Tortuguero National Park

The Tortuguero National Park is a protected area located along the Caribbean coastline. The area is an isolated paradise for anyone who loves the natural world.

A unique network of inland waterways shelter a variety of exotic animal species, such as monkeys, toucans, parrots, morpho butterflies, and even manatees. Tortuguero also contains the largest nesting ground in the Western Hemisphere for green sea turtles, which arrive in droves to lay their eggs on the beach. Observing nesting turtles is an unforgettable experience; green turtles can grow to a length of up to one meter and adults can weigh up to 200 kilograms. They nest in the Tortuguero area from August to November. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here.

The National Park provides the visitor a chance to view a diverse array of wildlife while traveling by boat on a series of waterways, including a section of the famous Limon-to-the-Nicaraguan-border canal. Floating for nearly three hours through beautiful, serene canals, incredible quantities of birds and other animals exhibit their beauty and pride. A typical trip navigates three different rivers before finally reaching the Tortuguero River. At a place called The Tree, between the Parismina River and the Tortuguero River, in the middle of a canal, visitors can sample a beer and have a chance to play with a spider monkey that lives in the area and always comes down to the bar for a handout.