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Whitewater Rafting Guide To River Trips

Rio Naranjo

Location: Coatepeque Region, Guatemala

The Rio Naranjo is located in Guatemala’s Coatepeque region, or “department.” This river rafting trip is a full day from Guatemala City and the Spanish colonial city of Antigua. It is also easily accessed from Guatemala’s Quetazaltango, Panajachel, and Tapachula, across the border in neighboring Mexico.


Level of Difficulty: Class III-IV / Intermediate

The crashing waves of Rio Naranjo’s class IV “Black Hole” rapid and solid class III-IV whitewater make this a rafting trip for aggressive and fit first-time paddlers or people with experience in the sport.

Scenery: Volcanic Highlands

The water that flows through Rio Naranjo’s canyon is sourced in Guatemala’s volcanic highlands. The green jungle riparian environment and continuous rapids make this an exotic and challenging whitewater trip.

Season: June – October

Like many Guatemala whitewater trips, the season on the Rio Naranjo is limited to the rainy season—typically June into November. Trips are limited to one day.