Tortuguero National Park

The Tortuguero (Turtlecatcher) National Park is a protected wilderness area in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast consisting of what was an archipelago of volcanic islands until alluvial sediments from interior mountains filled in the spaces and formed a network of marshy islands. Located in the Limón Province, this national park is only accessible by boat and plane, yet is still the country’s third most visited park. The Tortuguero National Park hosts an incredible array of flora and fauna and features 11 different types of habitats. This area has exceptionally high rainfall and a rich environment, creating remarkable biodiversity in the beaches, canals, lagoons, and wetlands. Out of all the species of animals, the main attraction and specialty of the park is the turtles. Green Sea Turtles, Leatherback turtles, and Hawksbill turtles nest in the 22-mile stretch of black sand beaches of Tortuguero. These turtles are possible to be seen throughout the day, but the majority of arrivals occur at night. Seven species of river turtles, Spectacled Caiman, Southern River Otters, several crustaceans, and over 50 species of freshwater fish live in the extensive network of freshwater creeks and lagoons behind the beaches of Tortuguero. Hundreds of birds including the endangered Green Macaw, Amazon Kingfishers, Egrets, Herons, Oropendolas, Violet Sabrewings, Toucans, Northern Jacanas, and Sunbitterns, are common sights in the National Park along with the Spider, Howler, and Capuchin Monkeys.