All the best things to do in Tortuguero Costa Rica involve being one with nature, stepping out of your comfort zone, and enjoying the lush surroundings that the region is most proud of. Are you ready for Tortuguero?
The majority of your Tortuguero things to do will have you paddling through a maze of canals, hiking a steep trail, and riding a zipline for the region to show you the best of the best.
Be in awe seeing the Red-Eyed Tree Frog up close and even watching sea turtles from afar. Experience a different kind of thrill as you catch your first tarpon or spot a hummingbird.
Tortuguero in Costa Rica will surely not disappoint any nature lover out there, and if that is you – you may have just found your most favorite place on earth.
Best Things to do in Tortuguero
1. Visit Tortuguero National Park
How about a visit to one of the greenest places in Tortuguero?
Hiking the Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica and getting up close and personal with resident animals such as hawks, iguanas, and jaguars are among the best things to do in Tortuguero.
Enjoy breathing in the fresh air as you get surrounded by different species of flora, some being native to Costa Rica.
If you are not fond of hiking, there are other ways to explore Tortuguero National Park efficiently.
Ride a kayak or a small boat that will take you around the park. Pass through lagoons, swamps, and mangroves that make up a huge portion of the area.
Hire a local nature guide and get to know stories about the park and the species that call the place their habitat.
Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM. An entrance fee of $15 applies.
For those who wish to experience exploring the park after sunset, night walks can be coordinated with the management.
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2. Take a canoe trip around Tortuguero Village
Tortuguero is not dubbed as the Amazon of Costa Rica for nothing.
While in the area, book a Tortuguero kayak tour and experience going through the river system that passes through the Tortuguero National Park and in nearby villages.
You don’t have to be an expert in navigating a canoe. Therefore, it is possible to browse through the swamps on your own.
However, it is highly encouraged that you hire an experienced local guide to not miss out on any important information about the wildlife and the people that make the place thrive.
Stay awhile in spots that intrigue you, along with the Tortuguero Village Costa Rica.
Take in as much nature and calming vibes as you can because activities like this are dedicated to connecting you to the environment in a deeper sense.
Just imagine paddling through flat waters, listening to the birds sing, and seeing monkeys scramble. Your sense of smell, sight, and sound are heightened, an experience that you will truly hold on to for a long time.
3. Go on a Tortuguero Turtle Tour
One of the best things to do in Tortuguero is to see the turtles in their natural environment.
Go on a tour to witness these animals go about their activities is a simple yet fulfilling activity that is made for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Did you know that the word Tortuguero actually means the region of turtles?
It is named so because of the hundreds of turtles that come to Playa el Tortuguero Costa Rica and other beaches in the area to lay their eggs during hatching season.
This happens around July to October.
Between November to January, you will see these eggs hatching and making their way into the ocean.
Four turtle species can be seen cozily calling Tortuguero as their nesting site.
These are the hawksbill turtles, green sea turtles, giant leatherback turtles, and loggerhead turtles.
The government makes it a point that Tortuguero remains a premier site for these animals to feel safe to lay their eggs, so all visitors are asked to strictly adhere to turtle tours guidelines.
4. Check out the Sea Turtle Conservancy
If you cannot get enough of the cuteness of turtles, head over to the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero and learn more about these lovely creatures.
There are many fun things to do in Tortuguero with turtles that can be done ethically.
Learn about their life cycle and see the important roles they play in our ecosystem. The knowledgeable guides are ready to answer any questions that you may have during the tour.
More importantly, you will understand the conservation that the government and other private entities are spearheading for these turtles to have their share of the earth.
Many dangers surround the life of a turtle, and some are sadly human-induced. Our duty as Costa Rican visitors is to share the pledge to make Tortuguero and the rest of the country a safe place for them.
The cost to go inside the Sea Turtle Conservancy is $1. It also accepts donations, monthly giving, and membership applications for the sole purpose of protecting the turtles.
5. Hike to Cerro Tortuguero
Cerro Tortuguero Costa Rica or Tortuguero Hill is actually what is left of an ancient volcano. It is 119 meters above sea level and is regarded as the highest point in the region.
A hike to Cerro Tortuguero starts with a boat ride that will take you to where the climb commences. An experienced tour guide will explain to you the level of difficulty of this activity and will guide you throughout the hike.
There is a wide array of flora and fauna waiting for you within the tracks. Keep an eye on them and listen as your nature guide shares a fact or two about the rich Tortuguero wildlife.
Your hike will stop in given points in time so that the group can enjoy the viewpoints that show you the surroundings from a different perspective.
See the land of Tortuguero, the Tortuguero River, and the Caribbean Sea waving back at you from below.
Notice how the maze of canals is connected from your perspective and breathe in the fresh air that only a hike to Cerro Tortuguero can give.
6. Go Ziplining in Tortuguero
One of the coolest things to do in Tortuguero is to try the only zipline available in the area. It is run by Aerial Trails Tortuguero and is considered cheaper than all the other ziplines scattered around Costa Rica.
Ride the zipline that takes you up and above the Tortuguero National Park. See a different perspective of the rainforest, cruising through the canopy and going past the rich wildlife at the park.
Before you partake in this activity, an experienced tour guide will brief you about your safety and security. The tour operator provides all-important gears – all you have to do is show up pumped and ready for action!
Your zipline adventure calls on you to conquer the following: 11 platforms, 4 suspension bridges, 7 cables, 1 scaling wall, and a Tarzan swing.
If this lineup does not excite you, I honestly do not know what else will!
It takes about one and a half hours to complete your ziplining experience.
The whole course will take you through one kilometer of the Tortuguero National Park’s thick jungle.
7. Enjoy bird watching
Go on a full day of birding tour at Tortuguero in Costa Rica and see thousands of birds like never before.
This bird-watching activity starts with you paddling through the maze of canals in the morning to see the species of birds that come in daylight.
Have lunch and take a breather as you get ready for another round of boating to see other types of birds that only appear during mid-day.
Your experienced tour guide will point them out to you and share some valuable information about the life of these animals.
He will also tell you about the migratory birds that come to Tortuguero in specific seasons.
Before your tour comes to a close, your guide will bring you to a part of Tortuguero, where nocturnal birds take refuge.
Some of the bird species you will spot during this tour include the Bronzy hermit hummingbird, the Peregrine Falcon, and the Great Blue Heron.
8. Try fishing
Costa Rica is widely known for its waters that are perfect for fishing, so your Tortuguero trip is not complete without you having to try your hand in this activity.
Even Ernest Hemingway, during his time, has fished in Tortuguero!
Get in touch with experienced local guides in fishing charters that conduct sportfishing or fly fishing tours in the region.
You can either choose to fish in the jungle’s freshwater canals or go offshore and catch a wider variety of fish on the outskirts of the Caribbean Coast.
Because of its favorable location, fishing in Tortuguero happens all year round.
Some of the fish species you can catch here include the sailfish, the snook, the bass, and the giant tarpon.
From January to June, the majority of your catch will be tarpons. From September to December, bass dominates the waters.
To preserve the fish population in the region of Tortuguero, your tour operator may have a catch and release policy in effect.
9. Visit the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge
One Costa Rica Tortuguero tour you should not miss is visiting the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge in the northern Caribbean region.
It consists of 91,200 hectares of beach, rainforest, and marine habitats. Because canals and lagoons surround it, navigating around the wildlife refuge is by kayak or canoe.
Fishing is one of the main activities you can do while exploring the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge. Some of the fish species you can catch here include the guapote or rainbow bass, the barracuda, and the mackerel.
You can also do a wildlife watching tour simultaneously. The mammals that you can find here are pumas, spider monkeys, and sloths, to name a few.
Reptiles and amphibians such as pit vipers, crocodiles, and boas can also be found here.
Birdwatching is another popular activity to do while at the wildlife refuge. Get ready with your binoculars, and be prepared to be wowed by the great green macaw, woodpeckers, and egrets.
From Tortuguero, it is a two-hour boat ride coming to Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge.
10. See the Mariposario and the Ranario
Tortuguero Costa Rica is very close to the Mariposario and the Ranario, and both are worth checking out.
The Mariposario is a butterfly garden divided into two: those who feed on nectars while the other for those who eat rotten fruits.
See them frolic happily in their enclosed habitats and travel from one plant to another.
The Ranario, on the other hand, is a frog farm that is a few meters away from the Mariposario.
It particularly studies the life of Costa Rica’s well-known amphibians, namely the Blue Jeans Frog and the Red-Eyed Tree Frog.
Both the Mariposario and the Ranario can be found inside the park of the Mawamba Lodge.
Tortuguero Travel Information
The climate in Tortuguero: Dry season is not felt in Tortuguero as much as it does in the other regions of Costa Rica. The month of March is considered the driest. The wet season starts in May and ends in January. July receives the most rain showers.
Temperatures in Tortuguero: The warmest month in Tortuguero is April, with an average of 32 degrees Centigrade. January and August to December are the coolest months at an average of 29 degrees Centigrade.
To bring to Tortuguero: Essential things to bring in Tortuguero are raincoats, closed hiking shoes, high SPF sunscreen, a wide hat, insect repellent, a dry bag, binoculars for wildlife watching, and waterproof action camera.
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Tim Kroeger, founder of Universal Traveller, leverages extensive experience in luxury travel and tourism to offer firsthand insights into emerging hospitality trends.
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Mareike Wielens is a highly experienced and passionate Tourism in Costa Rica expert with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry.
She is the CEO of Emotional Travel, a Costa Rica travel agency specializing in well-being and mental health vacations, but also designs tailormade roundtrips in Costa Rica.
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