Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica
GPS coordinates: 10.545829, - 83.504419
“A small community of 1,300 people who live surrounded by water, by the Caribbean Sea and the Tortuguero canals”
Tortuguero is a small town that is unique, remote, and distinctive. Its location on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean Coast, straddling the sea and a labyrinth of canals, reminds us of the Amazon. Its community is an example of how to live surrounded by water, nature, and lush vegetation. There are no roads to bring you to Tortuguero. To get here, you must take a boat or fly with a local airline.
Tortuguero National Park surrounds the community of 1,300 residents. Mawamba Lodge is located 1 km northeast of town on a narrow strip of land between the canals and the Caribbean Sea, thereby offering you direct access to both. The distance between the lodge and town is 10 to 15 minutes walking and less than 5 minutes by boat.
Travelers often combine their stay in Tortuguero with visits to the southern Caribbean region (Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, Cahuita) or destinations like Sarapiqui or La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano.
HOW TO GET HERE?
BY AIR
Sansa Airlines offers domestic flights to Tortuguero from San Jose. To check their availability, hours, and prices, visit them at www.flysansa.com. Please notify us of your arrival time in advance, and we will coordinate your free transfer to Mawamba Lodge by boat.
BY LAND & BOAT
TRAVELING FROM:
San Jose to Pavona: 3 – 3.5 hours
Puerto Viejo (or Cahuita) to Pavona: 3.5 – 4 hours
La Fortuna to Pavona: 3 – 3.5 hours
TORTUGUERO BOAT SCHEDULE
PAVONA - TORTUGUERO
*** RECOMMENDED TRANSPORT ***
Mawamba’s direct boat service
Departure time: 11:00 am
Cost: $20 per person, per way + VAT
TORTUGUERO’S PUBLIC BOATS
MONDAY - FRIDAY
06:00 am | 09:00 am | 12:00 pm | 04:00 pm
SATURDAY - SUNDAY
06:00 am | 09:00 am | 01:00 pm | 04:00 pm
Cost: ¢3000
TORTUGUERO - PAVONA
*** RECOMMENDED TRANSPORT ***
Mawamba’s direct boat service
Departure time: 09:00 am
Cost: $20 per person, per way + VAT
TORTUGUERO’S PUBLIC BOATS
MONDAY - FRIDAY
05:00 am | 07:00 am | 10:00 am | 02:00 pm
SATURDAY - SUNDAY
05:00 am | 07:00 am | 10:00 1m | 02:00 pm
Cost: ¢3000
IMPORTANT TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Travel times given here are approximate as they may vary depending on road conditions or the boat trip.
From San Jose to Pavona, you can travel in your own vehicle, by private transport, or by public bus service. The Boat Dock at Pavona offers a public parking service at an additional cost. Please bring some cash for services at La Pavona
Mawamba Lodge’s boat service is daily and direct from the Pavona pier with a meeting time at 10:30 am and with a launch time of 10:30 a.m. a departure time for 11:00 am. The actual departure time may vary according to river conditions. Mawamba’s boat service must be booked with at least 3 days in advance.
Public boat transfer: This boat will take you to the town of Tortuguero. The service provider sets the cost. Upon arrival in Tortuguero, there is a public shuttle service available to Mawamba Lodge. Please ask your public boat service provider for costs. Otherwise, if you bring small luggage you can walk from town to Mawamba. It is a mile (1.5 km) away. We dont recommend this option if you arrive after down or if you carry large suitcases, as it is a small dirt road.
PLEASE NOTE: There are NO boats from the Pavona Boat Dock after 3:00 p.m. Please plan your trip accordingly.
