rivers | guidebooks | forums | tips | otherHere are the known runs in Guatemala. Rivers with a write-up on this site will be link-highlighted in your browser. For the season data, best months are in green, marginal months in red. Times are average for experienced kayakers. For a different country, click here: Chiapas Belize Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua.
| region | river | class | length/time | rafts? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PACIFIC WEST | Suchiate, upper | IV | 9km/1:30+hike | no |
| season:May, Jun-Oct, Nov | Suchiate, main | IV- | 12km/1:30 | yes |
| Petacalapa, upper | III | 10km/1:30 | no | |
| Petacalapa, lower | III | 12km/2:30 | yes | |
| Cabúz, Upper, & Negro | IV | up to 16km/5:00 | no | |
| Cutzulchimá-Cabúz, Lower & Bottom | IV | up to 37km/5:00 | yes | |
| Nahuatán, main | III | 6km/0:45 | no | |
| Nahuatán, lower | II | 8km/1:15 | yes | |
| Pajapá, upper | IV | 12km/2:30 | no | |
| Pajapá | III | 5km/0:40 | no | |
| Ixtal | IV | 20km/5:00 | no | |
| Chisná | IV | 20km/6:00 | no | |
| Naranjo, upper | IV | 7km/1:30+hike | no | |
| Naranjo | IV- | 24km/4:00 | yes | |
| Naranjo, lower | IV | 7.5km/1:00 | yes | |
| Xab, upper | IV | 10.5km/3:30 | no | |
| Xab, lower | IV | 10km/2:00 | no | |
| Nil, upper | IV- | 13.5km/2:00 | no | |
| Nil, lower | IV- | 23km/4:00 | no | |
| Ocosito, upper | IV | 9km/3:00 | no | |
| Ocosito, middle | IV- | 9km/1:30 | yes | |
| Ocosito, lower | III+ | 22km/3:30 | yes | |
| PACIFIC SUCHI | Ixtacapa | III+ | 20km/3:00 | no |
| season:May, Jun-Oct, Nov | Nahualate, upper | IV | up to 22km/7:00 | hard |
| Nahualate, middle | IV | 10km/2:00 | yes | |
| Nahualate, lower | III- | 8km/1:00 | yes | |
| Nicá-Cutzán | IV | up to 23km/5:00 | no | |
| Tarro | III | 5km/0:45 | no | |
| Mocá, upper | IV- | 16km/4:00 | no | |
| Mocá-Bravo, lower | II+ | 18km/2:30 | yes | |
| San Francisco, upper | IV | 7km/2:00 | no | |
| San Francisco, lower | III- | 6km/1:00 | yes | |
| Siguacán, canyon | IV- | 3km/1:30 | no | |
| Siguacán, middle | III | 13km/1:30 | yes | |
| Siguacán, lower | II | 11km/1:30 | yes | |
| Madre Vieja, upper | V- | 4km/2:00 | no | |
| Madre Vieja, middle | IV | up to 17.5km/3:30 | no | |
| Madre Vieja, lower | III | up to 24km/4:00 | no | |
| Piyá | IV | up to 12km/3:30 | no | |
| Nicán | V- | 22.5km/6:00 | no | |
| Coyolate | IV- | 24-26km/4:00 | yes | |
| Popoyá, upper | II+ | 4km/0:30 | no | |
| Popoyá, lower | IV | 4km/3:00+Coyolate | no | |
| PACIFIC ESCUINTLA | Aguná, upper | IV | 19km/4:00 | no |
| season:May, Jun-Oct, Nov | Aguná, lower | III- | 10km/2:00 | no |
| Xatá | III | up to 26km/3:30 | no | |
| San Cristóbal | IV | 7.5km/4:00 | no | |
| Pantaleón, upper | IV- | up to 16km/2:00 | no | |
| Pantaleón, lower | III+ | 9km/1:00 | yes | |
| Ceniza | IV | 15km/2:00 | no | |
| Achiguate | III- | 14km/2:00 | if high | |
| Metapa | IV | 10km/1:30 | no | |
| Asuchillo | II | 8km/1:30 | no | |
| Maria Linda, upper | V | 19km/6:00 | no | |
| Maria Linda, lower | IV- | 9-12km/1:30 | no | |
| Aguacapa | III- | 5km/0:40 | no | |
| La Plata | IV | 9km/2:00 | no | |
| SOUTHEAST | Las Cañas | III | 9km/1:30 | no |
| season: Jun-Oct | Los Esclavos, top | III | 13km/1:30 | yes |
| Los Esclavos, upper | IV | 19-25km/5:00 | yes | |
| Los Esclavos, hydro run | V | up to 5km/2:30 | no | |
| Los Esclavos, middle | V | 23km/3-6:00 | no | |
| Los Esclavos, lower | IV- | 13km/2:00 | yes | |
| Margaritas | IV+ | 34km/6:0'0 | no | |
| Paz, upper | V | up to 58km/9:00 | no | |
| Paz, lower | IV+ | 36km/7:00 | no | |
| Pululá | III | 12km/1:15 | no | |
| Ostúa, upper | IV | 11km/1:30 | no | |
| Ostúa, middle II | II | 8km/1:00 | yes | |
| Ostúa, middle | IV+ | 28km/5:00 | yes | |
| Ostúa, lower | V | 15.5km/6:00 | no | |
| HIGH RÍO MOTAGUA | Motagua, top parts* | IV(VI) | 10-18km/2:30+ | no |
| (listed east to west) | Arriquín* | IV+ | up to 18km/5:00 | no |
| season: Jun-Oct, Nov | Motagua, upper | IV/V | up to 38km/4-12hrs | no |
| Quisayá | IV/V | 32km/7-8hrs | no | |
| Quisayá, upper | IV | 13km/3:00 | no | |
| Motagua, middle | III+ | 14km/2:00 | yes | |
| Pixcayá, lower | III+ | 10km/2:00 | yes | |
| Motagua, lower | IV | up to 27km/4:00 | yes | |
| Motagua, bottom bit | V | 4km/3:00 | no | |
| Pixcayá, canyon | V | 9.5km/5:00 | no | |
| Pixcayá, middle | IV | up to 18.5km/5:00 | no | |
| Pixcayá, upper | III | 7km/1:30 | no | |
| Pixcayá, Xayá Run | IV | 8km/2:00 | no | |
| MID RÍO MOTAGUA | Cañas, upper | IV | 11km/2:00 | no |
| (listed west to east) | Cañas, lower | IV | 15km/3:00+Plat. | no |
| season: Jun-Aug, Sep-Oct | Plátanos, upper* | IV | 15km/2:30 | no |
| Plátanos, middle | IV | 23km/4:00 | yes | |
| Plátanos, lower | IV- | 19km/4:00 | no | |
| Guastatoya, upper | IV | 24km/2:30 | no | |
| Guastatoya, lower | III | 11km/2:30 | yes | |
| Morazán, middle | II | 4.5km/1:00 | no | |
| Morazán, the rest | IV | 12.5km/3:30 | no | |
| Jalapa, upper | IV | up to 20km/3:00 | no | |
| Jalapa, high middle | V | 10km/5:00 | no | |
| Jalapa, mid middle | IV | 7km/1:15 | no | |
| Jalapa, low middle | III | 10.5km/1:30 | no | |
| Jalapa canyon | V | 23km/2-3 days | no | |
| Tambor | III+ | 10km/1:30 | yes | |
| LOW RÍO MOTAGUA | Teculután | IV | 9km/1:00 | no |
| season: Jun-Aug, Sep-Oct | San José, upper | IV | up to 30km/5:00 | no |
| San José, middle | II | 16km/2:00 | if high | |
| Shutaque, lower | II | 14km/2:00 | if high | |
| Shutaque, upper | III+ | up to 25km/3:00 | no | |
| San José, lower canyon | IV- | 8km/1:00+Zacapa | no | |
| Zacapa, lower | III+ | 9km/1:30 | yes | |
| Zacapa, bottom | III- | up to 16.5km/2:00 | yes | |
| Jocotán | V | 15.5km/4:00+Zac. | no | |
| Camotán | III+ | up to 11km/2:00 | yes | |
| Olopa-Lempa (Honduras) | III+ | 13.5km/3:00 | yes | |
| Copán, mid/low/border (Hond.) | II to IV | up to 47km/6:00 | lower | |
| Las Cañas (Shinshín) | IV | 19km/3:00 | no | |
| El Zapote | IV | 21km/4:00 | challenge | |
| Managuá | IV | up to 22km/3:30 | lower | |
| Jubuco | IV/V | 8-18km/2-7:00 | no | |
| NORTHWEST | Cuilco, upper* | III+ | up to 44km/8:00 | low bits |
| (listed south to north) | Cuilco, middle* | IV+ | 10-25km/1-3:00 | yes |
| season: Jun-Aug, Sep-Nov, Dec | Cuilco, lower | IV+ | up to 53km/8:00 | mostly |
| Cuilco, border run | III | 11km/1:15 | yes | |
| Selegua, top | III- | 9km/1:30 | no | |
| Selegua, upper | IV | up to 34km/5:00 | no | |
| Selegua, 1st canyon | V+ | 4km/4:00 | no | |
| Selegua, between canyons | IV | 11km/3:00 | no | |
| Selegua, lower | IV | up to 25km/10:00 | first part | |
| Valparaiso, upper | IV | 4km/2:00 | no | |
| Valparaiso, middle | IV | 5km/2:00 | no | |
| Valparaiso, lower | V | 6km/2:30 | no | |
| Santa Ana, upper | V | 6km/4:30 | no | |
| Santa Ana, lower | III | 6km/1:00 | no | |
| Azul, upper | IV+ | 15km/3:00-4:00 | no | |
| Azul, lower | II+ | 15km/1:15-2:00 | yes | |
| Catarina, main | IV+ | 37km/6:30 | no | |
| Catarina, upper | V | 6km/6:00 | no | |
| Nentón, main | IV | 18km/2:30 | yes | |
| Nentón, upper | IV | 15km/2:00 | no | |
| RÍO NEGRO | Negro, bottom | IV? | 37km/6:00 | yes |
| season: Jun-Aug, Sep-Oct | Negro, lower | V | 32km/6:00 | yes |
| Negro, middle | II/III | up to 23km/4:00 | yes | |
| Blanco | IV+ | up to 24km/5:00 | low bit | |
| Negro, upper* | IV/V | 13km/5:00 | no | |
| Pacaranát* | IV+ | 16km/4:30 | no | |
| Cajulá, lower | IV+ | 11km/4:00 | no | |
| Serchil, lower | IV+ | 13km/4:30 | no | |
| Cajulá, upper | IV- | 21km/5:00 | no | |
| Serchil, upper | III | 10km/1:30 | no | |
| Malá | II | 13km/2:30 | no | |
| SALAMÁ | Xolacoy | II | 11 km/2:00 | no |
| season: Jun-Oct | Xococ | V | 12 km/5:00 | no |
| Salamá, lower | III | 12 km/2:00 | no | |
| Salamá, middle | II+ | 6 km/1:00 | no | |
| Quililá, upper | III | 6 km/1:00 | no | |
| Quililá, upper | IV | 4 km/1:00 | no | |
| San Jerónimo, Las Astras | IV | 3.5 km/2:00 | no | |
| Las Flautas | III | up to 11 km/3:00 | no | |
| San Isidro | IV(V) | 12 km/2:30 | no | |
| Matanzas (west) | IV | 1 km/0:30 | no | |
| CAHABÓN-POLOCHIC | Cahabón, blw Semuc Champey | II | 5.5km/1:30 | yes |
| season: Jun, Jul-Nov, Dec-Feb | Cahabón, Yutbal canyon | IV | 3.5km/2:00 | no |
| Lanquín, upper | III+ | 6km/1:00 | no | |
| Lanquín, middle | IV | 3km/1:00 | no | |
| Cahabón, main | IV | up to 22.5km/6:00 | yes | |
| Chisay | III+ | up to 20km/5:00 | no | |
| Cahabón, lower | IV | 11km/2:30 | yes | |
| Oxec | V | 11km/4:00 | no | |
| Polochic, upper | IV+ | up to 12.5km/6:00 | no | |
| Polochic, dam | IV+ | 6-9km/1-2:00 | no | |
| Polochic, main | IV+ | 23km/4:00 | no | |
| Polochic, lower | III | 9km/1:00 | yes | |
| Cucanjá | III | 7km/1:30 + Poloch. | no | |
| Panimá, upper | IV | 11km/4:00 | no | |
| Panimá-Matanzas, main | IV+ | 39km/5:00 | yes | |
| Ribacó | IV | 7.5km/2:30 | no | |
| Samiljá | IV | 12km/3:00 + Mat. | no | |
| Pueblo Viejo | III | 6km/1:15 | no | |
| Tinajas | III | 6.5km/0:45 | no | |
| Boca Nueva | IV | 23km/4:30 | no | |
| Zarco | III+ | 9km/1:30 | no | |
| COBÁN | Sachichaj, upper | V- | 11km/6:00 | no |
| season: Jun, Jul-Nov, Dec-Jan | Sachichaj, lower | III- | 11km/1:30 | yes |
| Chixoy, dam run | IV | 26km/3:30 | yes | |
| Chixoy, bridge run | VI- | 17km/7:30 | no | |
| Chixoy, canyon run | IV | 17km/5:00+hike | no | |
| Calá* | IV- | 13km/2:30 | no | |
| Cahabón, far upper | III | 13.5km/2:00 | no | |
| Cahabón, above Cobán | III | 12km/2:00 | no | |
| Mestelá | III+ | 15km/3:00 | no | |
| Chilax-Chicoy, lower | IV | 9km/2:30 | no | |
| Chilax-Chicoy, upper | III | 8km/2:00 | no | |
| Cahabón, Carchá run | IV- | up to 19.5km/4:00 | no | |
| Tzunutz | IV+ | 10.5km/7:00 | no | |
| MID CUCHUMATANES | Amelco | IV- | 10km/1:30 | no |
| (listed west to east) | Mixlaj | V | 7.5km/5:00+Coc. | no |
| season: Mar-Jun, Jul-Feb | Cocolá | III/IV- | 10km/1:30 | yes |
| Yulá San Juan | V- | 28km/4:30 | yes | |
| Sichel-Suchum | IV+ | 18km/9:00 | no | |
| Xacbal, upper | IV | 17km/5:30 | no | |
| Xacbal, middle* | V | 5.5km/6:00 | no | |
| Xacbal, dam run* | V+ | 7km/8:00 | no | |
| Xacbal, lower* | V+ | 19km/14:00 | no | |
| Cotzal* | IV | 8km/2:30 | no | |
| Chipal* | IV- | 1.5km/0:30 | no | |
| Putul* | V- | 21km/7:00+Copón | no | |
| Copón, the canyon* | IV+ | 16km/6:00+lower | yes | |
| San Antonio* | III | 5km/1:00 | no | |
| CHISEC | Icbolay | III | 21km/3:00 | yes |
| (listed northwest to southeast) | El Limón | II- | 17km/3:00 | yes |
| season: Jun, Jul-Dec, Jan-Feb | Candelaria Caves* | II | up to 25km/7:00 | no |
| San Simon | II | 6km/1:30 | no | |
| Dolores, lower* | IV | 15km/3:30 | no | |
| Dolores, upper* | III+ | up to 23 km/5:00 | no | |
| Canguinic | II+ | 16km/4:00+Dolores | no | |
| Copón, lower* | III+ | 20km/3:00 | yes | |
| Chixoy, Chamá section* | IV | 53km/9:00 | yes | |
| Chixoy, Peyán section | II | 28-47km/4-7:00 | yes | |
| RÍO DULCE | San Marcos | III | 25km/4:30 | no |
| (listed south to north) | Sauce* | IV | 8-31km/2-6:00 | no |
| season: Jun, Jul-Oct, Nov-Feb | Túnico | III- | 11km/1:30 | no |
| Ciënaga, upper | IV- | 12km/3:00+hike | no | |
| Ciënaga, middle | III | 9.5km/1:30 | yes | |
| Chahal, upper | IV(V) | 13km2:30 | no | |
| Chahal, middle | II | 6.5km/1:00 | yes | |
| Chahal, lower canyon | IV | 15km/5:00 | yes | |
| Gracias a Dios* | III+ | 7.5+10km/3+2:00 | yes | |
| Chiyú, lower (Las Conchas) | III | up to 19km/5:30 | no | |
| Chiyú, upper (Setzol Cave) | III | 13km/4:00 | parts | |
| San Pedro branch* | III+ | 18km/5:00 | no | |
| PETEN | Machaquilá, upper | III | up to 26km/4:30 | no |
| (listed south to north) | Machaquilá, lower | III | up to 50km/3 days | no |
| season: Jun, Jul-Jan, Feb | Poxté, middle | III- | 5km/2:00 | no |
| Chiquibul, upper | IV | up to 28km/7:00 | no | |
| Mopán-Chiquibul, lower | II+ | up to 76km/3 days | yes |
*politically sensitive (see the tips page)
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