Tortuguero is one of the wildest and most remote destinations in Costa Rica. The town is located along the Caribbean coast north of the city of Limon in the Limon province. This area is best known for being a primary nesting spot for the Green Sea Turtle between mid-July and mid-October. Though many visitors come for the turtles, the area is home many species of wildlife such as jaguars, manatees, monkeys, sloths and many crocodiles.
Tortuguero National Park is the main draw for this region. The park is comprised of 47,000 terrestrial acres and 129,000 maritime acres making it one of the largest and most important habitats in the country. Three species of Costa Rica sea turtles nest here, the Green Turtles, Leatherback and Hawksbills.
To access Tortuguero you either have to go by boat or plane as there are no roads due to the canals and mangroves. This adds to the overall experience as visitors are able to observe wildlife in their true, undisturbed environment. Once in the area, most Tortuguero lodges are located along the canals and require boat access. The majority of them include tours, transportation from and to San Jose and meals.
When arriving to town you will notice the eco-friendly environment. The primary goal of the village is to protect the environment that in turn employs the majority of inhabitants. Tortuguero offers a museum for visitors but the main activities are wildlife observation boat rides and hiking various trails.
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. Visit our packing suggestion page for a more cmprehensive list.
Fun Fact: Tortuguero was named a national park in 1970 with the primary purpose of protecting the turtle nesting grounds in an effort led by biologist Archie Carr.
San Jose | 108 km |
Liberia | 318 km |
La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano | 187 km |
Monteverde | 258 km |
Rincon de la Vieja | 323 km |
Papagayo Gulf | 346 km |
Flamingo Beach | 384 km |
Tamarindo | 366 km |
Samara | 347 km |
Malpais-Santa Teresa | 394 km |
Jaco | 207 km |
Manuel Antonio | 275 km |
Dominical | 314 km |
Drake Bay | 479 km |
San Gerardo de Dota | 193 km |
Turrialba | 134 km |
Puerto Viejo | 195 km |
Sarapiqui | 89 km |
Barra del Colorado | 18 km |
Tortuguero | 1 km |
Latitude: N 10° 32' 28"
Longitude: W 83° 30' 7.99"
Tortuguero National Park is the main draw for this region. The park is comprised of 47,000 terrestrial acres and 129,000 maritime acres making it one of the largest and most important habitats in the country. Three species of Costa Rica sea turtles nest here, the Green Turtles, Leatherback and Hawksbills.
To access Tortuguero you either have to go by boat or plane as there are no roads due to the canals and mangroves. This adds to the overall experience as visitors are able to observe wildlife in their true, undisturbed environment. Once in the area, most Tortuguero lodges are located along the canals and require boat access. The majority of them include tours, transportation from and to San Jose and meals.
When arriving to town you will notice the eco-friendly environment. The primary goal of the village is to protect the environment that in turn employs the majority of inhabitants. Tortuguero offers a museum for visitors but the main activities are wildlife observation boat rides and hiking various trails.
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