Tortuguero National Park

Wildlife and Waterways Adventure

Tortuguero National Park sits along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast where rivers meet dense rainforest. The area is known for its waterways that cut through thick jungle and mangrove forests. Visitors can travel by boat to see wildlife like sloths, monkeys and a wide variety of birds. Sea turtles come ashore during certain months to lay eggs on quiet beaches. Trails wind through the park, allowing hikers to explore diverse ecosystems in one place. The mix of land and water makes it a unique spot for nature lovers seeking calm and authentic experiences away from crowded tourist areas.

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National Park in Costa Rica

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.5

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is commonly spoken in lodges and by tour guides. In the village, Spanish is more prevalent, but basic English is often understood by locals working with tourists.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Tortuguero National Park Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Read how our scores work

World-famous for wildlife and rainforest canals. Take boat safaris, watch nesting sea turtles, spot monkeys and birds and explore jungle waterways.

Place score

7.8

Best at:

Natural sites

Wildlife

Forests

Rivers

Birdwatching

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

♻️ 9

Sustainability

Costa Rica – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Costa Rican Colón (CRC) £1 ≈ CRC 605.44
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Costa Rica has a well-developed cashless payment system, and credit and debit cards are widely accepted in urban areas. However, it is still useful to carry cash in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. In restaurants, a 10% service charge is often included, but it is common to leave an additional tip of 5-10%.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not commonly allowed in Costa Rica. Alcohol consumption is generally confined to licensed venues such as bars, restaurants, and resorts.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces and enclosed areas, including restaurants and public transport.

Independence Day (15 September)	National holiday with celebrations and parades
Christmas (25 December)	Family-centred celebration

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, eco-tourism, and commitment to environmental conservation. It is a popular destination for nature lovers and adventure travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌦️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Feb. - April, July - Sep.
Shoulder season:	Jan., May - June, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Turtle nesting: leatherbacks March to June, green turtles July to October, peak August to September

Rain falls year-round, heaviest November to January and June to July, and can cancel boat tours

Don't miss

🐢 Watch green sea turtles nest on the beach at night
🛶 Glide through rainforest canals on a guided canoe tour
🦜 Spot monkeys and toucans in the dense jungle canopy
🏘️ Visit Tortuguero Village and learn about local conservation efforts
🌿 Climb Cerro Tortuguero for sweeping views of the wetlands

You've been here?

Why travel to Tortuguero National Park?

Tortuguero is a paradise for nature lovers, known for its rich biodiversity. You can explore winding canals by boat or kayak, watch sea turtles nesting on the beaches and spot wildlife like sloths, monkeys and vibrant tropical birds. The park is remote and only accessible by boat or plane, which adds to its untouched charm but also means you should prepare for a more rustic and eco-focused experience.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Tortuguero
2 Volcán Tortuguero
3 Canales del Tortuguero Rogelio Pardo Jochs
4 Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitor's Center

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Volcán Tortuguero
2 Canales del Tortuguero Rogelio Pardo Jochs
3 Playa Tortuguero

🎈Events

Sea Turtle Nesting Season (July to October)
Local Cultural Festivals
Wildlife Conservation Events
Educational Programs at Biological Stations

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Arrive by boat; pack light and waterproof everything.
Explore primarily by canoe or boat at dawn for quieter canals and better wildlife sightings.
Bring strong insect repellent and quick-dry layers; this Caribbean lowland is hot, rainy and humid.
If visiting for turtle nesting, book an authorized night tour early – numbers are limited nightly.

How to travel to Tortuguero National Park

You can reach Tortuguero by small plane from San José or by a combination of bus and boat via La Pavona or Moín docks. There are no roads into Tortuguero, so water transport is necessary.

Access summary

From San José Airport (SJO): Domestic flight to Tortuguero, about 30–40 minutes.
From San José city: Shuttle or bus to La Pavona, then boat, 3–5 hours.
Boat from La Pavona or Moín docks to Tortuguero village, around 1–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Tortuguero National Park

Most accommodations are eco-lodges or small hotels that often include meals and guided tours. Many lodges are only accessible by boat, emphasizing the park's off-grid feel.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero

Pura Natura Riverside

Cabinas Tortuguero Natural

8.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Tortuguero National Park

The park is navigated mainly by boat along its canals. There are no cars or roads within the park. Kayaks and guided boat tours are popular. Walking is common in the village area.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-47 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 47% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+24 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CRC) is 24% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Limon, Costa Rica - 68 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£41	£95	£263
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£53	£135
🍝 Food per day	£18	£37	£107
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£6	£21

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.30
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.40
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7
☕ Cappuccino	£3
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£12.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.20

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£5.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£75
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£12

Safety information overview

General safety

Tortuguero is generally safe for tourists. Petty theft can occur, so secure valuables. Wildlife encounters are common – always follow guide instructions.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are limited. Bring essential medications. In case of emergencies, the nearest hospital is in Limón, accessible by boat and road.

Accessibility

The park is not very accessible for those with mobility challenges due to boat-based transport, uneven terrain and lack of paved paths.

Tap water

Tap water in Tortuguero Village is generally safe to drink, but in remote areas and eco-lodges, it’s recommended to stick to bottled or filtered water.

Packing recommendations for Tortuguero National Park

Reusable water bottle

👕

Light, breathable clothing

Universal travel adaptor

💳

Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Nearby recommended places

San José

La Fortuna

Manuel Antonio National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Corcovado National Park

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Summary:	Very wet, humid, frequent heavy rain
Temperature:	23 – 29 °C
Water temp.:	28 °C
Rain:	413 mm (Heavy rain day after day)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Humid with showers, rain easing
Temperature:	23 – 30 °C
Water temp.:	28 °C
Rain:	260 mm (Heavy rain most days)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Drier and hot, leatherback turtles start nesting
Temperature:	24 – 31 °C
Water temp.:	28 °C
Rain:	175 mm (Short bursts of torrential rain)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Hot and humid, leatherback turtles nesting
Temperature:	24 – 32 °C
Water temp.:	28 °C
Rain:	250 mm (Heavy rain most days)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Hot and humid, rain increasing, leatherback turtles nesting
Temperature:	24 – 31 °C
Water temp.:	29 °C
Rain:	340 mm (Heavy rain day after day)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists