kayaking

Rafa Ortiz and his kayak embark on another challenging expedition.

Following his successful descent from the 47-meterhigh Big Banana Waterfall and Part One of his Chasing Waterfalls adventure in Veracruz, Rafa Ortiz and his kayak embark on another challenging expedition. In his home country Mexico Part Two of Red Bull Chasing Waterfalls leads the fearless athlete to explore the nation’s unique jungles and rivers on his quest for a new kayak thrill. He has rowed down the mightiest rivers in the world conquering rapids and streams in Africa, India, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, and holds the record for the highest waterfall run in a kayak down 57-meter-high Palousse Falls. At 26 years old, Rafa Ortiz is considered one of the best kayakers in the world and this time the adventure-hungry Mexican has a new story to tell. His 2014 quest for new challenges and new waterfalls led the young Mexican south of the country. Starting off in the state of Chiapas, one of the top destinations for extreme kayaking characterized by its long and abundant rivers, Rafa explored the Lacandona jungle for four days in the basin of the Usumacinta River which is considered the most extensive river in Guatemala and Mexico. Against the backdrop of stunning scenery, Rafa even found a river he had never paddled before, the Lacanja River. Following this expedition to the jungle, Rafa continued his journey to the waterfalls of Agua Azul. Due to heavy rains during the last months the Mexican expected to find waterfalls with very high water levels, which is something you can never exactly predict as a kayaker until the moment you are actually there. But Lady Luck smiled at Rafa who found himself conquering the turquoise waters of the Bolon Ajaw waterfalls after negotiating with armed supporters of the Zapatista movement to be allowed to enter the area. Very few kayakers make it along the five waterfalls in a single drop, but for Rafa, it looked like a big amusement park. It was his third time running down these mighty waterfalls with different levels of difficulty and heights between 10 and 15 meters. "It was a unique experience - a week of travelling in Chiapas and sleeping in a completely isolated jungle far from civilization. Now I have finished this chapter and I will keep all the memories for the adventures to come", said Rafa upon his return to Mexico City, eager to plan his next kayaking expeditions around the world.