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Tortuguero
Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park protects 200,000 hectares of tropical rainforest – one of the largest areas left in Central America. Another of Costa Rica’s eco-tourism success stories has seen a transformation from a village dependent on logging, fishing and turtles to one dedicated to preserving nature, particularly the beaches where the nesting sea turtles return each year.
The opportunity for viewing wildlife in this remote park is superb. Sea turtles are the headline act as hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and above all green turtles land on the protected beaches to bury their eggs. There is much more than just turtles however, with abundant wildlife in the jungle that you are guaranteed to see up close as you drift quietly along the main rivers and smaller tributaries.
Inside the park you may see; freshwater turtles, Jesus Christ lizards, snakes, caimans and crocodiles. On the amphibian side, poison arrow frogs and blue jean frogs are often seen, whilst for the ornithologist there are some 400 different species. THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Below are some examples of what you can see and do in the area, though we can tailor any itinerary to suit your interests.
Nesting Turtles. An unforgettable experience is to see the beach lined with literally thousands of sea turtles, clumsily and slowly making their way to the ideal spot to bury their eggs. Weeks later the young hatchlings make a frantic dash for the safety of sea. Peak nesting season = mid-July to October (some turtles start laying as early as April) Waterway guided boat excursions. A chance to get very close to the wildlife as you glide along the network of backwaters and canals in a small boat.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Tortuguero
The Manatus has created a lodge totally different to any other within the Tortuguero National Park. They are a small hotel for starters, with only 12 rooms, the rooms are all built of brick, whereas most others are built of local wood
Tortuguero
Despite its size, this is a charming property. It is located away from most of the other lodges, so has a remote feel about it and the property is located within the jungle itself, yet parts of it remain open
Tortuguero
Built in 2006, this one of the newer properties that has emerged over the past decade. The lodge is part of the Pachira group which owns three hotels in the area and the Aninga lodge is actually attached to the Pachira lodge, so guests can use both lodges if they wish
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