Costa Rica

Location:  Limon Province, 155 miles (225 km) from San Jose

See North Caribbean Tourism Region

Size: 77,032 acres

Date of Creation: November 1975

Part of: Tortuguero Conservation Area

About:

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 which has a few available hiking trails. The deserted beaches are perfect for strolling, but only from dawn to dusk. Each year, from July through October, Tortuguero visitors can join an evening guided turtle tour to observe some of the thousands of green sea turtles nesting on the beach.

There are approximately 65,711 acres of protected land and 113,014 acres of protected waters in the park, not to mention its northern contiguous neighbor, the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge. These two regions form an enormous conservation area that is rich in biodiversity.

The humid rainforest and black water canals are a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers.  The best way to see as much wildlife as possible is with a naturalist guide. A three-hour boat tour of the park’s canals costs about $15 with a local guide.

Tortuguero has several attractive lodges that offer packages including meals, lodging, transport to and from San Jose, and tours with experienced guides. Visitors that prefer independent travel can find accommodations in the village at one of the mid-range hotels or hostels. Canoes and kayaks can be rented either with a local tour operator or in one of the all-inclusive lodges.

Read  our Tortuguero Travel Blogs (October 2007) and (April 2006)

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Weather: 

Average Day Time Temperature: 87°F (31°C)
Average Night Time temperature: 69°F (21°C)

Tortuguero’s annual rainfall is between 4500 and 6000 mm. The climate is humid and very hot, with frequent showers. The driest months are February-March and September-October. Visitors can anticipate two types of rain: brief afternoon showers and the long Caribbean drizzle that can last up to two weeks.

Beaches:

The park’s 22 miles of protected beaches are often deserted. Strong currents and occasional presence of bull sharks make the ocean unsafe for swimming. The black sand beaches are lined with almond trees and coconut palms which offer shade on a hot day.

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Activities:

Land Activities: Turtle tours, hiking, and bird and wildlife watching are popular activities. Camping is permitted at the Cuatro Esquinas ranger station. The cost is $2 per day and potable water and restrooms are available.

Water Activities: Canoeing or kayaking in the canals is a great way to spot wildlife. Sport fishing boats can be chartered in Tortuguero, though most captains travel to nearby Parismina or Barra del Colorado where giant tarpon and snook can be taken year-round.  
 

Flora & Fauna:

Four species of sea turtles, the green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead, nest on the beaches of Tortuguero. The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) comes ashore more frequently than the other three species. More than 2600 green sea turtles were tagged by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation in 2000 compared to fewer than 100 leatherback turtles.

Visitors can participate in evening turtle tours to observe nesting green sea turtles from July through October. These tours can be arranged in the village or with a lodge, but are only permitted with licensed guides.

The world’s largest sea turtle, the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), nests in Tortuguero from March through June. The beautiful hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) come ashore in even smaller numbers from March through October (August is the peak month).

There is an abundance of wildlife and plant diversity in the park’s gallery forests and aquatic trails. More than 400 species of trees, 2200 species of plants, 375 species of birds, 125 mammal species and 124 species of reptiles are found here. Common sightings include tiger herons, green herons, great blue and little blue herons, toucans, anhingas and egrets.

Sloths, basilisk lizards, green iguanas and caimans, as well as howler, spider and white-faced monkeys are also common. Although rarely sighted, tapirs, jaguars and manatees are native to the area. Native flora include the hawk tree, crab wood, banak, bully tree and dove wood, as well as aquatic lilies, monkey ladder and wild plantain.

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Facilities:

• Cuatro Esquinas Station is at the south end of Tortuguero village. This station is accessible by boat from one of the lodges, or on foot through the village. Cuatro Esquinas is the most visited station and offers a small educational visitor center and park maps.
  
  
• The Jalova Station, accessible by boat from Parismina, is at the southern boundary of the park. This station has a short hiking trail as well as bathrooms and a picnic area.
  
  
• The Aguas Frias Station is on the western border of the park. Visitors can arrive here by car, after passing through Guapiles and Cariari.

Trails:

• Cuatro Esquinas Ranger Station: Here you will find the El Gavilán trail. It winds between the forest and the beach for 1.2 miles (1.92 km) behind the station.  Two other trails near by, La Ceiba and La Bomba ascend Cerro de Tortuguero (Tortuguero Hill), but these are officially closed (by MINAE) for restoration. 
  
  
• The Sector Jalova Ranger Station:  The El Toucan trail begins at the station and parallels the Cano Negro waterway.
  
  

• The Aguas Frias Ranger Station:There is a scenic lookout point at the Lomas del Sierpe (1,000 feet), reached by the Los Raudales Nature Trail.

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Fees and Schedule:

Admission: Non-residents: Adults: $7 or $10 for a three-day pass; Children: $1
Residents: Adults: ¢600, Students: ¢200 and Children: ¢250. 

Schedule: Ranger stations, trails and canals and are open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Getting There: 

Tortuguero is only accessible via plane or boat. There are no roads leading into the village itself.  There is a small airstrip north of the village and daily flights to and from San Jose are available with local carriers. The bus/boat route from San Jose is a 155 mile  journey that can take anywhere from five to seven hours.

One of the simplest ways to travel to Tortuguero is to book an all-inclusive package with one of the lodges. Packages include food, lodging, guides and transportation to and from San Jose. 

Bus/Boat From San Jose via Moin
Take the 6:30 a.m. bus to Limon from San Jose’s Gran Caribe Terminal. If possible, purchase your ticket one day in advance as the bus is often full. From Limon, take a taxi to the boat docks in Moin where boats depart for the Tortuguero canals (the JAPDEVA docks). The cost is roughly $4 for the 10 kilometer trip to the docks.

In Moin, boat prices can vary from $30-$50 per person. These are water taxis and don't have a fixed daily service. The return trip to Moin departs Tortuguero at around 10:00 a.m. Travelers should be in Moin before 1:00 p.m. This will give you plenty of time to get back to San Jose or down to the southern Caribbean coast during daylight hours.

For visitors traveling independently, arrangements can be made with the boat captain for pick up at the end of your stay. The usual departure time from Tortuguero is 1:30 p.m. and arrival in San Jose is around 6 p.m.

Places to Stay:

Recommendations:

1. Bring lots of mosquito repellant for beach walks and rainforest hikes.
2. Pack dark clothing for evening turtle tours.
3. Tour the park with an experienced naturalist guide – you will see much more wildlife this way.

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Nearby Parks:

Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge

Carate Wildlife Refuge

Donald Peter Hayes Wildlife Refuge

Piedras Blancas National Park

Cariari National Wetlands,

Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge: The Caribbean Conservation Corps (CCC) runs turtle conservation and research programs at this refuge.

Contact Info:

ACTO: Tortuguero Conservation Area
(506) 710-2929