The high walls
Grey rock above the water.
Pitxiquin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BluesyPete — CC BY-SA 3.0 · BluesyPete — CC BY-SA 3.0 · BluesyPete — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zenia Nuñez — CC BY-SA 2.0 · BluesyPete — CC BY-SA 3.0
Somoto Canyon is a rock gorge in northern Nicaragua, a protected National Monument since 29 November 2006. At its head the Tapacalí and Comali rivers meet to form the Coco River, which runs 750 km to the Caribbean, and its high grey walls make it one of the strongest natural sights in the country. It is believed to have formed 5 to 13 million years ago, in the Miocene. It was not explored systematically until 2004, when Czech and Nicaraguan scientists studied it. The protected area covers about 170 hectares, 125 of them in the canyon itself. Its walls have suffered from graffiti, and technicians work to clean them. You walk on large smooth rocks beside the water, then the walls narrow and rise on both sides, and the river turns a deep green. Visitors ride a wooden boat on some stretches, and guided trips include swimming and floating between the walls. In the dry season the water is calmer and clearer, reflecting the walls. The canyon is 11.2 km in a straight line west of Somoto, near the Honduran border. Going with a local guide is best, as currents are strong and rocks slippery. Ask about river conditions in the rainy season, wear a life jacket and bring water shoes. Do not write on the walls, take your rubbish, and stay with the group.
Grey rock above the water.
A deep river among rocks.
A ride on some stretches.
Somoto Canyon National Monument, Madriz Department, northern Nicaragua
Trips include swimming and floating, so ask the guide about an easier option.
Usually the dry season, and ask about the river in the rainy season.