Places to See in Tortuguero

National Parks and Refuges:

Tortuguero National Park Hosting more than 100,000 visitors each year, Tortuguero National Park is the third-most visited national park in Costa Rica. Created in 1975, it teems with wildlife, both aquatic and land-based, including the highly endangered West Indian manatee and the elusive jaguar. It is also an important nesting site for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and, to a lesser degree, the leatherback and hawksbill.

The park has a network of both natural and man-made canals which connect with a series of rivers and lagoons. These lush waterways can be toured by flat-bottomed boat, kayak or canoe and offer the best opportunity for wildlife watching. Tortuguero National Park is also comprised of protected beaches (home to nesting sea turtles) and densely vegetated rainforest with a number of available hiking trails.

Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge
An hour by boat from Tortuguero, the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge is a protected area located in the North Caribbean Zone.  Barra del Colorado is the largest wildlife refuge in Costa Rica. It includes over 50 kilometers of canals, rivers, lagoons and marshlands that connect with Nicaragua to the north and Tortuguero to the south.

Its protected wetlands are rich in biodiversity but extremely isolated and navigable only by boat.

The landscape is comprised of hot and humid tropical forest, fluvial islands, channels and swamp lands. The refuge is also a sport fishing hot spot. Anglers from around the globe travel here to fish for record tarpon and snook, which can be taken year-round in the mouth of the Rio Colorado.

Beaches:

Tortuguero’s 22 miles of protected beaches are often deserted. The tranquil shores are perfect for strolling, but only from dawn to dusk. Each year, from July through October, park visitors can join an evening guided tour to observe some of the thousands of green sea turtles nesting on the beach. Strong currents and the presence of bull sharks make the ocean unsafe for swimming.

Conservation Organizations:

Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC)
A five-minute walk from Tortuguero village, the CCC focuses its energy and resources on marine turtle conservation. The CCC was started by field biologist Dr. Archie Carr in 1959 in response to wide-scale turtle poaching. Thanks to CCC volunteers and community efforts, turtles are no longer killed for their eggs and meat.  They are now tagged and carefully monitored when coming ashore to nest.

The Caribbean Conservation Corporation offers a variety of biology classes and accepts volunteers from March through April to assist in turtle research.  The visitor center has educational displays as well as a short video on turtle conservation.

Admission: $2
Contact: www(dot)cccturtle(dot)org
 

COTERC (Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Research)

COTERC’s biological station in Caño Palma is nestled within the lowland rainforest of the Barra Del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, five miles north of Tortuguero. The station hosts student interns, researchers and other organizations that are carrying out migrant bird studies or other lowland forest ecology-based projects.

The organization studies native ethnobotany and is monitoring migrant and local bird species in conjunction with Global Vision International. Cano Palma is unique in that it provides easy access to swamp forest, freshwater and saltwater systems. 

COTERC has three trails ideal for short afternoon walks. Plants and trees are labeled for  curious hikers. During the rainier months (call ahead to check weather), these trails are often flooded and unsuitable for hiking. The biological station is always looking for volunteers to assist with various research projects.

Contact:  Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 2R6, Canada  
Phone: 905-831-8809; 
Web:  www(dot)coterc(dot)org

Estacion Biologica Cano Palmas, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Phone: 506-2-709-8052

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