For our BelizeRivers.org team it was an easy canoe put-in to the river from just below the bridge along the roadside of the Toledo District village of Big Falls. Next to the pilings supporting the new bridge, the old bridge now sat silently over our shoulders as we paddled through the shadows of the future as the Southern Highway looming above moves Toledo into the 21st century. With the highway now paved less the last ten miles from Golden Stream to Big Falls and entirely bordered by the new power line, most travelers these days don’t really notice the flowing waters of the Rio Grande as they make their way further south to Punta Gorda.

Amongst the tributaries which feed below Big Falls into the Rio Grande River is the Jacinto Creek.

Our paddle down river was for the most part uneventful. Be prepared for rapid change in river width, for the river widens considerably as it heads for the sea. For either of the two side trips we ventured to ashore, the strenuous overland hikes to site at Jacinto Landing or the unexcavated sites at Seven Hills, we recommend hiring an extremely knowledgeable local guide. Be prepared with ample water and food. Be sure to have readily available, camping and cooking equipment, and knee high rubber boots and state of the art rain gear just in case.

BelizeRivers.org water rating: Fair
Though the river is clean, the water is not potable due to human contamination from the head waters to the sea. Very little canoe portage required around river debris south of the bridge at Big Falls.