Río Gualcarque, Middle & Lower, Honduras (click here for the Honduras table of rivers)

river photo

Class: V, IV ; Flow: 300-2,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 25 m/km Upper, 9 m/km Lower; Portages: Upper; Length: 6.5+14 km; Time: 5.5+2 hours

Season: June to October; rafts? Lower?; Highlights: true adventure big creeking; Crux move: bringing a rope

Put-In: La Leona (532 m) or Camotal (370 m); Take-Out: San Francisco de Ojuera bridge (248 m)

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

The Río Gualcarque is one of the major tributaries of the Río Ulúa, and one of the most contentious due to hydroelectric projects. The Middle also contains more high-end gnar than any other run in this book. If you do not mind a healthy amount of portages and scouts, this run may be for you, because there are also plenty of fun rapids and spectacular river features and scenery. (The Upper run on page 138 is more satisfying overall though.)

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

Descent History: Jeff Hastings and I ran this in September 2007, with 800 cfs at the PI. We got stuck overnight after a too-late start.