Río Chiquihuat, Upper & Main, El Salvador (click here for the El Salvador table of rivers)

river photo

Class: V-, IV ; Flow: 150-600 cfs; Ave. Gradient: 25 m/km Upper, 12 m/km Main; Portages: yes; Length: 4 + 18.5 km; Time: 2 + 6 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? no; Highlights: narrow gorges; Crux move: not falling through the cracks

PI: Caluco (360 m) or La Chapina (260 m); TO: coastal highway (35 m)

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

The water of the Río Chiquihuat has cut a trench through volcanic sediment just big enough for kayaking, allowing for El Salvador's most exciting mini-creeking...when there is water.

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

Descent History: I got on the Río Chiquihuat in October 2008, the Upper with 150-500 cfs, and the Main with 200-350 cfs.

Flow Notes: The Río Chiquihuat is hard to catch. Rare flows over 250 cfs at the start, or 600 cfs at La Chapina, would make me extra nervous. From Santa Cruz down, bigger water is fine.