tortuguero national park

We took a day trip from San Jose to Tortuguero. We enjoyed the long bus trip because our guide was excellent and went extra mile to keep us entertained. We stopped roadside to observe some sloths. After 3 hour bus ride, we arrived a small town from which we took a boat to the park. The boat place was very expensive. You must bring water with you since the weather is very hot and humid. There is almost an hour boat trip through an amazing river on which you can spot various wildlife. We have seen several birds, monkeys and a turtle. These boats are also used as means of transportation to many Eco-lodges near Tortuguero. So, expect to stop a few different dock to load/unload passengers. After the boat ride, we arrived the national park and took a short walk at the beach. If you can come at the right time you can observe sea turtles lying their eggs to the beach. We did not swim but saw couple people in the Caribbean. However, it seems that you'd better be a good swimmer to enjoy this beach. We had great time there even though we could not stay long. It was great to take a day tour from San Jose but if you can it is much much better to stay at one of these lodges at Tortuguero. I am sure the place will be multiple times more amazing at night.

This is a totally beautiful, natural and unspoilt area of jungle and meandering waterways. We saw amazing birds, monkeys, caiman and many other species. We were very welcome and well looked after wherever we went. You travel everywhere by boat and our guide Luis was hawkeyed and very knowledgeable. A truly wonderful experience.

my partner and I been at the National park in early January. As we arrived they offer us an early morning tour for extra $25.00 plus $15.00 for park entry. We got up very early 5am and pay the money. Which was nice but at 8.30 am we had our next tour which we pay in advance, and it was no different from the one with the extra pay, and early in the morning. So the bottom line. Don't bother, they just try to take more money form you.

What a great place to see the natural wonders of Costa Rica, on accessible by boat no roads or motorways, sorry there is an airstrip then you on the water for the rest of your trip, we stayed in the Manatus Hotel just great two days or three days maximum, this was one of our stops on a two week tour of Costa Rica nice place nice people got a lot going for it as a tourist destination. Saw lots of birds, Camen,Crocodiles, snakes, monkeys and of course Sloths nice all round trip

This is a beautiful but very touristic park. You'll find hundreds of tourists and dozens of boats speeding. We had a really bad experience. We traveled independently by public transportation from Guapiles for the day. We booked a tour with Castor through our hotel, Casa Rio Blanco. And they messed up. Basically it is impossible to visit it for one day by public transportation because the schedule of the park and the bo

With excellent boat "driver" who spots the birds and other animals, it is a fascinating experience to visit the park.

Fantastic wildlife, because it has to be accessed by boat it is (relatively) unspoilt by development compared to the other National Parks. Boat trips were both relaxing and exciting as you spotted wildlife. Hope to go back when it is the season for the sea turtles.

A coastal Nat Park accessible by boat only. We had a boat tour, two kayaking excursions, and a guided walk though nature trail. Saw three types of monkeys, lizrds, vine snake, a viper, sloth crocs, caimans, birds of all sorts, and witnessed a butterfly migration. It rained, every day at some point, but it is a rain forest on the coast....have rain gear, sun screen and bug spray accessible at all times. Had good guides that pointed a lot if this out. Amazing how close you can get to wildlife here, great photo ops.. Got the experience we were looking for.

we loved this place but then we love wildlife . weather is humid and hot it will rain 3 or 4 times a day but only for 1 hour max take waterproofs and insect repellent a must

Maybe we were extremely unlucky but apart from a few harons, one barely visible crocodile, one iguana and a few other birds (no single toucan) we didn't get to see much. Oh, we were also able to see one sloth - not in the park but on our way from San Jose. The driver suddenly stopped and the guide showed us a sloth on some bushes, very close to someone's house. It looked as if the animal was a kind of company sloth shown to tourists. The boat trip was so speedy that it was hard to notice anything, even if there had been anything. I wouldn't mind it if it was a 30-minute drive from San Jose and cost 20 bucks. But you need to spend over 100 bucks and a total of 7 hours driving there and back just to see things that you can easily spot in Puerto Viejo area for example while you are enjoying your beach activity. Don't recommend it at all!

Wonderful National park, only reached by boat. We saw White-faced Capuchin monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Sloths, Iguanas, beautiful birds, Toucans. An amazing experience

It is all about observing and enjoying nature but you need to learn how to use all your senses to locate the wildlife. Good guides and drivers are essential.

Tortuga Lodge guide Fernando, along with his most excellent driver, showed us the most amazing array of wildlife imaginable on a very easy, relaxing ride through the park. A must do adventure in Costa Rica!

Peaceful, full of wildlife. Nice boat ride and enjoyed the tour guide. Did not last long enough! Highly recommend.

This is a real rain forest. Very remote, very dense, and a bit hard to get to but well worth the journey. Expect rain, remember to tip your wonderful boat captains, relax and partake of the abundant wildlife.