Tempisque River

{{Infobox river

| name = Tempisque River

| name_native = {{native name|es|Río Tempisque}}

| name_native_lang =

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| image =

| image_size = 200px

| image_caption = Tempisque River Bridge

| map =

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| pushpin_map = Costa Rica

| pushpin_map_size =

| pushpin_map_caption= Location of mouth

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Costa Rica

| subdivision_type2 = Province

| subdivision_name2 = Guanacaste

| subdivision_type3 =

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| subdivision_type4 =

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| subdivision_type5 = City

| subdivision_name5 = Palo Verde

| length = {{convert|144|km|mi|abbr=on}}

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| source1 = Cordillera de Guanacaste

| source1_location = Guanacaste, Costa Rica

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|10|58|48|N|85|28|24|W|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation =

| mouth = Gulf of Nicoya

| mouth_location =

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|10|9|20|N|85|13|12|W|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation =

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| basin_size = {{convert|611|km2|abbr=on}}

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The Tempisque River, or Río Tempisque, is {{convert|144|km|mi}} long, located entirely in Costa Rica flowing from the Guanacaste Cordillera near the Orosí Volcano and emptying into the Gulf of Nicoya. It passes through the Palo Verde National Park and is an important habitat for various species of crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and birds.{{cite web|url=https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=59|title=Tempisque River|website=Government of Costa Rica|access-date=June 22, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Rio Tempisque |url=https://geonames.nga.mil/namesgaz/ |website=GeoNames |access-date=July 24, 2021}}

The river is heavily silted, limiting navigation to shallow crafts that can cross the muddy flats. Tidal conditions dictate the timing to cross the bar at the river mouth.

Historically the Tempisque was used to float logs down to the sea. The logs were gathered at Chira Island to be loaded on ships.

The Tempisque River Bridge was built linking the Nicoya Peninsula to southern Guanacaste and hence significantly cut travel time to San José. It was funded by a gift from the Taiwanese government, and opened in November 2002.