Río Coco, From Telpaneca, Nicaragua (click here for the Nicaragua table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV ; Flow: 500-3,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 2.6 m/km; Portages: no; Length: up to 53 km; Time: 1-3 days

Season: June to October ; rafts? yes; Highlights: long run and nice scenery; Crux move: Thrillseeker and Albóndigas rapids

Put-In: Telpaneca (478 m) or Los Lirios (460 m); Take-Out: Panalí (340 m)

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

The Río Coco's best whitewater--many IIIs and a few IVs--lies below Telpaneca. This stretch also contains the river's best canyon scenery (not counting the freakish but short Somoto Canyon way above). Kayakers can run it in one day, but it is even more satisfying to take two days or more and camp on the way.

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

Descent History: (see the description of the upstream sections)