Exploring Tortuguero National Park
Tortuga Lodge Extension
Overview
With its lush rainforest and exotic flora and fauna, Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast is a haven for active adventures and tremendous wildlife viewing, and a wonderful place to extend your Costa Rica journey. Your base during your explorations here is the charming Tortuga Lodge, set right on the Tortuguero River and with its own private nature reserve. Travelers are welcomed into the relaxing atmosphere, where guest rooms are nestled into the tropical landscapes and various adventures are right out your front door. Choose from a wide variety of activities that can be booked directly at the lodge—from visiting a sea turtle nesting site to hiking Cerro Tortuguero and a kayaking excursion in the mystical waterways of Tortuguero National Park. Please note activities are an “on your own” expense. This is the perfect extension for those looking to unwind and relax after our Costa Rica Wildlife journey.
Arrive: Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Depart: Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Highlights
- Boat or kayak through the wildlife-rich canals of Tortuguero National Park.
Itinerary
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast after your main Costa Rica Wildlife adventure comes to an end and relax in your room or near the pool. In the afternoon, you can head out on one of the excursions listed below or simply soak in the tranquility of the property. Tortuga Lodge is the only hotel in Tortuguero with its own private nature reserve, and there are four short walking trails behind the property if you wish to explore at no additional charge...LD
Activities:
Activities:
- Visit a turtle nesting site at night (July through October only). In groups of 10 led by local guides, you'll have the opportunity to see Atlantic Green Sea turtles as they lay their eggs. These turtles can weigh up to 300-pound and lay 80-100 eggs. Groups set out at 8 pm or 10 pm.
- Boat Excursion. After an early breakfast at the lodge, join your fellow guests and the local naturalist guide for a three-hour boat expedition into Tortuguero National Park.
- Kayak in Tortuguergo National Park. Spend a couple hours in the morning or afternoon kayaking through the majestic canals of Caño Chiquero or Caño Mora, natural waterways designated for non-motorized boats only. You will be accompanied by a bilingual Tortuguero guide for the duration of the trip.
- Hike Cerro Tortuguero. Get a birds-eye view of the majestic Caribbean lowlands on this two-hour hike up Cerro Tortuguero. After breakfast at the lodge, join your fellow hikers and the bilingual naturalist guide for a boat transfer to the Caribbean village of San Francisco and gateway to Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge.
- Visit Tortuguero Village. Get a glimpse of Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast and the fascinating history and culture of Tortuguero Village. This fun, two-hour experience begins with a boat ride from the lodge to town, where you can visit the local school (during weekdays and school year), stroll through the Sea Turtle Conservancy center and museum, visit local artisan shops, general goods store, and walk down the quaint streets of colorful Afro-Caribbean homes.
- Atlantic Coast Fishing. Available for a half-day (6 hours) or full-day (8 hours), set out with your guide on one of the lodge's boats to fish for tarpon, four varieties of snook, rainbow bass, jack cravelle, and much more.
Enjoy a number of activities you can book through the lodge or simply savor extra time in this serene setting...BLD
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for homeward-bound flights...B
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.