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Experience the sea turtle nesting season in Tortuguero National Park from June through October. Choose from guided nighttime beach walks or multi-day adventures with canoe and jungle tours included.
Free Cancellation Discover Tortuguero’s wildlife through guided canal paddles, night forest walks, and seasonal turtle nesting tours.
Free Cancellation Observe Green Sea Turtles nesting on the beaches of Tortuguero during this seasonal night tour from June to October.
Free Cancellation Observe sea turtles nesting on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park on an immersive, phone-free night tour.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Tortuguero National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Visiting Tortuguero National Park offers a rare opportunity to explore Costa Rica's "Little Amazon" and witness one of nature's most incredible phenomena. Guided tours take you through dense freshwater canals by day and onto protected beaches by night to safely observe endangered sea turtles nesting in their natural habitat.
Join a certified guide for a silent walk along the dark beaches. Under strict conservation rules, you will watch giant green sea turtles emerge from the ocean to dig their nests and lay eggs.
Board a small motorized boat or canoe at dawn to navigate the park's intricate freshwater canals. As the morning mist lifts, you can spot howler monkeys, sloths, caimans, and colorful toucans.
Paddle through restricted, quiet zones of the park where motorized boats are strictly banned. This allows you to glide silently under hanging vines for close-up wildlife encounters.
Walk the flat, 2.5-kilometer Jaguar Trail that runs parallel to the rugged coastline. The path cuts through dense coastal rainforest and provides marked access points to the nesting beaches.
Stroll down the car-free, 400-meter main strip of Tortuguero Village. Experience the vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture, browse local shops, and try traditional coconut-infused dishes.
Because Tortuguero is highly protected and only accessible by boat or plane, planning ahead is crucial. Knowing the strict conservation rules and logistics will ensure your trip goes smoothly.
You can book standalone 2-hour night turtle nesting walks, or opt for multi-day packages. Combo tours often include a sunrise canoe safari, a daytime jungle hike, and the night turtle tour over a 48-hour period.
Tours sell out quickly during the peak green sea turtle nesting season from July through October. You must book your certified guide well in advance, and park entrance tickets must be purchased online at least one day prior.
Most night tours include the specific beach stay permit required for after-hours access. However, the standard $17 USD daytime park entrance fee is usually separate and must be bought directly through the SINAC portal.
If you are joining a night turtle tour, wearing dark-colored clothing is mandatory. Bright colors can scare the turtles back into the ocean. For daytime hikes, sturdy closed-toe shoes are essential due to muddy trails and snakes.
To protect the endangered turtles, all cameras, cell phones, and flashlights are strictly prohibited on the beach at night. You will not be allowed to take any photos or videos during the nesting tours.
The main waterways can be explored via wheelchair-accessible boat tours. However, the muddy land trails and the night beach walks require walking on uneven sand in the dark, which is not suitable for wheelchairs or those with mobility issues.
Tortuguero receives up to 250 inches of rain annually. Even in the drier months, sudden torrential downpours happen. High-quality waterproof bags for your electronics and heavy-duty rain gear are absolute necessities.
Most guided tours offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Be sure to check the specific policy of your chosen operator before booking.
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| Small Group Turtle Nesting Tour | Private Turtle Tour | Combo: Spawning, Canoe & Jungle Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours | 2.5 hours | 48 hours (Multi-day) |
| Best for | Seeing turtles lay eggs | Personalized pace | Comprehensive park experience |
| Includes | Beach permit, bilingual guide | Beach permit, private transport, guide | Canoe tour, night walk, turtle tour, lifevests |
| Price from | $40 | $45 | $79 |
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Tortuguero National Park is open seven days a week, including all national holidays.
Important: Access to the nesting beaches after 6:00 PM is strictly illegal unless you are accompanied by a certified, licensed naturalist guide. Night turtle tours typically operate in scheduled shifts between 8:00 PM and midnight to minimize human impact on the beaches.
Tortuguero is incredibly remote and cannot be reached by car. You must arrive by boat or small aircraft.
The best time to visit depends entirely on what you want to see and experience.
Keep in mind that September and October are peak turtle months but also bring daily heavy downpours, so waterproof gear is mandatory.
Due to its remote location and rugged terrain, Tortuguero presents some challenges for visitors with mobility issues, though it is not completely inaccessible.
Facilities in and around the park are basic and designed to maintain the area's rustic, protected nature.
Tortuguero enforces strict conservation rules to protect its fragile ecosystem and endangered species.
The green sea turtle nesting season runs from July through October. Thousands of females return to the beaches during these months. To see them, you must book a guided night tour.
No, access to the nesting beaches after 6:00 PM is strictly illegal unless you are accompanied by a certified, licensed naturalist guide. This rule is heavily enforced to protect the turtles.
Photography and video recording of any kind are strictly prohibited on the beaches during night tours. Cell phones, cameras, and flashlights are banned because artificial light scares the nesting turtles.
The entry fee is $17 USD for non-resident adults and $5 USD for children aged 6 to 12, plus a 13% tax. You must buy your tickets in advance online through the official SINAC portal.
You are strictly required to wear dark-colored clothing to avoid disturbing the turtles. Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes are also recommended since you will be walking on dark, uneven sand.
Yes, many of the motorized boat tours that navigate the main freshwater canals are wheelchair accessible. However, the muddy land trails and night beach walks are not suitable for wheelchairs.
No, swimming is strictly prohibited in both the ocean and the canals. The beach has dangerous rip currents and rough surf, while the canals are home to caimans, crocodiles, and bull sharks.
You can take a 25-minute domestic flight directly from San José to the Tortuguero airstrip. Alternatively, you can take a bus to La Pavona dock and ride a public water taxi for 1 to 1.5 hours into the park.
Most night tours include the specific beach stay permit required for the evening, but they usually do not include the standard $17 USD daytime park entrance fee. Always check your specific tour inclusions.
There is only one ATM in the village, and it is frequently out of cash or out of service. It is highly recommended to bring plenty of Costa Rican colones with you before you travel.
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Explore the diverse ecosystems of Tortuguero through a series of two-hour guided experiences led by certified local experts. The canoe tour navigates the park's canals for wildlife viewing from the water, while the night jungle walk ventures into the forest after dark to observe nocturnal animals in their active state. Each session is designed to show how different species interact within this specific environment. Land-based activities are scheduled according to the local seasons. From July to October, you can join a guided night walk on the beach to witness Green Turtles spawning. Between November and June, the focus shifts to the National Park trails, where guided hikes through the tropical forest provide opportunities to spot monkeys, sloths, reptiles, and various bird species in their natural habitat.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Tortuguero is one of the most important nesting sites for the Green Sea Turtle in the Caribbean. This night tour runs specifically during the nesting season from June through October, providing a chance to see turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. These beaches have served as a primary spawning ground for various sea turtle species for generations. During the tour, you will head to the protected beach area after dark to observe the nesting process in its natural environment while learning about the conservation efforts in this region of Latin America.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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From July to October, Tortuguero National Park hosts the nesting season of sea turtles. This guided nighttime tour brings you onto the beach to witness these marine animals as they leave the ocean to lay their eggs in the sand. Because the turtles are outside of their underwater habitat, visitors have the rare opportunity to see them from a close yet respectful distance. To protect the turtles and ensure their natural behavior isn't disrupted, strict conservation protocols are in place. Personal flashlights are prohibited, and your guide will use only a specialized red light to illuminate the area. Cameras and video recording are also strictly forbidden. By removing digital distractions, the tour encourages you to focus entirely on the encounter, helping to preserve the species while creating a lasting mental memory of the experience.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English, Spanish