The Tipitapa River (Río Tipitapa) is a short river in Nicaragua that connects Lake Managua to Lake Nicaragua. Its flow is seasonally variable and when Lake Managua, which is situated about ten meters higher than Lake Nicaragua,^{[citation needed]} experiences high water levels (usually in the rainy season^[1]), the waters of the Tipitapa can rise, resulting in floods that affect bordering towns such as Tipitapa, which is situated on the river, near Lake Managua.^{[citation needed]}

At its origin, the river is narrow and as it reaches mid-length, it widens and there are large swamps and lagoons covered with lush vegetation.