If you would like to withdraw into nature and enjoy a beautiful green jungle. In addition, spot many animals and enjoy a beautiful sunset at the river. Then you should visit Tortuguero National Park. This amazing nature park is located on a sandbank between the sea and a long river that runs right through the national park. In the village of Tortuguero you can stay overnight while you are in the middle of the national park. Tortuguero national park is definitely the coolest national park in Costa Rica.
Tortuguero national park
Tortuguero national park is only accessible by boat. This boat trip is quite an experience in itself. You sail directly into the national park, which stretches for about 300 kilometers between the sea and the canals. Because the canals from the river end in the sea, there is a mix of fresh and salt water in the park. This ensures that a mix of many animal species lives in the national park. There are so many bird species. But you can also encounter caimans and crocodiles here. In addition, there are different types of monkeys: spider monkeys and howler monkeys. And there is no shortage of reptiles, there are various species of snakes, frogs, iguanas, salamanders and lizards. So if you are lucky you can see the red eyed frog, or the blue pants frog.
Tortuguero village
The village of Tortuguero itself is a very small village in the national park. There is a large main street with several hotels, nice restaurants and tour operators. Within 15 minutes you can easily walk from one side of the village to the other. Where one side ends in the national park, the other side ends with the larger and luxurious resorts that are also located here. Because it is such a small street and you can only get there by boat, there are no cars at all. Only some scooters and bicycles are used. The village itself is very cozy and full of cute colored houses. Despite its small size, you can enjoy great riverside dining while watching the beautiful sunset.
TIPTake enough cash with you, because you can't get cash there, the only ATM there doesn't work.
TIPEat on time, the restaurants close early (around 21:00).
The beach
Tortuguero National Park borders the sea on one side where a long sandy beach begins. This black sand beach is the place for turtles to breed in the season from July to October. During this period you can witness this scene. Do this of course with as much respect for the turtles as possible to disrupt the breeding process as little as possible. The beach is also ideal for relaxing or taking a nice walk on the beach. Swimming in the sea is strongly discouraged as sharks swim along the coast of the national park. Unfortunately, swimming through the channels and river of the national park is also not recommended because caimans and crocodiles swim in them.
Night tour
The night tour is really something you don't want to miss when you are in Tortuguero national park. Instead of entering the national park, you walk in the other direction between the village and the beach. You walk in the pitch dark with only the light of a flashlight. This makes it very exciting and so cool at the same time. During this tour you will spot a lot of reptiles. You can spot iguanas, snakes and frogs. But you can also encounter sloths and porcupines in the dark.
The tour lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours and takes place in the evening around 8:00 PM. You will often be picked up at your hotel, but it is also possible that you agree on a collection location. This of course depends on the tour operator. The tour costs about $25 per person. Unfortunately these tours are not available during the breeding season (July-October) as it disturbs the turtles too much during their breeding process.
TIP: Use DEET! The mosquitos come out especially in the evening.
Canoe tour through Tortuguero national park
Another way to admire Tortuguero national park is through the canals. You can take a canoe tour through the park for $25. You sit in a canoe with about 7/8 people, including a guide. While sailing you won't know where to look here. The jungle itself is incredibly beautiful, and animals are everywhere (hidden). You can easily spot many different birds and iguanas along the water. If you pay close attention you can also distinguish the caimans from stumps in the water. Spider monkeys and sloths can be admired not only in and along the water, but also high in the trees. You have to get up very early for it because 05:45 is the collection time at the jetty.
Instead of with several people in a canoe, you can also kayak through the jungle with a group, then you immediately have a good workout. The choice is entirely up to you. For both tours you still have to buy a mandatory ticket for the national park itself, because you sail through it. This is valid all day, so you can also do the walking tour through the park later in the day.
Walk through Tortuguero national park
If you have already done one of the above boat tours, you already have your ticket for the national park. If not, you can just buy it online. There is a walking route that runs through the jungle and ends at the beach. This way you can walk through the jungle and back over the beach. In total it is about a 3 hour walk. If you like to spot animals, we recommend that you take your time, because you will pass a number of well-hidden animals.
If you like to spot animals, we recommend that you take your time, because you will pass a number of well-hidden animals. During the walk you have the chance to encounter many wild animals. You can spot howler monkeys particularly high in the trees if you pay attention. There are also instructions at the beginning of the park for what to do if you see a jaguar. The chances of this happening are really very small. You do have a good chance to see jaguar footprints on the beach tho.
The park is open from 06:00 to 16:00, with a break between 12:00 and 13:00. An entrance ticket costs $15 and you can buy it online in advance. How and where will be explained when you book the canoe or kayak tour, or at the entrance of the park.
TIPwear good closed shoes. The trails can be slippery and muddy.
How do you get there?
From Puerto Viejo
From Puerto Viejo you can easily travel by bus to Tortuguero. It will take you a whole day, namely about 7 hours, so make sure you leave on time. First you take the bus from Puerto Viejo to Puerto Limon, for $2.60. From there you take the bus to Guapiles, for $5. Then you take the bus to Cariari for $0.70 and from there to La Pavona, for $1.55. In La Pavona you take the boat to Tortuguero. Often you can already buy the ticket for the boat on the bus and then immediately through the boat. For a boat ticket you pay about $10 per person.
From San Jose
If you travel from San Jose you take the bus to Cariari in one go. From Cariari you take the bus to La Pavona. And here you board the boat to Tortuguero. The bus ride to La Pavona from San Jose takes about 4.5 hours and will cost you about $5.
With a car
You drive by car from San Jose in 2.5 hours and from Puerto Viejo in 4.5 hours to Tortuguero national park. You can park the car at the boats for about $10 per day. Then you sail by boat to the national park. You can buy a return ticket for the boat on the spot. This will cost you about $20 per person. There are several organizations and the boats go about every 2 hours.
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