When a lot of people picture whitewater kayaking in Mexico, you might think giant waterfalls and spooky Class 4 rapids. But here’s the good news: you can experience the excitement of travelling to kayak new rivers without facing this in Mexico. If you love tacos but feel anxious about extreme rapids, read on for some beta of the class 2 and 3 in Mexico.
General Suggestions for Paddling in Mexico:
While we love the beautiful jungle scenery, it's best to wear noseplugs and earplugs if you want to prevent possible infection from the bacteria in the water. Learn it from the 7 of us- we all pretty much came down with something after taking a beatdown in the water without them. Additionally, try to avoid licking your fingers after paddling until you've sanitized them. It sounds silly but it's the reason why I suffered for 48hours.
Once off the river, we all tended to do a shot of tequila and then chug a bottle of coke- if you've seen what Coke can do to cleaning toilets, it must do the same to your intestines for any possible bacteria that made its way in.
Overall, if you want to paddle every river/section just once- then a week is plenty of time to get all of your kayaking in. We were in Mexico for two weeks but some of it was enjoying the culture and travel. We also paddled some class 4 and paddled some rivers more than once.
Jalcomulco, Veracruz
Rio Pescados, Class 3
This river is the main river that runs into the town of Jalcomulco. Depending what you are looking for, the different sections of river vary from class 2 to class 4 as you move higher up the river. This place has very much leaned into the fact that they are right on a river, and offers lots of whitewater rafting. If you find the right people, they can help guide you down. Everyone is very friendly and is there to help.
The Rapids on the Class 3 section:
El Ferry (The Ferry)
La Cueva (The Cave): Don’t worry too much about this being a 'cave', you can get out of it easy and is fun to paddle into. Good for practice on entering/exiting an eddy with challenge.
La Luz: This has a ‘super’ boof. Very fun and good practice for dialing your boofs in.
El Chucky (like the doll) which is closer to 4 rapids - goes in this more specific order: Sentinela, then Chucky, then Tenme aqui (hold me here), La Equadora
Las Brujas (The Witches): A fun wave train with a sharp right turn, otherwise you’ll get pushed up against a wall. If you want to try your skills, catch the eddy on the left!
El Huevo (The Egg)
Vente dos (22): Some stacked holes in a fun rapid. Surprisingly, some of them can and will hold you in your boat, as one of us found out and swam from!
Jalcomulco kayaking comes with walking through the village to get back to where you're staying. The takeout is right in town
Aventurec / Tlapacoyan
A map of all of the put-ins and takeouts: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GG4kQkajNCzyL9ao9?g_st=ac
Aventurec is a great all-inclusive spot to kayak. If you're worried about food, you can eat their meals and not worry about getting sick. Everyone is super accommodating and the gringa tacos are to die for. I personally wish I could have eaten more of them. There are multiple options for kayaks and where you choose to sleep, from cabins (which we slept in) to tent camping depending on your budget.
Filobobas River Sections from top to bottom:
Above Zapotitlan - Class 4 Section (10 ish km)
There is a large hike downhill into a canyon (40 min - 1 hr)
We didn’t do, but would be a good section.
Zapotitlan class 3/4 canyon (8 ish km)
Hike in down into the canyon (40 - 50 min) - flatter than the Altofilo Section
Hazards - watch for undercut rocks.
Scouting is easy for all rapids, the canyon is wide.
The first big rapid (Class 4) is noticeable by the narrowing of the river and comes after some boogie Class 3. It's easiest to scout from river left and walk on river left. At lower water, watch for fuck you rocks behind larger boulders that can throw you off-line or get you pinned.
Orchid rapid (Class 3+/4) is noticeable by a big ass boulder on the river right. You can scout this rapid from the first class 4 rapid.
Stop for photos at the beautiful tall waterfall on the river right.
Class 3 boulder gardens follow the two bigger rapids.
This section runs right into the Altofilo section. Unless you want a heinous walkout, keep going and take out at the big highway bridge (see Altofilo Section).
Altofilo Class 3 Canyon (10 km)
Another big hike down into the canyon (40 min - 1 hr)
A STUNNING section that is worth the hike if you aren’t looking to push into class 4.
Read and run. Easy to scout from boat and make way across the river.
Take out at a big highway bridge in Agua Santa - you can’t miss it. You can continue into the pyramid section if there is enough water.
Pyramid Section Class 3 (13 km ish)
Make sure it has enough water. If the Altofilo section is low, this would be a miserable, scrappy and slow 13 km. Fun at higher levels 🙂
Stop at the pyramids for a fun archaeological adventure. (also pinned on the Google map link)
Take out at Encanto section (get out of boat and walk across land and to Encanto put in (right by the waterfall) OR after the confluence at the suspension bridge
Encantos Class 2/3
To start Encanto at the 5ft boof. Paddle upstream into the narrow canyon. It's an extra 50 pesos unless you join the rafters on their bus from Aventurec.
Fun read and run section.
The first defined rapid has a slight horizon line and gradient drop. It looks intimidating, but there are only big waves at lower and higher water levels, with not many/no holes.
Truchitas Waterfall
24ft tall, and a great first waterfall if you haven't done one before!
Wear nose plugs and earplugs. Don't lick your fingers like we did (this is where I suffered)
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