During my time in Esteli, Nicaragua I took a day trip to the town of Somoto, which is known for it’s famous six-kilometer canyon. Tourists and locals alike can take trips down the canyon where you must hike and swim (with a life vest) to make it through. Here are a few shots from my trek through Somoto Canyon, and, as always, you can click the photos to enlarge them.

Many parts of the canyon only require you to wade through knee deep to waist deep water.

While other parts require you to swim long distances in very deep water.

At one point in the canyon you must either climb a steep decline or jump from this point down into the water. You can jump from two meters, four meters, eight meters, or ten. I chose ten, and as soon as I left the ground I could immediately see rocks that I hadn’t been able to see before my jump. It was the longest three seconds of my life. I landed safely, but with a racing heart.