Tortuguero National Park is located on the Caribbean Coast in Limón province, Costa Rica, and is home to some of the country’s most beautiful nature, and most importantly, turtles! This park has become well-known because of its unique ecosystem and habitats where a lot of animals co-exist in harmony.
Why You Should Visit Tortuguero National Park
Black River Turtle in Tortuguero National Park
Costa Rica has over 30 national parks, but if you’re an avid wildlife enthusiast, this one in specific is worth visiting. There are several different benefits to visiting Tortuguero National Park, including its beauty, wildlife, history, and culture.
Located on the northeastern coast of Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park offers visitors a chance to see some of the most beautiful wildlife in Central America. Tortuguero National Park protects one of the largest remnants of tropical rainforests in Central America. There is a small town called Tortuguero within the region that you can visit too. You might be able to walk into the town in less than 20 minutes depending on where you are in the park. During turtle nesting season (usually from July through October), you might be able to see different sea turtle species nesting their future baby hatchlings.
The beach offers beautiful views and access to the stunning Caribbean Sea from which you can enjoy limitless views of the sea. Despite the beauty and ability to be visited, these beaches cannot be swum in. Tortuguero National Park’s lush jungles and twisting waterways are a real treat to visit. Along the winding canals of the park, hiking trails, and black sand beaches, you’ll see everything from monkeys and turtles, to crocodiles and wading bird species.
If you’re not already sold on this park, read on to learn more about things you can do, things you should know, and the best time to visit.
Things to Do & Experience in Tortuguero National Park
Crocodile in Tortuguero National Park
If you are looking for things to do in Tortuguero National park, there are many activities you can enjoy while visiting this park, most efficiently if you hire a certified tour guide to show you the best of the park.
Boat Tour of Tortuguero National Park
Boats are the best way to get an up-close look at the diverse wildlife living in Tortuguero National Park. You may be able to spot howler monkeys, spider monkeys, blue herons, tiger herons, and more incredible wildlife during the ride. There are many tour operators who offer tours in this national park, which take you through the entire park and show you the best sights. You’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and unique experiences at the park while enjoying the best views from the famous canals. Ride with a park tour guide and you’re guaranteed to see the wildlife native to Tortuguero! If you want to see the whole park and get the most out of it, this is the best way to go.
Tortuguero Turtlewatching Tour
On the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rican, there are mass turtle nesting events every year. There are four different species of sea turtles that nest at Tortuguero each year. Visit Tortuguero National park during the months of July through October, when the green, leatherbacks, hawksbills, and loggerhead turtle hatchlings return from their long journeys across North America to lay eggs on the beaches of Costa Rican shores. These amazing creatures, leatherback turtles, are truly awe-inspiring – they average 6 to 7 feet long, and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds!
Visit Tortuguero Beach
Tortuguero Beach isn’t your typical white sand paradise that most are used to in Costa Rica, but it’s definitely gorgeous in its own unique way and worth seeing! The black sand beach has been made into a wonderful safe haven for sea turtle nests from July through October. Here you’ll be able to spot many beautiful sights, including turtle babies’ nests on the beaches, sharks in the waters, and colorful toucans in nearby palm tree branches. Unfortunately, the beach is not safe for swimming because of the strong currents and sharks. However, it’s an excellent location for walking and observing the canal that runs alongside the park and beach and the wide variety of wildlife.
Visit Tortuguero Village
Tortuguero is an extremely small village with just under 2,000 residents who call it their home. It’s located on a grid of dirt roads you can walk around in a few hours. Most residents of Tortuguero are of Jamaican descent and speak Limonese Creole, a dialect of Jamaican Creole. The village has some lovely souvenir shops, a couple of hostels and hotels, one church, a dozen of eatery and cafes, and not much else in terms of entertainment, except for the beautiful natural surroundings. The most popular activities here are visiting the village and going for a boat or motor boat ride through the canals of Tortuguero National Park.
What You Should Know About Tortuguero National Park
White Face Monkey in Tortuguero National Park
The history of Tortuguero National Park is compelling. Archie Carr, an American sea turtle researcher visited the village of Tortuguero in 1953 to investigate reports of a turtle site. Little did he know what would come of his visit to Costa Rica. Recognizing the area’s ecological importance, he alerted the Costa Rican government about his findings. He also founded the non-profit organization called the Caribbean Conservation Corporation and helped create and establish the national park known as Tortuguero. In 1975, Tortuguero National Park was officially founded and established, with over 35 km (22 miles) of the beach set aside to represent and preserve the park.
Tortuguero National park, also known as “The Place of the Turtles,” is one of the best spots in Costa Rica and the world to watch green sea turtles lay their eggs and witness baby turtles hatching. The park’s name originates from the Spanish word Tortuga (turtle). Every year from July to October, large amounts of turtles arrive at the beach in the park to lay their eggs and nest. The CCC has been studying and protecting these green turtles and other wildlife in the park for the past 40 years. A fun fact: Female turtles can reach weights of nearly 300 lbs., and each will lay about 100-120 eggs per nesting season.
It’s one of the few national parks in Costa Rica where hiking isn’t necessary for seeing everything. You can get the best views of the entire island by taking a boat ride through the canals. You don’t need to give up hiking just because the park is best seen by taking a private boat trip. There are three hiking trails that you can take to explore the park, including Cerro Tortuguero, which will take you up to a stunning view of the entire park, canals, and beach. Walking or hiking through the park and keeping an eye out for an array of wildlife is a pleasurable activity as well. If you decide to explore the canals, there are plenty of places to rent canoes and kayaks to explore as well.
The park is open from 6 AM – 4 PM every day of the year and closed from 12 PM – 1 PM for a lunch break during their hours. You have to pay around $15 USD per person (if you are a non-resident) and you can pay by credit, debit, or cash.
The best way to get to the park from San José is by plane. It’s around a 25-minute plane ride. There aren’t too many roads that lead right up to the entrance of the park from San José so it isn’t recommended to drive. However, you could take a bus from San José to an area near Tortuguero National Park, and you’d probably have to take a boat from a dock on the Caribbean coast to the park. There are also some tour operators that you can purchase boat tours and turtle tours from in San José and other cities in Costa Rica that will handle all arrangements to get you to the park.
Best Time to Visit
Landscape in Costa Rica
Weather-wise, this region of Costa Rica is known to be one of the rainest areas. Even in the supposed driest months of the year, which are from December to April, this area can still see heavy rain, especially in the afternoons. But, we don’t think that the weather in Costa Rica should be a factor when you’re visiting Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica’s weather is pretty sporadic. The most exciting part of visiting this park is seeing the nesting turtles and observing the beautiful canals and wildlife.
If you’re interested in visiting during turtle season, we suggest visiting between July to October, or even at the peak of all the action which is in August. You may also be able to spot turtles nesting from February to April, but that is definitely less common.
