Costa Rica’s Pacuare River has long inspired those who know it. On October 31, 2025, it called people to action once again.
With the sound of rushing water and rain in the background, more than 200 people gathered on the banks of the majestic Pacuare in Linda Vista de Siquirres for the Pacuare Libre event, forming a powerful alliance in defense of one of Costa Rica’s most iconic rivers. The gathering brought together Congressional legislators, the mayors of Turrialba and Siquirres, Cabécar Indigenous community representatives, environmental organizations, members of the press, tourism leaders, and citizens from across the country, all united by a shared purpose: to protect the Pacuare River forever.
The event centered on public support for Bill No. 25.189, officially titled Law for the Environmental Safeguarding of the Main Channel of the Pacuare River in the Upper and Middle Basin. This proposed legislation seeks to permanently protect the river from hydroelectric dams and any other barriers that would interrupt its natural flow, ensuring that the Pacuare’s powerful waters continue to run free for generations to come.
Organized by the Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA), the activity took place at Parque Aventura 3X. Throughout the day, participants signed a petition in support of the bill and released ecological spheres into the river as a symbolic act of restoration. Several national university groups performed cultural dances. The event concluded with a powerful reaffirmation of commitment to conservation: more than 80 participants descended the Pacuare in rafts and kayaks, forging a deep emotional connection with the river and its living spirit.
A Law to Secure the Pacuare’s Future
Bill No. 25.189 was formally introduced on September 8, 2025, by independent deputy María Marta Padilla Bonilla and is currently under review by the Permanent Special Commission on the Environment of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica. The bill seeks to elevate existing protections, which prohibits dam construction on the Pacuare until 2040 through the 2015 Executive Decree No. 39199-MINAE, to the level of permanent law.
If approved, the legislation would ban hydroelectric projects and other barriers along the main channel of the Pacuare River and its tributaries, from the upper basin to Indiana Dos in Siquirres. This would safeguard the river’s ecological continuity, protect its extraordinary biodiversity, and preserve its role as a cornerstone of sustainable tourism and community livelihoods in the region.
The bill has received support from legislative representatives Cynthia Córdoba Serrano, Geison Valverde Méndez, Alejandro Pacheco Castro, and Ariel Robles Barrantes, echoing the overwhelming will of local communities. That commitment was clearly expressed two decades ago in the historic 2005 Turrialba plebiscite, in which 97% of voters rejected the construction of dams on the Pacuare River.
Honoring a Legacy of River Defense
“This law fulfills the long-held dream of my father, RAFA founder Rafael Gallo, who was one of the fiercest defenders of the Pacuare for over 35 years,” said Roberto Gallo, President of the RAFA Board of Directors. “It honors the tireless efforts of the thousands of people who have fought for this river and unites the communities working together to protect this natural jewel.”
RAFA announced that it will continue promoting signature collection efforts and public information campaigns to support the advancement of Bill 25.189 through the Legislative Assembly.
The Pacuare River is a living entity. Its channel, biodiversity, and cultural significance has been defended for over four decades by Cabécar Indigenous communities, conservationists, and ecotourism professionals committed to keeping it free and alive. Today, that responsibility belongs to all of us. Now is the time to ensure that the Pacuare is protected forever. Follow RAFA’s social media channels to stay informed about the progress of Bill 25.189 through the Legislative Assembly.
