Turtles in Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero is remote and reachable only by taxi boat (from La Pavona or Moín) or air. The best way to visit is to book into one of the jungle lodges in the park. The accommodation will include turtle nesting tours (guides are compulsory), boat excursions, all food and pick-up from Tortuguero’s domestic airport.

There are cheaper guesthouses in Tortuguero village and a handful of local agencies there who offer tours. Kayaks can also be rented to explore the lagoons.

There are two essential tours in the region – a trip to the long, dark-sand heavily-protected turtle nesting and hatching beach, and a creek and lagoon wildlife-spotting boat tour. Turtle beach visits can only be done with a local wildlife guide. Stays at Tortuga Lodge and other of the more upmarket places include turtle-beach visits. They also generally include creek and lagoon wildlife tours by boat; together with other options like jungle hikes to look-out points and night safaris.

However, both these tours (and others besides) can be organised with independent local operators like Daryl Loth in Tortuguero village; where the cheaper accommodation is located.

Tortuguero is wonderful at any time of year but to see turtles nesting you need to visit between February and October (with July and August peak season for sightings). Hatchlings can be seen through until December.

Green turtles nest from July to October, leatherbacks from February to July, and loggerhead and hawksbill turtles from March to October. Hatchlings emerge 60 days after nesting.