Tortuguero
Tortuguero is a remote wilderness without cars, where giant sea turtles come to nest annually.
Unique
Snook
Fly Fishing
Sustainable
Wahoo
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Tarpon
Freshwater Fishing
Remote
Rainforest
Snapper
Nature & Wildlife
Inshore Fishing
Why Visit Tortuguero?
The town of Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica’s main treasures. Located in the northeast area of the Limon province, the village of Tortuguero lies on a sandbar island facing the Caribbean Sea and the Tortuguero River.
Its name means “place of the turtles” because it’s the setting for the yearly arrival of four different species of sea turtles who nest on its beaches. This area is only accessible by airplane or boat, so keep that in mind before planning your vacation.
Here are a couple of reasons to come down to Tortuguero:
- Nature at Its Finest: Tortuguero’s town and hotels are sprinkled around the main river, whose riverbed runs parallel to a 22 mile stretch of sand.
- Sea Turtles: Tortuguero beach welcomes thousands of sea turtles nesting here every year. You can see Momma laying her eggs or the babies hatching if you are lucky enough.
- Tortuguero National Park: This park harbors many plant and animal species best seen with canoeing tours or kayaking on your own through a dense net of river canals.
Where to Stay
Despite its remoteness, Tortuguero is a very popular destination with a variety of hotel options.
Things to Do
Wildlife watching is, by far, the most popular attraction in Tortuguero.
Explore the “Little Amazon” of Costa Rica
The trip to Tortuguero, through canals, is a tour in itself. The adventure starts before you arrive at the remote, stunning location. Float along with an infinite web of river canals.
If you are a nature enthusiast, prepare yourself! You can choose from and endless array of nature activities since the region is home to over 300 bird species, 57 amphibian species, 111 reptiles, and 60 mammals. 13 of the 16 endangered species in Costa Rica can be found in Tortuguero, including manatees, jaguars, tapirs, and pumas.
Best Time to Travel to Tortuguero
The reason to visit Tortuguero is, of course, to get to see the sea turtles. There are several time windows for doing this, but August stands out as the peak month of the Green Sea Turtle’s nesting season. If August is not an option for you, check the lunar calendar and look for days with a full moon as the ‘arribadas’—or peak nesting days—are most likely to occur then. An important thing to note is that the tours are only permitted with licensed guides.
Between June and October, 22,000 green turtles come to nest.
Year-round you can see sea turtles. The nesting season for Green Sea and Hawksbill turtles is during the rainy season, June to October, and for Leatherback turtles, the peak months are March to April. No worries, it is possible to see individual turtles at any time of the year.
Tortuguero Weather
The Tortuguero weather is very predictable: it’s hot and humid and will rain. So whether you’re there for a day or more, you’ll experience a proper Caribbean rain shower. Yes, even in the dry season, afternoon showers are widespread, but it’s all part of the experience of this unique destination. The average temperature is 71° – 87° F.
Is Tortuguero Safe?
Tortuguero is secluded and generally safe, a step back in time. There are no cars on the roads. Kids play and run around. There is no hospital in Tortuguero. The only major hospital on the Caribbean coast is the Tony Facio Hospital in Limón.
Top Restaurants in Tortuguero
Most of the hotels & lodges have restaurants open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, there are quite a few charming, family-operated restaurants offering Caribbean food in the village center.
Budda Cafe offers something a bit different. Its meditative decor puts your mind at peace as you look out over the water while enjoying your meal. It’s a nice place for a sunset cocktail too.
How to Get to Tortuguero
Tortuguero is in the North Caribbean. Stunning, unspoiled nature is the main attraction of this area, as it is accessible only by airplane or 40-minute boat ride from the closest Caribbean town, La Pavona.
The closest airports are San Jose (SJO) and Tortuguero Airport.