Las Conchas, officially the Parque Recreativo Natural Municipal Las Conchas, is a set of turquoise pools and waterfalls on the Río Chiyú in Caserío Las Conchas, Chahal, Alta Verapaz. Entry is Q55 for foreign visitors, Q25 for Guatemalan nationals and Q10 for local visitors, and the park is open every day from 08:00 to 17:00. The Municipality of Chahal administers it.
Every fee and hour on this page is from the park’s listing in the Sistema de Información Cultural (SIC) of Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports, read on 31 October 2026. The listing names the Municipality of Chahal as the managing institution. If the gate charges differently, the price at the gate is the current one.
Quick summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Official name | Parque Recreativo Natural Municipal Las Conchas |
| Where | Caserío Las Conchas, Chahal, Alta Verapaz |
| Managed by | Municipalidad de Chahal |
| Declared by | Resolución SE-CONAP 006/2005 |
| Hours | Monday to Sunday, 08:00-17:00 |
| Entry, foreign visitor | Q55.00 |
| Entry, national visitor | Q25.00 |
| Entry, local visitor | Q10.00 |
| Parking | Q5.00-Q15.00 by vehicle size |
| Camping | Q25.00-Q75.00 by visitor category; tent rental Q100.00 |
| Where to sleep | Chahal |
Fees by visitor category
| Visitor category (as listed) | Entry | Camping |
|---|---|---|
| Turista / visitante extranjero (foreign) | Q55.00 | Q75.00 |
| Turista / visitante nacional (national) | Q25.00 | Q50.00 |
| Turista / visitante local (local) | Q10.00 | Q25.00 |
| Tent rental (alquiler de carpas para acampar) | Q100.00 |
The listing uses the word turista for entry and visitante for camping. It does not define local against national, and does not say whether the camping fee covers one night, one person or one tent. Ask at the entrance before you pitch.
Parking
| Vehicle (as listed) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Vehículo pequeño (small) | Q5.00 |
| Vehículo mediano (medium) | Q10.00 |
| Vehículo pesado (heavy) | Q15.00 |
What the listing says about the site
- The water: the pools and waterfalls, of different sizes, are formed by the Río Chiyú, set in karst terrain with tropical rainforest vegetation.
- The name: citing CONAP/SIGAP, the listing traces Las Conchas to the Q’eqchi’ Se Pemech, meaning where there are shells, after fossil remains of clams and snails found in the area.
- Protection: the listing gives Resolución SE-CONAP 006/2005 as the declaring instrument and classes the site as natural heritage.
What the listing does not cover
| Question | On the SIC listing (31 October 2026)? |
|---|---|
| Swimming rules or lifeguards | Not covered |
| Guides and their fees | Not covered |
| Payment methods | Not covered |
| Food on site | Not covered |
| Phone number | Not listed; it gives an email, serimfer@gmail.com, and the area as Franja Transversal del Norte, Alta Verapaz |
Health note for the area
The CDC Yellow Book says that in Guatemala most leishmaniasis cases come from Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango and Petén, and the Ministry of Health’s 2024 data put Alta Verapaz first by case count. If you camp, see our leishmaniasis guide for the sand-fly precautions the CDC and PAHO give.
Where to sleep: Chahal
The park opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00, and camping is on site if you would rather stay at the falls. Otherwise, the park lies in the municipality of Chahal; see our town page for what is there.
Live availability near Chahal:
Where to stay in Chahal
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A workable visit
| Step | Time | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Gate opens | 08:00 | SIC listing |
| Pay entry and parking | At the entrance | SIC listing fees |
| Pools and falls | Your choice | |
| Gate closes | 17:00 | SIC listing |
More in Alta Verapaz
- Finca Chijul day visit: river pools and trails near Cobán, Q100 per person.
- Hun Nal Ye, near Cobán · Lanquín · all activities.
Sources
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sistema de Información Cultural, Parque Recreativo Natural Municipal Las Conchas: https://www.sicultura.gob.gt/directory-directorio_c/listing/parque-recreativo-natural-municipal-las-conchas/ (read 31 October 2026)
- CDC Yellow Book, Guatemala and Belize (dated April 23, 2025): https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/americas-caribbean/guatemala-and-belize.html (read 30 September 2026)
- MSPAS, Dirección de Epidemiología, Situación epidemiológica de leishmaniasis, semana 52, 2024: https://epidemiologia.mspas.gob.gt/phocadownload/userupload/leishmaniasis/leishmaniasis-sem-52-2024.pdf (read 31 October 2026)
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- Genki Traveler: a monthly subscription for up to 12 months that covers up to €1,000,000 for unexpected medical care while traveling abroad, at public and private doctors and hospitals.
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- Faye: single-trip plans sold to residents of U.S. states (not U.S. territories); its FAQ lists emergency medical cover of up to $250K and emergency medical evacuation of up to $500K, and adventure and extreme activities need a paid add-on for medical cover.
Limits, prices and the altitude rules side by side: travel insurance for Guatemala · insurance for volcano hikes
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance to Las Conchas waterfalls?
Q10 for a local tourist, Q25 for a national tourist and Q55 for a foreign tourist, per the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ Sistema de Información Cultural listing for the park (read 31 October 2026).
What are the opening hours of Las Conchas?
Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:00, per the same Ministry of Culture listing.
Can you camp at Las Conchas?
Yes. The listing gives camping at Q25 for a local visitor, Q50 for a national visitor and Q75 for a foreign visitor, and tent rental at Q100. It does not say whether the camping fee is per person or per night, so ask at the entrance.
How much is parking at Las Conchas?
Q5 for a small vehicle, Q10 for a medium vehicle and Q15 for a heavy vehicle, per the listing.
Who runs Las Conchas?
The Municipality of Chahal, Alta Verapaz, per the Ministry of Culture listing, which gives Resolución SE-CONAP 006/2005 as the instrument declaring the site.
Where does the name Las Conchas come from?
The listing, citing CONAP/SIGAP, says it comes from the Q’eqchi’ words Se Pemech, meaning where there are shells, after fossil clams and snails found in the area.
