Río Managuá, Guatemala (area: Low Motagua; click here for the Guatemala table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV; Ave. Gradient: 13 m/km; Portages: none; Length: up to 22 km; Time: 3.5 hours

Season: June to October; rafts? lower; Highlights: Las Lajas mini-canyon; Crux move: class V jeep roads

Water Quality: OK; Water Temperature: warm

PI: Finca La Estrella (391m); TO: Guapinol (196m) or Estación Managuá (112m)

Description: (click here for general notes about my descriptions)

The Río Managuá is a pretty creek with varied river features. It has more class III than class IV. The first 13 km is rocky and technical, and the remaining 9 km is more open, and raftable, if you can catch the water. The roads are terrible out here, especially getting to the upper parts, so that may put some people off.

A full description is in the Mayan Whitewater Guatemala guidebook.

Descent History: I got on this in September 2014, with 250 cfs at the PI.

Flow Notes: The Río Managuá needs extra high water. on my run the Morales gauge read 2.3 and the level was less than ideal.

Nearby Tourist Attractions: Copán Mayan ruins across the Honduran border; Esquipulas cathedral pilgrimage site an hour away.