Major city · Costa Rica
Tortuguero
Go for 2 nights in Jul–Oct for green-turtle nesting; skip if you want beaches or dry weather — it rains most of the year and you cannot swim here.
Tortuguero is a boat-and-plane-only village on a canal network in northeast Limón, about 80 km north of Puerto Limón. It is the gateway to Tortuguero National Park, and most visitors come for two things: wildlife on the canals and sea turtles nesting on the beach. There are no cars, the beach is not safe for swimming, and rain falls in every month. Two nights is the standard stay; three if you want a slow canal morning plus a village afternoon.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CRC
- Best months
- Jul–Oct for green turtles; Feb–Apr and Sep–Oct are the relatively drier windows
- avoid Nov–Dec and Jul are the wettest; the beach is never safe for swimming
- Airports
- SYQ · SJO
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
- Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
- Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
- Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Tortuguero911 ▾
- All emergencies911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tortuguero, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.Costa Rica-wide
- SIM or eSIMKölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.Costa Rica-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.Costa Rica-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.Costa Rica-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Costa Rica-wide
- SafetyTortuguero is a small, low-crime village, but the real risks are the sea and the jungle: never swim, never walk the beach alone at night…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.Costa Rica-wide
- Emergency numbers911 All emergencies
- Sundays & holidayscheckManuel Antonio closes on Tuesdays (check); Semana Santa Thursday–Friday shuts most businesses.Costa Rica-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckSYQ Tobías Bolaños International (Pavas, San José) (Light aircraft to Tortuguero; schedules change — check with the operator).
- Getting aroundNo cars.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee₡1,000–2,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Water taxi, village ↔ lodgeUS$2–5 per person
- Budget bedHostel or basic cabina bed, a night, per personCRC 10,000
- Mid-range bedVillage double room, a night, per roomCRC 45,000
- High-end bedVillage double room, a night, per roomCRC 80,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CRC 25,000 · Mid CRC 50,000 · High CRC 90,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SYQ Tobías Bolaños International (Pavas, San José) (Light aircraft to Tortuguero; schedules change — check with the operator) · SJO Juan Santamaría International (San José) (Most arrivals; then bus/boat via Cariari or a lodge transfer)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Care
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Feb–Apr, Aug–Oct. Mixed: Jul. Avoid: Nov–Dec. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C) low), wettest Jul (24 rain days), driest Mar (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tortuguero: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
18 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
20 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
24 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
22 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
20 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
24 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
24 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No cars. The village is small enough to walk end to end. Lodges outside the village are reached by boat or water taxi (about US$2–5 per person one way). Boats also run to the park, Cerro Tortuguero and La Pavona.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tortuguero National Park canals
goDoor to door: 2–4 h
Guided boat or canoe from the village or your lodge
Canoes are quieter and reach narrower canals than motorboats.
Cerro Tortuguero
skipDoor to door: Half day
Boat north, about 6 km (3.7 mi)Boat north, about 3.7 mi (6 km)
Closed by the park service; do not book tours that still offer it.
La Pavona / Cariari
goDoor to door: 3–4 h
Public boat then bus
The cheap route back to San José; boats leave at 06:00, 11:30 and 15:00.The cheap route back to San José; boats leave at 6:00 AM, 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM.
Puerto Limón via Moín
cautionDoor to door: 3–4 h
Public boat to Moín, then taxi
Boat leaves Moín around 10:00, about US$35.Boat leaves Moín around 10:00 AM, about US$35.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Tortuguero village
Walkable, cheap cabinas and sodas, close to the dock and park entrance. Power cuts are common — bring a torch.
Mawamba and north-village lodges
About a 10–15 min walk from the village; no boat needed.
Outlying canal lodges
North or south of the village along the canals; reached by boat, often all-inclusive with transfers and tours.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₡25,000–45,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- ₡45,000–80,000 excl. bed
- High
- ₡80,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Village double room1 × 2 nights × CRC 45,000 | CRC 90,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CRC 50,000 | CRC 200,000 |
| Public bus San José → Cariari2 × CRC 1,300 | CRC 2,600 |
| Public boat La Pavona → Tortuguero2 × CRC 2,800 | CRC 5,600 |
| Turtle-tour sticker2 × CRC 2,000 | CRC 4,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CRC 12,000 | CRC 24,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CRC 32,600 |
| Trip total≈ CRC 89,700 per person per day, bed included | CRC 358,800 |
2026 estimate in colones; flights and long-distance transfers excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ₡1,000–2,000 |
| Casado (rice, beans, protein) | ₡4,000–7,000 |
| Bottle of Imperial or Pilsen | ₡1,000–2,000 |
| Water taxi, village ↔ lodge | US$2–5 per person |
| Internet café, per hour | about US$4 |
| Guided canal boat tour | US$25–60 |
| Turtle-watching tour | US$30–50 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The beach is not safe for swimming: rough surf, strong currents and sharks.
- Only ICT-certified guides may lead turtle tours; ask to see the card.
- Cerro Tortuguero is closed by the park service — guides still selling it are breaking park rules.
- Touts at the dock and along the route claim boats are cancelled or hotels full to sell packages.
- Bring a torch: power outages are common in the village.
- Do not dig up nests or touch hatchlings; it harms the turtles.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies
- 911
Pocket card
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TortugueroTortuguero
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies911
Embassy
Most embassies are in San José; there is no consulate in Tortuguero.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus San José → Cariari: about ₡1,300, 2 h
- Bus Cariari → La Pavona: about ₡1,100, 1 h
- Boat La Pavona → Tortuguero: about ₡2,800, 1–2 h
- Boat Moín → Tortuguero: about US$35
Say or show
- Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syas)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Dónde está la lancha? — Where is the boat? (DON-deh es-TAH la LAN-chah)
- Tengo una reservación — I have a reservation (TEN-goh OO-nah reh-ser-vah-SYON)
- Ayuda — Help (ah-YOO-dah)
Cash is king in the village; ATMs are unreliable — bring colones or US dollars.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tortuguero. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jul–Oct for green turtles; Feb–Apr and Sep–Oct are the relatively drier windows · avoid Nov–Dec and Jul are the wettest; the beach is never safe for swimming · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SYQ and the Cariari/La Pavona bus-boat route: last departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre and dock, north beach and park path, Mawamba and north lodges.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (park entrance, turtle-tour meeting points, Cerro Tortuguero closure) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.