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Rivers & Waterfalls

154 photos

Images of rivers, lakes, and waterfalls.

Browse Rivers & Waterfalls

Diamante Waterfall, Diamante Waterfalls, Costa Rica

Diamante Waterfalls

17 photosCortes Waterfall, Cataratas de Cortes, Costa Rica

Cataratas de Cortes

15 photosPejibaye River, Rio Pejibaye, Costa Rica

Rio Pejibaye

15 photosBailey Bridge after Quake, La Paz Waterfall, Costa Rica

La Paz Waterfall

12 photosCrocodiles on the Tarcoles river, Río Tarcoles, Costa Rica

Río Tarcoles

11 photosThe blue lagoon, Rio Celeste, Costa Rica

Rio Celeste

10 photosBathers, Rio Claro, Costa Rica

Rio Claro

9 photosKids swimming, Río Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Río Sarapiqui

9 photosKayak Skills, Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica

Rio Pacuare

8 photosA look at Nicaragua, Río San Juan, Costa Rica

Río San Juan

8 photosTurrialba Volcano in background, Río Reventazón, Costa Rica

Río Reventazón

6 photosRio Ario, Rio Arío, Costa Rica

Rio Arío

5 photosRiver mouth, Río Sirena, Costa Rica

Río Sirena

5 photosLago Cachí, Costa Rica

Lago Cachí

4 photosLago Arenal, Arenal Lake, Costa Rica

Arenal Lake

3 photosLa Cangreja Waterfall, Costa Rica

La Cangreja Waterfall

3 photosRiver pool, Rio Drake, Costa Rica

Rio Drake

3 photosSierpe river mounth, Río Sierpe, Costa Rica

Río Sierpe

3 photosRio Savegre, Río Savegre, Costa Rica

Río Savegre

3 photosRio Costa Rica

Rio Costa Rica

2 photos

Selected photos: Rivers & Waterfalls

La Cangreja Waterfall, Costa RicaLa Cangreja WaterfallLago Cachí, Costa RicaLago CachíPozo Azul, Rivers & Waterfalls, Costa RicaPozo AzulLake Cachí, Lago Cachí, Costa RicaLake CachíEmpty Cachi Dam, Lago Cachí, Costa RicaEmpty Cachi DamRio Zapote "Poza", Rivers & Waterfalls, Costa RicaRio Zapote "Poza"Rio Ario, Rio Arío, Costa RicaRio ArioCable car rio pejibaye, Costa RicaCable car rio pejibayeCrocodiles on the Tarcoles river, Río Tarcoles, Costa RicaCrocodiles on the Tarcoles riverPejibaye River, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaPejibaye RiverRio Celeste, Costa RicaRio CelesteCachí Hydroelectric Dam, Lago Cachí, Costa RicaCachí Hydroelectric DamRio Costa RicaRio Costa RicaRio Tarcoles, Río Tarcoles, Costa RicaRio TarcolesCosta Rica river, Rio Costa RicaCosta Rica riverNational Kayaking Championship, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaNational Kayaking ChampionshipLaguna de Cote, Rivers & Waterfalls, Costa RicaLaguna de CoteRío Pejibaye, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaRío PejibayeKayak Competition, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaKayak CompetitionBathers, Rio Claro, Costa RicaBathersMoving into the sea, Rio Claro, Costa RicaMoving into the seaThe blue lagoon, Rio Celeste, Costa RicaThe blue lagoonCampeonato Slalom Rio Pejivalle, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaCampeonato Slalom Rio PejivalleDiamante Waterfall, Diamante Waterfalls, Costa RicaDiamante WaterfallPejivalle River Kayaking, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaPejivalle River Kayakingkayaking Rio Pejibaye, Costa Ricakayaking Rio PejibayeA look at Nicaragua, Río San Juan, Costa RicaA look at NicaraguaRiver mouth, Río Sirena, Costa RicaRiver mouthPedestrian Bridge, Río Reventazón, Costa RicaPedestrian BridgeRio Pejivalle Kayakers, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaRio Pejivalle KayakersKayaks en el Rio Pejivalle, Rio Pejibaye, Costa RicaKayaks en el Rio PejivalleRio San Juan, Río San Juan, Costa RicaRio San JuanKayak Skills, Rio Pacuare, Costa RicaKayak SkillsArio river, Rio Arío, Costa RicaArio riverDrafting, Rio Pacuare, Costa RicaDraftingResting from hike, Río Sirena, Costa RicaResting from hike

Why is the Río Celeste blue?

Rio Celeste on the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, Costa Rica
Rio Celeste on the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano

The photo shows a clear stream with a pale blue-green cast running over rounded stones through dense forest on the slopes of Tenorio volcano. A 2013 study by Costa Rican scientists found that the colour is not a dye. The river begins where two colourless streams meet, and the change in acidity makes tiny suspended aluminosilicate particles clump and grow, so they scatter blue light. Later work, from 2022, suggests sulphur-oxidising bacteria and diatoms take part in forming those particles. Its page is Río Celeste.

Where do crocodiles live along the rivers?

Crocodiles on the Tarcoles river with the Carrara National Park in the background, Río Tarcoles
Crocodiles on the Tarcoles river with the Carrara National Park in the background

This photo shows a sandy bend of the Tárcoles river with a row of crocodiles lying in the foreground water, with forested hills behind. The species is the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). An IUCN assessment cites more than 300 individuals in the Río Grande de Tárcoles in an early-1990s study, and SINAC publishes survey reports, so any photo is a moment and not a census. See Río Tárcoles.

How do rivers shape the country's energy and borders?

This concrete dam was one of Costa Rica's first hydroelectric projects , built in 1966 it is
This concrete dam was one of Costa Rica's first hydroelectric projects , built in 1966 it is considered one of the world's thinnest dams as it rises 80 meters above ground.

The Cachí dam closes a valley on the Reventazón river near Juan Viñas. It is a concrete dam whose first unit began commercial generation on 7 May 1966, among the first works by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) on that river. The Reventazón rises in the highlands of Tapantí, together with the Pacuare, according to SINAC; see Río Reventazón.

The San Juan, in the north, is a border river. Britannica says the 1858 treaty gave the river to Nicaragua while giving Costa Rica free navigation for commerce, and in 2009 the International Court of Justice confirmed rights that include tourist navigation, but not police vessels.

River conditions, trail access and swimming safety change with rain and season, so follow local advice.