250km (155 miles) NE of San José; 79km (49 miles) N of Limón
Sometimes dubbed "the Venice of Costa Rica," Tortuguero is connected to Limón, and the rest of mainland Costa Rica, by a series of rivers and canals. This aquatic highway is lined almost entirely with a dense tropical rainforest that is home to howler and spider monkeys, three-toed sloths, toucans, and great green macaws. A trip through the canals is nothing like touring around Venice in a gondola, but it is a lot like cruising the Amazon basin -- on a much smaller scale.
"Tortuguero" comes from the Spanish name for the giant sea turtles (tortugas) that nest on the beaches of this region every year from early March to mid-October. The chance to see this nesting attracts many people to this remote region, but just as many come to explore the intricate network of jungle canals that serve as the region's main transportation arteries.
Very important: More than 200 inches of rain fall annually, so you can expect a downpour at any time of the year. Most of the lodges will provide you with rain gear (including ponchos and rubber boots), but it can't hurt to carry your own.
Independent travel is not the norm here, although it's possible. Most travelers rely on their lodge for boat transportation through the canals and into town. At most of the lodges around Tortuguero, almost everything (bus rides to and from, boat trips through the canals, and even family-style meals) is done in groups. This group feeling can be intimate and rewarding, or overwhelming and impersonal.
Tortuguero National Park Travel Experiences
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Tortugas Monkeys and Local Magic
The day was kinda intense... got up at 4:30, I thought I am not capable of that, but I guess I am. It was still dark out and mosquitoes w... Continue reading »
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Tortuguero
To get to Tortuguero we had to take 2 separate chicken buses past huge stretches of banana plantations followed by a motor boat ride th... Continue reading »
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Caribbean stew and turtle hatchlings on the beach
It was nice to arrive in Cahuita after our adventurous boarder crossing into Costa Rica. This was a charming little Carribean village jus... Continue reading »
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A brief trip to Nicaragua!
We left Puerto Viejo early one morning, headed for Tortuguero (on the North East coast of CR). We caught a bus to Limon where we had a co... Continue reading »
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Tortuguero Village
The only way to get to the remote area of Tortuguero is by boat or plane. I chose a boat ride out of a small connecting town calle... Continue reading »
Popular Tortuguero National Park Things to Do
- bony scotts kayak trip
- Hiking
- Look for wildlife along the canals.
- Visit the small village of Tortuguero
- Visit the Conservation Centre
