Dispatch Number 12 -The Swim

Frontera Corozal where Mexico meets Guatemala on the Southeastern front of Mexico's State of Chiapas, a place of great natural wonder with jungles, rivers and things man made -it was the center of the Maya civilization. In these parts the Usumacinta River is the international boundary. The river and its tributaries were important trade routes for the ancient Maya civilization. Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras, two of the most powerful cities of the Maya Classic Period (200-900 A.D.), lie along its banks.

I have heard more than once it is the 5th largest river in the world, but have been unable to confirm this. However, for self-promoting vain reasons calling it the 5th largest river in the world makes my visit here with Matt Fuller sound big because Matt is about to swim it. Matt has no fear of water and will swim across to the Guatemala side without travel papers and stand on the opposite bank to wave and yell, then swim back to a cold beer for performing the feat.

The headwaters for the Usumacinta are in Guatemala, the river flows 'uphill', north into Mexico. Matt walks to the rivers edge to better assess the swim. From high up on the bank he is confident and says he has swam across rivers the same size and larger. From my position on the upper bank it looks like he can do it.

He is walking back to the truck up on the bank after scouting the river for a good 10-minutes. What will he say?

Turns out we had been looking at an island in the stream mistaking it for Guatemala when it was still part of Mexico. His report was seasoned with caution and an unpleasant description of a very wide river with a strong current that ran over big rocks in several spots. It was too dangerous, but the idea of swimming to Guatemala without 'papers' was a risk we, we'll Matt wanted to take. I don't swim too well.