Tortuguero, located on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, is a remote and lush destination known especially for sea turtles! The beaches of Tortuguero are common nesting sites to over three species of sea turtles including green turtles and leatherbacks. The town is situated in the heart of the Tortuguero National Park and surrounded by jungle. The town is very secluded making it one of the best places for travelers looking for an off-the beaten path adventure in the country.
There are many things to do in Tortuguero, including taking a boat tour to explore the canals and waterways of the national park, hiking through the rainforest to spot wildlife, visiting the local turtle conservation center to learn about the nesting habits of sea turtles, and even taking nighttime tours to watch various species of sea turtles nestling in the wild. Have in mind that walking on the beach at night is prohibited and can only be done if you take a tour with a local guide.
The best way to explore Tortuguero is to stay at the main town and take tours. Since most of the things you can do require taking a tour you should plan accordingly and be ready to spend money on various tours to explore the canals in boat or see the sea turtles at night. Of course, to save a little bit of money you can always try to book a tour with the guide directly and avoid tour companies which can charge a lot more.
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Plan your visit
How to get there:
Tortuguero has no roads, so driving to the town directly is impossible. The easiest way to reach Tortuguero is to take a local flight but this option might be too expensive for some travelers. If flying is an option for you you can buy your tickets online in the website of Sansa Airlines. The other alternative to get to Tortuguero is by taking a boat from La Pavona dock.
How to get to La Pavona:
If you rented a car you can easily drive all the way to the dock of La Pavona and park your car there. Have in mind that the road leading to La Pavona is unpaved so its better suited for 4×4 cars. The price of parking is $8 USD per day. Then you can take a boat from the dock to Tortuguero. The price for taking the boat is $3 USD per person and they charge extra for every piece of luggage. If you don’t have a car there is a bus option from San Jose. You have to take a bus from San Jose to Guapiles, which takes 2 hours and then take local buses or a taxi to La Pavona.
Bus options from San Jose to Guapiles:
The buses from San Jose are managed by Empresarios Guapileños. Tel.: 2222-0610. The price for a one way ticket is $3 USD.
Departure time options from San Jose: Every day from 5:30am to 7pm
Return time options from Guapiles: Every day from 5am to 8pm
