Rafting in Veracruz, Mexico

A few hours inland from the Port of Veracruz, the landscape rises to form the Sierra Madre Oriental heights. Here the warm and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico suddenly goes up; it gets cold and condensates constantly. There are parts of Veracruz where the strange thing is to have a day without rain. Sounds sad? it is not at all. On the contrary, rain descends from the mountains as rivers that challenge the resistance and skills of adventurous spirits.

These rivers or “white waters” are ideal for rafting practice, a popular extreme sport where team work is basic in order to dominate the descending fury. Those who have traveled through these rivers, say the sensation is unforgettable: adrenaline, extreme excitement, speed, motion, rocks, water and more water. They also say there are landscapes, outside and inside, that are only observable from a shaking boat.

Rafting is generally practiced in groups of 4 to 12 people, on boats made out of many layers of rubberized fabrics, containing several independent air chambers. Participants use normal paddles for propulsion and balance. In any case all participants must wear swimming suit, helmet and life vest. It is also recommended to talk with the guide about safety measures, health and habits thoroughly. A good sleep and no alcohol are also recommended before the practice.

Pescadores and Antigua are two rivers near Jalcomulco, Veracruz. Both have points that have been classified with difficulty levels of 3 and 4, when the extreme level is 5 (there are no rivers classified in this level in Mexico). There are many lodging options in the premises, from camping to hotels, which will fit your budget and philosophy of life.

After so much activity, afternoons can be peaceful if you decide to visit the picturesque towns around, or you can continue with excitement practicing rappel and zip line. It seems that tourism is heading towards basic experiences of contact with nature. The adventurer that we all have inside needs to experience the world just as it is. In that sense there is nothing more natural than Veracruz to take your Indiana Jones for a walk.