Río Cuero, Honduras (click here for the Honduras table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV- ; Flow: 300-800 cfs; Average Gradient: 9 m/km; Portages: no; Length: 15 km; Time: 2 hours

Season: ; rafts? no; Highlights: easy access; Crux move: lobbying for the gauge to be fixed

Put-In: San Marcos (160 m); Take-Out: highway (30 m)

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

The Río Cuero provides a nice length intermediate run close to La Ceiba. It runs mostly through farmland including many plots of African palm. Starting at the community of San Marcos, the rapids are mostly class III, with more class II at low water and reaching IV- at higher water. Starting further up at San Marquitos adds 1+ km of class IV with one class V rapid. You may consider hiking up even further along the Río Cuero to explore the gradually increasing gradient.

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

Descent History: Hibbard includes the Río Cuero in his guidebook.