A Glimpse into Mexico’s Packrafting Scene, with Rodrigo Alfonzo
11-minute read
Aqua Bound Ambassador Rodrigo Alfonzo has been actively helping to shape the packrafting scene in his home state of Chiapas, Mexico. He’s brought his family on board (literally) as well.
(Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Alfonzo)
Between running the family hospitality business and time on paddling expeditions, we were able to nail Rodrigo down long enough to ask him a few questions about his packrafting life there.
His stories and his gorgeous photos are going to make you want to head to Chiapas, Mexico for a packrafting adventure of your own!
Enjoy our conversation with Rodrigo Alfonzo and the beautiful photos he sent to accompany it:
AQUA BOUND: Tell us about your paddling background.
RODRIGO: I was born in Chiapas, but I moved to Vermont when I was young. Growing up there had a big influence on me. I was introduced early to outdoor activities and whitewater through Adventure Quest, a renowned summer camp located in Vermont. Rivers, paddling and being comfortable outdoors were simply part of everyday life there.
That upbringing mirrored what I experienced with my family as well. Exploration was always part of how I learned about the world. My father was deeply knowledgeable about the region and traveled extensively through remote areas of Chiapas.
In the early 1970s, he used a Folbot—a predecessor to the modern packraft—to travel sections of rivers like the Usumacinta River, the Lacantún River, and many others throughout Chiapas. This was long before these places were commercially run or written about in guidebooks.
He traveled this way primarily to reach destinations where he worked in rural communities. Through his professional work with the publication Mesoamérica, he developed a deep appreciation and understanding of Chiapas. That perspective—rooted in respect for place, people and landscape—has strongly shaped how I see Chiapas today.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
For a long time, paddling didn’t stay central in my life. I returned to Chiapas as an adult and my focus shifted toward family and exploration. When I had my own kids, we spent a lot of time exploring—very much like my parents did with me. My dad would tell stories about places we had visited years earlier, and I found myself continuing that same tradition with my family.
In 2010, I explored Río La Venta on foot, trekking the canyon alongside the river. It was one of the toughest trips I’ve ever done—and one of my favorites. It was demanding, slow and physically intense.
Years later, I saw that same place through social media—but this time, people were floating through it in packrafts. I didn’t even know what packrafting was yet, but the moment I saw it, it made complete sense. Moving with the river instead of fighting it on foot felt like the most natural and efficient way to experience that landscape.
That was the moment packrafting clicked for me.
AB: What makes packrafting such a great way to explore parts of Mexico, especially your area?
RODRIGO: Packrafting fits Mexico incredibly well, especially for travel and exploration. Chiapas alone has more water than any other state in the country. Many of the places we already love—canyons, waterfalls, jungle rivers and remote lakes—are difficult or impractical to access with traditional rafting logistics.
(Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Alfonzo)
Packrafting allows you to hike in and float out, travel light, and move efficiently through landscapes where roads don’t exist or where access needs to be low-impact. That flexibility changes what’s possible.
As a family of five, space, efficiency and adaptability really matter. Packrafting makes it possible to combine hiking, camping and river or lake travel in a way that actually works here, without needing heavy logistics or large groups.
For me, packrafting didn’t just add a new activity. It introduced me to Chiapas in a deeper way and showed me how much more of it there still was to explore.
AB: It hasn’t taken you long to get ACA certified and start teaching other paddlers yourself. What do you love about that?
RODRIGO: From the very beginning, my motivation was always clear—and it hasn’t really changed. What did change was my attitude and sense of responsibility.
Initially, my goal was to be able to teach my kids properly and responsibly. That meant I needed to build a solid foundation for myself first. My wife was very clear about that—she wasn’t going to let me take our kids into rivers or remote places if I didn’t truly know what I was doing. Learning by trial and error wasn’t an option.
When I got into packrafting, I became pretty obsessed. But I was also humbled by how much I didn’t know and by how much misinformation is out there.
Another motivation that pushed me to take training seriously was watching how quickly Chiapas—and especially one specific river—suddenly became a focus online. What often gets lost in that attention is context, often underestimated because of its presentation on social media.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
This river hasn’t been newly discovered. It’s been commercially rafted and explored for nearly 30 years. Local people have also been guiding visitors through nearby communities to some of the most iconic sections and highlights for well over a decade.
Access has existed for a long time, but it exists in a landscape that is geologically active and prone to flash flooding. There have been accidents and incidents that many people simply aren’t aware of. This is often because they don’t understand the terrain, the hydrology or how quickly conditions can change.
From my experience working closely with the reserve and understanding how access decisions are made, I could see how a lack of information and professional standards could eventually lead to restrictions.
For me, the answer wasn’t to limit access, but to educate and train. To show that rivers can be used responsibly when people are properly prepared. That meant building local capacity, training river professionals, and creating clear pathways for instruction and risk management.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
Instead of these trips being led primarily by outsiders, I felt strongly that they could—and should—be led by people who live here, understand the land and have a long-term stake in these places.
After my first packrafting expedition, I came back energized and aware that there was still a lot to learn.
About a month later, I reached out to the friend who had helped get me started and asked, “What’s next? How do I learn the right way?” His answer was simple: “If you like it, you should come to the Roundup.” That conversation introduced me to the American Packrafting Association and the broader packrafting community. He also pointed me to The Packraft Handbook by Luc Mehl.
Between learning about the Roundup and reading the handbook, things started to fall into place. The guidance was clear: Take proper courses, learn swiftwater safety, seek instruction, paddle regularly, find or start a paddling club, build community and learn from experienced mentors.
As I read through it, I found myself mentally checking off boxes. I realized this wasn’t just theory, it was a roadmap.
Following that guidance intentionally changed how I approached learning. I joined a local paddling club, started getting on the water consistently, and focused on building skills step by step. In one of those moments where life seems to line things up, I connected with Four Corners Guides. That became foundational to how I learned and later taught.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
Traveling to the US for training was costly and meant time away from my family, so I had to be efficient. On one 12-day trip, I completed packraft-specific swiftwater rescue training and shadowed trips on the Animas, San Juan and Dolores Rivers.
During that same trip, I reached out to several Instructor Trainers, including Kent Ford, who connected me with Dave Bumgarner. That connection allowed me to complete my ACA Level 3 Packraft Instructor certification—the first in Mexico.
Over time, this led to instructor courses taking place in Mexico, with participants coming from Chiapas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro and beyond. It also built on decades of work by people like Jim Coffey, who has been sharing swiftwater training in Mexico for many years. Because of that long-term effort and recent momentum, Mexico and Spanish-speaking countries now lead internationally in the number of certified Swiftwater, Kayak, and Packraft Instructors.
Beyond teaching individual paddlers, training local guides has been just as important. We work directly with communities in places like Agua Azul, providing swiftwater rescue, group management and safety talk training. This also opens up new packrafting routes that allow people to explore some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the region responsibly.
What I love most about teaching now is seeing how it opens doors. Teaching—and training local river professionals—simply makes access possible.
AB: What makes Chiapas and southern Mexico great for packrafting?
RODRIGO: Chiapas is remote, expansive and water-rich. Distances are large, access is spread out, yet it has more water than any other state in Mexico.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
I also see enormous potential across southern Mexico—from Oaxaca and Veracruz to San Luis Potosí—and even into Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The rivers are there, and so is the spirit of exploration.
AB: What’s your personal favorite packrafting destination?
RODRIGO: Río La Venta is definitely up there, but my personal favorite expedition was pairing it with Río Negro.
Both rivers are in the same region, within the Biosfera de la Selva El Ocote. Together, they offer close to 100 miles of river travel. Exploring multiple rivers within the same protected landscape gave me a deeper understanding of how the canyons, forests and waterways connect.
AB: Has packrafting become a family activity?
RODRIGO: Yes—very intentionally.
For us, packrafting isn’t about whitewater. It’s about exploring Chiapas in a different way. It’s about enjoying time in nature and confidence around water.
(Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Alfonzo)
I took my son—then 12—into a small section of Río La Venta. My oldest is now 16 and she is training with the goal of one day doing the full expedition with me. My youngest, now nine, asks to paddle her own packraft and practices self-rescues.
Those moments made every step of this journey worthwhile.
AB: How do you see packrafting expanding in Mexico in the future?
RODRIGO: I see a lot of potential for packrafting in Mexico, especially as the sport itself continues to evolve. Packrafts are no longer limited to whitewater—there are now models that work exceptionally well for flatwater, long traverses and even sea kayaking.
Places like Baja California immediately come to mind. Beyond that, we’re already seeing packrafting slowly appear in other regions—San Luis Potosí, parts of Puebla, northern Baja and Veracruz.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
That growth builds on a solid foundation. As of the end of 2025 and into early 2026, there are now 24 packrafts based in Chiapas. The ACA clinics were held in November 2025, the first-ever Instructor clinics in Mexico. There are now seven ACA-certified Packraft Instructors and sixteen ACA-certified Kayak Instructors. Locals are leading the way, and that leadership creates the structure needed for responsible expansion.
I don’t know exactly what the future will hold, but I’m confident there’s a lot of room to grow—thoughtfully and responsibly.
AB: How did you get connected with Aqua Bound?
RODRIGO: When I bought my first packraft, I paired it with an Aqua Bound Manta Ray and loved it. The challenge wasn’t the paddle—it was importing gear into Mexico, where shipping and taxes increases costs significantly.
Originally, I was simply looking for a pro deal. While researching that, I came across the Ambassador program thinking this was the pathway for the pro deal. I applied to the Aqua Bound Ambassador Program and was accepted.
It is important to have quality gear. Today, Aqua Bound paddles are our go-to for both personal use and instruction.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon)
AB: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
RODRIGO: In February 2025, I paddled with Kent Ford in Chiapas and then in Veracruz. I casually mentioned that Veracruz would be a perfect place for a packraft roundup. Almost exactly a year later, we’re welcoming close to 40 paddlers to the first-ever Packraft México Roundup.
After years of training, 2026 marks the first year that Packraft México is leading its own expeditions. Trips are filling, we’re working closely with the reserve, and in April we’ll be leading a conservation expedition. As new regulations come fully into effect, we’re proud to be operating in compliance.
There’s still a lot to do, but we feel good about the path we’re on. Growth only makes sense if it’s built on training, respect for place and long-term responsibility.
And one thing is always true: when you connect with local paddlers, you quickly realize two things—they’re highly capable and they always know where the best tacos are!
(Photo courtesy of Thad Ferrell)
Follow Rodrigo Alfonzo on Instagram for more of his packrafting and family life in Mexico.
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