Parque Nacional Tortuguero
National park · Pococi ·
Sea turtle nesting, boat tours, rainforest wildlife, and canals
Information
CFXV+H64, Limón Province, Roxana, Costa Rica Get directions
Sea turtle nesting, boat tours, rainforest wildlife, and canals
CFXV+H64, Limón Province, Roxana, Costa Rica Get directions
"Enchanted and remote, this eco‑tourism destination is only accessible by boat or plane and unfolds as canals, rain forests, and lagoons that are home to manatees, jaguars, and countless other wildlife species; it’s also a crucial sea turtle nesting area, where between June and October visitors accompanied by licensed guides can take nighttime excursions along 20 miles of protected coastline to watch young turtles start their lives." - Lydia Price Lydia Price Lydia Price is a senior engagement editor at Travel + Leisure, where she hosts short-form videos and leads content engagement initiatives. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A remote coastal and wetland destination reachable only by boat or plane that offers beaches, canals, lagoons and wetlands; many tour operators run handicap-accessible excursions here, making it a strong option for bird and wildlife watching, turtle nesting observation, and boating outings." - Ashley Couto
"I think of Tortuguero as Costa Rica’s version of the Amazon: it dominates the northern coast and spans over 77,000 acres of rivers and canals through jungle, and its biggest draw is the large number of turtles that come to nest along the shoreline (best seen in April and May); even in the off-season you can hike and take canal cruises and there’s abundant wildlife year-round — if you want to get off the grid you can take a three-day guided tour of the park with Destiny Travel Costa Rica for around $600 USD." - Matthew Kepnes
"If I could do only one thing in the area, I would visit Tortuguero National Park, where boat tours are essentially the only way to get around the river system and there are a couple of trails to hike; admission is $15 USD per person, and for a deeper experience you can take an epic three-day tour with a naturalist guide to learn more about the landscape and wildlife." - Matthew Kepnes
"The park’s beaches are ideal for witnessing nesting sea turtles, and its canal systems can be explored by boat, allowing visitors to glide past caimans and lush, green rainforest walls." - SilverKris