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Costa Rica Rivers | Rios De Costa Rica

The rivers of Costa Rica are of great interest to tourists, not only for their beauty, but also for the opportunities they provide for adventure, sport and leisure activities. On the Caribbean side is found the 145 km long Reventazón-Parismina River Systemand the 108 km long Pacuare. Both these rivers are ideal for fishing and white water rafting.

Also on the northern Caribbean slopes we find the 96 km Colorado and Sarapiquí System, perfect for outings and sporting activities. The Pacific side of the country boasts numerous rivers such as the Corobicí, most noted for float trips on its gentle rapids.

This river, and many other northern Pacific rivers, empty into the great Tempisque River which stretches for 135 km to the Gulf of Nicoya. The marshes and estuaries of the Tempisque Basin are important nesting grounds for numerous native bird species as well as being a sanctuary for many migrant birds.

The Colorado River
The Colorado River, or the Rio Colorado, in Costa Rica is a tributary of the San Juan River which flows 96 km towards the Caribbean in the northern parts of Heredia and Limon Provinces.

The surrounding habitats are protected as part of the second largest rain forest preserve in the country, the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge.The river is a well known tourist destination, particularly for fishing for tarpon and snook.

The Corobicí River
The Corobicí River, or the Rio Corobicí, in Costa Rica is a tributary of the Tempisque River. This wide river passes from Lake Arenal through tropical dry forest and then to open pastures, slowing as it reaches the mangrove forests nearer the coast. It is joined along its route by the Tenorio River.

The Orosí River
The Orosí River, also called Rio Grande de Orosí, is a river in Costa Rica near the Cordillera de Talamanca. The watershed contains one of the rainiest areas of Costa Rica, with annual rainfalls of up to 280 inches. It goes through the Tapantí National Park and drains into Lake Cachi, the site of the Cachi Dam.

The Pacuare River
The Pacuare River, or the Rio Pacuare, in Costa Rica has its source in the Cordillera de Talamanca and flows approximately 108 km to the Caribbean. It is a popular location for white water rafting and has been named one of the top 10 river trips in the world by National Geographic.

The rainforests that surround the river are home to exotic species such as jaguars, monkeys, ocelots, and a large number of birds.

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad suggested in 1996 the possibility of building a hydroelectric dam on the river. This plan was finally rejected in 2005 due to concerns about the pollution and other impacts on tourism and the ecology of the river and its surroundings.
 

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