TOURS
Tortuguero is an excellent destination for travelers of all ages. It is a magical place where children learn to appreciate nature's beauty, where families can delight in the wondrous tropics, and where couples will love discovering unique experiences.
TORTUGUERO BOAT TOUR
Enjoy a traditional motorboat tour in the Tortuguero National Park via the canals.
We will depart Mawamba Lodge by boat to the Tortuguero National Park ranger station to get our admission tickets. The park ranger will tell us which canals we can explore this day during our two-hour tour. Tortuguero’s flora and fauna are impressive, with 186 species of birds identified, three of the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, crocodiles, caimans, toucans, sloths, and much more.
Your guide will happily tell you about the wildlife you discover along the way. Keep your eyes peeled because nature comes to life right in front of you.
6 am or 2:30 pm (meeting time: 15 minutes before at Reception)
Windbreaker/light jacket, poncho or raincoat, hat, comfortable clothes and shoes, binoculars, camera, and your reusable water bottle. Please do not bring umbrellas as they obstruct other passengers' visibility on the boat (there is no roof to maximize viewing opportunities).
$35 USD + 13% VAT per person (+ entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park)
KAYAKING IN TORTUGUERO
Our kayaking tours in the Tortuguero National Park are a unique experience to silently paddle through the canals with your guide and discover wildlife. Our Native Watercraft Redfish sit-on-top kayaks are specially designed for navigating rivers and canals.
The tour departs first by boat from Mawamba Lodge to the Tortuguero National Park ranger station to get your admission tickets. From there, you will continue to the entrance of smaller canals and then begin your guided adventure by kayak.
Please check available times at Reception.
Insect repellent, water-resistant sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher), hat/cap, sunglasses, swimsuit, T-shirt and shorts made of quick-drying material, and your reusable water bottle. A long-sleeved shirt is useful if you want more sun protection. We recommend placing your camera and binoculars in a dry bag. Minimum age to participate: 10 years old.
$35 USD + 13% VAT per person (+ entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park)
CANOEING IN TORTUGUERO
Canoeing the Tortuguero canals is an extraordinary adventure. Your guide will take care of the paddling and also help you discover the Tortuguero National Park’s wildlife, plants, and trees. With a maximum of 6 people per canoe, the experience is personal and distinctive. It is ideal for families.
The tour departs first by boat from Mawamba Lodge to the Tortuguero National Park ranger station to get your admission tickets. There, you will board your canoe with your guide for a two-hour tour of the Tortuguero canals.
Please check available times at Reception.
Insect repellent, water-resistant sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher), hat/cap, sunglasses, T-shirt and shorts made of quick-drying material, and your reusable water bottle. A long-sleeved shirt is useful if you want more sun protection, and you should bring a raincoat just in case. We recommend placing your camera and binoculars in a dry bag.
$35 USD + 13% VAT per person (+ entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park)
TORTUGUERO NIGHT HIKE
As the day draws to a close, the nocturnal animals and insects wake up. Our walk at twilight brings us into the mysterious world of the forest at night, with all its unusual sounds and sights. It is an entirely different experience from the forest during the day. With your expert naturalist guide, you will leave Mawamba Lodge by boat at about 5:30 p.m. for a 5-minute ride to our private trails near the Tortuguero National Park.
Your two-hour Tortuguero Night Hike will take you along forest trails that are built with concrete and raised off the ground, so you can safely walk with peace of mind and focus on nature's magic as it grows dark.
We will return to the lodge in time for dinner.
5:30 pm (meeting time: 15 minutes before at Reception)
Comfortable closed walking shoes, insect repellent (we recommend putting this on before the walk), and a rain poncho or jacket. Each participant will receive a small flashlight at the start to use during the tour. Please be mindful not to scare animals with the light during your forest walk.
$35 USD + 13% VAT per person
TORTUGUERO HILL HIKE
The most spectacular panoramic view in all of Tortuguero awaits you as you climb! The Tortuguero Mountain Hike departs by boat from Mawamba Lodge to the trailhead. During the hike, your guide will share interesting facts about the area and tell you about the plants and animals you will see along the way. You can walk at your own pace, and rest stops are included. When you get to the top, you will have the best view of Tortuguero, spanning the Tortuguero canals, the Caribbean Sea, and the towns of San Francisco and Tortuguero. If you sharpen your eyesight, you can even see the Turrialba Volcano in the distance.
Please check available times at Reception.
Reusable water bottle, comfortable hiking shoes, insect repellent, rain jacket or poncho, sunscreen, cap/hat, sunglasses, binoculars, and camera.
Note: This tour is suitable for persons in good physical condition and who are able to go up and down stairs.
$35 USD + 13% VAT per person (+ entrance fee to Tortuguero Hill)
THE LAND OF TURTLES
Tortuguero is one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the western hemisphere. Four of the seven world sea turtle species come to Tortuguero to lay their eggs.
The evening Tortuguero sea turtle nesting tour features green turtles, which visit us between July and October. Turtles lay their eggs at night to avoid predators. The Tortuguero National Park regulates guided walks during this time, so participation conditions apply.
To witness this event, participants must join a locally guided tour and can sign up in reception, the latest at 2:00 pm on the day they want to come.
Black clothings (Colors reflect on turtles and sacras them away), closed strapped sandals, or closed shoes, raincoat or poncho (black or dark colored).
$45 USD + 13% VAT per person
Tour departs either at 8 or 10 pm, but times are defined by the National Park in a ballot and will be informed to tour participants accordingly.
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Two months after the turtles lay their eggs, the baby sea turtles emerge from their sandy nests and make their way to the sea. It is an impressive moment to watch! Possibly up to 100 hatchlings can emerge at once to start their new lives.
Since the baby turtles do not like to go out when the sand is hot, they will leave their nests early in the morning between approximately 5:30 and 6:00 am, or in the afternoon, between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. To observe them, you only need to walk from the lodge along the beach at these times, paying particular attention to any turtle nests you may see. Please do not touch or pick up the turtles.
This is an activity that you can do on your own time, and it is free. The best time to see this phenomenon is between September and mid-December. If you visit us in September and October, which also coincides with the Caribbean summer, you can observe the sea turtles nesting and also the baby turtles hatching.
When walking the beach make sure to walk towards town.
Do not pay anyone who offers to find you a nest. This is a natural process, and no one should disturb the turtles, much less open or touch nests. Please only use regulated guided tours by certified guides.
Do not touch the nests.
Do not touch the turtles at any time. The turtles must recognize the beach where they are born since they will return here in 30 years to nest. Touching the turtles disorients them.
There are wild predators, and this is a natural process. We must not interfere in nature.
There is no cost to observe the turtles hatching. Just, be at the beach at the right time, during the season. To have an opportunity of seeing them, you should be in Tortuguero between September and early December and if you’re here September or October, you might have an opportunity of seeing both events, nesting at night and hatching on day time.
FISHING IN TORTUGUERO
The freshwater Tortuguero canals are famous for fishing, especially for snook and tarpon. We can gladly organize two-hour, half-day, or full-day fishing excursions with one of the most experienced captains in the area. The tour price is based on the amount of time, the season, and available boats.
