Turtle Tour

Canal Tour

Walk through the National Park

Hike Tortuguero Hill

Turtle Museum at the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC)

Walk or tour through the village

Take a dip in the ocean

Secrets of the Jungle Canopy Tour

    If you come to Tortuguero between April and October, you can have an opportunity to see giant sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach outside the pueblo at night.  Tortuguero is the primary Atlantic nesting site for the green turtle, but if you come early in the turtle season you might even be lucky enough to sea a larger-than-life Leatherback turtle. There are tours every night during this season, at 8pm and at 10pm, typically costs around USD $10. There are numerous tour guides throughout the pueblo (nearly every business has connections with someone who does tours).  If you plan on seeing the turtles, youshould bring some dark clothing, comfortable walking shoes, and rain gear if it looks like it might rain.  Flashlights and cameras are not allowed on the beach. NOTE:  During turtle season, the beach is closely monitored by the National Park and Caribbean Conservation Corporation personel for the protection of the turtles.  You must have a registered tour guide with you to be allowed on the beach itself.
    If you come to Tortuguero from November to early January, you may not be able to see the big turtles, but you could be lucky enough to see a nest of baby turtles make their first run to the ocean.  There are nests all along the beach, and if you go walking on the beach during the early morning or late evening when the sun is not hot, you are likely to stumble across some.  You can do this independently, but there are also tour guides who will help you spot some for a fee.  Please do not support guides who dig up the baby turtles before they are ready to hatch. This puts the turtles at increased risk.

Located in the tropical rainforest, Tortuguero is surrounded by rivers and canals on all sides.  If you elect to go on a tour through thesmall canals, you will be able to get close to nature and see many of the land, air, and water species for which Costa Rica is famous, including monkeys, caiman, river turtles, iguanas, and many different species of birds.  There are many good guides in the village who can help you spot the animals and tell about the abundant exotic flora and fauna.  You will need to have a ticket to enter the National Park for this adventure.  Tours are offered in canoe and in small motorboats.  If you are the independent-type, you can also rent a canoe from one of the tour agencies that provide this service, get a map from the National Park station, and set out on your own. (click here to see the tour operators)

Tortuguero National Park is located on the far south side of the village (just follow the main street until it ends at the park entrance.  The park guards are friendly and helpful, and you can buy entrance tickets and rent rubber boots (it can be extremely MUDDY!) there.  There are several trails you can hike on through the park, where you will be able to get really close to some amazing natural beauty.  There are also many tour guides who will take you on very informative tours through the park and help you spot the wildlife.

The CCC is located at the far north end of the village (just follow the main street, you'll see signs).  At their visitor's center, they have a small museum that tells you all about the nesting cycle of the turtles, as well as facts about other wildlife and development here in Tortuguero.  The staff are friendly and helpful, and will answer any questions you have.  They ask for a donation of 500 colones (about USD $1) as an entrance fee.

Many of the tour books tell you not to swim on the beach here.  However, the locals go swimming all the time.  If you'd like to cool off, just take a few simple precautions.  Be aware that there are often strong currents, so it is a good idea not to go in past where you can firmly touch the ground.  Although there are sharks out in the deeper waters, there has never been a reported shark attack.  Also remember, the sun is VERY strong here.  Be sure to bring good sunscreen and reapply often.

Enjoy a relaxing massage on the tranquil Tortuguero beach withnothing to disturb you but the soft ocean breeze and sounds of nature. You can also choose from a variety of professional spa services, including manicures, pedicures, and special body treatments with minerals, coffee, or chocolate. Click here for more information.