Tourism In Costa Rican Rivers

This country has more than 800 kilometers of freshwater rivers with a total territory of 51.179 km. Due to the rains and the rugged orography, there are a lot of river courses, some of them being the basis of ecosystems and others  being vital for the populations. 

The mountain systems in Costa Rica go from northeast to southwest. This categorizes the rivers of the country in 3 groups: North Slope that comes from Nicaragua and the San Juan river, Caribbean Sea Slope and the Pacific Ocean Slope. 

The rivers in Costa Rica are:

• Colorado River

• North Chirripo River

• Sarapiqui River

• Toro River
• Sucio River

• Toro Amarillo River
• Blanco River

• San Carlos River

• Platanar River
• Peñas Blancas River
• Arenal River
• Tres Amigos River

• Pocosol River
• Frio River

• Sabogal River
• Celeste River

• Zapote River
• Pizote River
• Sapoa River
• Suerte River
• Tortuguero River
• Reventazon River

• Parismina River

• Jimenez River

• Atirro River
• Pejibaye River
• Orosi River

• Pacuare River
• Matina River

• Atlantic Chirripo River

• Banano River
• Sixaola River

• Yorkin River
• Uren River
• Lari River
• Telire River
• Siquirres River

• Estrella River
• Tamarindo River
• Nosara River
• Tempisque River

• Bebedero River

• Corobici River

• Tenorio River

• Cañas River
• Salto River
• Liberia River
• Colorado River

• Abangares River
• Lagarto River
• Guacimal River
• Aranjuez River
• Barranca River
• Jesus Maria River
• Grande de Tarcoles River

• Virilla River

• Grande River

• Cacao River
• Cajon River

• Tiribi River

• Maria Aguilar River

• Parrita River
• Naranjo River
• Savegre River
• Terraba River

• Coto Brus River
• General River

• Pacific Chirripo River

• Sierpe River
• Coto Colorado River

These can be rough waters or pacific channels. Some of them are protected zones for their ecological richness with exceptional beauty, near banana farms, lagoons and tropical forests. The rivers in Costa Rica also help with economic activities, including water sports, and tourism. 

Rivers contribute enormously for the hydrographic power produced in Costa Rica allowing the country to  have clean energy, treatment of the water for it to be potable for consumption, crop irrigation and floods control. 

Sadly, rivers in this country are really contaminated by organic residues, people throw trash in there, pesticides are killing the ecosystems surrounding the rivers. Those are only worsened by urban expansion and deforestation. It is very important to regulate the waste of big industries and their responsibility with sustainable practices.

Costa Rica has 2.800 sources of water that need to be better protected because even if some laws and government personnel are in charge of this, the efforts are not being enough to preserve the water in the country. 

If you are visiting Costa Rica, anywhere you go you will find yourself near a river, water activities, hiking and others so you can relax and enjoy.