Tortuguero National Park (Parque Nacional Tortuguero) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Tortuguero National Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Canoe Tour in Tortuguero National Park

• Tortuguero National Park Canal Tour with Canoe

• Small-Group Tortuguero National Park Night Walk in Costa Rica

• Electric Canoe Tour in Tortuguero National Park

• Tortuguero National Park and Canals Day Trip from San Jose

The entrance fee for Tortuguero National Park is US$15 per non-resident adult and US$5 per non-resident child. If you’d like a guided tour, 2-hour canoe or kayak tours start at around US$25 per person; for a full-day Tortuguero National Park tour from San Jose that includes transportation, expect to pay over US$200 per adult.

Yes, Tortuguero National Park is worth visiting, especially if you're there during the turtle nesting season which typically runs from July through October. Even if you visit outside those months, you're likely to see a variety of animals, including monkeys, sloths, and if you're really lucky, the endangered West Indian manatee. The park is also home to hundreds of bird species, and has a unique network of canals that allow for wildlife viewing from the water.

Per one customer who booked the Canoe Tour in Tortuguero National Park, "Without our guide, we never would have seen anything, but Kendrick found a caiman, multiple birds, monkeys, and sloths. The experience was great and required a bit of paddling from us too. The benefit of paddling is that we were able to go in inlets and areas inaccessible to boats with motors and saw areas of the National Park that were unique."

Aim to spend 2–3 days in Tortuguero National Park. It can take quite a long time to reach the park from other parts of Costa Rica so it’s better to spend more than one day. However, the town here is small so you don’t need to stay for too long.

Many people come to the Tortuguero National Park to see the nesting turtles. This takes place during March–May and July–October (the difference depends on the species). February-March and September-October are the driest times of year in this wet region. Although August is the wettest, it’s also peak turtle time, so is arguably the best month to visit.

Both Manuel Antonio National Park and Tortuguero National Park are worth visiting—but which you prefer depends on your priorities. Manuel Antonio is easier to access from other parts of Costa Rica, and offers great beaches and resorts. Tortuguero is more remote but offers a rugged, wildlife-rich experience that’s less developed.

No, it’s not advisable to swim in the sea in Tortuguero National Park, although you may see some locals doing so. This area of Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has strong currents and big waves; there are crocodiles and sharks in the water, and the beaches aren’t patrolled by lifeguards. Book a hotel with a pool to swim in Tortuguero.

Yes, there are jaguars in Tortuguero National Park. Jaguars are drawn there to hunt the endangered nesting turtles. Though this might sound unfortunate, scientists have found that the two species have developed a symbiotic relationship that promotes the overall biodiversity of the park.

There are tons of things to do besides visiting Tortuguero National Park. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Costa Rica:

• La Fortuna Waterfall

• Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

• Arenal Volcano National Park

• Manuel Antonio National Park

• Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Costa Rica.