Tortuguero is one of the world's most famous places for viewing sea turtles, and it lives up to its reputation. The National Park protects about 20 miles of pristine beaches where turtles nest and 46,815 acres (18,946 ha) of land. The population of sea turtles seriously declined due to the poaching of eggs and the hunting of adults for meat in turtle soup, but due to conservation and breeding efforts, the turtles are making a big comeback. The adjacent Pacuare Reserve also provides exceptional access to turtles. Here you'll explore the area by boat, canoe, and foot, discovering some of the 300+ bird species, and possibly an elusive jaguar, tapir, or even manatee that live in Tortuguero's nutrient-rich waters. Contact one of our Costa Rica experts for help planning your Costa Rica trip.
Sea Turtles are the star of the show in Tortuguero. Even the name comes from Spanish meaning "person who collects turtles", which, by the way, is strictly prohibited these days after generations of poaching and declines in turtle populations.
Now, the turtles of Tortuguero are recovering in population after significant efforts to protect the beaches where they breed from poachers and predators. Dr. Archie Carr of the Univ. of Florida started studying turtles here in 1995, and his studies still continue today.
Here are the three species commonly seen on Tortuguero's beaches:
Green Sea Turtles (tortuga Verde in Spanish, Chelonia mydas mydas ),
Hawksbill Turtles (tortuga Carey in Spanish, Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback Turtles (tortuga Baula in Spanish, Dermochelys coriacea)
Cheska is a great asset for your company she is very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with
Susan Johnson
5 days ago
Adventure Life set us up with great guides and locations, seamless transportation, and good advice. Will work with them again. Thanks
Scott Sepsy
1 week ago
Amazing trip and the best customer service
Liz
1 week ago
Hannah and Nur got the gist of what we wanted our trip to be. They got us in hotels that were located centrally to historic tours. Tours and excursions that were significant, enriching and enjoyable. We had drivers that were on time/reliable. We got from location to location with ease. I would never have been able to plan this myself. I would not have known enough to ask for what we needed. This was above and beyond what I expected. Well done!
Kelly Mattingly
1 week ago
This is at least the fifth trip we have booked with AdventureLife. Jess has always had excellent ideas.