Tortuguero National Park

Places within Tortuguero and Local Attractions usually included in the packages with all the Hotels.

The Canals

The Jungle Canals and the network of estuaries and jungle lagoons are the most important attractions in Tortuguero. You can tour around the canals guided by a local naturalist guide ( From all the Lodges ) and disover the dense rainforests, local fauna ( monkeys, sloths ) as well as acuatic fauna such as crocodiles and caimans.

The Town of Tortuguero

The Town of Tortuguero is a small cozy village set on the main island in Tortuguero. No cars are in town, and most of the people get around on bikes or walking since the town baiscally consists of one street. However, it is worth the while visiting and see local souvenirs, bars and little local restaurants.

The Turtles in Tortuguero ( Please visit the Turtle Survival League at www.cccturtle.org )

Tortuguero beach is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemishpere. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here. The green turtle population is believed to have come perilously close to extinction in the 1960s when nearly every female turtle arriving to nest in Tortuguero was taken for the export market for turtle soup. CCC was established in 1959 specifically to study and protect Caribbean green turtles. Working closely with the Costa Rican government, CCC helped establish Tortuguero National Park in 1970, a move that offered protection to the turtles and strictly limited the number of turtles that could be taken.

Fauna and wildlife

( CLICK HERE for Birds in Tortuguero )

Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals. More than 300 species of birds live in Tortuguero for all or part of the year. Birdwatchers commonly see keel-billed toucans, slaty tailed trogons, Montezuma oropendulas and a variety of parrots. Birds common along the canals include green and great blue herons, egrets, belted kingfishers, anhingas, jacanas, sun grebes and several species of hawks and kites.

Other animals commonly seen are fishing bats, three-toed sloths, iguanas, basilisk lizards, poison dart frogs, and howler, white-faced and spider monkeys. The tracks of river otters, collared peccaries, and Baird's tapirs are often seen on the banks of rivers and canals. Caiman are commonly observed in the waterways, which also are home to gar-fish, manatees, crocodiles, crustaceans, and an occasional bullshark. Jaguars, ocelots, and kinkajous inhabit the park, but are rarely seen.