Río Choluteca, The Gorges, Honduras (click here for the Honduras table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV+; Flow: 800-3,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 4 m/km; Portages: 4-6; Length: 31-46 km; Time: 7-9 hours

Season: June to November; rafts? challenging; Highlights: big class IV in a remote setting; Crux move: pre-trip carbo-loading

Put-In: Puente Ojo de Agua (564 m); Take-Out: bridge at La Jagua (366 m)

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

The large Río Choluteca hides some great whitewater in The Gorges, and makes you work for it. Most of the run has a very remote feel, and the birding is quite good, including many tiger herons. I even saw a nutria on my run. I also saw a scorpion, and was told that this is rattlesnake country, so desert creatures are also at home here.

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

Descent History: I ran this in August 2017. Southern Honduras 241