Río Cuá, Nicaragua (click here for the Nicaragua table of rivers)

river photo

Class: III (IV) ; Flow: 200-500 cfs; Average Gradient: 3 m/km; Portages: maybe; Length: 15 km; Time: 2.5 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? no; Highlights: slow route to Wiwilí; Crux move: to subterráneo or not to subterráneo

Put-In: Pranza de Cuá (350 m) or just upstream; Take-Out: Santa Rosa La Marañosa (310 m) or Wiwilí (286 m)

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

The Río Cuá, a low-gradient creek in a remote corner of the Nicaraguan hills, will hold little interest for most paddlers. It has headwaters in the Peñas Blancas nature reserve which is worth visiting in itself. Some might also be interested in the "subterráneo" (underground) section just upstream.

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

Descent History: I ran this in October 2017, with 350 cfs.