Located on Costa Rica's north-east Caribbean coast, the stunning Tortuguero National Park now protects one of the largest remaining areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Three species of monkey (spider, howler, and white-faced), three-toed sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the jungle canals and inland waterways.
Each year, from June to October, thousands of giant green sea turtles come to the windswept beaches of Tortuguero to lay their eggs. Studied and protected for the past forty years by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC), each female Green Sea Turtle can weigh up to 300 pounds and typically lays 80-100 eggs. Night-time tours can be arranged during these months to see the nesting turtles.
Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, basilisk lizards, and poison dart frogs also inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds including 6 species of kingfishers, 3 species of toucan and 8 species of parrot. The best way to see the abundant wildlife here is through an organized boat tour along the canals.
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