Río La Garza and Río Sumpul, Middle, Lower & Lower Lower, El Salvador (click here for the El Salvador table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV, IV, II- ; Flow: 350-2,000 cfs; Average Gradient: 8 m/km; Portages: one; Length: 20-32 km; Time: up to 5.5 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? yes; Highlights: fun rapids in a remote setting; Crux move: driving in

Put-In: Quesera (450 m) or Petapa (404 m); Take-Out: Las Flores (204 m) or San Isidro (190 m)

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

The Río Sumpul offers El Salvador's premier advanced creeking. Not surprisingly, it lies on the mountainous Honduras border. The Middle and Lower sections are a bit more relaxed and go faster than the upper expert bits.

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

Descent History: I first ran the Middle and Lower section in October 2003, with 400- 500 cfs. I have paddled with up to 1,700 cfs in here.