoehyir is not easy but ok with 4x2

November 21st, 2018 by sativasattva

I agree with the post below. Had no issue without 4 wheel drive to lanquin (in a 2001 gmc savanna), but got told by a car going the opposite way that I would've bottomed out if I tried to drive all the way to semuc. It was raining heavy the whole time but that didn't affect the road to semuc, it's honestly a pretty good hard clay/ small rock road. It gets narrow in some spots, steep in others, but 100% doable.

November 21st, 2018 by michaeldconnolly83

Wanted to check in and confirm the below, road from Coban to here is fine. Here to Lanquin is fine in a 2wd we did it in the pouring rain in rainy season and no problem up or down - we were nervous about this road but it really is fine and lots of places to pull over. Lanquin to Semuc I'd probably avoid without a 4wd - maybe doable in a 2wd but seriousky steep and slippy and don't see why youd put yourself through it when the collectivos are only 25 quetzales

September 10th, 2018 by zweiplusbus.com

We found this pin very confusing, so I try to explain the state of all the roads in this region:

- Coban until this point: Asphalt Road, no issues
- This point until Lanquin: Dirt Road, but in good conditions. No problem by 4x2.
- Lanquin to Semuc Champey: Dirt Road in bad conditions, Only recommended by 4x4. But also unnecessary to drive, as there are collectives that take you to Semuc for 25 Qz.
- This point towards Flores (Highway 5): Horrible dirt road, comparable to to road to Semuc Champey. We drove it in a 4x2 because in google it is a big yellow road, but honestly it does not deserve the name road. Highly recommend driving to Flores via Coban. It’s more Kilometers, but it is entirely paved. Highway 5 by 4x2 is possible (we survived it) but it’s quite stupid and unnecessary.

September 3rd, 2018 by Tucks' Truck

It's a rough road but as one of the entries says below, if you have come down Ruta 5 from the north, the drive via Lanquin to Semuc Champey is easier. It took us 45 mins from this junction to Semuc Champey. You know those FB posts that ask whether high clearance and 4x4 is necessary in Central America? Now is your time to use it 😀.

June 21st, 2018 by dario.maritato

This should be the road that connects from main road from Coban down to Lanquin: the road is bad and the first part maybe the worst part steep and rocky; yes we’ve managed with no problem but you’ll go trough some intense 40min driving. Now there are 3 places with policemen trough the road, I think for tourist safety and to discourage friendly folks with machete staring at your van while passing.

December 1st, 2017 by andersonrachel

In a 4 runner this road was fine, even in the wet... if you've come down route 5 it's a walk in the park! (very easy!) we were with 2 bikers who also found it slippy but ok with minimal off road experience.

November 30th, 2017 by barnis

This road is not that bad. we did it in our long and heavy 4WD sprinter van without issues. If it's raining it may be quite different. Some very steep sections but most of those have single lane concrete.

passing a bit tricky but most of the traffic is smaller 4WD Kia trucks.

June 8th, 2017 by nomadfootprints.com

We found this road not so bad at n our 4ton G-Wagon Camper. It is a beautiful scenic drive.

March 19th, 2017 by instagram.com/wanderingfamvan

If you have 2wd like us then do it slowly in 1st gear. First part here is the steepest and rough. Some other parts later on are rough but short. Road is definitely interesting. Good change for paved roads. Amazing views!!!

January 14th, 2017 by travelingtogether814

this road is so much better than the road coming into Sumuc the other way!!!!

December 4th, 2016 by chasingborders.com

No problems on a motorcycle, pure fun. Can't wait to go back up!

August 20th, 2016 by panchosway2015

No problem with a 24 feet truck, 8 tons. After rain it will be very slick and maybe not passable with our truck.

June 14th, 2016 by reisefriedli.ch

We drove it in a toyota landcruiser with 3.5tonnes, some sections are really steep and stony.we drove slowly and had now problems.would do it again.

May 28th, 2016 by vanesartori

This place is in wrong location - it is located at 15.58867, -90.05876

May 11th, 2016 by Lenka&Heiko

3x times children blocked the road with a rope and wanted money, asked for 10qz, we gave only to the first one 1qz.

February 5th, 2016 by nicknameinternational.com

the road to semuc champey is very bad and very slow. there are very steep inclines and much of it is a single lane. there is traffic though due to the trucks which ply people to and fro this area. big rigs won't have an issue with height and width generally, but it gets white knuckled when passing. if it's rained it gets very slick. not much risk of being stuck as sliding down a steep incline and smashing into someone or off a cliff. we have a 26 ft long unimog camper and are 11.5 ft high and we were fine getting there. but if you lack a low range some of the steep sections may give you trouble. there are a ton of trucks that will take you from Lanquin to semuc champey for just a couple bucks. it's definitely something to consider. I am not sure we would do it again