Tortuguero is one of the world's most famous places for viewing sea turtles, and it lives up to its reputation. The National Park protects about 20 miles of pristine beaches where turtles nest and 46,815 acres (18,946 ha) of land. The sea turtle population was severely depleted due to egg poaching and the hunting of adults for meat in turtle soup, but through conservation and breeding efforts, the turtles are making a big comeback. The adjacent Pacuare Reserve also provides exceptional access to turtles. Here you'll explore the area by boat, canoe, and foot, discovering some of the 300+ bird species, and possibly an elusive jaguar, tapir, or even manatee that live in Tortuguero's nutrient-rich waters. Contact one of our Costa Rica experts for help planning your Costa Rica trip.
Our Favorite Tortuguero Costa Rica Tours for 2025-2026
Sea turtles are the star of the show in Tortuguero. Even the name comes from Spanish, meaning "person who collects turtles," which, by the way, is strictly prohibited these days after generations of poaching and declines in turtle populations.
Now, the turtles of Tortuguero are recovering in numbers after significant efforts to protect the beaches where they breed from poachers and predators. Dr. Archie Carr of the University of Florida started studying turtles here in 1995, and his studies still continue today at the Sea Turtle Conservancy in the village of Tortuguero.
Here are the three species commonly seen on Tortuguero's beaches:
Green Sea Turtles (Tortuga Verde in Spanish, Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill Turtles (Tortuga Carey in Spanish, Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback Turtles (Tortuga Baula in Spanish, Dermochelys coriacea)
I spent 2 entire days trying to find my Alaska small boat trip, with no success. Then Erin from Adventure Life gave me 4 choices on the same day I contacted her. She was caring and very efficient. I'm very excited about the cruise she found for me.
Janet Houts
3 days ago
Everything about our Galapagos experience was top-notch. I highly recommend this trip if you like be active. Everyone from the planners to the guides to the crew set us up to experience and soak in everything the Galapagos has to offer. They took care of every detail so we could learn and enjoy.
Luanne
4 days ago
We had an amazing trip. The accommodations of our hotel first 3 nights and the accommodations of the ship were perfect. Our guides were amazing. They went snorkeling with us everyday and took amazing pictures and pointed out various species of fish. On the land adventures, they explained everything about the islands and animals that we were looking for and seeing. They also took amazing photos and videos that they shared with us in a whats app group with the entire ship. This gave us the ability to upload our own video and pictures along with other shipmates so we all got these great photos from everyone. It was a once in a lifetime trip that left us with many amazing memories and very possible we would consider going back.