El Rio Coatan en Chiapas

El Rio Coatan.
Entrada: Puente Mal Paso.
Salida: Puente Tapachula.
Distancia: 9 km.
Clase del rio: rápidos 2 y 3.
Tiempo para correr: de 1 hora a 2 horas depende en las niveles del rio.
Comentarios: el rio Coatan es muy constante y muy divertido, especialmente en las tardes cuando hay mas agua por las lluvias. Esta descenso tienes las logísticos de llega y salir muy fáciles, dejando un descenso perfecto para una tarde libre.
Precauciones: Ten cuidado con piezas de barrea cuando pases por la cuidad de Tapachula.
Temporada: de Junio a Noviembre.
Como llega al Rio: Toma la Carretera “Nuevo Alemania” hasta las fincas de café. 5 minutos desde la cuidad de Tapachula, te llegas al puente “Mal Paso”. Pase el puente y parar cerca de las casas al lado derecha de la carretera y aquí se encuentras un camino que llevas ti al rio.
A donde se puede Quedarse: En Tapachula hay muchos hoteles que son muy accesibles, el hotel Diamante es muy bonito y barato. También se puede quedarse en las fincas que ofrecen Cabañas pero si son un poco caros de $400 a $700 pesos por noche por persona.

El Rio Cuilco en Tapachula,Chiapas

El Rio Cuilco
Entrada: las cascadas de San Francisco.
Salida: La puente de concreto en el pueblo de Huehuetan.
Distancia: 30km
Clasificación: Rápidos clase 3 a 5.
Tiempo a correr: 3 horas.
Comentarios: El rio Cuilco es clasificado como el mejor descenso comercial en balsa en la república Mexicana. El rio solo tienes un rápido pero es 30km largo y tienes un pendiente de 800 metras. Dejar tu adrenalina fluir y disfruta tu descenso. Los tres rápidos más fuertes son “La lengua de Suegra”, “Triple Trouble” y “el Grave Yard”.
Precauciones: durante la temporada de lluvias es más probable que hay lluvia en las tardes y el rio Cuilco crece muy rápido. Ten cuidado con los hoyos.
Temporada: de Junio a Noviembre.
Como llega al rio: toma la carretera “Nuevo Alemania” que subes hasta las fincas de café. Cuando salgas de Tapachula, calcular 45 minutos hasta cuando llegas al pueblito de San Francisco. Al lado derecha de la escuela hay un camino que bajas al monte hasta el Rio. Es 5 minutos caminando.
A donde se puede quedarse: En Tapachula hay muchos hoteles que son muy accesibles, el hotel Diamante es muy bonito y barato. También se puede quedarse en las fincas que ofrecen Cabañas pero si son un poco caros de $400 a $700 pesos por noche por persona.

Alta Papagayo
Entrada: el Pueblo de Cihuelar.
Salida: Puente Papagayo.
Distancia: 52 km
Clasificación: rápidos clase 2 a 5.
Tiempo a Correr: en kayak se puede hacer el descenso en 8 horas pero si haces en balsa es necesario hacer en dos días.
Comentarios: La alta Papagayo es un viaje inolvidable, hay suficiente rápidos muy interesantes y un naturaleza hermosísima, el agua es limpia y el cañón es algo increíble, dejar tu imaginación fluir con los formaciones de piedras.
Precauciones: Ten muchísimo cuidado con la rápido clase 6, ubicado exactamente a mitad del viaje después de un sección largo de agua plana y antes del cañón de piedras. También es necesario a ten cuidado con los “Undercuts” hay muchos.
Temporada: de Septiembre a Enero. Se puede hacer el rio antes de Septiembre pero es solamente recomendado por kayakeros profesionales.
Como llega al Rio: Tomar la carretera libre de Acapulco a México y cuando salgas de Acapulco calcular como media hora hasta cuando llegas al pueblito de “Salitre”. Entrando el pueblo a tu mano Izquierda hay una terracería. Sube la terracería y sigue por dos horas hasta cuando llegas al pueblo de Cihuelar. Aquí te entras lo que es el rio Grande y te bajas dos km de rápidos clase 2 hasta cuando llegas al confluencia con el rio Papagayo.
A donde se puede Quedarse: A donde se puede Quedarse: Si quedas en Acapulco hay muchísimo hoteles con buenos precios pero si buscas la mas barato, vas al hostal “K3” que cuesta $100 pesos por noche por persona. Si quieres algo mas cerca del rio, se puede quedarse en el pueblo de Tierra Colorada donde hay varios hoteles muy baratos pero no son nada especial. Si quieres acampar se puede abajo el puente de Papagayo.

El Rio Papagayo, Acapulco, Guerrero

El Rio Papagayo.
Entrada: Pueblo Xolapa.
Salida: Puente Papagayo.
Distancia: 9km
Clasificación: rápidos clase 2 y 3.
Tiempo a correr: de 1 a 2 horas dependiendo en las niveles del rio.
Comentarios: El rio Papagayo es uno de los ríos mas limpios en la república Mexicana, esta sección es excelente para kayakeros que gustan a jugar, especialmente en el primer rápido se llama “Buenos días”. El rio pases por un cañón de piedras granitos y volcánicos increíble.
Precauciones: ten cuidado en las meses de Julio y Agosto cuando hay mucho agua porque se forman mucho “agua felices” adentro el cañón.
Temporada: de Junio a Enero.
Como llega al Rio: Si vienen desde Acapulco, tomar la carretera libre de Acapulco a México y cuando entras la libre, calcular como 45 minutos hasta cuando llegas el pueblo de Xolapa. Cuando legas al pueblo hay un terracería a mano izquierda. Subes la tersaría y sigue por dos km hasta cuando llegas al Coral. Dejar tu coche aquí y camina por cinco minutos abajo el monte hasta cuando llegas al rio.
A donde se puede Quedarse: Si quedas en Acapulco hay muchísimo hoteles con buenos precios pero si buscas la más barato, vas al hostal “K3” que cuesta $100 pesos por noche por persona. Si quieres algo mas cerca del rio, se puede quedarse en el pueblo de Tierra Colorada donde hay varios hoteles muy baratos pero no son nada especial. Si quieres acampar se puede abajo el puente de Papagayo.

Hnd and Paddle Signals

As you know it is very difficult to communicate from one raft to another raft on the river due to the noise of white water and so we use hand and paddle signals to communicate between rafts.

The following hand and paddle signals are the international signals used, but when ever you get out onto a river with people you have not been on the river with before, you should check that you are all using the same signals.

When giving a signal, you should blow your whistle once to grab the attention of the others and then give your signal clearly. The person recieving the signal should reply you the same signal if they understood.

You should only blow your whistle three times if it is an emergency situation.

alex

The Seven Best Rivers in Mexico for Kayaking.

O.K. This was a hard one as there are few kayakers in Mexico and so we had to go abroad and ask international kayakers who have explored rivers in Mexico. We also found that most kayakers are looking for height as they want to jump waterfalls so all the rivers are creek boat runs and the following list is what we ended up with as the best kayaking trips in Mexico.

1: The River Tomata or Alseseca in the state of Veracruz has a number of different sections that can be run, but the best is the “Road Side Section” with easy logistics, Around 20 drops in the space of just 3 km. you can run this section easily 5 times in one day and is classed as the creek boaters play ground.

2: The Cascades of Agua Azul in the state of Chiapas is just a classic. Warm, crystal clear water with a whole bunch of different drops that can be ran. The river can be run throughout the whole year but as it is prohibited to run the drops it is always best to check in with the tourist information office at the entrance into the park, they can also give you the low down on the situation with the Zapatistas who have now taken this area.

3: The River Zimitan in the state of Oaxaca is an excellent run with around 50 drops between 2 and 12 meters in height and easy portages if you are not feeling up to running a specific drop. The best time of year for running the river Zimitan is in October and November.

4: The Cascades of Micos in the state of San Luis Potosi is another classic kayak run with 10 to 12 drops with big pools between each drop. You can run this section of river various times in the same day as there is a path running along the river side. The best time to run this section of river is from November through until March.

5: The Cascades “The Salto” in the state of San Luis Potosi is another awesome run with some big drops to run and warm, crystal clear water. The best time for running this section of river is from November though until March.

6: The River Xico in the state of Veracruz is an awesome run in which to be honest very few kayakers have run due to hard logistics and a couple of big nasty drops in which the portage is nothing easy. You will definitely need long ropes with you for the portage as you will need to make a rappel. The best time to run the river is between June and December but be extremely careful in high water levels.

7: The Beach “Barra de la Cruz” in the state of Oaxaca. O.k. it is not a river but all kayakers said that it is the best surf kayaking spot in the country with easy logistics from Huatulco and great surfs with waves 6 meters in height or more.

Now this list will change loads as there are so many rivers in the country that still have not been explored so we will keep you up dated. If you are interested in running one of these rivers, please check out the river descriptions and the list of kayakers that run these rivers on a frequent basis.

The Top Seven River Trips in Mexico for Rafting

After talking with guides from Every State in Mexico where the sport of Rafting is practiced we put together a list of the top seven rafting trips in Mexico.

1: The River Jatate, in the state of Chiapas is classed as one of the best river trips in Mexcio and the world and you are able to run trips from one day to eight days on the river, passing through beutiful jungles and non stop rapids. Unfortunatly you can only run this trip in its low season between December and February and it is always best to investigate the situation with the Zapatistas before entrering the river.

2: The River Usimacinta, which is located on the border of Mexico and Guatamala is also classed as one of the best river trips in Mexico and the world, but not so much for its rapids, more so for amazing surroundings as you pass by one of the most important Mayan Ruins, "Yachilan". The trip down the river Usimacinta takes ten days and it is an incredible experience. If you are interested in this trip you should get in contact with Mauricio Morales from the company Expediciones Mexico Verde, as Mauricio was the first guide to navigate and explore this beutiful river.

3: The River Cuilco in Tapachula, Chiapas is classed as the best commercial river trip in the country, one rapid for 30 km, class 2 to 5, passing through beutiful coffee plantations and can be run from June through until November. If you are interested in this trip you should contact Alex Aitken from the Company Imagina Rafting as they operate the river from June to September.

4: The River Copalita in Huatulco, Oaxaca, has a section of river known as "Alemania" and this is in the same level as the river Cuilco, constant rapids, beutiful rock formations and can be run from June through until December. If you are interested in this trip you should contact Beto Trevino from the company Explora who run trips daily from the town of Huatulco.

5: The Upper Filo river in Veracruz state, is just a classic river trip that unfortunatly at present there is no companys operating on this section of river. in Kayak it can be run in one day but in a raft you need two days. you pass through a canyon with impresive walls up each side of you and you challenge a whole bunch of class 4 rapids.

6: The River Antigua in Veracruz has a section known as "Barranca Grande" which is another classic to be run, 50 km of non stop class 2, 3 and 4 rapids. The first section is narrow and the water is cold and reminds me alot of the rivers of the Alps in France. In a Raft you need 2 days to run the trip. If you are interested in this trip you should contact Waldemar Franco from the company Rio y Montaña. The river can be run from SEptember through until December.

7: The Upper Papagayo River in Guerrero,is the last of the 7 best rivers in Mexico. The river runs through an incredible canyon of rock formations up to 40 meters in hieght. The rapids are of class 3 to 5 and there is loads of undercuts so be carefull. the season for running this section of the river is from October through until December. If you are interested in this trip, you should contact Alex Aitken from Imagina Rafting who operate trips in these months.

The Top 12 River Trips of the World

Our river exploration team asked 20 international river guides, what are the top 12 river trips in the world. An interesting question with very interesting answers. The first think we need to make clear is what makes a river, enter into the top 12 river trips. It is not just all about the river and its rapids, it is more about the flora and fauna arround the river trip, the journey to the put in, the ruins that you might find, the people that live at the river side and much more.
So after speaking with 20 international river guides, the following 12 rivers where classed as the best river trips in the world.

1: The River Jatate in Chiapas, Mexico.
2: The River Usimacinta in Chiapas, Mexico.
3: The River Coruh in north east Turkey.
4: The River Zambezi in Zimbabwe, Africa.
5: The River White Nile in Uganda, Africa.
6: The River Omo in Ethiopia.
7: The River Colorado in the United States.
8: The River Ganges in North India.
9: The River Sun Kosi in Nepal.
10: The River Indus in North India.
11: The River Futalafu in Chile.
12: The River Apruimac in Peru.

Now this list changes every few years as rivers get dammed up o simply destroyed by contamination but for now this is the top 12 river trips in the world.
Alex

Agua, Rafting, Kayaking and the rivers of Mexico

Hi my name is Alex Aitken, over the past 24 years i have been exploring rivers as a raft guide and kayaker arround the globe in search of the ultimate river trip. Ten years ago i arrived in Mexico and started to explore the rivers in which there is just so many that have never been run. so i have put together a team of professional river guides and kayakers and we have been working hard to gather information to share with the river people

The idea behind this blog spot is so that all the river enthusiast can have up to date information about the rivers of Mexico. Where to put in, how to get to the put in, who can help you out with river shuttles, where are the best places to stay at each river destination and of course the best places to eat, who are the best guides and kayakers in mexico and who were the first kayakers and raft guides in Mexico. Who are the rafting operators throughout the country, where you can buy gear here in Mexico and much more.

Our river team has dedicated a lot of time and energy into exploring the rivers of Mexico and making this guide as complete as possible. we hope you all enjoy reading through the information and we ask you that if you have information on river trips that we have not done, get in contact with us to share the info with the river people.

have fun paddling and look forward to seeing you on the river.

Alex