Filo Bobos

From Wikipaddle

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The source of the Filo-Bobos is the high plateau (2400 m.) around the town of Perote, where it gathers just a little volume as it passes the town of Las Minas, and then tumbles down the mountains sides toward Tlapacoyan. Later, being joined by the Alseseca/Tomata, it finally flows into the Gulf of Mexico at Nautla. This is agriculture country, famous for its fruit producing exports.

There are many beautiful sections suitable for class IV, class III, and class II boaters, including narrow canyons, fun play waves and holes, and smaller rapids for beginner paddlers.

Great accommodations and camping are available in the Tlapacoyan area, and the Rio Alseseca close by adds to the variety of paddling opportunities.

Contents 1 El Pimiento to Zapotitlan 2 Zapotitlan to Puente Filo 3 Puente Filo to El Encanto 4 El Encanto to La Pamilla 5 La Pamilla to Rojo Gomez 6 Rojo Gomez to Martinez de la Torre 7 External Links 8 Location Map

El Pimiento to Zapotitlan

This is creeking at some of its finest. From the bridge near El Pimiento the river takes off and doesn't slow down until a couple of miles above Zapotitlan. There is an alternate put-in at Tatempa which will shorten the run down to about 6 miles (four of which are the spiciest). Don't be mislead by the wrong 'Tatempa' or 'El Pimiento.' There are more than one town by the same name. You will not go wrong if you have a good topo map and look for the road crossing the river at a bridge (just past El Pimiento) and a Tatempa not far from that bridge as the crow flies, but down stream 3-4 mi.

It is all read and run for an experienced class IV boater. Shortly below a washed out foot bridge there is a ledge worthy of a scout. A little ways below is another boulder-choked rapid that we call Junk Yard. One 13' high chute where the rock turns volcanic, is called 'Melt Down.' It wants to flush you deep into a pool before you surface to the top. This experience can be avoided by a carefully calculated boof off one of the nearly verticle sides. There are many very tight moves and boofs on this run. It is paradise for a technical boater.

You will have to make the choice of either carrying back up the long, steep path to Zapotitlan or paddle another 9mi. to Puente Filo. Be careful, getting out of this narrow little canyon would be mighty difficult if someone were hurt.

You can drive to the put-in from Altotonga. You will have to ask directions along many miles of gravel road, and you will need at least 2 hours. From Tatempa, you will have to hike 3/4 hr down a steep trail to the river. A designated shuttle driver is a necessary, as there is not time enough in the day both to run shuttle and paddle the river. The folks at Aventurec can help you with the logistics. Tommcewan

Zapotitlan to Puente Filo

Close below the put-in, the Filo Bobos again becomes enclosed into a narrow canyon, where there is a lot of maneuvering around blind turns - and even two or three class IV rapids where you will want to scout. A stream comes in on the left where you pass a couple of old, ruined bridge abutments. At that point, you are about half way to Puente Filo. Further on, at the bottom of a particularly boulder-choked rapid with a field on the left, another path reaches the river from the road. The rafting companies call this the Alto Filo section, accessible from the road from Tlapacoyan/Pilares. There are locals who will for a few pesos will carry your boats down the steep path to the river. You will shortly after pass through the last spectacular canyon with only about 3/4 hr. left of class II-III paddling. You can take out on the right under the bridge. Don't forget to buy some victory beer from the little palapa next to the bridge and enjoy the company of a very friendly family who owns the restaurant.

You can access Zapotitlan either from Altotonga or from Tlapacoyan/Pilares. Both entail significant driving time on gravel roads. From Pilares the road is less steep. Leave yourself a couple of hours to navigate either route. Tommcewan

Puente Filo to El Encanto

This section is often called the ruins section, because it has two archeological sites (Vega de la Peña and Cuajilote) within walking distance of the river. You will have to bring some pesos, as there is still an entrance fee even if you enter from the river. The rapids in this section are rated predominately class 3, but the river bed is often wide and at low water you will have to drag your boat over many wide gravel bars. Judge by the large first rapid below the bridge. If you are okay with the number of rocks you hit on that one, you will probably not be too unhappy with the rest of the run. The ruins are hard to recognize on river right about half way down to El Encanto.

To take-out at El Encanto, you will have to stop when you see on your left a building on the cliff overlooking the river. This is the power generating house, and you will know it is time to start walking. You will cross a peninsula of field to where the Tomata comes our of the cliffs directly below the power plant building on the hill. You will have to paddle across the Tomata river or use a shaky foot bridge to arrive where cars can park. From the highway beyond Tlapacoyan, there is a well marked road to El Encanto that reaches the Tomata river. Tommcewan

El Encanto to La Pamilla

El Encanto is easily found on the highway from Tlapacoyan to Martinez de la Torre. This is the section most paddled by the local rafting companies. Look for the sign on the right looks like water falling and the sign that says El Encanto (the enchanted one). You can easily ask directions to the river and park next to the water. If you paddle upstream from the parking lot, you can make your way into a narrow canyon and see a high (100') water fall (usually pretty dry) after a carry up a little 4' drop.

Heading downstream, after a few small warm up rapids, you will reach the confluence of the Tomata and Filo-Bobos rivers. There the river becomes deeper and more fun. There are some play waves and holes until you reach the biggest rapid of the section called, Frijolares. You may want to stop to scout on the left just after passing under a hanging bridge.

A couple of rapids below, a long rapid named S-Turn starts with a dangerous looking pipe on the right and ends with a good class 3 ledge. There are several more good rapids, before you reach the foot bridge at La Pamilla. It is a fun run with many good eddies, rocks to boof and waves to surf. Tommcewan

La Pamilla to Rojo Gomez

La Pamilla is a wider and easier class II-III section suitable for Low Intermediate paddlers. The valley is wide in this stretch and the rapids are shallow over gravel bars.

The second rapid below the La Pamilla foot bridge is the most difficult. Most novice paddlers will carry it down the left to avoid the several tight turns needed to keep from getting broached in the boulders.

Below, the river has other challenging class ll-III rapids, which require control to catch the eddies and boat scout your way through. Soon on the right you will pass the confluence with the San Pedro. The rapids are intermittant, with short flat stretches between. When you get near the take-out, you will see the radio towers of Rojo Gomez on the left. Stop before you actually get to the town above a large size rapid that turns away to the right. There is a gravel road that comes to within 100m. of the river. Tommcewan

Rojo Gomez to Martinez de la Torre

This is a rather nice section of class II and III rapids, although sadly marred near the town on Martinez de la Torre from the trash thrown off the top of cliffs along the river. The water is still good quality though and with the added volume from the San Pedro has several fun rapids with chutes and waves. The first rapid after Rojo Gomez is the most difficult and complex with a rocky lead in. At the bottom of the rapid the water converges and makes some nice surfing waves. The river continues to offer powerful and wavy rapids close to the outskirts of the city of Martinez. The take-out is on the right shortly before the highway bridge. Tommcewan

External Links

• Hotel Aventurec - Camping, River Rafting and Ecological Resort
• more photos of the Upper Filo Bobos

Location Map

From Google