Wikipedia describes Semuc Champey as a natural limestone bridge 300 metres long, beneath which the main flow of the Cahabón river plunges underground through a sinkhole known locally as El Sumidero, with a stepped series of turquoise-green pools on top fed by mountain spring runoff. The river that runs underneath comes from upstream: Wikipedia traces the Cahabón through Santa Cruz Verapaz, Tactic, Cobán and San Pedro Carchá before Semuc Champey.
So the weather question for a trip this week is not only whether it will rain on the day but how much rain has already fallen, at the site and upstream. This page shows both: the daily rain for the three days before the latest pull, at Semuc Champey and at Cobán, and then the forecast for the days ahead at both points.
Rain at Semuc Champey and upstream at Cobán
Pulled Nov 10, 2026 at 14:34 Guatemala time from MET Norway and OpenWeather.
Weather data provided by OpenWeather
Data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0); processed by us
Weather Data Provided by Visual CrossingRain in the three days before Tue Nov 10
| Day | Semuc Champey | Cobán (upstream, on the Cahabón) |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Nov 7 | 7.5 mm | 5.2 mm |
| Sun Nov 8 | 7.7 mm | 7.6 mm |
| Mon Nov 9 | 0 mm | 0.2 mm |
| 3-day total | 15.2 mm | 13 mm |
Visual Crossing's daily rain totals for the Wikipedia coordinates of Semuc Champey and Cobán.
The days ahead
| Day | Semuc: rain | Semuc: rain chance | Cobán: rain | Cobán: rain chance | Semuc high / low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 11 | 7.9 mm | 100% | 3.4 mm | 99% | 28°C (82°F) / 22°C (72°F) |
| Thu Nov 12 | 13.3 mm | 100% | 8.7 mm | 100% | 29°C (84°F) / 23°C (73°F) |
| Fri Nov 13 | 12.9 mm | 100% | 7.1 mm | 100% | 29°C (84°F) / 22°C (72°F) |
| Sat Nov 14 | 16 mm | 94% | 16.9 mm | 89% | 28°C (82°F) / 22°C (72°F) |
Rain = MET Norway's forecast total for the day. Rain chance = the highest of OpenWeather's 3-hour-step rain chances that day. Points: Semuc Champey 15.5333, -89.9614 and Cobán 15.4833, -90.3667 (Wikipedia coordinates). A model, not a measurement.
How to read it. The first table covers the three days before the date in its heading. The second starts tomorrow. Rain is MET Norway’s forecast total for the day in millimetres; rain chance is the highest of OpenWeather’s 3-hour-step chances that day. The two places are about 44 km apart in a straight line (computed from their Wikipedia coordinates).
Heavy rain and historical restrictions at Semuc Champey
Diario de Centro América’s report dated 16 febrero, 2022 describes constant heavy rain increasing the river’s flow and causing overflow at El Sumidero and the pools. It reports that the monument remained open, while access to the pools was prohibited until their natural colour returned. This is a historical restriction, rather than today’s opening status (read 25 October 2026).
AGN’s report dated 26 de abril de 2021 relays the MEM and MARN explanation that heavy-rain flows can exceed what El Sumidero absorbs. Water then passes temporarily over the pools, returning to normal as the water level falls (read 25 October 2026).
What this page does not tell you
- Not the colour of the pools. We found no published source that says how much rain changes the pools or the river, so this page states the rainfall and stops there.
- Not whether the site is open today. The reports above are historical. Ask your shuttle or tour operator; our Semuc Champey logistics guide lists the transport options.
- Refreshed daily. The stamp above the tables shows when they were read; if a day’s read fails, the previous file stays and the stamp turns red after 26 hours. The days ahead are a forecast, not a measurement.
Getting there
- From Antigua: Antigua to Semuc Champey.
- From Lake Atitlán: Lake Atitlán to Semuc Champey.
- Month-by-month rain for Semuc Champey (Lanquín) and other destinations: the best time to visit Guatemala, month by month.
- Official warnings: weather alerts today.
Sources
- Diario de Centro América, CONAP pool-access restriction, read 25 October 2026
- AGN, explanation of temporary overflow, read 25 October 2026
Past three days: Visual Crossing’s daily weather history. Days ahead: MET Norway’s locationforecast (rain totals, high and low) and OpenWeather’s 5-day, 3-hour forecast (rain chance). All read daily for the Wikipedia coordinates of Semuc Champey (15.5333, -89.9614) and Cobán (15.4833, -90.3667). River course and site description: the Wikipedia articles on Semuc Champey and the Cahabón River.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this page show Cobán as well as Semuc Champey?
Because of the river. Wikipedia describes the Cahabón as flowing through Santa Cruz Verapaz, Tactic, Cobán, San Pedro Carchá and then Semuc Champey, so Cobán sits upstream on the same river. The table puts the rain at the site and upstream side by side.
Does rain turn the pools at Semuc Champey brown?
We have not found a published source that ties an amount of rain to the colour of the pools, so this page does not give one. It shows the rain; for the state of the site on a given day, ask your shuttle or tour operator before you travel.
Where does the rain for the last three days come from?
From Visual Crossing’s daily weather history for the Wikipedia coordinates of Semuc Champey and Cobán. Until that source is connected to our data pipeline, the first table says it is unavailable; the forecast for the days ahead comes from MET Norway and OpenWeather and is not affected.
What is the best month to visit Semuc Champey?
This page is about this week. Our month-by-month guide, built on a 1996-2025 reanalysis series, notes that Semuc Champey gets rain in every month and that February to April is the least rainy stretch there.
Has heavy rain restricted access to the pools at Semuc Champey?
Yes. Diario de Centro América reported on 16 febrero, 2022 that the monument remained open while access to the pools was prohibited until their natural colour returned after rain-related overflow. This is historical evidence, not current opening status. Read 25 October 2026.
