Take a look at where we're going
Take a look at where we'll be going
Yes! All those shots are of the same canyon! There truly is no place like this out there.
Yes! All those shots are of the same canyon! There truly is no place like this out there.
QUICK DETAILS
ITINERARY
Group Orientation – San Cristóbal de las Casas
Upon arriving at our hotel in San Cristobal, reception staff will assist you with a smooth check-in process. — Hotel information will be provided to guests upon registration. At 12:00 PM, we will officially meet our fellow travellers and conduct a group orientation where we will review equipment, logistics, and provide an overview of the exciting week ahead! Following our orientation, we’ll head to a nearby grocery store to pick up any snacks you’d like to bring for the river, as well as any last-minute items you may need for the trip. After returning to the hotel, you’ll have a couple of hours to finalize your packing. This is where everything you plan to take to the river will need to be packed inside the 65L Drybags that we will be providing. We’ll conclude the day with a group dinner at 6:00 PM at a traditional local restaurant.
Meal Included: Dinner
Canyon Entry
We’ll start the day off with an early 5:00 AM departure. A private shuttle van will take us to a remote village, where we will commence our hike later today. —Extra bags and luggage will be left in secure storage at our guide house near the hotel. Upon arrival to the village, we will enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast with a local family in their home. We’ll have an opportunity to get a first-hand look at one of the sustainable cookstoves the Nahua Expeditions team builds for local communities! After breakfast, we’ll start our 7 km (4.3 mi) hike which normally takes about 3 hours to complete, to the river. We will have mules assist us with transporting some of the equipment down into the canyon. Once we reach the river, we will set up and rig our rafts.
Before commencing down the river, we will conduct a Paddle Safety Talk to go over some important hand signals, progressive paddling techniques, defensive swimming positions, proper use of safety gear and equipment, and other important safety protocols. We’ll take this time to get comfortable on the water, improve our paddling skills, and set the tone for a culture of safety on this expedition. One of our goals with our trips is for them to be an opportunity for our guests to learn new skills, which can open the door to new adventures around the world. Camp is just a short distance downstream, so we’ll enjoy the majority of the day relaxing and playing in a spectacular waterfall!
Meal Included: Breakfast
First Full Float Day
Our mornings on the river typically consist of group breakfasts, then packing up in time for 9:00 AM camp departures. This is the time we aim to be in the water, ready to go every day while on the river. Today we will have our easiest full paddling day, and a perfect introduction to the Class II rapids of the river. We’ll float past springs with increased vegetation along the way, while further familiarizing ourselves with our raft and equipment. We’ll use some rapids to go over risks and hazards that are specific to these types of rivers, and how to mitigate those risks. Not only will you see landscapes that blow your mind, but you’ll get first-hand learning and development of skills that will set you up for success in the sport of packrafting. The goal, is for this expedition to also be an introduction into the sport, and to learn about expedition dynamics not only on this trip, but future expeditions. Continuing down the canyon, the walls begin to reach heights of 200m+ / 650ft+ as we venture further into the jungle. Our group will stop for lunch at a spring, before continuing down river and finishing the day off at our campsite.
To Island Camp
We start today off by conquering the legendary Maze; a 1.6km / 1mi rock garden where we will work as a team and continue improving our paddling skills. We’re rewarded with fun rapids and narrows as we experience the shifting flora of the canyon. Continuing down the river, our lunch spot of the day will be just after we complete our first Class III rapid of the trip, named “La Pumpa”! After lunch, we’ll start to notice the canyon transitions into more of a jungle, while the walls become taller and the canyon becomes more enclosed, producing more wavy rapids. This is our longest paddle day for a reason.. We are pushing to reach our 3rd campsite which will likely go down as the most spectacular camp you’ve ever had! Here, we’ll enjoy swimming in the emerald pools well into the afternoon before eating dinner at this breathtaking spot.
The Castle
Right off the bat, we’ll start the day with the rapid known as “El Jefito” or “The Little Boss”. This is the second biggest rapid of the entire trip — what a way to start the morning! Upon completing this rapid, we’ll pull our boats off the side of the river, where we’ll embark on a little side quest through the jungle to find some ancient Mayan ruins! We’ll take some photos, enjoy a snack at a scenic spot with a view, and then head back down to the river. By the time we get back, the sun should be lighting up the water, creating a magical cliff jumping spot for us. Once we’re ready to continue on, we’ll jump back in our rafts and head to the very next rapid which happens to be the biggest rapid of the entire trip. We call this one “El Jefe” a.k.a. “The Boss”. These boss rapids will put our paddling skills to the test! Before entering any of these technical Class III rapids we will always stop and scout the rapids as a group. The purpose of scouting is to get a clear visual of the line that we must take, and identify any potential hazards or obstacles. Upon conquering these two boss rapids, we’ll enjoy a rewarding and scenic paddle until reaching first portage of the trip. This portage is relatively short, and should take our entire group about 20 minutes to complete. Afterwards, we’ll complete the “Tower slide” rapid, and then one last Class III rapid before arriving at our next campsite.
Cave Exploration
Our easiest and shortest day on the river also happens to be our caving day. We’ll make our way through the “Mini Maze”, before several fun and technical rapids until reaching a phenomenal lunch spot. Slightly further downstream we’ll stop, and pull off at the catchment of a dry wash. Together, we’ll hike and scramble up for about 20 minutes to the entrance to one of the regions most impressive karst systems. We’ll wear helmets and headlamps as we venture deep into the underground world. Inside the cave we also get to see old pottery left by ancient Mayan civilizations as as offerings to their gods. We’ll spend about an hour inside, and then head back down to the rafts where a short paddle awaits until we reach a unique campsite nestled in the jungle.
The Landslide
After packing up camp we take a short float down to a large and technical landslide along the river. This is our largest and last portage of the trip. It should take our group around an hour to get all of our gear through. The reward that comes after is difficult to put into words. At this point your jaws have dropped and minds have been blown, but today you will start to question reality. We will float past what few people have had the privilege of experiencing. And to top it off; we finish the day camping near the worlds tallest natural arch.
Hike Out
We begin our ascent out of the canyon by ascending a rope, up a 20m / 65ft wall to a small platform where we will re-fuel with fruit and snacks before our hike to the nearest village. Proper gear and instructions will be provided to safely and comfortably complete this rope portion. The hike that follows is roughly 3 hours, with the first 45 minutes being the steepest and most challenging. The solidity of the mud on this trail depends on the weather, so conditions can vary. We will be tasked with carrying our gear up this initial steep section until we reach a clearcut where local mules will be waiting for us to assist for the remaining two hours. A good attitude comes above any physical ability on this trip. Upon reaching a dirt road near the village, we’ll get shuttled by motorbike to the the home Elsa, our local host. Here, we’ll be treated with a delicious home-cooked meal, made using one of Nahua Expeditions’ first ever built sustainable cookstoves! After dinner, you’ll be able to take a bucket shower, before we set up to sleep the night in Elsa’s home.
Meal Included: Dinner
Jungle to San Cristóbal de las Casas
This day starts off with an early rise to the sound of roosters. We’ll learn to make tortillas with Elsa using her cookstove, and we’ll have a quick breakfast. By the time we’re finished, several locals on motorbikes will be waiting to shuttle us over to the next village to build a sustainable cookstove! Here, as a team we’ll spend two hours prepping materials, and building a stove inside the home of a local family which will benefit from clean air in their household for years to come! After our stove building activity, we’ll jump on the back of a pickup truck and head to the nearest city, approximately a 50 minute drive away. There, a private shuttle van will be waiting for us which will take us back to the boutique colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas. This drive is around 2 hours. Upon arrival we’ll check back in to our original hotel from Day 1. This is also where we’ll be reunited with all of our luggage that we didn’t take to the river. Once everyone gets cleaned up, we’ll go for a delicious lunch at one of the many delicious restaurants San Cristóbal has to offer. The rest of the evening can be spent exploring the picturesque shops and streets before wrapping the day up with some drinks at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.
Meal Included: Breakfast
Full Day in San Cristóbal de las Casas
After getting a feel for the magical town you now find yourself waking up in, today we have the opportunity to spend the entire day experiencing what really makes San Cristóbal a “Pueblo Magico”, “Magical Town”. Popular attractions include the markets, shops, historical museums, libraries, restaurants and so much more.. If you’re not feeling up for that, you can sit back and relax at the hotel. You have the entire day to do whatever you want. Depending on what everyone decides, we’ll typically head out to a farewell dinner in the evening as this is our last full day together as a group.
Final Day of The Trip – San Cristóbal de las Casas
This is the last date listed for the trip. We’re confident that at this point you’ll be leaving with lifelong memories and new friends who shared a once in a lifetime experience with you. Depending on your travel arrangements, we will help you arrange transportation to Angel Albino Corzo International Airport in time for your flight. Hotel check-out is at 1:00pm, so if your flight is one later in the day, you will be welcome to hang out and leave your luggage at our guide house that we rent for the duration of the season.
If you plan to continue exploring Chiapas, or beyond, consult with trip leaders who will be happy to provide recommendations!
SKILL PREREQUISITES
PERSONAL PACKING LIST
Lightweight is best. If you and someone in your group decide to share a tent, you’ll benefit from having less weight to carry, and more space amongst you in your packs.
The sleeping bags that work best for this trip are bags designed for summer months. These tend to be light and compact sleeping bags. Look specifically for bags that are categorized as “ultralight” or suitable for backpacking, as they can compress down to a minimal size. Sleeping bags that are rated for temperatures below 9c/48f might be excessive for this trip; however, individual preferences vary, so choose based on your comfort with nighttime temperatures. Avoid bulky sleeping bags so you can allocate more space for food and other gear in your pack.
Small, inflatable, compact and light pads are best. Sea to Summit and Therm-a-Rest are two brands we would recommend.
Keep in mind we will be in and out of water everyday. Choose footwear that is comfortable while wet, and comfortable enough for the final hike out of the canyon. Adidas Terrex Hiking Shoes are a great choice, and can be worn throughout the entire trip. Another good option are Solomon Trail Running Shoes. As we walk along the river, our shoes will get small rocks in them, so we recommend decent hiking socks or NRS Hydroskin 0.5 socks. You can also bring some sandals / slides for at camp. We don’t recommend rafting in sandals as you’ll need good traction and entire-foot protection while walking on and around rocks.
We will be getting wet every day while on the river. Water clothing during the day is best. Be sure to bring at least one long sleeve shirt and leggings / pants to protect against sunburn, and river safe sunscreen. We also recommend bringing a swim suit, lightweight rain jacket, light puffy jacket or fleece and dry clothes for camp / evenings. Merino wool is best for quick drying and smell resistant properties.
Our drinking water along the river will come from both natural springs and river water. You’ll need to bring a filtration system before being able to safely drink from water sources on this trip. There are an array of filtration systems on the market, but bringing a water bottle that doubles as a filter might be the best option for you. We recommend the LifeStraw Go Series Water Filter Bottle – plastic version.
If you already own a filter such as a pump filter that attaches to your water bottle, that works great as well.
We avoid bringing squeeze bottle filters as they are susceptible to punctures and often have smaller filters attached.
Any personal belongings left unprotected will get submerged and wet at some point on the river. Whether you want to have quick access to your camera gear, or snacks and sunscreen consider bringing a small < 12L drybag which you can keep in between your legs while paddling.
We will be boiling water for meals two times per day–for breakfast and dinner. The best meal solution is backpacking meals. These are pre-made, freeze-dried and dehydrated meals that are prepared simply by adding water. Popular brands include Mountain House, Good To-Go Meals and Backpackers Pantry. We will spend 7 days on the river. We recommend bringing 2 meals per each day on the river.
Our guides use the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow.
Like all nights out camping in the wild, a headlamp is a must. We recommend the Black Diamond Storm series headlamps.
We recommend bringing a long spoon or a long spork. The Sea to Summit Alpha Spork is a great utensil and is long enough to comfortably eat out of backpacking meal pouches! Depending on the food you plan on bringing into the canyon, you might also consider bringing a foldable knife (if you must bring a knife be sure to bring some tape to prevent it from accidentally opening while inside your pack).
This is an optional item. If you choose to bring one be sure to pick a lightweight option. We recommend the Helinox Chair Zero along with the Chair Zero Groundsheet to avoid having the chair legs sink into the sand.
We recommend bringing a small, lightweight and quickdrying towel. The REI Co-op Multi Towel Light is a good example, but anything similar or made with microfiber is a good bet. Look for towels that are marketed as “lightweight”, “quick-dry”, “ultralight” or “microfiber”.
We’ll be directly exposed to sunlight for most of the day during the expedition. Please be sure to bring sunscreen that has River Safe or Reef Safe, and Biodegradable properties. Products that meet this criteria are typically water-resistant, but be sure to double-check, as we’ll be in and out of the water consistently throughout the day.
If you choose to bring shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap of any kind, be sure to bring a biodegradable product. This will be a requirement if you plan on packing any soap related products onto the river. Products that meet this criteria are typically marketed as “outdoor”, “biodegradable”, “environmentally safe”, “plant based”, “eco friendly” or “organic”.
Although not perfect, the use of these biodegradable products helps minimize our impact and limit the introduction of harmful chemicals into the rivers and water bodies we’ll be traveling through. As a member of this group, one of your main goals will be to promote responsible outdoor ethics, and do your part to ensure that future generations can enjoy these environments.
Our commitment to leave no trace means whatever we pack in, we pack out, including any human waste we produce.
There are 2 things you’ll need: WAG Bags and a 4″+ diameter plastic cylindrical container with a lid. You might also consider bringing a Large Ziploc bag wrapped with duct tape to pack out feminine hygiene items and / or excess toilet paper.
Our waste management procedure in the canyon is as follows: We will poop and deposit our toilet paper into the Wag Bags. When finished, we will seal or tie up the bag and put it inside a container which we’ll pack out of the canyon.
An all in one solution is a product by Cleanwaste called Toilet In A Tube, and can can be found here. WAG Bags can be found here.
These are some awesome Leave no Trace resources we recommend checking out:
INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
Included
-
Guide Services
-
Fees and Permits
-
Transportation
-
Accommodations as indicated in the itinerary
-
Canyon extraction with gear
-
Porter services
-
Cabin usage and service
-
Packraft, Paddle, Lifejacket, Helmet, and 65L Drybag
-
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
-
Camping stoves, gas and pots for boiling water
-
Luggage storage during the expedition
Not Included
-
Airfare to and from destination
-
Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
-
Personal gear (included in Personal Packing List)
-
Backpacking food (meals on the river)
GETTING THERE
Most travelers coming from abroad will need to take a connecting flight at either Mexico City International Airport or Guadalajara International Airport before landing in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. Your final destination Airport is Angel Albino Corzo International Airport. Flight times from Mexico City to Tuxtla are around 1.5 hours and times from Guadalajara to Tuxtla are around 2 hours.
Angel Albino Corzo International Airport is located 78km/49mi (approx. an 80min drive) to San Cristobal de las Casas, where our group will meet at hotel and attend orientation.
We highly recommend landing at least a day prior to the start date of the expedition in case of any travel delays or unforeseeable circumstances. You can easily find clean and reliable airport taxis upon arrival outside the airport. They typically charge no more than $40 USD to take you anywhere in San Cristobal de las Casas. Hotel and restaurant recommendations will be made if you are landing prior to the expedition.
QUICK DETAILS
SKILL PREREQUISITES
ITINERARY
Group Orientation – San Cristóbal de las Casas
Upon arriving at our hotel in San Cristobal, reception staff will assist you with a smooth check-in process. — Hotel information will be provided to guests upon registration. At 12:00 PM, we will officially meet our fellow travellers and conduct a group orientation where we will review equipment, logistics, and provide an overview of the exciting week ahead! Following our orientation, we’ll head to a nearby grocery store to pick up any snacks you’d like to bring for the river, as well as any last-minute items you may need for the trip. After returning to the hotel, you’ll have a couple of hours to finalize your packing. This is where everything you plan to take to the river will need to be packed inside the 65L Drybags that we will be providing. We’ll conclude the day with a group dinner at 6:00 PM at a traditional local restaurant.
Meal Included: Dinner
Canyon Entry
We’ll start the day off with an early 5:00 AM departure. A private shuttle van will take us to a remote village, where we will commence our hike later today. — Extra bags and luggage will be left in secure storage at our guide house near the hotel. Upon arrival to the village, we will enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast with a local family in their home. We’ll have an opportunity to get a first-hand look at one of the sustainable cookstoves the Nahua Expeditions team builds for local communities! After breakfast, we’ll start our 7 km (4.3 mi) hike which normally takes about 3 hours to complete, to the river. We will have mules assist us with transporting some of the equipment down into the canyon. Once we reach the river, we will set up and rig our rafts.
Before commencing down the river, we will conduct a Paddle Safety Talk to go over some important hand signals, progressive paddling techniques, defensive swimming positions, proper use of safety gear and equipment, and other important safety protocols. We’ll take this time to get comfortable on the water, improve our paddling skills, and set the tone for a culture of safety on this expedition. One of our goals with our trips is for them to be an opportunity for our guests to learn new skills, which can open the door to new adventures around the world. Camp is just a short distance downstream, so we’ll enjoy the majority of the day relaxing and playing in a spectacular waterfall!
Meal Included: Breakfast
First Full Float Day
Our mornings on the river typically consist of group breakfasts, then packing up in time for 9:00 AM camp departures. This is the time we aim to be in the water, ready to go every day while on the river. Today we will have our easiest full paddling day, and a perfect introduction to the Class II rapids of the river. We’ll float past springs with increased vegetation along the way, while further familiarizing ourselves with our raft and equipment. We’ll use some rapids to go over risks and hazards that are specific to these types of rivers, and how to mitigate those risks. Not only will you see landscapes that blow your mind, but you’ll get first-hand learning and development of skills that will set you up for success in the sport of packrafting. The goal, is for this expedition to also be an introduction into the sport, and to learn about expedition dynamics not only on this trip, but future expeditions. Continuing down the canyon, the walls begin to reach heights of 200m+ / 650ft+ as we venture further into the jungle. Our group will stop for lunch at a spring, before continuing down river and finishing the day off at our campsite.
Through The Maze
We start today off by conquering the legendary Maze; a 1.6km / 1mi rock garden where we will work as a team and continue improving our paddling skills. We’re rewarded with fun rapids and narrows as we experience the shifting flora of the canyon. Continuing down the river, our lunch spot of the day will be just after we complete our first Class III rapid of the trip, named “La Pumpa”! After lunch, we’ll start to notice the canyon transitions into more of a jungle, while the walls become taller and the canyon becomes more enclosed, producing more wavy rapids. This is our longest paddle day for a reason.. We are pushing to reach our 3rd campsite which will likely go down as the most spectacular camp you’ve ever had! Here, we’ll enjoy swimming in the emerald pools well into the afternoon before eating dinner at this breathtaking spot.
The Castle
Right off the bat, we’ll start the day with the rapid known as “El Jefito” or “The Little Boss”. This is the second biggest rapid of the entire trip — what a way to start the morning! Upon completing this rapid, we’ll pull our boats off the side of the river, where we’ll embark on a little side quest through the jungle to find some ancient Mayan ruins! We’ll take some photos, enjoy a snack at a scenic spot with a view, and then head back down to the river. By the time we get back, the sun should be lighting up the water, creating a magical cliff jumping spot for us. Once we’re ready to continue on, we’ll jump back in our rafts and head to the very next rapid which happens to be the biggest rapid of the entire trip. We call this one “El Jefe” a.k.a. “The Boss”. These boss rapids will put our paddling skills to the test! Before entering any of these technical Class III rapids we will always stop and scout the rapids as a group. The purpose of scouting is to get a clear visual of the line that we must take, and identify any potential hazards or obstacles. Upon conquering these two boss rapids, we’ll enjoy a rewarding and scenic paddle until reaching first portage of the trip. This portage is relatively short, and should take our entire group about 20 minutes to complete. Afterwards, we’ll complete the “Tower slide” rapid, and then one last Class III rapid before arriving at our next campsite.
Cave Exploration
Our easiest and shortest day on the river also happens to be our caving day. We’ll make our way through the “Mini Maze”, before several fun and technical rapids until reaching a phenomenal lunch spot. Slightly further downstream we’ll stop, and pull off at the catchment of a dry wash. Together, we’ll hike and scramble up for about 20 minutes to the entrance to one of the regions most impressive karst systems. We’ll wear helmets and headlamps as we venture deep into the underground world. Inside the cave we also get to see old pottery left by ancient Mayan civilizations as as offerings to their gods. We’ll spend about an hour inside, and then head back down to the rafts where a short paddle awaits until we reach a unique campsite nestled in the jungle.
The Landslide
After packing up camp we take a short float down to a large and technical landslide along the river. This is our largest and last portage of the trip. It should take our group around an hour to get all of our gear through. The reward that comes after is difficult to put into words. At this point your jaws have dropped and minds have been blown, but today you will start to question reality. We will float past what few people have had the privilege of experiencing. And to top it off; we finish the day camping near the worlds tallest natural arch.
Hike Out
We begin our ascent out of the canyon by ascending a rope, up a 20m / 65ft wall to a small platform where we will re-fuel with fruit and snacks before our hike to the nearest village. Proper gear and instructions will be provided to safely and comfortably complete this rope portion. The hike that follows is roughly 3 hours, with the first 45 minutes being the steepest and most challenging. The solidity of the mud on this trail depends on the weather, so conditions can vary. We will be tasked with carrying our gear up this initial steep section until we reach a clearcut where local mules will be waiting for us to assist for the remaining two hours. A good attitude comes above any physical ability on this trip. Upon reaching a dirt road near the village, we’ll get shuttled by motorbike to the the home Elsa, our local host. Here, we’ll be treated with a delicious home-cooked meal, made using one of Nahua Expeditions’ first ever built sustainable cookstoves! After dinner, you’ll be able to take a bucket shower, before we set up to sleep the night in Elsa’s home.
Meal Included: Dinner
Jungle to San Cristóbal de las Casas
This day starts off with an early rise to the sound of roosters. We’ll learn to make tortillas with Elsa using her cookstove, and we’ll have a quick breakfast. By the time we’re finished, several locals on motorbikes will be waiting to shuttle us over to the next village to build a sustainable cookstove! Here, as a team we’ll spend two hours prepping materials, and building a stove inside the home of a local family which will benefit from clean air in their household for years to come! After our stove building activity, we’ll jump on the back of a pickup truck and head to the nearest city, approximately a 50 minute drive away. There, a private shuttle van will be waiting for us which will take us back to the boutique colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas. This drive is around 2 hours. Upon arrival we’ll check back in to our original hotel from Day 1. This is also where we’ll be reunited with all of our luggage that we didn’t take to the river. Once everyone gets cleaned up, we’ll go for a delicious lunch at one of the many delicious restaurants San Cristóbal has to offer. The rest of the evening can be spent exploring the picturesque shops and streets before wrapping the day up with some drinks at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.
Meal Included: Breakfast
Full Day in San Cristóbal de las Casas
After getting a feel for the magical town you now find yourself waking up in, today we have the opportunity to spend the entire day experiencing what really makes San Cristóbal a “Pueblo Magico”, “Magical Town”. Popular attractions include the markets, shops, historical museums, libraries, restaurants and so much more.. If you’re not feeling up for that, you can sit back and relax at the hotel. You have the entire day to do whatever you want. Depending on what everyone decides, we’ll typically head out to a farewell dinner in the evening as this is our last full day together as a group.
Final Day of The Trip – San Cristóbal de las Casas
This is the last date listed for the trip. We’re confident that at this point you’ll be leaving with lifelong memories and new friends who shared a once in a lifetime experience with you. Depending on your travel arrangements, we will help you arrange transportation to Angel Albino Corzo International Airport in time for your flight. Hotel check-out is at 1:00pm, so if your flight is one later in the day, you will be welcome to hang out and leave your luggage at our guide house that we rent for the duration of the season.
If you plan to continue exploring Chiapas, or beyond, consult with trip leaders who will be happy to provide recommendations!
PERSONAL PACKING LIST
Lightweight is best. If you and someone in your group decide to share a tent, you’ll benefit from having less weight to carry, and more space amongst you in your packs.
The sleeping bags that work best for this trip are bags designed for summer months. These tend to be light and compact sleeping bags. Look specifically for bags that are categorized as “ultralight” or suitable for backpacking, as they can compress down to a minimal size. Sleeping bags that are rated for temperatures below 9c/48f might be excessive for this trip; however, individual preferences vary, so choose based on your comfort with nighttime temperatures. Avoid bulky sleeping bags so you can allocate more space for food and other gear in your pack.
Keep in mind we will be in and out of water everyday. Choose footwear that is comfortable while wet, and comfortable enough for the final hike out of the canyon. Adidas Terrex Hiking Shoes are a great choice, and can be worn throughout the entire trip. Another good option are Solomon Trail Running Shoes. As we walk along the river, our shoes will get small rocks in them, so we recommend decent hiking socks or NRS Hydroskin 0.5 socks. You can also bring some sandals / slides for at camp. We don’t recommend rafting in sandals as you’ll need good traction and entire-foot protection while walking on and around rocks.
We will be getting wet every day while on the river. Water clothing during the day is best. Be sure to bring at least one long sleeve shirt and leggings / pants to protect against sunburn, and river safe sunscreen. We also recommend bringing a swim suit, lightweight rain jacket, light puffy jacket or fleece and dry clothes for camp / evenings. Merino wool is best for quick drying and smell resistant properties.
Our drinking water along the river will come from both natural springs and river water. You’ll need to bring a filtration system before being able to safely drink from water sources on this trip. There are an array of filtration systems on the market, but bringing a water bottle that doubles as a filter might be the best option for you. We recommend the LifeStraw Go Series Water Filter Bottle – plastic version.
If you already own a filter such as a pump filter that attaches to your water bottle, that works great as well.
We avoid bringing squeeze bottle filters as they are susceptible to punctures and often have smaller filters attached.
Any personal belongings left unprotected will get submerged and wet at some point on the river. Whether you want to have quick access to your camera gear, or snacks and sunscreen consider bringing a small < 12L drybag which you can keep in between your legs while paddling.
We recommend bringing a small, lightweight and quickdrying towel. The REI Co-op Multi Towel Light is a good example, but anything similar or made with microfiber is a good bet. Look for towels that are marketed as “lightweight”, “quick-dry”, “ultralight” or “microfiber”.
We’ll be directly exposed to sunlight for most of the day during the expedition. Please be sure to bring sunscreen that has River Safe or Reef Safe, and Biodegradable properties. Products that meet this criteria are typically water-resistant, but be sure to double-check, as we’ll be in and out of the water consistently throughout the day.
Small, inflatable, compact and light pads are best. Sea to Summit and Therm-a-Rest are two brands we would recommend.
Our guides use the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow.
Like all nights out camping in the wild, a headlamp is a must. We recommend the Black Diamond Storm series headlamps.
We recommend bringing a long spoon or a long spork. The Sea to Summit Alpha Spork is a great utensil and is long enough to comfortably eat out of backpacking meal pouches! Depending on the food you plan on bringing into the canyon, you might also consider bringing a foldable knife (if you must bring a knife be sure to bring some tape to prevent it from accidentally opening while inside your pack).
This is an optional item. If you choose to bring one be sure to pick a lightweight option. We recommend the Helinox Chair Zero along with the Chair Zero Groundsheet to avoid having the chair legs sink into the sand.
If you choose to bring shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap of any kind, be sure to bring a biodegradable product. This will be a requirement if you plan on packing any soap related products onto the river. Products that meet this criteria are typically marketed as “outdoor”, “biodegradable”, “environmentally safe”, “plant based”, “eco friendly” or “organic”.
Although not perfect, the use of these biodegradable products helps minimize our impact and limit the introduction of harmful chemicals into the rivers and water bodies we’ll be traveling through. As a member of this group, one of your main goals will be to promote responsible outdoor ethics, and do your part to ensure that future generations can enjoy these environments.
Our commitment to leave no trace means whatever we pack in, we pack out, including any human waste we produce.
There are 2 things you’ll need: WAG Bags and a 4″+ diameter plastic cylindrical container with a lid. You might also consider bringing a Large Ziploc bag wrapped with duct tape to pack out feminine hygiene items and / or excess toilet paper.
Our waste management procedure in the canyon is as follows: We will poop and deposit our toilet paper into the Wag Bags. When finished, we will seal or tie up the bag and put it inside a container which we’ll pack out of the canyon.
An all in one solution is a product by Cleanwaste called Toilet In A Tube, and can can be found here. WAG Bags can be found here.
These are some awesome Leave no Trace resources we recommend checking out:
INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
Included
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Guide Services
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Fees and Permits
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Transportation as indicated in the itinerary
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Accommodation
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Personalized 1-1 planning calls with expedition leaders
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Canyon extraction with gear
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Porter services
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Village homestay with local family
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Packraft, Paddle, Lifejacket, Helmet, and 65L Drybag
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Meals as indicated in the itinerary
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Camping stoves, gas and pots for preparing meals
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Luggage storage during the expedition
Not Included
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Airfare to and from destination
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Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
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Personal gear (see Personal Packing List above)
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Dehydrated meals (food items on river)
GETTING THERE
Most travelers coming from abroad will need to take a connecting flight at either Mexico City International Airport or Guadalajara International Airport before landing in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. Your final destination Airport is Angel Albino Corzo International Airport. Flight times from Mexico City to Tuxtla are around 1.5 hours and times from Guadalajara to Tuxtla are around 2 hours.
Angel Albino Corzo International Airport is located 78km/49mi (approx. an 80min drive) to San Cristobal de las Casas, where our group will meet at a hotel and attend orientation.
We highly recommend landing at least a day prior to the start date of the expedition in case of any travel delays or unforeseeable circumstances. You can easily find clean and reliable airport taxis upon arrival outside the airport. They typically charge no more than $40 USD to take you anywhere in San Cristobal de las Casas. Hotel and restaurant recommendations will be made if you are landing prior to the expedition.
SKILL PREREQUISITES
GETTING THERE
Most travelers coming from abroad will need to take a connecting flight at either Mexico City International Airport or Guadalajara International Airport before landing in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. Your final destination Airport is Angel Albino Corzo International Airport. Flight times from Mexico City to Tuxtla are around 1.5 hours and times from Guadalajara to Tuxtla are around 2 hours.
Angel Albino Corzo International Airport is located 32km/20mi (approx. a 35min drive) to downtown Tuxtla Gutierrez, where our group will meet at hotel and attend orientation.
We highly recommend landing at least a day prior to the start date of the expedition in case of any travel delays or unforeseeable circumstances. You can easily find clean and reliable airport taxis upon arrival outside the airport. They typically charge no more than $15 USD to take you anywhere in Tuxtla. Hotel and restaurant recommendations will be made if you are landing prior to the expedition.
Majestic heights
It's really real.
This trip is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The feeling of venturing through this space is difficult to put into words. We will get to float through some of the most wild, beautiful, untouched and remote jungle in North America. The canyon itself is difficult to access due to remoteness and lack of human contact, so to experience the entirety of the river a lightweight, inflatable kayak known as a pack-raft is necessary. Pack-rafting is a relatively new sport, and because of this there are places out there that have been able to remain hidden and untouched.
No experience needed
The canyon provides you with the perfect progression of difficulty, allowing you to develop your paddling skills in a fun and engaging way. People with absolutely no paddling experience have done this trip, and by the end they consistently have a better time than everyone else. A good attitude comes above any physical skill on this trip!
DIY Journey
This is a DIY journey! Meaning you will be required to carry your own raft with your own gear; you will be responsible for setting up and taking down your own camp; cooking your own meals on the river, and packing your own gear to and from the canyon. To exit the canyon you will be required to ascend a 25m rappel. Proper climbing gear and instructions will be provided.
Pueblo Mágico
Our group will spend two days together exploring the beautiful boutique colonial town of San Cristóbal. Known as one of Mexico’s “magical towns” here, we’ll get a flavor for some of the country’s best cuisine and profound cultural heritage. We’ll explore the vibrant streets along with lively travellers from all across the world, and learn about Mayan culture with a local host. Bustling markets, ancient arts, some of the highest quality coffee in the Americas, and rich traditional dishes are some of what we’ll experience in San Cristóbal.
Connect
This 11 day experience will challenge you, introduce you to like-minded adventurers, and leave you with memories of a lost jungle that feels totally and absolutely unreal.
Connect
This 11 day experience will challenge you, introduce you to like-minded adventurers, and leave you with memories of a lost jungle that feels totally and absolutely unreal.
2024 EXPEDITIONS
