Explore Costa Rica's animal world in Tortuguero National Park, home to the green turtle, after which the park is named, along with many other protected species.
Trip Details
After picking you up at your hotel in San José, we’ll head toward the Caribbean coast. We’ll drive along the road that crosses Braulio Carrillo National Park, where our naturalist guide will explain the history of this “green lung” as we gaze out the window at its dense cloud forests and the stunning waterfalls cascading down its slopes.
We’ll make our first stop to enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast to recharge our energy. We’ll sample the traditional gallo pinto, eggs, fruit juice, and coffee. The best way to start the day! Plus, during the trip, we’ll hand out a bottle of water and some banana chips as a snack, since we’ll be passing through vast plantations of this fruit to learn all about its cultivation and export.
Upon arriving at the dock, we’ll leave the bus behind to board a boat and navigate the Tortuguero canals. On this journey through the humid tropical rainforest, we’ll keep an eye out for the park’s star attractions: monkeys, sloths, toucans, crocodiles, and, of course, the green sea turtle, which has one of its most important nesting sites in the world here.
Before lunch, we’ll take a hike up to Cerro Tortuguero. This is the highest point in the area and will offer us a spectacular panoramic view of the canals, the endless jungle, and the Caribbean Sea.
Hungry? We’ll head back to enjoy a traditional Caribbean lunch with a wide variety of options. You can choose from dishes like rice and beans with chicken, beef, or fish, casados, hamburgers, and vegetarian options like pasta or burritos. All dishes include a fresh salad, a fruit salad, and homemade desserts such as coconut flan or brownies. If you’d like a fresh cup of coffee, just ask the staff.
After lunch, we’ll take a pleasant stroll through the picturesque town of Tortuguero and its beach, a place with a unique charm where life moves at a leisurely pace. Finally, we’ll head back to San José, stopping for a break halfway through the trip.
Pickup Info
This activity includes pickup from hotels in downtown San José. If your accommodation is outside the pickup area, we’ll provide an alternative meeting point in the city center.
