Tortuguero Costa Rica: Remote Caribbean Village with Turtles
Tortuguero Costa Rica is a unique car-free village on the Caribbean coast that is a common turtle nesting site
The Tortuguero Costa Rica Vibes
Want to know one of our favorite spots in Costa Rica? This is it!
The vibe here is nothing like anything else you will find in Costa Rica.
Imagine a small island without cars, a relaxed feel, extremely nice people, a cool national park, and best of all, turtles!
Yeap, you read that right!
In late summer/ early autumn, you can watch hundreds of huge sea turtles laying their eggs and see little babies waddle their way out to sea.
It’s perfect and definitely worth a visit.
Background Info About Tortuguero Costa Rica
Nearest International Airport
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose
Popular Things to Do
early morning wildlife canoe rides, walking the national park trails, taking a sea turtle tour
Best Way to Get Around
By foot! There are no cars in Tortuguero
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best weather tends to be from late July until mid- October
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Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er).
We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and have called sunny Costa Rica home since 2016.
We are on a mission to help you plan the perfect Costa Rican vacation.
Map Of Tortuguero
Tortuguero is located on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica near the Nicaragua border. T
he village is located on a peninsula that is only accessible by boat.
Flights to Costa Rica
The easiest way of getting to Tortuguero is by flying into the San Jose International Airport.
If you haven’t booked your flight yet, we suggest using Skyscanner. We consistently find the best rates through their website.
Driving to Tortuguero from San Jose
The best way of getting here is definitely by car, but that means you will have to park your rental car for however many days you are on the island, which means you are paying for a car you won’t be using. Ugh!
If you do opt to rent a car, we suggest renting with Adobe. They are our favorite rental car company in Costa Rica and the only company we really trust. You can find out more about renting a car and get a 10% discount with Adobe here.
The drive from San Jose to La Pavona (the town where you park your car) takes about 2.5 hours and is pretty nice.
The last 30 minutes of your drive is on an unpaved road. A 4×4 would be nice, but we’ve also done it in a tiny sedan. I wouldn’t pay extra for a 4×4 just for these thirty minutes.
Adobe Rent-a-Car
- 10% discount for Costa Rica Vibes readers
- Free second driver
- 0% deductible on Liability Protection Insurance
- Excellent customer service
- New fleet of well-maintained vehicles
You then park your car in a secure lot. The lot is guarded 24 hours a day and we have never heard of anyone having any thefts with their car in the lot.
However, please still don’t leave anything of value in your vehicle. When you leave the lot at the end of your stay you will be charged about $10 a day for the length of your stay.
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The Adobe Rent-A-Car discount includes…..
– A 10% DISCOUNT
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Private Shuttle to Tortuguero
Adobe Transfers will take you from wherever you are in the country to La Pavona where you can grab a boat to take to Tortuguero.
Find out more here.
Domestic Flights to Tortuguero
Sansa Airline flies direct from San Jose to Tortuguero. This is definitely the fastest way of getting there (it’s about a 25-minute flight) but it can be pricey and it is not something I recommend to any of you that are scared of flying.
Flights range in price depending on the season.If you’d like to look more into flying check out your options here.
Transportation from La Pavona to Tortuguero
No matter what way you arrive to La Pavona (accept for by plane) you will then need to take a boat out to Tortuguero.
There is a public boat which costs a few dollars for a one-way ticket. It departs La Pavona at 7:30am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 4:30pm or whenever there are enough people to fill the boat. It is possible to buy tickets for this at the same place you park your car or get dropped off in La Pavona.
Another option is to take a private boat from a local. They are usually happy to leave whenever and sometimes charge less. They also tend to drive their boat a lot faster (which I love).
Going with a local driver is discouraged by the public boat people. Apparently, there have been some incidents in the past.
The boat ride out to Tortuguero takes about 45 minutes. Make sure you have your camera because it is super cool! You’ll feel like you just entered Jurassic Park.
Once you arrive at Tortuguero there will sometimes be someone from your hotel waiting to meet you or your boat driver can direct you to your hotel.
Transportation In Tortuguero
Within Tortuguero you can walk everywhere.
Some of the more high-end hotels are located on the river across from the downtown area. You will need to take a boat from your hotel if you would like to go downtown, but most of these high-end places provide that service to guests.
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Tortuguero Costa Rica Weather
Welcome to the Caribbean coast where the weather is the complete opposite to the rest of Costa Rica!
Here, the rainy season runs from mid-December until end of July. I know, that sounds like a whole lot of rainy time, but let me explain.
Although it can be rainy, you just never really know. We have visited in January and had amazing weather. We have also visited in January and experienced complete washout days.
One thing we have noticed though is that usually when it rains, it at least rains at night. Daytime rainstorms don’t happen that often.
Also, the temperature stays fairly warm even when raining.
During the dry months, the weather is amazing and warm!
Turtles in Tortuguero Costa Rica
Experiencing sea turtle nesting is the highlight of Tortuguero!
Between July and November (nesting season), there are evening turtle tours on the beach.
After 6 pm you are actually not allowed on the Tortuguero beach without a tour guide so as to protect the turtles. I promise you will be one of the coolest things you’ve ever experienced in your life.
During your tour, your guide will tell you about the history of turtle conservation in Tortuguero and tell you plenty of fun facts about turtles.
Get ready to see massive mom Leatherback turtles waddle up from the ocean, lay their eggs, and go back down into the water.
Keep in mind that you are not allowed to take pictures or get too close to the turtles.
Also, wear comfortable footwear because it will be very dark.
Your guide will have a red light flashlight (this doesn’t disturb the turtles) but all other lights are not allowed.
Throughout the year it is also possible to see other species of sea turtles such as green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles.
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Parl consists of waterways and land. The best way to explore this unique environmental area is by taking a guided boat tour in the morning and then hiking in the national park in the afternoon.
Your boat tour includes admission to the park, so you can just show your ticket again in the afternoon for hiking.
We have a complete guide to Tortuguero National Park for more info.
And here are three tours we suggest.
Canoe Tour
We have done this tour twice and had a great time both times. The guides are really well informed and people of all ages will enjoy this.
Kayak Tour
If you would prefer to get out on a kayak and do all the paddling yourself, this tour is for you.
2 in 1 Tour
We suggest this experience if you want the full Tortuguero National Park package. This tour includes a wildlife canoe ride in the morning and a guided walking tour through the on-land portion of the park at 11:00am.
So, just as a reminder. No matter which boat tour you do, you will pay for park admission. So, you are welcome to visit the on-land portion of the park later in the day for no extra cost. This tour is more for those of you who would like a guide to point out on-land wildlife.
Things to Do in Tortuguero Costa Rica
Walk the Miles of Beaches
The beach in Tortuguero is nice to experience. It is not the best for swimming, but you can walk for miles and miles. Visit the beach at sunrise for a really nice experience.
Just keep in mind that the beach is considered a wildlife refuge because it is a nesting site for turtles. Do not disrupt them.
Check out the Turtle Museum
On the north side of the town of Tortuguero there is a small museum about the turtles. It costs a few dollars to enter but this money goes towards funding turtle conservation. You will likely spend about 45 minutes here.
Rent Kayaks
There are a few places in town where you can rent kayaks. Renting kayaks for half a day is a great way to explore the little freshwater streams near the island and see wildlife.
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Tortuguero Restaurants
The town of Tortuguero does not have too many dining options. It is a small town after all. However, there are a few places that really stand out as excellent places to enjoy a meal.
Fine Dining
Karonga: We actually haven’t been here yet, but it is high on our list. If you try it out, report back on how you liked it.
This is a floating dining experience that lasts for about two hours. It is possible to visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Mid-Range
Budda Cafe – Our favorite hangout spot. The food is great, the drinks are great, and the atmosphere is perfect.
Tutti’s – Finding quality pizza is not the easiest in Costa Rica and we are always on the hunt for decent Italian food. This place was on point! The staff is super nice and the prices are decent.
Budget-Friendly
Mi Nino: Delicious typical Costa Rican food with huge portion sizes.
Tortuguero Costa Rica Hotels
High-End Hotels
Tortuga Lodge & Garden– Nice hotel right on the river. There is a pool and a Caribbean restaurant on the property.
Mawamba Lodge– Beautiful place with an outdoor pool, hiking trails, and butterfly gardens. Transportation from some San Jose hotels is included in your booking.
Mid-Range Hotels
Casa Turtle Bogue– Beachfront hotel with simple (but nice) rooms. The staff are happy to help arrange any tours for you.
Budget Hotels
Hotel Icaco: This hotel is about as basic as they come, but it is perfect if you’re on a budget. It is located directly across from the beach on the ocean side of the island.
Aracari Garden Hostel– This hostel offers private rooms and shared dorms. There is a shared kitchen on site for guests to use.
Tortuguero Natural: Simple, but nice rooms on the ocean side of the island. The people working here are the sweetest and will help you out in any way they can.
Group Tours to the Tortuguero Area
Take the planning, stress, and guess work out of traveling by booking a multi-day tour with an experienced guide.
For more tour ideas check out Tour Radar.
Costa Rica Adventure
A 10 day adventure that mixes adventure with relaxation. On this trip you can go zip lining, take a night safari, relax on beautiful beaches, take yoga classes, and more!
Essential Costa Rica
A 10 day tour that combines Manuel Antonio National Park, Tortuguero National Park, and La Fortuna’s Arenal Volcano National Park.
Costa Rica Wildlife Tour
Spend 15 days visiting some lesser-known Costa Rica destinations for tons of wildlife spotting. This tour is mostly in the jungle but don’t worry there is some beach exploration as well.
Tortuguero Travel Tips
– Don’t swim in the rivers. The locals often do, but there are caymans (small crocodiles) that live there.
– Bring cash, preferably colones. There is no ATM in Tortuguero. Most places will accept US dollars, but you will get the best exchange rate with colones.
– 2 nights is enough time here. It is an amazing place, but there isn’t that much to do here.
Packing for Tortuguero Costa Rica
Tortugurero is super relaxed and there is no reason to dress nicely. You can live in flip flops here (except for maybe when walking in the national park).
Also, we strongly suggest bringing your stuff in a large backpack rather than a suitcase. It will make your life much easier when taking the boat to and from Tortuguero.
Don’t forget bug spray and sun protection!
Check out our Tortuguero Packing List on Amazon for all the essentials.
Tortuguero Costa Rica FAQ
How many days is enough in Tortuguero?
Two full days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Tortuguero Costa Rica. This will give you enough time to take a wildlife canoe ride, hike the national park, explore the town, and take an evening turtle nesting tour.
Is Tortuguero worth visiting?
Tortuguero is worth visiting all year round, but the best time is in August or September when it is possible to experience turtle nesting.
How can I get to Tortuguero?
To get to Tortuguero you will need to take a boat from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Alternatively, it is possible to fly on a domestic flight to Tortuguero.
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