PADDLER 79
Starting from stories that Gavin Barker shared with us after his season in Mexico, myself( Love it Live it) and Quim Fontane( European Whitewater School) decided that it would be sick to paddle there and share this destination with others. The idea floated in the current as casually as any conversation between kayakers does, and soon enough, we had a crew. Before we knew it, the trip was happening.
We arrived a week early. Coming straight off the back of paddling adventures in Chile – Pucon and Futa were fresh in my mind – excitement ran high. Upon arrival, we met Sofia Reinoso, our wonderful host and an incredible kayaker with whom we had the pleasure of paddling a few times. We also quickly linked up with David Mitchell, who was spending the season there and had joined our trips before in Zambia, and with that, the crew was complete.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: THE WARM WELCOME OF MEXICO
From the moment we touched down, the vibe was right. Friendly people, vibrant culture, and food that was out of this world – every meal a surprise, every dish a discovery. Our base was Aventurec, a cosy jungle haven nestled near the Alseseca River. The rooms were simple but perfect, with hot showers and comfy beds. The food? Let’ s just say we were fuelled and happy.
Safety was on everyone’ s mind before arriving. It’ s true – Mexico can have its rough patches. But in this part of Alsaseca Valley, despite some preconceived worries about safety, once we arrived and connected with Gav and Sofia, those concerns faded fast. We were in good hands. Our incredible hosts had everything sorted. Local drivers, secured transport, trusted shuttle services, and a sense of peace that stayed with us the entire trip. Locals in the area were nothing but kind, helpful, and proud of their land. This part of Mexico, remote and relatively untouched by tourism, felt safe and genuine. Once at Aventurec, we were in our own little world, surrounded by rainforest, waterfalls, and pristine rivers.
GETTING WET: ROADSIDE WARM-UPS AND BANANA BOMBSHELLS
We kicked things off with the classic Roadside Section of the Alseseca. It is a warm-up of sorts— tight, technical, and fun, though a little low on volume. But the next day, Gav joined us, and it was time for the real deal: Big Banana.
After a long and scenic hike, we stood beneath the towering Big Banana waterfall. The air buzzed with anticipation. One by one, we dropped in. What followed was pure joy – a progression of clean drops, tight gorges, and powerful rapids like Mexican 20 and Mordor. This wasn’ t just good paddling – this was world-class whitewater, as good as anything I’ d done. And that was just the start. We took our time exploring local sections, learning the lines, preparing for the upcoming trip, and kayaking as many sections as possible.
GROUP ARRIVAL AND GAME ON!
After a solid week of paddling, we were joined by Harald Schweidler from Germany and Bryan and Sam Hughes from the UK, whom we picked up from the airport and welcomed to Aventurec. They were buzzing about paddling in Mexico and the experience to come, and we couldn’ t wait to share the places we had fallen in love with!
PADDLER 79