Tortuguero is nestled in the wet tropical forest on Costa Rica’s Northern Caribbean Coast. This tranquil destination is famous for the thousands of sea turtles that nest there year after year. Surrounded by luxuriant vegetation alive with birds, reptiles and mammals, the area is a delight for wildlife enthusiasts.
The village’s 22 miles of protected beaches comprise the largest nesting site of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Western Hemisphere. Each year, from July through October, Tortuguero visitors can join a guided tour to observe some of the thousands of giant reptiles nesting on the beach. Lucky travelers may also glimpse tiny hatchlings making their epic journey to the sea.
The village is located on a narrow strip of land between the Tortuguero River and the Caribbean Sea. It is surrounded by the humid rainforest of Tortuguero National Park and the palm-fringed coastline. The small but charming town is dotted with simple wood houses built up on stilts intermixed with mini-supermarkets, a few restaurants and hotels, as well as family-run tour companies.
Hosting more than 100,000 visitors each year, Tortuguero National Park teems with wildlife, both aquatic and land-based, including the highly endangered West Indian manatee and the elusive jaguar. A network of navigable canals and lagoons extends through acres of swampland and gallery forests. The park, besides hosting the green sea turtle, is a nesting site for the leatherback and hawksbill.
Scenic boat and kayak excursions through lush canals are a popular activity within the national park. Tiger herons, northern jacanas, aninghas, and caimans are commonly spotted. This tranquil destination is quite remote and is accessible only by plane or boat as there are no roads leading into Tortuguero.
An Afro-Caribbean influence is evident in the local cuisine, language and culture. Many of the village’s inhabitants originated from Jamaica, San Andres or the Miskito Coast of Nicaragua. Along with a bit of English, locals speak a mixture of Patois (a Jamaican Creole with English and African roots) and Spanish. You’ll find traditional Caribbean architecture alongside a developing commercial area, created to meet the needs of the growing tourist population.
Travelers should note that there are no banks or ATMs in Tortuguero and credit cards are only accepted in a few locations. Paraiso Tropical Store cashes traveler’s checks and gives cash advances on credit cards for a small fee. Internet service costs $4 per hour and can be found in several internet cafes throughout the village.
Brief History:
Tortuguero began as a small, five-family community that eventually grew into a village due to the presence of the lumber industry. The black water canals were originally constructed to float logs from the rugged interior of Tortuguero to the port city of Limon. As a result, most of the forest seen in Tortuguero today is secondary growth. Fortunately, the heavy logging period of the 50’s and 60’s ended with the ecological movement, and ecotourism is now Tortuguero's top industry.
Nearby:
Barra del Colorado (home to the largest national wildlife refuge in Costa Rica) lies just north of Tortuguero. The area's river system affords excellent wildlife watching as well as phenomenal fishing. Barra del Colorado has been voted one of the top ten places to fish in the world. Anglers come from far and wide to fish the 600-meter wide Rio Colorado. It is the only place in Costa Rica where 100-plus pound tarpon can be taken year-round.
General Information:
Tortuguero Village
Local Artist