Add dates

Tortuguero Canal, Costa Rica

Tortuguero Canal, Costa Rica: Our most recommended tours and activities

From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

1. From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

Explore the protected Tortuguero National Park in the Limón Province, reachable only by airplane or boat. Take in the wealth of biodiversity in its eleven different habitats, including rainforest, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. Trip itinerary: Day 1: After an early morning hotel pickup, admire the biodiversity of a primary forest through the window as you drive past Braulio Carrillo National Park. Sample a delicious Costa Rican breakfast during the drive. Mid-morning, board a comfortable boat and travel along the Tortuguero Canals. Be enchanted by the surrounding paradise and its varied flora and fauna. Then, enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch at the hotel. After lunch, tour the canals and take incredible photos for the rest of the afternoon. Arrive at Pachira Lodge (or similar) for a delightful dinner and a restful night's sleep. Day 2: Discover the flavors of Costa Rica with breakfast at the Lodge. Then, hike along the Lodge's private trail and work up an appetite for lunch. After lunch at the Lodge, visit the Sea Turtle Museum, the beach, and the picturesque village of Tortuguero. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Lodge again. Day 3: After breakfast at the Lodge, head back to San José, stopping for lunch at El Ceibo in Guápiles on the way. Arrive back in San José in the afternoon.

Puerto Limon: Half-Day Tortuguero Canals & Playa Bonita Tour

2. Puerto Limon: Half-Day Tortuguero Canals & Playa Bonita Tour

Enjoy a half-day tour around the Puerto Limon and visit some of its most famous attractions as you learn more about the region from your professional guide. Spot the local wildlife on a 1-hour boat ride on the Tortuguero Canals and feel the sand under your feet at Playa Bonita. Taste fresh fruits from a local fruit stand. As you travel to your first stop in an air-conditioned vehicle, learn from your local guide interesting facts about Costa Rica's Caribbean province. Start off with exploring the Tortuguero Canals on a 1-hour covered boat trip, a fantastic chance to appreciate the rich wildlife of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. With some luck, you'll be able to see animals such as monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and basilisks, as well as many sorts of birds. Next, head to Playa Bonita, a nice small beach. If the weather is nice and after your guide makes sure you're good to go, feel free to enjoy the waters. Alternatively, sit down and relax or head over to one of the nearby restaurants to enjoy a local dish or a Costa Rican beer (at your own expense). Then, visit a scenic viewpoint where you have a panoramic view of most of Puerto Limon's small city and even the coastline and ship docks. This is a great place for a photo-op. After the breathtaking views, it is time to visit the Fruit Stand to learn about different tropical plants and trees, but also to taste their fresh fruits. As the tour is coming to an end, you can optionally visit a supermarket where you can purchase goods such as top quality coffee at fair local prices. After, you are dropped back in Puerto Limon.

Puerto Limon: City Highlights and Cahuita National Park Tour

3. Puerto Limon: City Highlights and Cahuita National Park Tour

Start off your tour in comfort in an air-conditioned vehicle. Listen to your local guide share interesting facts about Costa Rica's Caribbean province. Take the scenic road and see the city of Puerto Limon from a viewpoint. Snap some pictures of the capital city and the ship docks. Explore the Tortuguero Canals on a 1.5-hour boat ride. Under the shade of the boat’s ceiling, your tour guide will point you to the different plants and animals in the area, and you'll learn about its biodiversity. Learn more about tropical plants and their fruits. You'll be able to see the actual plants and trees, and also taste some of these delicious fruits at a rustic fruit stand on the way to Cahuita. Stop outside a banana plantation and get to know the process of cultivating, harvesting, and shipping the fruit. Understand how bananas are a big part of Costa Rican economy, with Limon being central to this activity. Enjoy a 1.5-hour walk across the beautiful Cahuita National Park where you'll get to see even more animals and exotic plants. If the weather is nice, you can also take a dip in the sea. You will also have a stop to take a look at local products at the supermarket. Choose to take some Costa Rican coffee or other local goods home to remember your trip by.

Puerto Limon: Veragua Rainforest & Boat on Tortuguero Canals

4. Puerto Limon: Veragua Rainforest & Boat on Tortuguero Canals

Start your tour with a convenient pickup and enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. Be transported to the Veragua Rainforest and experience its many wildlife attractions. See the butterfly garden, frog exhibition, insectarium, biological research station, and more. After a morning full of nature, next, come the Tortuguero Canals. Hop on a covered boat for a 1-hour ride and the opportunity to see and take pictures of monkeys, iguanas, sloths, birds, and many other elements of the plentiful local biodiversity. On your way back to town, you can take a panoramic look at most of Puerto Limon's town from a scenic viewpoint, while your guide shares some history and culture of Costa Rica's Caribbean province. If there's time left, you will also be taken to the supermarket where you can purchase some Costa Rican coffee or any other goods at fair prices. Choose to take some Costa Rican coffee or other local goods home to remember your trip.

Other Sightseeing Options in Tortuguero Canal, Costa Rica

Want to discover all there is to do in Tortuguero Canal, Costa Rica? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Tortuguero Canal, Costa Rica

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 39 reviews

Rupert met us as arranged and kindly guided us around on a private tour. He was very polite, cheerful and knowledgeable. Everywhere we went people knew him and he was good fun. Excellent guide on the boat with the captain and they enabled us to see much more wildlife close up than we ever expected. Great tour, good value and well done. Thank you.

Great, authentic, motivated, caring and well-informed tour guide: great job Federico!!! With excellent support from the AUGE - our bus driver discovered every sloth, every lizard, every monkey and every exciting bird on the tour in the bus, in the boat and on foot in the jungle.

Pick-up was great, tour informative (due to the short time rather superficial), individual coordination in the group, how long e.g. B. is lingered on the beach. Boat tour was great with our driver Carlos, as he helped us to see the animals and made sure before continuing.

Breathtaking environment. Super many exotic animals spotted by the expertise of the fun guide Julio. The lodge where we slept was also well organized in terms of food and excursions. Top

The guide Marceille Valentine was extremely professional and friendly, knowledgeable and real lover of nature. It was one of the best guides we have ever met.