El Encuentro
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| | Raps:7, max ↨98ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Shale | |||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Sep 2023
"Great canyon, glad I got a chance to do it finally during this 2nd intl rendezvous (the 1st in 2019 had too much water). We had just the right amount |
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-16.1812, -67.6751
-16.1809, -67.6813
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Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
One of the most sporting canyons in the area, due to narrow constrictions, a typically high water flow, and lack of alternate bolts to avoid higher flows. However really pretty and lots of fun. This canyon can quickly collect too much water for a safe descent, especially after a night's rain, so check with local canyoneers (i.e. El Vagante in Coroico) for current conditions.
In the Sep 2019 Bolivia rendezvous, participants consistently named El Encuentro their favorite canyon, for its incredible beauty and high, sporting flow of water.
Rated PG due to constricting narrow slots that can be very dangerous at high flows. Even with low flows there is at least one constriction near the end that is very forceful.
Approach[edit]
Park or have your taxi drop you off at the point marked on the map at the bottom of a long hill, in the base of the valley. Google Maps does not show all the roads that exist, but OpenStreetMap (or satellite view) does.
Start walking down the road and cross a bridge. Continue up the road on the other side along the river you just crossed. About 20 min after leaving the car, and right before a large dirt patch as the road curves to the right, you'll leave the road and start bushwacking up the hillside. This can be sketchy at times, particularly at the start. A machete for the first person is recommended if the trail hasn't been cleared in awhile by other canyoneers.
The hillside gets better toward the top, and shortly after you crest it and start dropping down the other side, you'll reach a cliff band that will require a rappel of about 20m. No need to put wetsuits on yet. At the bottom of the rappel, about 5-10 more minutes scrambling down the hillside and you'll reach the water. Suit up here.
Descent[edit]
Exit[edit]
After the last rappel, there are a couple small pools as the river does a sharp turn to the left. Either take the obvious trail up to the left, or stay in the river just around that turn but just afterward you'll want to go up to the trail. The trail leads to some changing palapas where you can take wetsuits off. From there it's just another 5 min walk back to the parking area.
Red tape[edit]
Permission required to descend. Please see Coroico region page for more information.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
First descent in Sep 2018 by Francisco Ortega, Cristian Villca Mendoza, Lucio Jorge Mendoza, and Edu Gomez Perez
