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

river photo

Class: III ; Flow: 600-15,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 2 m/km; Portages: no; Length: up to 81 km; Time: 1-3 days

Season: June to January; rafts? yes; Highlights: big water and big birds; Crux move: some long III+ rapids

Put-In: Agua Caliente (287 m) or below; Take-Out: Pimienta (45 m), Chinda (95 m), or above

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

The Río Ulúa is one of Honduras' principal rivers, gathering water from a large portion of northwestern Honduras, including a good many runs in this book. I consider it the lower part of the "Grand Canyon" of Honduras as it has its headwaters in the highest mountains of the country and it circumambulates Honduras' second highest peak, Mt. Santa Bárbara.

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

Descent History: The Ríos Honduras guys ran from just above Gualjoquito down to Chinda in the 90s. Rocky Contos and I ran the Upper Río Otoro all the way down to Pimienta (Rocky solo below Chinda) in July 2010 taking 3 days.