The Patuca is a river in northeastern Honduras, formed southeast of Juticalpa by the merger of the Guayape and Guayambre rivers. It is the second largest river in Central America.
The river flows to the northeast for approximately 10 miles before crossing the Mosquito Coast, and flowing into the Caribbean Sea at Patuca Point.
It was the proposed site of a major hydroelectric power project. However as of May 1999 the hydroelectric project was placed on indefinite hold due to environmental concerns. The proposed development involved flooding 42 km of intact rain forest, all of which was on the legislative track to either become part of the Patuca National Park or the Tawahka Biosphere Reserve "Asagni."
The Patuca is infamous within Honduras for a section of rapids known as "El Portal del Infierno" or "The Gates of Hell" which are known to have killed many a reckless river-goer.
At floodstage the Patuca can reach several miles in width. Indeed, its tributary Guayape is known to exceed 2 miles in width nearly every year in areas that can be waded waist-deep in the dry season.
The Patuca is also well known for its lawless nether regions where small heavily armed groups of men dredge vast placer gold deposits in the areas up-river from the Mosquitia jungle.
The Patuca River was featured in the Douglas Preston book The Codex.