Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

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How to Get There

Located on Costa Rica's northeast Caribbean coast, the stunning Tortuguero National Park now protects one of the largest remaining areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. The park offers vast, protected beaches from which you can enjoy endless ocean vistas. In terms of places to stay, from tropical lodges to bio-reserves to luxury hotels, there is a little something for everyone in Tortuguero. Whilst not the easiest place to get to, the area is well served by public transport. Many buses will get you close, where you’ll need to catch a boat taxi or ferry to Tortuguero itself. The region is also served by Tortuguero airport, which has connecting flights to/from San Jose.

The Land of Turtles

Tortuguero National Park provides you with one of the best opportunities in the world to see giant nesting sea turtles and their babies. Watching them come to lay eggs before making the treacherous journey back to sea is an unforgettable experience. The name Tortuguero comes from the Spanish tortuga meaning turtle. 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.

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At One with Nature

Sixteen of Costa Rica’s endangered animal species are found in this area; including ocelots, manatees and tapirs. Wildlife and exotic plant life are everywhere you look in this coastal paradise. 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. The best way to see the abundant wildlife here is through an organized boat tour along the canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, basilisk lizards and poison dart frogs also inhabit the area, along with more than three hundred and twenty species of birds including six species of kingfishers, three species of toucan and eight species of parrot.

Things to Do In Tortuguero

When not enjoying the peaceful Caribbean beaches, there are so many things that you can do in Tortuguero. Hiking through the jungle is a fun way to spend an afternoon. There are many guided tours, or you could try El Gavilan Land Trail, which is well signposted for the explorer amongst you. There is also much that you can do when not lying on the beach soaking up the rays, such as tours down jungle waterways by canoe or even hiking through the rainforest. Everywhere you turn you’ll find impressive wildlife and breathtaking natural beauty.


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