Located approximately thirty minutes from Rio Dulce is an attraction that no visitor should miss! The attraction of Finca Paraiso is the hot spring waterfall that is fed by a geothermal hot spring above a cool spring fed creek below. You can swim, dive, or just relax under the falls inside on a shelf. There is a beautiful canyon above that you can hike up as well. Walk far enough and you will come to a cavern. The caverns are sacred grounds and they don't really encourage people to go in as it can be hazardous and you are at your own risk!
From my understanding the Mayan's used to enter this cavern as if entering the Underworld by using torches or candles to see. Once entering and reaching the falls, they would extinguish the torches and perform rounds of prayer. After the prayer circles were completed, they would find a rock on the floor of the cavern that would contain those prayers and they carried the stones out after being purified, into a rebirth of open ground to carry on these prayers in daily life.
If you plan on going, notify them at the gate and bring your own gear like flashlights, climbing gear, and waterproof bags etc. But keep in mind that you WILL need your own extra batteries.
You can also order an amazing chicken soup (Caldo de Gayo) meal that feeds approximately 5 people before we enter at the restraunt at the lake and give them an approximate time of return for it to be prepared when we return. To do both yourself is rushing things as the last bus passes Finca Paraiso at around 3:00 and you will be lucky to get to Finca Paraiso and return in one day in itself.
Or, if you are tired and not in a hurry, there are several hotels with a restraunts and rooms on the lake that you can stay for the night and return the next day. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinners that you can swim in the lake while it is being prepared.
Key Information:
Finca Entry Fee: 10 Quetzaless.
