San Jose. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you do opt to rent a car, we suggest renting with Adobe. These parks protect a long list of exotic plants and animals, including endangered species such as green macaws, jaguars, and several species of sea turtles. Want to know one of our favorite spots in Costa Rica? Parking at La Pavona cost us $10/day. more > 7 Day Nature Lovers Discover Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity on adventures to Tortuguero and Arenal. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. There are some beautiful beaches and coral reefs to be found around Cahuita but the main attraction is the Tortuguero … Barra del Colorado has over 31 miles of waterways. San José City Tour. The last ferry/private boats leave Tortuguero for La Pavona at 3 pm. Our must-do’s for a Costa Rica itinerary are: Corcovado / Bolita Rainforest Hostel; Monteverde; Fortuna; Tortuguero; All of the above stops on our Costa Rica itinerary are described in detail in the following chapters. Another option is to take a private boat from a local. Imagine a small island without cars, a relaxed feel, extremely nice people, a cool national park, and best of all, turtles! La Fortuna: 2 Days . During the dry months, the weather is amazing and warm! There is a shared kitchen on site for guests to use. Thus public transport is very good for your itineraries and you can find buses to reach anywhere in Costa Rica… Visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy, home to the Western Hemisphere’s largest green sea turtle … When you leave the lot at the end of your stay you will be charged $8 a day for the length of your stay. A 4×4 would be nice, but we’ve also done it in a tiny sedan. There is a delicious restaurant on the property and transportation is included from San Jose hotels. Get ready to see massive mom Leatherback turtles waddle up from the ocean, lay their eggs, and go back down into the water. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In late summer/ early autumn, you can watch hundreds of huge sea turtles laying their eggs and see little babies waddle their way out to sea. The looming 1,670m peak of Arenal Volcano is easily one … However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. You’ll be amazed by these creatures – the Leatherback, the largest living turtle species, averages 6 to 7 feet long and can weigh up to 1500 pounds! We explored the National park with our Canoe tour guide – we made arrangements with him directly so it was cheaper – we saw a sloth, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, blue crab, blue frog, all kinds of spiders and even though we didn’t see any Toucans, it was absolutely worth it. Karonga: We actually haven’t been here yet, but it is high on our list. Costa Rica Road Trip Route. Tortuguero Village. Highlights of Costa Rica 10 Days & 9 Nights Day 1 - Arrival to Costa Rica Day 2 - The magic of Tortuguero Day 3 - The colors of the Caribbean Day 4 - The impressive red landmark Day 5 - The secrets of La Fortuna Day 6 - To Monteverde Day 7 - The beauty of the heights Day 8 - Welcome to the Pacific! Once you arrive at Tortuguero there will sometimes be someone from your hotel waiting to meet you or your boat driver can direct you to your hotel. If you try it out, report back on how you liked it. Mawamba Lodge– Beautiful place with an outdoor pool, hiking trails, and butterfly gardens. Our stay at the Tortuguero Natural cost $58 for 2 with breakfast included (breakfast was at a restaurant on the main strip) This place was on point! Your email address will not be published. Its dizzying array of national … Suggested Itineraries in Costa Rica Costa Rica is a compact yet unbelievably varied destination with abundant natural attractions and a broad selection of awe-inspiring scenery, adventurous activities, and diverse ecosystems. The last 30 minutes of your drive is on an unpaved road. Sample 14 day Costa Rica itinerary: Tortuguero Days 2-4. Daytime rainstorms don’t happen that often. As its name suggests, it is here where sea turtles like loggerheads and leatherbacks lay their eggs each year. In fact, it is so far north that Nicaragua is just north of Tortuguero. The drive from San Jose to La Pavona (the town where you park your car) takes about 2.5 hours and is pretty nice. Costa Rica Itinerary 8 days. San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is also the most populated with just … Budda Cafe: Our favorite hangout spot. , Your email address will not be published. Connected to the national park. This place was on point! Highlights of Costa Rica. Tutti’s: Finding quality pizza is not the easiest in Costa Rica and we are always on the hunt for decent Italian food. I will be traveling with my 13 year old son. On a trip to Costa Rica… Day 9 - Enjoy the Pacific! They are our favorite rental car company in Costa Rica and the only company we really trust. This route starts and ends from San Jose so you will fly into San Jose International Airport. You then park your car in a secure lot. The lot is guarded 24 hours a day and we have never heard of anyone having any thefts with their car in the lot. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Hotel Icaco: This hotel is about as basic as they come, but it is perfect if you’re on a budget. Create a fully customized day by day itinerary for free One of Costa Rica's least accessible destinations, Tortuguero sits within an eponymous national park and remains accessible only by plane or boat. The destinations in this Costa Rica road trip itinerary are San Jose, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero… Just keep in mind that the beach is considered a wildlife refuge because it is a nesting site for turtles. In fact, we want you to explore the Tortuguero canals so much, we make it possible from 3 different regions in Costa Rica; San Jose, Arenal, & Puerto Viejo! The legendary “Silver King” or tarpon can be found from Tortuguero also from January to June. Plenty of water as Tortuguero is often hot and steamy. There are several private shuttle companies which will take you from wherever you are in the country to La Pavona where you can grab a boat to take to Tortuguero. On the way back, we were able to bargain and paid 3000 colones per person. Hi Sarah, Thomas – Tortuguero was our favorite part of our recent Costa Rica trip. It is possible to visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The 3 days and 2 nights is most popular of the Tortuguero trips we offer. Most shuttles will cost about $50 per person for a one-way ticket. Here’s the complete post – It departs La Pavona at 7:30am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 4:30pm or whenever there are enough people to fill the boat. The Turtle hatching tour cost us $30/person and you are right, it was the coolest thing ever ! You’ll feel like you just entered Jurassic Park. The staff is super nice and the prices are decent. My budget would be around the 2500-3000 dollar mark for a … Highlights. They also tend to drive their boat a lot faster (which I love). Within this labyrinth of jungle rivers lies the area’s main attractions of Tortuguero National Park and the Barra de Colorado Wildlife Refuge. Tortuguero National Park. Although it can be rainy, you just never really know. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is home to mass turtle nestings. You pay for the national park admission with your canoe tour. We have also visited in January and experienced complete washout days. 6. Transportation from some San Jose hotels is included in your booking. International travel to Costa Rica has resumed! One of the most popular activities in Barra del Colorado is fishing. Day 3 - Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica After breakfast, we enjoy a boat tour in the morning to the small canals for wildlife observation. The food is great, the drinks are great, and the atmosphere is perfect. One of our favorite Costa Rica experts will contact you and help with the entire Costa Rica planning process. Answer 1 of 7: Hi. If you just search “shuttle Tortuguero” on Google a ton of options will come up. Make sure you have your camera because it is super cool! Binoculars are useful to have with you. Top 10 Costa Rica Itineraries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our New Travel Guide Our new book, Top 10 Costa Rica Itineraries, just hit the virtual shelves and a paperback … San José. 5. I wouldn’t pay extra for a 4×4 just for this thirty minutes. It’s Spanish name is Parque Nacional Tortuguero. Throughout the year it is also possible to see green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Like Tortuguero, there are wetlands, tropical forests, canals, and fluvial islands. This is it! San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. One of my favourite spots on my Costa Rica itinerary! Do not disrupt them. Our favorite hangout spot. You can find out more about renting a car and get a 10% discount with Adobe here. Tortuguero Village is a little town situated on a rainforest … Tortuguero’s dense jungle maze of winding canals is evocative of the wild Amazon. Would like a more customized Costa Rica experience? Go on a canoe tour: On Tortuguero, there are a few different wildlife tour options but we think that the 6 am canoe tour is definitely the best. We have visited in January and had amazing weather. You can find our complete Costa Rica itinerary on Google Maps: Costa Rica itinerary … Ask at your hotel and they will arrange it for you. However, please still don’t leave anything of value in your vehicle. Costa Rica Itinerary 8 days. Perfect for travelers looking to hike and observe wildlife, this itinerary starts and ends in San José and includes many of the Caribbean coast's best destinations—including a … The national park is overly special, but it is a nice walk through the woods next to the beach. The village of Tortuguero is a bit of an adventure to get … The food is great, the drinks are great, and the atmosphere is perfect. Turtle nesting times vary depending on the turtle species but are mainly between early March and mid-October. A wide variety of birds can be seen within a small area. The tours are led at night and are about 2 hours in duration. Rent kayaks: There are a few places in town where you can rent kayaks. The private boat ride cost 4000 colones per person. The following itineraries are examples of what you can do independently or through a Travel Agency. Join 10k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! The most common of the four turtle species is the Green Turtle which is famous for its massive annual nesting from June to the middle of October. Destinations » It sounds like you enjoyed your trip and that’s awesome that you got to see turtles!! Allow for additional drive time to/from San Jose for traffic jams and possible tunnel closure (on our way out, the tunnel was operating one way only and our side had to wait it out for 40 minutes). Costa Rica The most biodiverse country on earth. Tortuga Lodge & Garden– Nice hotel right on the river. Costa Rica is a leader in land conservation, with an astonishing 25% of its territory designated as protected area. Anyway, let’s go through your options….. three weeks Costa Rica Paradise itinerary Get a taste for all the beautiful things that Costa Rica has to offer One of the most common, TWO WEEKS CARIBBEAN DREAMING itinerary Get a taste for all the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica has to offer The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Costa Rica is a prime spot for seeing turtles. We’ve never done this personally so we don’t have a specific company to suggest to you. For $20 you can take a tour which I promise you will be one of the coolest things you’ve ever experienced in your life. Would You Like Your Trip Planned by Costa Rica Experts? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With over 30 years of experience, we make the difference between a good trip and a lifetime memory. Be sure to bring along some cash or colones before you arrive. One of Costa Rica’s most culturally diverse regions, the Caribbean coast has influences that range from Hispanic and Miskito Indian to Afro-Caribbean. Tortuguero is located on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Tortuguero Natural: Simple, but nice rooms on the ocean side of the island. Between July and November (nesting season), there are evening turtle tours on the beach. We absolutely love that you can see sea turtles in Costa Rica on both the Pacific, Tortuguero is one of our absolute favorite places in all of Costa Rica. Due to its remote location, there are no banks or ATMs in Tortuguero. Four different species of sea turtles come to Tortuguero annually for the “arribada” or mass sea turtle nesting. Welcome to the Caribbean coast where the weather is the complete opposite to the rest of Costa Rica! Mi Nino: Delicious typical Costa Rican food with huge portion sizes. There are no ATMs so carry colones. Because there are no roads in Tortuguero, birding excursions are experienced by boat along the jungle canals. The people working here are the sweetest and will help you out in any way they can. The staff is super nice and the prices are decent. I know, it’s expensive. Tortuguero makes a fantastic location for both migratory and resident bird species because of its variety of habitations: beach, forest, freshwater, aerial, and clearings. It was recommended that we wear long pants and dark colored clothes for the tour. Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, Because Tortuguero … Ask at your hotel and they will arrange a tour for you. This route takes you to 3 celebrated tourist destinations in Costa Rica: Tortuguero Waterways, … The vibe here is nothing like anything else you will find in Costa Rica. Part of what makes. Arrive in Costa Rica. Evergreen is located in the northeast corner of Tortuguero, 5 minutes by boat from the main entrance of Tortuguero National Park. I struggled writing this section because Tortuguero is just so amazing and I want you all to see it, but it can be really difficult to find an affordable and easy way to get here. Check out the turtle museum: On the north side of the island there is a small museum about the turtles. For me, this area really is the best of the best in Costa Rica. Thanks for all your tips. Major lesson learned – although dollars were accepted at Tortuguero, the conversion rate were terrible. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 6 Best Things to Do in Tortuguero National Park. Sometimes you can get some really great accommodation deals at beautiful places on Airbnb. Going with a local driver is discouraged by the public boat people. Experience turtle nesting: This is the highlight of Tortuguero! This itinerary packs a lot into an 8 days-long vacation. more > 7 Day Osa Peninsula Enjoy seven days on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse destinations in the world. Most Costa Ricans do not have own car. There is another smaller store closer to the entrance that rents boots for $2. Fishing guides are encouraged to practice “catch and release” to protect fish populations. Costa Rica Experts © 2021. Imagine a small island without cars, a relaxed feel, extremely nice people, a cool national park, and be. Don't Miss: July to October is turtle nesting season. Bass are common from September to December. At one point the town was a remote fishing village among coconut and cocoa plantations. Here’s some information based on our experience – This is one of the rainiest parts of Costa Rica, which contributes to its rich biodiversity. 4. 6 Best Things to Do in Tortuguero National Park, 9 Best Costa Rica National Parks & Reserves. Apparently there have been some incidents in the past. Bug spray is a must. Day … Yeap, you read that right! It is possible to buy tickets for this at the same place you park your car or get dropped off in La Pavona. Visit Tortuguero to see the Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead sea turtles return home to where they hatched in order to lay the next generation of eggs. I know, that sounds like a whole lot of rainy time, but let me explain. Hawks, Falcons, Sunbitterns, Gulls, Cuckoos, Owls, and Nighthawks are just some of the bird species that can be found within the park. We haven’t been to Tortuguero in about a year so it’s definitely helpful to get an update and it will surely help other travelers as well. The staff are happy to help arrange any tours for you. It’s located on the northeast coast of Costa Rica. Home to the celebrated Tortuguero National Park, the network of canals, rivers, lagoons, beaches, and dense rainforest here are interlinked. One thing we have noticed though is that usually when it rains, it at least rains at night. Today is an early day as you get picked up around 6 AM to head to Tortuguero. Pachira Lodge– Lovely hotel with a turtle-shaped pool. This is definitely the fastest way of getting there (it’s about a 25-minute flight) but it can be pricey and it is not something I recommend to any of you that are scared of flying. This is a floating dining experience that lasts for about two hours. Here, the rainy season runs from mid-December until end of July. Visit the beach at sunrise for a really nice experience. It is not the best for swimming, but you can walk for miles and miles. Exploring these canals and observing the wildlife by boat, kayak, or canoe is a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful way to experience nature. Finding quality pizza is not the easiest in Costa Rica and we are always on the hunt for decent Italian food. Thanks so much Reetoo for all that info! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Renting kayaks for half a day is a great way to explore the little freshwater streams near the island and see wildlife.

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