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

river photo

Class: III+ ; Flow: 400-2,500 cfs; Average Gradient: 3 m/km; Portages: one IV-; Length: (5 +) 42 km; Time: 1 or 2 days

Season: mid-June to mid-November; rafts? yes; Highlights: scenery; Crux move: Tecolotas class IV- rapid

Put-In: El Cantil (745 m), Cucuyagua (720 m), or below; Take-Out: Siliantuque Higuito bridge (580 m)

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

Circling a wide arc southwest of Santa Rosa, the Upper Río Higuito is a beautiful easily- accessed run through remote canyons. It is the first part of the Grand Canyon of Honduras, and it should be a rafting classic. For now, it remains a hidden gem, when the water is up, with the dry tropical forest and the multi-colored rocks grabbing your attention.

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

Descent History: The first to float the Higuito that I know of was a group of Peace Corps Volunteers who tubed it in 2005 (see the article on page 126). It kind of boggles my mind that they made it out in one day. My impressions are from a run with 450 cfs at the PI and 1,200 cfs at the TO.