Río Banderas, El Salvador (click here for the El Salvador table of rivers)

Class: II ; Flow: 150-350 cfs; Ave. Gradient: 4 m/km; Portages: no; Length: 8 km; Time: 1.5 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? yes; Highlights: beginner run; Crux move: applying sunscreen

PI: coastal highway (30 m); TO: Barraciega (0 m)

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

The Río Banderas offers a pleasant and easy run to the sea. It is suitable for kayakers learning to run whitewater, or, when the water is up, an easy rafting run. This area is heavily farmed, so you are at least as likely to spot farm animals and crops (and trash) as you are the original flora and fauna.

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

Descent History: I ran this with Johnathan Wai Lok Lee in September 2011, with 200 cfs.

Flow Notes: Extra heavy recent rains are needed for this to go.