Highlights
- Take in the culture and history of bustling San Jose
- Spot tons of wildlife on a canoe ride around Tortuguero's waterways
- Watch sea turtles hatch on the beaches of Tortuguero (July-October)
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Costa Rica - Culture and History in San José | San José |
| Day 2 | Flight to Tortuguero National Park | Tortuguero |
| Day 3 | Turtle Spotting in Tortuguero | Tortuguero |
| Day 4 | Tortuguero to San José | San José |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica - San José Culture and History
Welcome to Costa Rica, the land of pura vida! After arriving at Juan Santamaria International Airport, in the capital of San José, a local representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day you'll have free to explore the city at your own pace.
Take a stroll through Mercado Central (Central Market), the largest in the city, with over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants). These sodas are perfect spots for an inexpensive lunch of casado—a local dish of rice, beans, and meat, served with tortillas. Then visit the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Church), whose interior combines Greek Orthodox, Neoclassical, and Baroque styles, and features wood carvings and stained-glass windows.
Be sure to explore Barrio Amón, a historic neighborhood home to cafetalero (coffee grower) mansions built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of this area’s historic buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants, and galleries, making Amón a popular bohemian district. For dinner, you might want to opt for a restaurant in the hills of Escazú. This elevated region on the western edge of the city offers panoramic views of the valley below. No matter where you go, though, the whole city is filled with delectable restaurants serving everything from traditional local to forward-thinking fusion cuisine.
Day 2: Flight to Tortuguero National Park
After breakfast, you’ll depart early in the morning for a half-hour flight to Tortuguero National Park, on the northern Caribbean coast. A driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the lodge where you will reside during your stay.
If you have the energy, take the remainder of the day to get out and explore. Tortuguero encompasses some 47,000 acres of mostly wetland area of the Caribbean coast. Networks of freshwater canals and rivers meander through the park and are thus the preferred mode of transport here. Some animals you'll likely spot in the area include howler and capuchin monkeys as well as exotic water birds like tiger herons.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Turtle Spotting in Tortuguero
Tortuguero is unique in that, unlike many national parks in Costa Rica, it almost exclusively revolves around the water. Today you'll hop in a canoe and navigate the network of arterial waterways that snake around this protected area. Keep your camera at the ready because you'll be on the hunt for various denizens of the reserve, including manatees, spectacled caimans, river otters, and rare birds. Among these, you'll likely spot macaws, toucans, and kingfishers.
Back on terra firma, you'll have plenty of time to explore Tortuguero's 22-mile expanse of beach. It's a favorite nesting area for three different species of turtle: the hawksbill, leatherback, and green sea turtle. All of these nest in the area from July through October (mostly at night), and seeing the mother turtles lay their eggs is an unforgettable experience. If you come from February to July, you'll spot the leatherback, which at 6 to 7 feet long and up to 1,500 pounds, is the largest sea turtle in the world.
Day 4: Tortuguero to San José
Enjoy your last morning in Tortuguero. Take a stroll around the town or just a final dip in the hotel pool.
Then, it's time to head back to San José to catch your flight home.
Map
