The Tortuguero National Park is located in the Limón Province of Costa Rica in the northeastern part of the country. It is ranked among the top most visited parks in Costa Rica in spite of not being easily accessible. You can find eleven different habitats at the park that are suited to its very humid and tropical climate. Sitting in a natural wetland of the Caribbean Coast, Tortuguero National Park covers an area of 31,174 ha (77,032 acres) including twenty miles of coastline. This is a perfectly protective place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. Tortuguero is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere.
Nesting season is from March to October with night tours available.
Saving the Green Sea Turtle
The drainage system of the park is replenished by rivers filled from the abundant rainfall of the region.The interlinked canals, waterways, lagoons and lakes create plains of sediment that are carried by the river system, These help to form the turtle nesting beaches of Tortuguero.
A lot of work has been done to protect these creatures from further harm. In fact, tour guides today at the park can boast that live green sea turtles bring in more money through tourism than the hunting of turtles for meat and eggs. The park has taken efforts to help the village residents of Tortuguero understand that preserving their natural resources is the key to promote ecotourism.
Tortuguero Village
Hispanic, Miskito Indian and Afro-Caribbean cultures and their influences can be found throughout Tortuguero Village where both Spanish and Creole English are spoken. You will encounter lots of typical Caribbean architecture and artwork. For a fee, a tour guide can show you around the sandy trails and raised cement walkways throughout the town, explaining the history of Tortuguero and its surrounding areas. You may feel like you are travelling back in time once inside this village of about 500 people where no cars are allowed. The hotels and lodges are just north, all of which include tour options making a planned visit easier. You can also arrange a tour to see turtles through the kiosk in the middle of the village. The best bet to see turtles laying their eggs is at night; a guide is mandatory to visit the beaches after 6:00 pm.
The Sea Turtle Conservancy
Formerly known as the CCC (Caribbean Conservation Corporation), the Sea Turtle Conservancy is located at the far north end of the village. The CCC was started initially in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr of the University of Florida to study and protect sea turtles. He is responsible for initiating the turtle-tagging program in 1955 which still continues today. Make a reservation for a Guided Sea Turtle Walk through the Sea Turtle Conservancy for $15 per person; space is limited to 22 people per night. Walks start at 9 pm and you may need to walk up to a half mile out and back in soft sand.
The Abundance Of Water
In addition to the green sea turtle, the freshwater creeks and lagoons behind the beaches of Tortuguero are home to seven species of river turtles and over 50 species of fish.
Take a trip on a tour boat or paddle a canoe through the freshwater canals to see Spider, Howler and Capuchin Monkeys and dozens of species of birds. If you are lucky, you might spot an endangered West Indian Manatee. Atlantic Snook and Tarpon are two of the species that attract anglers fishermen to this region from all over the world. Among the hundreds of birds you can spy the endangered Green Macaw, Amazon Kingfishers, Egrets, Herons and Toucans.
A boat tour is the best way to see the wildlife in the surrounding jungles of Tortuguero. Hire an expert guide from the local village to take you in a canoe or on a motorboat. He will help you find the fauna you may otherwise miss.
Getting There
The fastest way to get to Tortuguero is to fly on one of Costa Rica’s domestic carriers like Sansa or Nature Air. Both make daily flights from the capital of San Jose, arriving in less than an hour to Tortuguero’s small landing strip. It’s a short boat ride from there to the village center or whatever lodge you have reserved. The cost is anywhere from $60 to $110 per person each way. The planes are small and you will fly low over some beautiful landscape.
If arriving by car, you will need to access a boat service from either the town of La Pavona or Moin. From San Jose, La Pavona is the best choice while Moin caters to those arriving from the Caribbean. You have both public and private boat options from each location. Hotels and shuttle services generally use the private boats as part of their packages. Public boats keep a daily schedule and are suitable if you will be arriving by either car or bus.
We are sure that you will emerge from your visit to Tortuguero National Park glowing from the natural immersion into the heart of the jungle.
Learning Español
After living here approximately 1 month, and experiencing trying to order in restaurants, bars and even buying groceries at the local Maxi Pali and Automercado – I knew it was imperative that I try and improve the high school Spanish I learnt many moons ago. My...
A Pleasant Place to Live
Saludos a todos! My name is Joanna and I was born and raised in Venezuela. I have lived in Costa Rica for almost three years and it is the third country that I have lived in. Prior to here, I lived in the Dominican Republic and Peru and each of these countries are so...
The Run
I love and loathe the border run. For all of the perpetual tourists wanting to live the Pura Vida life here in Costa Rica it is a constant and now ever-changing-by-the-month with Covid dictating the rules and guide lines in place for everyone's heath and safety. Now...
How A Control Freak Learned To Pura Vida
Pura Vida. Two words that so fittingly capture the essence and beauty of Costa Rica. A simple slogan that encapsulates its way of living, one that favours connection, nature, joy, simplicity, peace, while declaring a relaxed attitude towards everything else....
Living Longer – What Costa Rica can teach us
Experts point out that there is no silver bullet to living longer. However, those who study the habits of people living in the “Blue Zones,” (which are the places in the world where people live the longest) say that making small changes to your everyday routine...
Starbucks First Coffee Farm
In the foothills of the Poas Volcano, approximately 30 minutes from San Jose International Airport, the beautiful Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia sits majestically in the valley. Hacienda Alsacia is Starbucks’s first and only coffee farm and where they are trying to learn...
The perfect getaway
If you are a couple, parents who need a break or just simply looking for a new date night – Casa Chameleon and Sentido Norte in Las Catalinas is the place for you! With Costa Rica being so family friendly, this is one of the only ‘adults only’ hotels and restaurants...
On your next vacation, why not Pure Life?
Costa Rica, in my opinion, is the premier Central American vacation and expat destination. While it’s a small country, geographically speaking, it offers a variety of experiences that few locations can match. Whether you love outdoor adventures or lazing by the...
Ten Dog Friendly Beaches
Guanacaste has lots of beaches to offer and depending on your sense of adventure can be the best way to get you and your furry best friend the exercise we all need. Apart from the usual dog walking items needed, make sure you and your furry friends have do/the...
The Amazing Andaz
I just really don’t know where to begin my review of the Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste. It is just under 30 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia and to put it simply everything was fabulous. I listed the...
A Jewel in Guanacaste
Golf is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you are planning your vacation to Costa Rica, but it should be!!! We recently had the chance to speak with Andy Stockinger, Troon’s newly appointed General Manager of Reserva Conchal Golf & Beach Club....
Pacific Soul Sailing
Captain Nick and crew aboard the amazing Pacific Soul will give you their ALL to ensure your sailing/water excursion makes the LIFETIME memory list. From seamless passage on/off land to absolutely every detail in between all that is required of the guest is to bask...
