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This wild and interconnected web of canals is an aquatic fairyland, where gavilan trees stand sentry at the water’s edge, caiman snouts poke out of canals, tiger herons perch atop driftwood, and four species of endangered sea turtle travel thousands of miles every year to lay their eggs on the beaches where they once hatched.

In this truly unique and special place, days are spent exploring motoring through amaretto-, emerald- and black-hued canals, and evenings are dedicated to watching returning sea turtles conclude their epic journeys.

Costa Rica babyturtle Tortuguero

A newly hatched turtle makes its way to the sea in Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park at a glance

Tortuguero is 65,861 land acres and 124,255 marine acres in size—about the size of New York City. It was established in September 24, 1970. Since then its limits have been modified three times, in 1980, 1995 and 1998.

The park receives 57,658 annual visitors, making it the fifth-most visited national park in Costa Rica—an admirable feat considering the park’s remote location.

Facilities include a pier, potable water, public restrooms, and a self-service information station. The town of Tortuguero, contained within the park, offers a full range of services, including lodging, food, transportation, phone and Internet.

Independent travel to Tortuguero National Park is virtually impossible. Almost without exception, visitors travel on all-inclusive trips and guided tours. Trips typically include round-trip transportation, accommodation at the lodge, all meals, and activities. The only extras are evening turtle tours (an absolute must!), spa services and additional guided excursions.

How to get to Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero is very remote; accessible only by boat and plane. There’s nothing much around the park aside from its numerous lodges. To get there, you'll travel 70 miles by road from San José to La Pavona. The park itself is an additional 10-15 miles by boat from La Pavona.

The vast majority of visitors arrive on an organised tour that includes accommodation, meals, guided excursions, and transportation from San José. Much less commonly, you can arrive via private transfer/bus to La Pavona, taking a one-hour boat ride to Tortuguero National Park.

The airport landing strip is located north of town; daily flights into Tortuguero are available via Nature Air and Sansa.

Tortuguero National Park activities

Turtle nesting (July-September) is the activity that gives the park its name and acclaim. Nesting beaches are best visited at night. Important: only visit with a reputable tour operator and qualified guides, and pay close attention to their instructions to avoid disturbing nesting turtles.

Visits are guided due to the park’s strict ecosystem protections, so points of interest are largely determined by a lodge’s specific package. Almost all guests visit the town of Tortuguero, take boat tours down Tortuguero National Park’s canals, and visit the nesting beach at night (during nesting season, July-September).

Other activities include:

Boat tours through the canals, primarily for bird and wildlife watching.

Visits to the Afro-Caribbean communities near the park entrance. Take a 'coconut tour' for a taste of the local food and live music.

Tortuguero town, located within the park, is very remote. You’ll find basic services here, but most travellers stay at the lodges.

There are four aquatic 'trails' (boat routes) and one hiking trail in Tortuguero National Park. The aquatic trails are:

Caño Chiquero-Mora, a 1.5-mile trail restricted to small boats and home to dense vegetation.

Río Tortuguero, a 2.7-mile trail open to larger boats. A primary entrance to Tortuguero’s network of canals, and home to a wide variety of aquatic bird species, amphibians and reptiles.

Caño Harold, a 2.2-mile trail through a wide canal, home to secondary forest and popular for wildlife viewing, especially turtles and caimans.

Caño Palma, a 3.2-mile trail, accessed via Penitencia Lagoon and thick with dense vegetation and aquatic birds..

The lone hiking trail, El Jaguar, is 1.6 miles long and is used only during turtle season. During nesting and hatching season, evidence is common along this trail.

Serious about sea turtles

Tortuguero National Park takes its turtle protections very seriously and there are many more restrictions here than at most other national parks. All beaches are restricted (you can only visit with a park ranger/official guide) from March 1-October 31. Fishing is not allowed. The park schedule is very strict, and you will be expected to stay on trails, and follow other regulations.

Tortuguero National Park weather

This is a very, very rainy area, seeing 175-235 inches of annual rainfall. Temperatures range from 20-32 C (69-90 F), and it is often very humid.

The dry season lasts from December-May and the green season from June-November.

Peak turtle nesting takes place July-September, and this is high season at the park. That said, the park’s landscapes are beautiful year-round, and birdwatching is excellent throughout the year.

Tortuguero National Park wildlife

Tortuguero National Park is a network of islands and canals, adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. On land, the ecosystem is mostly primary rainforest, with sections of secondary forest.

Tortuguero is a globally important nesting ground for sea turtles. Every year, from July through September, four species of marine turtles (leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead and green sea turtles) return to their own hatching beaches to nest at Tortuguero National Park. Additionally, 442+ species of aquatic birds (including great green macaws, crested guans, northern jacanas, collared aracari toucans, mandible toucans, and tiger, green, and boat-billed herons) live at Tortuguero National Park. Land sightings may include any of 138 mammals, such as tapirs, monkeys, peccaries, and the not-oft-sighted jaguar, while the once-prevalent manatees have become almost impossible to sight below the water’s surface. Keep an eye out for the 58 amphibian species, and 460 arthropod species on record.

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