Río Choluteca, Lower, and Río Samayare, Honduras (click here for the Honduras table of rivers)

river photo

Class: III/IV; Flow: 1,500-20,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 3 m/km; Portages: one easy one; Length: up to 86 km; Time: 3-12 hours

Season: June to November; rafts? yes; Highlights: Cerro Feo canyon; Crux move: Chagüite Grande rapid/portage

Put-In: La Jagua (366 m), Río Samayare (456 m), or Río Texiguat (180 m); Take-Out: La Barranca (90 m)

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

The Río Choluteca is southern Honduras' most prominent river, starting high in the mountains, running north through Tegucigalpa, and circling around to near the Nicaraguan border and to the Pacific coast. It is quite polluted from Tegucigalpa waste, but it self-cleans and gathers strength for 200+ km before entering the lower reaches, where the water carries very little trash. The mountain scenery is magnificent, and I consider the Lower Choluteca to be the grand canyon of southern Honduras.

A full description is in the Mayan Whitewater El Salvador, Honduras, & Nicaragua guidebook.

Descent History: I ran below Río Texiguat in June 2017, and from Río Samayare in October 2017.