Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park was created in 1975 to protect endangered sea turtles and their nesting beaches. Turtles that nest here include hawksbill, green, loggerheads and leatherbacks. The most common are the green turtles which nest from mid-July through mid-October. The others nest at various times of the year along the 22 miles of area beaches.

Tortuguero National Park is 73 square miles in size and is comprised of mangroves, lowland rainforests, beaches, lagoons and canals, and lagoons. The varied life zones provide habitat for 309 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, 85 freshwater fish and 4 sea turtle species.

Though the beaches of Tortuguero are beautiful and lined with palm trees for miles, swimming is very dangerous due to riptides and sharks. It is not possible drive to Tortuguero on your own and it is recommended to stay at least two days due to the remoteness of the area.

The entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park is 10USD. The park is open daily from 8am – 4pm. A guide is highly recommended for safety and all around experience as the wildlife is camouflaged.

The Caribbean is a region of vast contrasts in weather. Temperatures remain the same nearly year round with average day time highs in the low 90s and night time lows in the upper 70s. Precipitation varies by month with the months of February, March, September and October being the driest.

Visitors should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent.

Fun Fact: Female green turtles nest once every two to four years and do so a couple times within a two week period. The turtle lays approximately 100 eggs in a hole which she digs with her flippers. Eggs require a 60 day incubation period before the baby turtles run the gauntlet to the sea. It is estimated that less than one percent make it to adulthood due to predation.

Related Vacation Results

Tags: Adventure, Nature, Learning Family, Beach, Culture, Romance, Extreme

Timeline: 15 Days, 14 Nights

Itinerary: SJO » Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura » Pacuare Lodge » Whitewater Rafting Rio Pacuare » Tree House Lodge » Sloth Sanctuary and Canoeing » Cahuita Snorkeling » Indian Reserve, Waterfall and Chocolate House » Arenal Springs Resort » Canopy Zipline Adventure with Horseback Ride » Canyoning and Waterfall Rappelling » Arenal Volcano Observation Hike and Tabacon Hot Springs » Hilton Papagayo Resort and Spa » Free Day - Beach Day Papagayo Gulf » Free Day - Another Beach Day Papagayo Gulf » Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura » SJO

---

Tags: Nature, Archaeology, Learning Family, Culture, Beach, Adventure

Timeline: 9 Days, 8 Nights

Itinerary: SJO » Hotel Villa Florencia » Turrialba Volcano Hike » Guayabo Archeological Site » Ciudad Perdida Eco Lodge » Free Day - Beach Day Playa Cahuita » Cahuita National Park and Snorkeling Combo » Free Day - Another Beach Day Playa Cahuita » Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura » SJO

---

Tags: Adventure, Extreme, Beach, Nature, Learning Family, Fishing, Romance

Timeline: 15 Days, 14 Nights

Itinerary: SJO » Hotel Poco a Poco » Sky Tram and Trek Canopy Zipline » Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Tour » Arenal Springs Resort » Arenal Volcano Observation Hike and Baldi Hot Springs » Canyoning and Waterfall Rappelling » Free Day La Fortuna » Ciudad Perdida Eco Lodge » Free Day - Beach Day Playa Cahuita » Cahuita National Park and Snorkeling Combo » Free Day - Another Beach Day Playa Cahuita » Gandoca Manzanillo National Park » Native Fishing » Free Day - Another Beach Day Playa Cahuita » SJO

---

Tags: Adventure, Nature, Beach, Learning Family

Timeline: 7 Days, 6 Nights

Itinerary: SJO » Ciudad Perdida Eco Lodge » Cahuita National Park and Snorkeling Combo » Free Day - Beach Day Playa Cahuita » Arenal Springs Resort » Arenal Hanging Bridges » Kayaking on Lake Arenal » SJO

---

Coast to Coast Adventure

Tags: Beach, Adventure, Nature, Learning Family, Extreme

Timeline: 10 Days, 9 Nights

Itinerary: SJO » La Costa de Papito » Free Day - Beach Day Puerto Viejo » Cahuita National Park and Snorkeling Combo » Hotel Villa Florencia » Whitewater Rafting Rio Pacuare » La Cusinga Eco Lodge » Kayaking, Waves and Caves at Marino Ballena Park » Free Day - Beach Day Playa Uvita » Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura » SJO

Pricing: $999 - 1,099 per person based on occupancy and season with rental car option.
Please inquire for details.

Share this

Plan Your Trip

What Are Your Interests?