Really lovely day at Semuc Champey National Park. My intent was to have a relaxing day and then do the park tour after a day of rest. HA!
The hour-long walk turned out to be a lot of uphill in the heat and sun. When I finally got to the bridge below the park, I was so tired. I stopped twice on the 15-minute walk to the park entrance. Enough with the uphill treks, already!

After a false start following the sigh to the RIO, I walked back uphill and followed the path to the pools. Another case of having the thing that I seek being right in front of me.
The water was beautiful, a nice temperature, not too cool and not too warm. At one point, the wind came up quickly and with force. I looked around at the trees and decided it was low risk, especially since the heavy clouds were blowing over, leaving a clear blue sky behind.

This was the river I found on the first try. I followed the trail marked RIO, down the hill, to the river. The river looked like so many other rivers – no turquoise color, no pretty pools, just a mirky flowing medium sized river. I followed the path farther that I should have, trying to make my way to the pretty part of Semuc Champey. I sat by the water to cool off for a while, then made my way back up the hill to the main path.