Tortuguero

 Tortuguero

When visiting Costa Rica, Tortuguero is one place you don’t want to miss. Accessible by water only, or by air, it takes some planning to get there.

The village of Tortuguero is quaint and the boat ride provides opportunity for spotting caymen, crocodiles, monkeys and a variety of herons and other waterfowl.

The beach at Tortuguero is a nesting ground for turtles. When we were there in November,  turtles were hatching.

Many tour companies provide trips to Tortuguero. Nevertheless, we decided to book through Laguna Lodge, the Lodge we had picked as our destination. They offer a number of options. We chose the 3 day, 2 night package. This package offers transportation to and from Tortuguero to San Jose with an English speaking tour guide, accommodation for 2 nights, all meals, a tour of Tortuguero village and of the park. It doesn’t include the $10.00 entrance fee to the park. This package is definitely a low stress option as the bus picks you up right  at your hotel in San Jose and drops you off there as well. We requested to b picked up in Alajuela at their first pick up location at the Hampton Inn. We took a taxi from our budget hotel to the Hampton Inn. Leaving from here is a good option if you decide to visit Tortuguero at the beginning or end of your trip, because it is so close to the airport. Once you are on the bus, there is little left to plan……just relax and enjoy the trip!

The tap water in most of Costa Rica is safe to drink, however in Tortuguero it is not. Drink only bottled water while you are there. The Laguna Lodge provided us with water that was safe to drink.

Keep in mind that it is not safe to swim at the beach, on account of the bull sharks and the barracudas.

It rains more frequently in Tortuguero than in the west of Costa Rica. March and April are the driest months. While it helps to come prepared for a shower or a deluge, you can still have an enjoyable time in-spite of the rain. The rain can be warm and the umbrellas provided by the lodge come in handy. The Lodge also provides ponchos on their boat tours in the event of rain.

You also want to bring insect repellent. Keeping your room door closed will help prevent mosquitoes from  entering, as well as other wild life you would rather see in the wild than in your hotel room.

Did we enjoy our stay at the Laguna Lodge? Absolutely! When we arrived the weather was glorious and their pool looked most most inviting. Most guests didn’t waste any time to take advantage of the pool and lounge chairs.

The meals were healthful and enjoyable, the rooms pleasant and comfortable. There were bicycles to rent and a bar and gift shop to enjoy. The staff were efficient and helpful. When we asked for a room change, they were quick to accommodate us.

When we return to Tortuguero, we would be happy to stay at the Laguna Lodge again.

We had a wonderful time in Tortuguero.

If you have been to Tortuguero, I’d love to hear about your experience. Where did you stay and what did you do? Just leave me a note in the comment section below. Thank you.