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

river photo

(photo by Rocky Contos)

Class: V- ; Flow: 100-1,500 cfs; Average Gradient: 13 m/km; Portages: yes; Length: 24 km; Time: 6.5 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? no; Highlights: tropical scenery and volcanic river features; Crux move: navigating the bedrock constrictions

Put-In: Desague of Lago Ilopango (380 m) or Hacienda Vieja (267 m); Take-Out: highway bridge (80 m)

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

The Río Jiboa is the largest of El Salvador's Pacific coast creeks. Most of its water is from the outlet of Lago de Ilopango, the country's largest crater lake (itself created by an eruption that may have been history's greatest volcanic catastrophe). The lush tropical scenery makes for an atmospheric backdrop, but your attention will be focused on the rapids.

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

Descent History: I ran from Hacienda Vieja in July 2005, with 150 cfs at the start, and from the top with Rocky Contos in July 2010, with 300 to 1,400 cfs.