Tortuguero National Park
Lush waterways and ancient rituals.
Tortuguero is best known for its namesake turtles, particularly the green sea turtles that arrive en masse between July and October to nest on the park’s long black-sand beaches. During this season, under the watchful guidance of expert naturalists, visitors can witness one of the most moving wildlife events in the natural world: a mother turtle digging her nest under the moonlight, or dozens of tiny hatchlings making their first frantic journey to the sea.
But Tortuguero is far more than a turtle sanctuary. The park’s extensive network of canals and backwater creeks makes it one of the best places in Central America for boat safaris. As you glide silently through the water, flanked by dense jungle on either side, you may encounter caimans resting in the shallows, basilisk lizards sprinting across the surface, or three-toed sloths dangling lazily from branches above. The area is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to over 300 species including toucans, herons, and kingfishers.
Tortuguero’s humid lowland rainforest teems with life, from spider monkeys leaping across the canopy to poison dart frogs clinging to bright green leaves. The experience here is sensory and immersive: the scent of wet earth, the calls of hidden creatures, the sudden downpour that gives way to a sunbeam. It is a place that teaches you to slow down, to observe, and to fall in love with the quiet drama of the jungle.
Eco-lodges along the canals offer intimate access to the park’s wonders, blending comfort with a commitment to conservation. In Tortuguero, you don’t just visit nature—you become part of its rhythm. And in doing so, you carry its magic with you long after you’ve left its watery embrace.
