Mirrored Reflections at Cano Palma

Before visiting Tortuguero, I associated the area with turtles. Just turtles. All I wanted was to see a turtle, and so when, on my second night, I saw four nesting green sea turtles, I thought to myself, “Wow. I’ve seen the turtles, but I have four days left. Now what?”

I needn’t have worried. Though Tortuguero is known and even named for its nesting turtle populations, this northern Caribbean town has so much more to offer. I found myself enchanted by the area’s winding canals, especially the mysterious Cano Palma, where the water is so black that its mirror reflections fool the mind.

As a budding nature watcher, Tortuguero had me hooked from the beginning — over the course my seven-day trip, I saw at least ten species I had never seen before.

Juvenile Anhinga

Waterfowl, colorful frogs, river turtles, and other animals lined the canals, more populous than at any zoo. Every moment was a learning experience, and I felt proud of my new knowledge — not only can I tell the difference between a blue and green heron, but I can now distinguish the toucan call from the warbling parrot song and know how to mimic the comical howler monkey’s irate outcry.

As I zoomed and focused the camera on each new specimen, I felt the photography bug nipping at my feet. Tortuguero’s beauty had inspired me, and the sheer number of willing subjects encouraged me.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

From being the first person to spot a camouflaged tree frog in the wild to snapping a clear shot of a tiger heron hiding in the shady bushes, I was thrilled to commemorate each moment of our aquatic explorations.

Tortuguero will undoubtedly bring out the nature lover in anyone. The first time your guide points out a graceful anhinga drying her wings, identifies the toothy reptile swimming towards the boat as a caiman, or teaches you how to respond to the call of the red-eyed tree frog, you’ll be hooked. I know I was.

Read all 7 days of my Tortuguero adventures!

Day 1: Traveling is Half the Fun
Day 2: Wildlife Viewing and Green Sea Turtles
Day 3: Hiking Cerro Tortuguero
Day 4: Fishing and a Tortuguero Conservation Tour
Day 5: Wild for Wildlife
Day 6: Sport Fishing Success and an Exciting Canal Tour
Day 7: A Beautiful Tortuguero Sunrise and Ride Home

For more trip planning information, see our Tortuguero travel guide.