# Tortuguero National Park: canals, turtles and how to get there

> Tortuguero is a roadless national park on the northern Caribbean coast, a maze of canals, rainforest and a long nesting beach for sea turtles. You arrive by boat or small plane, explore by canoe with a guide, and book park tickets online with SINAC.

Source: https://www.travelincostarica.net/tortuguero-national-park/
Last checked: 2026-10-20
Location: Tortuguero, Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica
Type: national park, wildlife
Official website: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/
Best for: Canal wildlife trips and turtle nesting tours
Access: Only by boat or small plane; no roads
Tickets: On SINAC's online booking system
Green turtle nesting: Usually July to mid-October
Leatherback nesting: Usually February to June
Turtle tours: Night beach walks only with a licensed guide

## What it's like

Tortuguero feels like nowhere else in Costa Rica. There are no roads: the park and the village of the same name are reached by boat or small plane, and you get around by water. The park covers 31,174 hectares of rainforest, swamp, lagoons and canals behind a long, straight Caribbean beach, and it's a Ramsar wetland of international importance. It's also very wet, with up to 6,400 mm of rain a year. Despite all that, it's the third most visited park in the country.

## What you'll see

The canals are the way to see wildlife. On a guided canoe or small-boat trip you're likely to see monkeys (spider, howler and capuchin all live here), sloths, caimans, river turtles and plenty of birds. More than 440 bird species have been recorded, including toucans, herons and kingfishers, and the endangered great green macaw. Manatees live in the rivers but are rarely seen. Jaguars, ocelots and tapirs live in the forest too.

## Turtle season

The beach is one of the Caribbean's main sea turtle nesting grounds. Green turtles usually nest from July to mid-October, and leatherbacks from February to June. Hawksbills nest too, but sightings are unpredictable. Next to the park, the Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge hosts a biological station where the Sea Turtle Conservancy runs a turtle tagging program.

You can't watch nesting turtles on your own. Night beach tours run only with a licensed Tortuguero guide, in small groups, and the guide decides when and how close you get. Sightings aren't guaranteed, so allow two or three nights if turtles are the main reason you're coming. Follow the rules on lights and phones, and wear dark clothing.

## Planning your visit

Park tickets are sold through SINAC's online booking system, where you pick a time slot. Most lodges sell packages that include transport, meals, canal tours and park entry, which takes the logistics off your plate. If you're going independently, book the park and your guides ahead, especially in turtle season.

Bring a rain jacket, insect repellent and shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Ask locally before swimming at the beach.

## Getting there

From San José, shuttles and lodge transfers drive to a river dock, then continue by boat through the canals. Small planes fly to Tortuguero's airstrip for a much shorter trip. Either way, plan two nights at least, because the road-and-boat journey is long.

## Where it fits in a trip

Tortuguero works as a first stop after San José, before heading to Arenal or the southern Caribbean. Our [Caribbean coast guide](/caribbean-coast/) explains how to combine it with [Cahuita](/cahuita-national-park/) and Puerto Viejo, and our [wildlife guide](/animals-of-costa-rica/) covers the other turtle beaches, including [Ostional](/ostional-the-turtle-beach/) on the Pacific.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I drive to Tortuguero?
No. There are no roads into the village or park. You drive or ride to a river dock and continue by boat, or fly in.

### When can I see turtles nesting?
Green turtles usually nest from July to mid-October, and leatherbacks from February to June.

### Do I need a guide for turtle watching?
Yes. Night turtle tours on the beach are only allowed with a licensed guide.

### How many nights should I stay?
Two nights is the minimum. Stay three if turtle watching is your priority.