Mawamba Lodge
Between the canals and the Caribbean on 15 acres, with a jungle pool, its own butterfly garden and a floating restaurant that cruises the canals.
3-starView hotel
Tortuguero National Park
Canals through the rainforest, reached only by boat or small plane, and one of the best places in the world to watch green turtles nest. Most of our clients spend 2 nights here.
- Fly into
- SJO
- Then shuttle and boat, 5 to 6 h
- Stay
- 2 nights
- What most of our clients choose
- Turtle season
- Jun to Oct
- Green turtles nest at night
- Region
- Caribbean
- Canals, rainforest, wild beaches
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Boat and road by way of Guápiles
Why go
A village between the canals and the Caribbean
Tortuguero takes its name from the turtles. From June to October green turtles come ashore on its beaches to nest, and with a guide you can watch them at night. The rest of the year the reason to come is the water: quiet canals through one of the largest protected rainforests left in Central America, where a boat glides past monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas and birds.
Turtle nestingJune to October, at night with a guide
Canal boat toursMonkeys, crocodiles and birds
The villageCaribbean food and a slower pace
The map
Every hotel we book in Tortuguero
9 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
Evergreen Lodge
Minutes by boat from the national park entrance, on two hectares of tall trees, with a pool, its own bilingual guides, a canopy tour on site and meals included.
3-starView hotel
What our clients book most in Tortuguero
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Tortuguero National Park tourPrivate or shared, 2 hours
- 02Walk through Tortuguero villageShared, 1 hour
- 03Tortuguero Hill hikeShared, 3 hours
- 04Sunrise kayaking in the national parkPrivate, 2 hours
When to go
Green turtles nest June to October
Outside the nesting season the canals, the wildlife and the village are just as good. Tortuguero is one of the hottest and rainiest places in Costa Rica, so pack light clothes and rain gear in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Turtle nesting seasonCanals and wildlife all yearSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
No roads in: you arrive by boat
From San José5 to 6 hoursShuttle with a stop for breakfast, then a boat through the canals
On to Arenal4.5 to 5.5 hoursBoat and shuttle to Guápiles, then a private transfer
By small planeabout 25 minutesA domestic flight from San José, the fastest way in
Where to go next
Where our clients go after Tortuguero
Good to know
Tortuguero questions we answer every week
How do I get to Tortuguero?
There are no roads. The usual way is a shuttle from San José with a stop for breakfast, then a boat, 5 to 6 hours in all. A domestic flight takes about 25 minutes.
When can I see turtles nesting?
Green turtles nest from June to October. Turtle tours run at night and must go with a licensed guide.
How many nights do I need in Tortuguero?
2 nights is what most of our clients choose: enough for a canal boat tour, a walk through the village and, in season, a night turtle tour.
What should I bring to Tortuguero?
Light clothes for the heat, rain gear, and colones: there is one ATM in the village and dollars are not widely accepted.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística