Río Tuma, Upper, Main, & Lower, Nicaragua (click here for the Nicaragua table of rivers)

river photo

(photo courtesy of Matagalpa Tours)

Class: III+, IV, III+ ; Flow: 200-3,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 11 m/km Upper, 4 m/km Main, 2 m/km Lower; Portages: no; Length: 5+13+121 km; Time: 1+2+lots hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? Main; Highlights: Mossy Rocks canyon and potential multi-day; Crux move: Vortex rapid

Put-In: Puente Coyolar (395 m) or Tuma (340 m) or lower; Take-Out: Polo (290 m) or Quililito (250 m) or Mulukukú (75 m)

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

The Río Tuma is Nicaragua´s prettiest river and its iconic rafting run. The Río Tuma is also one of the main waterways into the La Moskitia jungle, although its flow has been artificially reduced since the 1960s due to the creation of the Apanás reservoir, which diverts its headwaters to the Río Viejo (but still spills to the Río Tuma). Because of this, rafting flows on the Main run can be a bit iffy. Kayakers usually have enough water during the rainy season, and if they are lucky can tack on the Upper run.

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

Descent History: The Matagalpa Tours guys first did the Main run in 2013. I checked out the Upper run in October 2019. Arjen Roersma and others of Matagalpa Tours ran the Lower run around 2016.