Tortuguero, Costa Rica is one of the leading ecotourism destinations in the country. With its long canals, lush rain forest and vast beaches, Tortuguero appropriately earns the nickname of the “Amazon of Costa Rica.”
If you’re planning to visit Tortuguero, Costa Rica, here is all you need to know about the town, Tortuguero National Park and surrounding area.
Location
Tortuguero, Costa Rica is in the Northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the Limon province. The Tortuguero National Park is right next to Tortuguero village.
How to Get to Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Since the village is on a sandbar with no connecting roads, the only way to get to Tortuguero are by boat or plane. The closest boat launch point is La Pavona. Here’s a brief overview on getting to Tortuguero and you can read our in-depth guide on how to get to Tortuguero here.
Flying to Tortuguero
Sansa Airlines flies to Tortuguero. From San Jose, it is a 25 minute flight and costs around $100-120 USD one way with 2 daily flights from San Jose. Then from the Tortuguero airport, you can take a boat to your hotel if necessary.
How to Take the Bus to Tortuguero
From San Jose, you must first take a bus to Cariari. There is a bus every day from 6:30, 9, 10:30, 1PM, 3 PM, 4:30 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM and 8:30 PM. This takes 2 hours and costs 2,100 colones, leaving from San Jose Terminal del Caribe, Calle Central Ave 15.
Second, from the Cariari bus station, you must take another bus to La Pavona where the boat launch is. The bus runs at 5 AM, 9 AM, 1130 AM and 3 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Monday through Thursday, it runs 5 AM, 1130 AM and 3 PM. The bus station is Terminal de Buses Coopetraca, 500 meters north where the Cariari bus drops you off.
Third, once you are at La Pavona dock, you have to purchase your boat ticket at the restaurant.
Shuttle
Shared and private shuttles are great options to get to Tortuguero. A private shuttle is around $220 USD from San Jose to La Pavona dock for 1-6 people. Want to book a private shuttle? Contact us for quotes and availability!
For shared shuttles, you can check with Caribe Fun Tours as they offer options from San Jose and La Fortuna. These cost around $60-79 USD per person.
Tortuguero Boat
At La Pavona, you need to buy a boat ticket. A boat ticket costs around 3000 CRC (~$5 USD) per person each way and you buy the tickets inside the restaurant. The boat ride is around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the tide. Go to the bathroom before and put on lots of sunscreen for the boat ride!
Boat Schedule
The public Tortuguero boat schedule from La Pavona to Tortuguero is 6 AM. 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 4:30 PM. The public Tortuguero to La Pavona boat schedule is 5 AM, 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. This is for the public boat taxi from the boat launch in the village.
Make sure your luggage is packed securely and you can bring a backpack with you on the boat. If you are taking the public boat, tell the captain where you are going so they can drop you off at your hotel or town.
There are no boats from La Pavona dock after 3 PM.
Renting a Car
If you rented a car, you can leave your car in their parking lot at La Pavona for ~5000 CRC (~$10 USD) a day. It is not a completely gated parking lot nor are there security guards or cameras, so do not leave any valuables in the car. The parking lot is right behind the main restaurant.
For those who want to rent a car after your Tortuguero trip, most car rental companies can deliver the car to La Pavona dock for a fee but the most common process is to get your car in Guapiles on the way back to San Jose. Our partner, Adobe Rent a Car has an meeting point in Guapiles to make this process very easy. Click here to get your Costa Rica car rental discount!
Tortuguero Tour Packages
Another option is to book a Tortuguero package with a tour company. The tour company will take care of everything from hotels, transportation and food and also includes some activities. Many people choose this option so they don’t need to deal with planning.
If you are interested, we have a small Tortuguero packages discount with Pachira from San Jose. If you don’t want to deal with planning, the tour package is by far the easiest way to visit Tortuguero.
You can also find Tortuguero trips from Puerto Viejo.
Tortuguero Village
Tortuguero village has a year round population of around 2000 people. Tourism is the backbone of the small town with locals working at hotels and restaurants, renting small cabins or as naturalist guides. Before tourism, fishing was the main industry due to the rich ocean and river waters.
The village is very small. The main strip is around 400 meters (.2 miles) long and runs from the main boat dock launch to the entrance to the national park. There are some restaurants, souvenir shops, hostels, a park, a church and small hotels.
Tortuguero Beach
Tortuguero village is surrounded by the river on one side and beach on the other. Although Playa Tortuguero is not a very photogenic beach, it is what put Tortuguero on the map as one of the leading eco-destinations in Costa Rica.
This is because Tortuguero, or the “place of the turtles” became famous in the 1950’s when an American sea turtle researcher discovered that it was the single most important nesting site for green turtles in the Western Hemisphere. Since then, eco-tourists from all over the world travel to Tortuguero to see turtles in Costa Rica and visit Tortuguero National Park.
About Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is the 3rd most visited national park in Costa Rica. It has a huge amount of biodiversity thanks to the various habitats ranging from mangroves, swamps, rain forest and lagoons. The park encompasses 77,032 acres (31173 hectares) and forms another corridor with a protected area in Nicaragua.
Visitors can hike or take a boat ride in Tortuguero National Park. There are 3 trails in the national park ranging from 700 to 3500 meters (.4 mile to 2 miles). It is highly recommended to rent rain boots if you are hiking in the park and to go with a guide.
Hours and Fee
The Tortuguero National Park entrance fee is $15 USD for foreigners + tax and is open 6 AM to 6 PM everyday. Purchase tickets online here. Required for Sector Cuatro Esquinas, Cerro Tortuguero and Jalova
Tortuguero Hotels and Resorts
Although there are not that many hotels, there are ones for every budget. Backpackers and budget travelers will want to stay in the village for the hostels and cheap hotels. Some places are Tortuguero Hostel Backpackers, Casa Marbella, Cabinas Beyetty and Cabinas Tortuguero.
If you’re looking for something nicer outside the village, there are a few resort-like hotels in Tortuguero. We highly recommend these if you’re not on a strict budget because you get a more natural experience and the rooms and services are nicer.
We stayed at Evergreen Lodge near the entrance of the national park which was very nice with a huge swimming pool, a couple restaurants and free Wi-Fi. As the lodge borders the natinal park, there were so much wildlife!
Pachira Lodge and Aninga Lodge are two others with a similar set up (we have small discounts for Pachira/Aninga/Evergreen tour packages.) Mawamba Lodge is another upscale lodge with their own entrance to the beach.
If you’re looking for an upscale hotel with AC, check Manatus Hotel. Baula Lodge is another one that’s on the river but a bit more basic.
Tortuguero Tours and Things to Do
Wildlife watching is one of the best things to do in Tortuguero National Park. Most people book a wildlife safari boat ride. The best time is early morning when the park opens.
There are some other things to do Tortuguero.
Night Walk
Go for a night walk in Tortuguero to see night creatures like frogs, snakes, insects and more. $20 USD per person.
Hike the National Park
You can hike the 3 trails in the national park or hike up Tortuguero Hill (Cerro Tortuguero) for an amazing view of the canals and beach. It is recommended to go with a guide to Tortuguero Hill but you can hike the national park on you own.
Kayak
There are parts of the national park where motorized boats cannot go, only kayaks. This was one of our favorite things to do in Tortuguero National Park because it was absolutely quiet with just us and the animals.
You can find canoe rentals and tours and kayak tours in town.
Ziplining
There is a small canopy tour called Aerial Trails Tortuguero and compared to other ziplines in Costa Rica, it’s pretty cheap at around $35 USD per person. You can book it through your hotel or in town at any of the info centers.
Turtle Tours
If you’re visiting in turtle season (May to October), you can take a nighttime turtle tour to see nesting mothers. If not, you can go to the research center to watch a video and learn more about the conservation efforts for the turtles. (I’ll talk more about the tours in a minute).
Tortuguero Weather
Since Tortuguero is on the Caribbean coast, the climate is very hot and humid. Temperatures stay around high 80s F (32 C) for most of the year with a very high humidity level. Additionally, it is one of the wettest places in Costa Rica!
The Caribbean also does not adhere to the dry/rainy seasons like the rest of Costa Rica. Even though the driest months are September, October and February, it can rain at any time of the year. December and January are rainy months.
We visited in November and it was very sunny in the mornings and rained in the late afternoon and night. When we visited end of September, we had beautiful sunny days and clear skies.
Tortuguero Animals
The wildlife in Tortuguero is astounding and you can see wildlife that aren’t seen in many other places in Costa Rica. Although turtles take the spotlight in Tortuguero, there are plenty of other animals to see!
We also saw crocodiles, caimans, river birds, monkeys, sloths and lots of iguanas. Manatees are also found in Tortuguero, though rare to see.
Tortuguero Turtle Season
Four different species of turtles nest on Playa Tortuguero. Leatherback turtles nest March – May and Green turtles nest July – October. The best time to visit Tortuguero to see turtles is July – October with September and October being the best months. If you visit in November, nesting season is over but you may see baby turtles hatching.
When we visited mid-November, we saw two nests of baby turtles hatching. When we visited in September, we saw four Green turtles nesting on a night time turtle tour.
Tortuguero Turtle Tours
Turtle tours are offered only at night in Tortuguero and you must go with a guide. Unaccompanied visitors are not allowed. Turtle tours start around 7 PM and lasts a couple of hours. Guides will take visitors to the designated sector where turtles have been nesting for observation and share information about the turtles, hopefully seeing it all in action. Cameras are not allowed and guests have to wear dark clothing.
I went with Pachira Lodge and we boated over to the airport. From there, we walked to the beach and saw four Green turtles nesting. We got to see them crawling up the beach, digging a hole, laying eggs, covering the nest and going back to the ocean. It was absolutely incredible!
Turtle tours are $20-35 USD per person.
Tips for Visiting Tortuguero
- Pack appropriately for humid weather. Since it is normal for it to rain in that area, bring appropriate waterproof equipment, especially if you have cameras. Check our packing list for rainy season. A rain jacket, waterproof backpack and fast drying clothes are a must.
- Make sure to bring plenty of mosquito repellent and sunscreen. This area has a lot of mosquitoes!
- Be aware that some locals are super pushy with which tour guide/company you go with. Don’t feel pressured and don’t be shy to ask different companies.
- Bring Costa Rican colones. Tortuguero now has one ATM in the village near the boat docks but bring plenty of colones. It is also better to use Costa Rican currency than US dollars.
- There are just a handful of restaurants in Tortuguero. We recommend Restaurante Mi Niño and Soda Oasis, two places for Costa Rican food.
Best Time to Visit Tortuguero, Costa Rica
The best time to visit Tortuguero is July – October for the turtle nestings. For the best weather, September and October are the best times to visit Tortuguero. The busiest times of the year in Tortuguero is December, July and August.
You really don’t need more than a few nights to get an incredible experience in Tortuguero. Since this area is very small and remote, most people stay 1-2 nights.
Even if you are not going during turtle season, you can still visit Tortuguero. Wildlife is present all year round and the canals are amazing! You can see a plethora of native animals in the national park, on the boat ride, even from your front door. Tortuguero offers an unforgettable experience in the Caribbean jungles for nature and wildlife lovers.
Video
Here is a short video we made about our trip to Tortuguero, Costa Rica.
Read our other national park guides here!
Corcovado National Park: National park in Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Excellent hiking and wildlife.
Irazu Volcano National Park: Highest volcano in Costa Rica. Small national park to see the craters and crater lake, in Cartago about a 1.5 hour drive from San Jose.
Carara National Park: National park near Tarcoles and Jaco, great for hiking and birdwatching.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park: National park in Guanacaste with a volcano, rivers and waterfalls. Great for hiking and adventure.
Cahuita National Park: National park in Cahuita, near Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. Has big coral reefs, beautiful beaches and hiking trails.
There are affiliate links in this post.
Ben Warner says
Thanks for the advice, this is really helpful! Quick question – what’s the easiest way to get from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo?
Sammi says
Driving from La Pavona dock to Puerto Viejo (you will have to leave your car at La Pavona dock or get it delivered there if you don’t have a car when you go to Tortuguero)
John says
Just having returned from Tortuguero, I can tell you that the river is too low for boats to go from La Pavona to Tortuguero. The boats are going between Cano Blanco and Tortuguero. The drought has hit Costa Rica. Out of the two weeks were in the country, we had rain on one day only. There were scattered showers, but only one day of significant rainfall.
Simon says
Hi there! We took the bus from Cariari to La Pavona yesterday and it left at 5:00, 11:30 and another later time, so not at 6:00 or 9:30! Thought this might be nice info for other travelers, thanks a lot for the blog 🙂
Sammi says
Thanks Simon! I just saw the new schedule posted so updated. Have a great trip.
Stephanie says
If you could narrow it down to a single month, what would be the absolute best time to see turtles nesting AND not be super busy & expensive?
Sammi says
September but that is the busiest. But September is the best month to see both nesting mothers and baby turtles
Priya says
Hi,
You have an amazing very informative blog. We are planning to go to Tortuguero for 2 nights. We are landing to San Jose airport around 11:30 am and plan to drive taking rental car to La Pavona.
1. My question is if we reach La Pavona after 5 PM then is there a way to go to the lodge from La Pavona. Please advice.
2. Are we allowed to go to night turtle tour on our own.
Sammi says
You cannot go on a night tour on your own, everyone must go with a guide
I think the last public boat is at 4 PM, to be honest I am not sure if they will even provide private boats at 5 PM because it gets dark at 6 PM and the boat ride takes around 1-1.5 hours….and it’ll be dark by around 530 PM on the Caribbean coast so I don’t think they will have boats at 5 PM or later due to it getting dark.
Shea says
We are planning a trip to CR in June. We have three stops, one is in the Dominical area but the chance at seeing turtles there this time of year seems bleak. My oldest daughter (this is her graduation trip) love turtles. I know its not really nesting season but I’ve been reading your posts and am trying to find a way to squeeze in a night at Tortuguero at the start of our trip to try and give her the opportunity to at least see turtles (and do the morning boat trip, it sounds amazing!) What are your thoughts? Would we still see some in June? (nesting/swimming, anything is good!)
Sammi says
In June, Tortuguero and another place called Ostional Wildlife Refuge provide good opportunities to see turtles, although June is not peak season but there are still high possibilities to see them.
Jeffrey says
Sammi,
We will be spending four days in the La Fortuna area in early July 2021. We are planning on driving to Quepos/Manuel Antonio but I recently saw a post that stated that you can drive from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. I have long wanted to go over there, but do not want to make the drive during rainy season on muddy roads.
Can you drive between those locations? Advisable or not in early July?
Jeff
Sammi says
You can drive from La Fortuna to La Pavona dock, which is the dock you take the boat to Tortuguero. From what I remember, it goes through the main road (highway) for most of the route and the last sections are not paved but lots of tour buses go on that route during rainy season. It’s flat so you don’t have to go up mountains or anything.
Nora says
Hi,
Thanks for the plenty of useful information on your blog. 🙂
If I pay for an early morning kayak tour (35 USD) to someone in the town, do I have to pay also the national park entrance fee (15 USD) for any NP person during the tour? So, will the total cost be 50 USD or 35 USD?
Thank you for the information! 🙂 Pura vida!
Sammi says
I think you might need to be but I’m not sure, I just checked one company and they have kayak tours for $40 USD pp and in their includes section, it doesn’t say national park fee
Rebecca says
Who did you do a night wildlife your with tour wit
Sammi says
I booked it with the lodge who arranged everything (Pachira)
Suzie says
How many nights would u suggest 1 or 2? Then we drive to La Fortuna. We start at San Jose. Do we need to make reservations for a boat?
Sammi says
You can do 1 but it takes a bit of work to get there so I’d definitely recommend 2 if possible.
Eric says
My family is visiting friends in San Jose, and they recommended your blog, it has been a wealth of information. We are going to Tortuguero from San Jose, and were thinking about stopping at Rainforest Adventures at Braulio Carillo and doing the 6 in 1 tour including the tram, zip line and hanging bridge. Our hotel the Casa Marabella recommended taking the 1pm public boat from Pavona because the 4:30 boat often arrives too late to arrange for permits at the national park office. If we arrived at Rainforest Adventures when they open at 7am, would we have enough time, or are we better off making it a day trip from San Jose? Also the hotel is offering turtle night tours. Are the leather backs nesting in March? We leave next week.
Sammi says
Hi Eric, I would check with Rainforest Adventures to see exactly how long their tour is. Personally, I would do it as a day trip from San Jose instead of on the way because the route from San Jose to La Pavona has a LOT of traffic during the day because a lot of trailer trucks go on that route and there is only one lane most of the time. Better not have to rush or stress out about missing the last boat to Tortuguero in case of a lot of traffic or any accidents.
Sabine Weijers says
Hi!
I’m thinking of going to Tortuguero from Monteverde by car, is La Pavona still the best spot to leave the car?
Sammi says
Hi Sabine! Yes it is the best place to leave the car and you’ll grab the boat to Tortuguero from La Pavona.
Sammi says
Hi Charlie, you can definitely go on your own and it can be cheaper because they have very cheap basic accommodation in Tortuguero village and you can take the public bus to La Pavona which is cheap. This does take more careful planning and research though and you have to make sure you get the right times for the transportation. But if you want to stay somewhere nicer and not have to deal with planning or anything, then a package is the best way to go since they include everything for you. And if you stay at the big lodges, you can also do other activities. They include activities like the boat canal ride, nature walk and town tour but you can go ziplining, book a kayak tour or do something else instead (or in addition).
We recently went with Pachira and for a package, it’s super nice. You don’t have to worry about anything as they pick you up in San Jose, provide everything for you and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. There are a lot of people on these packages during the months of December, January, July and August. We went mid Sept and it didn’t feel very crowded since we already passed high season so the hotel was barely half full. Also if you want to stay somewhere quieter, Aninga actually is super nice since they’re really smaller and are geared towards couples or those who want more quiet than crowds.
We just got a partnership with Pachira to give small discounts for their Tortuguero packages.
Sammi says
Hi Charlie! We have stayed at both before. They are similar properties and are both great but Evergreen Lodge does have a bit more wildlife since it’s closer to the national park and they have a section that is more quiet with all separate cabinas so we really liked that area (they call it the monkey garden). Aninga is another lodge in the Pachira group and that one is great for couples or those who want less crowds because it’s a lot smaller and more intimate. They’re all great and any one of them will offer a good experience but for something a bit quieter for couples, Aninga or the monkey garden at Evergreen is the best. For families or big groups, Pachira is better.
We just got a partnership with Pachira for Tortuguero packages and have a small discount with them.
Charlie says
Hi there,
Did you stay at Evergreen Lodge or Pachira Lodge? You mention both and we’re trying to decide where to stay in Tortuguero next August. Many thanks. I love your website and blog. It’s going to be our 2nd trip and your information is SO useful.
Charlie
Sophie says
We love your very helpful website! Do you have any contact details for the aerial trails zip lining? Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Sophie! Unfortunately we don’t but you can book the zipline tour with any hotel in Tortuguero or any of the tour operators/info centers in town.
Emilee Gapinski says
You mention that Tortuguero is open from 6 am to 6 pm but stated that your tour was at 530 am and the first boat is at 730 am. Could you please clarify. We will be going on Sept 1st or 2nd and want to make sure we can maximize our time there. Also, I’ve read elsewhere that you can book an evening tour to watch the turtles nesting after 6 pm. Is that correct? If so, how do I book it?
Sammi says
Hi Emilee, we got up at 530 AM so technically we went at 6 AM to do the boat tour when the park opened. Also the Tortuguero boat at 730 AM is the one going back to La Pavona, not into the national park.
You can book the tour in the evening with your hotel or any of the info center in the town.
Sammi says
Hi Ankit, the Adobe Rio Blanco office is in Guapiles and here it is on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Servicentro+Rio+Blanco/@10.2130448,-83.8388747,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xd22712155b1b5303!8m2!3d10.2130448!4d-83.8388747.
If your shuttle is dropping you off in Guapiles, you can pick up the car at the Rio Blanco gas station which is around 4 miles from Guapiles. Guapiles to La Pavona is about an hour drive on Route 247 and 814, it’s very easy and here is the maps for it: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/R%C3%ADo+Blanco,+Lim%C3%B3n+Province,+Guapiles,+Costa+Rica/La+Pavona,+Lim%C3%B3n+Province,+Pococ%C3%AD,+Costa+Rica/@10.2473018,-83.8666101,13.5z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8fa0b8a51081e0b3:0x6e83b7016b2ecaf6!2m2!1d-83.8340441!2d10.2102752!1m5!1m1!1s0x8fa0aaea0870a003:0xd6e9d69c00f23d87!2m2!1d-83.5967286!2d10.5446768!3e0
When you make the reservation, you can select the Guapiles/Tortuguero location and their hours is 11 AM – 2 PM.
Arenal to the La PAvona dock I believe is around 3 hours driving without traffic.
Ankit says
Hi,
Your site has been extremely helpful – thank you very much for putting this together. Quick question on car rentals with Adobe – I’m planning to rent with them and drive from Arenal to Totuguero. Can you please comment on the drive (road conditions and how long it will take)?
Additionally, I’m considering returning my car near La Pavona and you mention “most common area is to drop it off at the Rio Blanco Gas Station. Our partner, Adobe Rent a Car has an office there which makes delivery very easy”. Can you please share details on where this car drop location is, and how to get to La Pavona dock from there? I’m considering returning here since hotels provide shuttles to San Jose and that’s where I’m ending my trip.
Cheers!
Tracy says
Thank you for so much information on Costa Rica. We are looking into planning a trip end of December 2018. Any suggestions for that time of year?
Sammi says
Hi Tracy! There won’t be any more nesting turtles but definitely bring rain gear and go kayaking in the national park! Have a great time!
Karolyne says
Hi! My fiancé and I are getting married in Costa Rica end of July and then traveling for a week afterwards. Tortuguero is definitely on my list of places to visit and I am wondering how many days you would recommend spending there?
Sammi says
Hi Karolyne! Most people spend 2-3 nights. There isn’t too much to do so I think 3 would be max for any trip to Tortuguero. 2 is good too since you’ll have one full day to do activities, 3 is better if you really want to see turtles (you’ll have more chances because July is just the start of the nesting season).
Karolyne says
Thank you so much! We’re thinking of renting a car from San Jose. Is 4×4 necessary?
Sammi says
Hi Karolyne, you don’t need a 4×4 to the Pavona Dock. Remember that to get to Tortuguero from San Jose, you have to drive to the La Pavona dock, leave your car and take the boat. Tortuguero is boat access only and it’s about a 1 hour boat ride. There is a secure parking lot at La Pavona dock and it costs $10 a day.
Danny Perrie says
Thanks for the great info you guys provide. We are visiting March 2019 and after receiving extortionate quotes from travel agents we decided to put our trip together ourselves,your site has provided so much information and guidance (like car hire) We have now put our trip together and saved a fortune,so once again HUGE THANKS
Danny and Lynda
Sammi says
Hi Danny, I am glad to hear the blog was helpful and it helped put together your trip! Thank you for reading and we hope you have a wonderful time in CR!
Charlie says
Hi again,
I’m wondering if we’re better putting our own package together rather than staying at a big lodge with the crowds. Wondered if you have any advice about smaller lodgings? I’ve read a few reviews saying the tours offered by the big lodges aren’t great. I’m unsure what to do!!
Thanks Charlie
Robert J. Ball says
I love to read this great post of you 🙂 I enjoy it thanks for information.
Sammi says
Thank you for reading!
Krista says
Love how much detail you’ve added to this! Costa Rica looks amazing, definitely on my list of places to visit! I will keep this post in mind 🙂
Sammi says
Thanks for reading Krista, hope you can visit one day 🙂