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

river photo

Class: IV+ (V+); Flow: 800-3,500 cfs; Ave. Gradient: 7 m/km; Portages: one important one; Length: 36 km; Time: 7 hours

Season: June to October ; rafts? risky portage; Highlights: hot springs and remote feeling; Crux move: Ataque Cardiaco (V-)

PI: Chinamas border (300 m); TO: La Hachadura border (40 m)

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

The Lower Río Paz has the potential to be a classic. It has great scenery, plenty of whitewater action, and even natural hot springs. Plus it has gauges that work most of the time. On the downside, the water is often low, and it is long for a 1-day trip. In addition, the crux move is too sketchy for commercial rafting and changes year to year. The final, easier part of the run used to be done as a day-trip by the Rios Aventuras company, but they stopped operating.

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

Descent History: Rafael Leret, founder of Rios Aventuras, and others, descended the Río Paz in 2000, by raft. They miraculously floated through Ataque Cardiaco upright after missing the eddy. Most of their subsequent trips put in below this point, carrying gear in with mules.

Flow Notes: This is the only run in this book with online gauges both at the PI (El Jobo) and the TO (La Hachadura). In 2016, 1.7 on the El Jobo gauge translated to a bumpy 850 cfs. In 2011, 2.3 translated to 3,000 cfs. In 2007, 2.2 on the gauge gave 1,900 cfs. In 2004, 1.8 gave 1,000 cfs (fine for kayaking). The upper limits on flow have not been "investigated" (3,000 cfs was OK for example); the crux, again, is Ataque Cardiaco. Historical streamflow data at El Jobo are shown Figure ES-2. Río Paz history below.