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

river photo

Class: IV, IV+, III ; Flow: 300-3,500 cfs; Average Gradient: 4 m/km; Portages: likely; Length: 37+35+9 km; Time: 8+9+1 hours

Season: June to October; rafts? yes; Highlights: great multi-day run; Crux move: bouldery rapids in the canyons

Put-In: Higuito bridge (475 m) or Santiago de Posta (325 m); Take-Out: San Juan Jicatuyo (160 m) or Río Ulúa

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

The Río Jicatuyo is the heart of the "Grand Canyon of Honduras" which starts upstream on the Río Higuito and finishes downstream on the Río Ulúa. Lacking paved access for 81 km, it is a river full of bouldery canyons until it runs into the limestone massif that forms Mt. Santa Bárbara. There it joins the Río Ulúa to create Honduras' largest river. The Río Jicatuyo makes for an adventurous and exciting multi-day raft trip (4-6 days), one of the best in Central America. Floating times can vary widely with flow and wind; the times (hour:minute) mentioned here are for a raft trip at a medium water level. Kayakers will easily beat these times, and can do any of the sections as (lengthy) day-trips.

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

Descent History: Several outfits from La Ceiba ran this river in the mid-90s, including Omega Tours (with Udo Witteman), La Moskitia Ecoaventuras (Jorge Salaverri with John James Dupuis), and Ríos Honduras. I do not know who was first.