| Those suicide kayakers of the Himalayas should try some of those 50 centimeter (20 inch) rapids of Los Tuxtlas. 10 valiant souls on a gorgeous Sunday morning, set out to explore Rio Maquina near Montepio, about an hour from Catemaco, Veracruz, atop various shapes of rented sit-on-top kayaks. Only 7 survived. Granted, most of us were novices, and we should first have practiced in a bathtub. This tiny little rio tumbled us from one rock to another, flushed us under trees, grabbed us with llianas and rammed us onto sand bars. Not one survivor arrived in Montepio scratch less, and many with at least one shoe missing. But, by god, we are all, well, most all, looking for the next river to explore. The non-survivors found us again on the beach in Montepio where they kept restaurant seats warm for us and welcomed us with glum faces. This river could easily be a tourist attraction in Los Tuxtlas for sports aficionados. But, at present it is not possible to recommend this river. Numerous trees, some gigantic, clutter the river, and barbed wire runs across it. Some places are impossible to cross and require portage across farm fields. Considering that the road passing by the river is in almost similar shape, there is no hope that this river will be cleaned up for immediate touristic endeavors. It is a shame, because the river is beautiful. The photos do not do justice to the trip because the first thing that became seriously wet was the camera in its water proof casing. |
| Río Maquina San Andrés Tuxtla, Mayo 2006 |
| Some Participants |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
BORRADOR
