Lake Chicabal - NO SWIMMING | Informal Campsite

July 13th, 2023 by sonny jadun

To clarify the little confusion about visiting, parking and camping at Lake Chicabal, I have attached a sketch that clearly outlines what options are available to the overlanders at sites identied as "Parking at Volcan Chicabal"  and "Lake Chicabal - NO SWIMMING" depending upon the type of vehicle that you are driving. 

If you are driving a 4x4 you can drive and park your vehicle at  the new site that I have added to ioverlander called "Mirador de Laguna de Chicabal" The only limation here is that there is limited parking and you may not have space to park here. I came here during the wet season, so I was all by myself so parking for the night was not an issue. I decided not to park because  there were too many mosquitoes and no bathrooms were available. It was not worth it for me to deal with those in my RTT. So after hiking down to the laguna and seeing it, I decide to campout at the site "Lake Chicabal - No SWIMMING". This is where you buy tickets, there is a soccer field and bathrooms are available to you.  

At Mirador Chicabal you have the option to take ~500 steps down to the Laguna  or hike the new Sanderos (trail) down. So I took the steps down and hiked up to mirador taking new Sanderos to save my old knees. Keep in mind it is very step grade down to the lake. Photos attached for your convenience.

I hope the sketch clarifies everything.

March 16th, 2023 by souldope_overlanding

Easy way up- they did a good work to clear the road
50 per person- 15 per day park

February 20th, 2023 by Hibiscus

impressive
We stayed on the footballfield and were the only ones.
rest as described.

February 5th, 2022 by Adriaan&Isabelle

A lake inside an extinguished crater, accessible by climbing (at least) the rim of the crater. Several Mayan groups celebrating their religion - very authentic. It's like visiting a cathedral but the altar is a lake.

From the waypoint, it's about one hour on foot to the Mirador over an uninteresting steep track also used by the shuttle service. From the Mirador there's a staircase down to the lake. They want you to take the 'nuevo sendero' back up (one way traffic because of the pandemic), but signage is unclear. Going back, walk left of the stairs until you find a trail going left (no sign). That is the nuevo sendero.

We spent a few hours of mindful 'being there' (and meditating) .

Paid GTQ 50 per person and GTQ 15 to park.

May 18th, 2021 by elmoost

To be clear.
The road to the entrance /camp is a cobble stone road, pretty steep and when wet you might have some traction issues for 2wd or heavier rigs. The place described as 'next to a football pitch' is the camp at the entrance, not up the mountain.
The drive from the entrance to the mirrador is 4x4 only, I don't think any 2wd high clearance car would make it up there. Bigger rigs will have to remodel some trees on the way up.

Camping at the mirrador was stunning! Complete silence, beautiful stars and amazing sunset.
Walk down the lake from there is pretty easy, only 500 steps..

March 28th, 2021 by tcowan78

Now Q50pp entrance, Q15 to park and Q15 to camp. Lovely and quiet, fireflies etc. Fine getting up to the camp spot in RWD Astro, in dry weather, good brake test coming down!

Lots of people camp down by the lake; there must have been 30 or 40 people overnighting there on a Saturday night (might have been busier than usual as it was the weekend before Semana Santa). I hiked up to the mirador for sunrise, along the rim to the 'costa sur' mirador and down the shorter non-stairs path to the lake - there was frost on the ground and the campers looked absolutely frozen; take good kit if you do! At this time of year the mist comes in around 10am and stays till just before sunset, nice and ethereal! Be warned though I had a hat on all day and it was misty for most, but I still got very burnt - sun is fierce at this altitude even through cloud!

March 1st, 2021 by Schiebockner

We drove up to the mirador (needed 4WD and high clearance) and spend the night there (needed a bit of patience to level out the car).
Therefore we got amazing views of the lake at sunset and sunrise as well as a glimpse of flying lava from the Santiaguito vulcano in the distance.
Great and quiet experience to spend the night up there!

November 5th, 2019 by lindsay.allison.smith

This crater lake is a spiritual place for the local indigenous Mayans. There are weathered boards that talk about the Mayan calendar. We hiked in the morning 8am and had a unique experience of three Mayan families praying and chanting at the lakeside. With many stops, it took us 2 hours round trip.

August 26th, 2018 by Tucks' Truck

We were a bit disappointed after visiting other more spectacular crater-lakes in central and south America, but this place is pleasant enough. Just about worth the money Q50pp entry, Q15pp to camp, Q10 per car to park. Total Q140 for 2 people overnight. Drive up needs high clearance, drive down needs good brakes and good tyre-grip if it's wet.

May 5th, 2018 by WanderfulLivin.com

Made the trek to the trailhead of the lake and it wasn't SO bad we don't have 4x4... but have a higher clearance Nissan Frontier so we were able to get up and down but it was totally dry.... it wouldn't have been doable if we had any rain. As for the lake it's a nice hike up... mostly up hill until you get to the sign for the mirador... the lake is a very peaceful and spiritual place but it's not for swimming. Pack a lunch and enjoy!

February 4th, 2018 by esmeralda.life

Stayed at this very tranquil location for the night. Enjoyed the dramatic scenery with clouds rolling in/out.
Took the hike to the lake in the morning, what a special place to visit! The walk is quite steep but so worth it. Note that there are 575 stairs bringing you back up from the lake to the Mirador.
We paid 50pp entrance fee and 10 for the truck camper to spend the night.
Made it with our Toyota Tundra pop up truck camper. Road was dry for us, otherwise we would have not been able to do it.

January 31st, 2018 by alvise

Really nice flat spot with beautiful grass, super clean restrooms and cabanas. Really quiet us and one guest in cabana. Road as described , we drove up with a 250 quad cab and truck camper, couple of tight turns and good grade. could be very tricky if wet. If you have a tiny 4x4 you can drive up to the look out.
Entry 50qz per person and 40 to park our truck camper and sleep. Follow the road on feet to come to the lookout at the only fork keep left to go to lookout. from there you can descent step steps to the lake and loop around on the bottom another trail bring you back without need to use the steps.

December 6th, 2017 by It's not a slow car, it's a fast house

The access road is possible in a 2wd if it’s not wet but it will be tough. We pushed a 6ton truck camper up there in 4hi. No trailers, no longer rigs (we are 24 ft). If you are nervous, there is a lower parking lot and can pay an open air 4x4 to take you up.
Once there it is great parking with nice toilets available. Possibly showers in a room if you ask. Little junk food tienda. Great parking on a soccer field. Groups of school kids/tourists will look at you curiously. Paid 125q per night for 2 people to camp. From there we hiked up to the viewpoint (1 hour) and could have gone around or down to the waters edge.
This is a lovely place and well worth the hassle to get there. Stay a couple of nights and enjoy the clouds moving in and out and the volcano views nearby.

May 29th, 2017 by mich_883

Entry price is now 50Q. Per Person.
If you go early the cashier is still closed, but on the way down they will wait for you and collect the money.

March 14th, 2016 by les-voyages-forment-la-jeunesse.over-blog.com

Price are still same: 25Q per person, 15Q for camping and 10Q for parking . We arrived with our Campervan at 3pm and we could overnight overthere for the parking price 10Q. Just amazing place and really quiet!

February 16th, 2016 by Overland The Americas

Prices remain the same. Camped for 15Q per night. Entrance fee is 25Q per person. As state by other travelers, the road to the park facilities may require 4WD. Big rigs (long camper vans or bigger) may not be able to drive up to the park facilities. Parking down the road is possible.

December 28th, 2015 by lesmilav.canalblog.com

Très bel espace herbeux à l'entrée du parc, entrée 25Q/per plus 10Q pour le véhicule. (4X4 obligatoire)

December 27th, 2015 by Flightless Kiwis

Didn't actually camp here. Wish we had, it is a really nice spot, right by a big soccer field. The bathrooms are pretty flash, but were locked when we came back from our walk after 5pm. Parking costs 10Q anyway, so camping would be good value :)

August 6th, 2015 by mason.derekc

Nice camping for 15Q. Entry to the lake is 25Q per person.

December 11th, 2014 by ajsml

We paid 85q for two nights, it was very quiet the first night and the second night there were two chicken buses full of teenage girls on a church trip, it wasn't as quiet. Don't let that stop you from coming the hike to the lake is fairly mellow and the Mayan sites around the lake were interesting.

November 26th, 2014 by jfdioverland.com

Park entry 25Q per person, camping 15Q per person and 10Q parking. Parking beside bungalows and the football pitch. We arrived after the ranger station closed (3pm), you may be able to request the bathrooms be unlocked overnight if you arrive before it closes. The road is steep and may not be suitable for non 4x4, however there is a tienda just before the rough rd begins on the left, camping there is 20Q