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

river photo

Class: IV ; Flow: 500-1,500 cfs; Average Gradient: 5 m/km; Portages: no; Length: 22 km; Time: 3 hours

Season: June to November; rafts? yes; Highlights: good play; Crux move: finding a play boat

Put-In: Siliantuque Higuito bridge (580 m); Take-Out: Lower Puente Higuito (575 m)

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

The Lower Río Higuito is your favorite play run, combined with some quality Honduras scenery, in the second part of the Grand Canyon of Honduras. The rapids are mostly class III but with some IVs downstream of the Río Cospa (page 115) confluence. The play waves and holes are some of the best in Honduras at higher water. There are scenic cliffs as you approach the Río Mejocote confluence near the end, plus the amazing sculpted gorge at the TO. You can extend this day-run 45 minutes further to Pajapas to soak in even more scenery (see the Río Jicatuyo write-up on page 123).

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

Descent History: The Ríos Honduras guys ran this in the early 90s.