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

river photo

Class: II/III; Flow: 700-6,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 2 m/km; Portages: maybe the bridges; Length: up to 27 km; Time: up to 4 hours

Season: year round; rafts? yes; Highlights: easy run and easy access with dam releases; Crux move: the "rampla" bridges, and one class III/III+

Put-In: San Antonio de Flores (86 m) or Pespire (60 m); Take-Out: Malalaja (67 m) or CA-2 bridge (25 m)

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

The Río Nacaome offers some easy rapids with relatively reliable flow due to a hydroelectric dam. Plus, there is a scenic canyon in the lower part. The volcanic bedrock creates a bit of class III but I believe beginners could manage it easily, with some guidance, at low-medium flows.

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

Descent History: I ran the upper part in September 2016, with 700 cfs, and the whole thing in September 2017, with 6,000 cfs.