Tortuguero Jungle Expedition

Tortuguero Jungle Expedition
3 Days / 2 Nights

Two full days to explore Tortuguero National Park and the Tortuguero Villages. Choose your transportation alternative. (Does not affect price).

Meal codes: (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner.

Day 1: San Jose / Tortuguero National Park (L,D)

Early morning transfer from your San Jose hotel to Tortuguero National Park.

Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atl-ntic Green Sea Turtle, the Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Eleven habitats are found in the park. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler, and White-faced), Three-toed Sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk Lizards, and Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates) inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin and the Purple-throated Fruitcrow. You will have the opportunity to observe many more species during your boat rides through the backwater creeks of Tortuguero National Park. The time of your scheduled tour may change depending on weather conditions and occupancy.

Upon arrival at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, you may schedule additional tours (at additional cost) or walk in the gardens, hike the trails behind the lodge or slip into a hammock set between the Tropical Rainforest and the Tortuguero River. Dinner and overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, River View Downstairs Terrace Room.

Day 2: Tortuguero (BLD)

Morning in Tortuguero National Park: After breakfast, leave the lodge by boat (shared with other guests) with your Tortuguero Naturalist Guide to explore the creeks of Tortuguero National Park. The morning hours are especially active in the rain forest, when wildlife is hungry and in search of their energy source for the day. It's not uncommon to find troops of Howler monkeys in search of tender young figs or the leaves of the Monkey Plum tree. You might even encounter River Otter hunting. The Northern Jacana is often perched on an island of Water Hyacinth looking for insects and miniature shrimp and the caiman is quietly waiting for its next meal to swim by.

This tour is a three hour trip into the back water lagoons and creeks of Tortuguero National Park. Your boat is equipped with an ice chest with water and if you'd like to have additional beverages in the boat you can ask your guide to stock the ice chest with your favorite drinks (at additional cost). The time of your scheduled tour may change depending on weather conditions and occupancy.

Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, your Tortuguero Guide will take you on a tour of the Village of Tortuguero. Today the town has a population of approximately 1500. The first inhabitants of the area were the Zambo-Miskito Indians and escaped slaves; they controlled the entire Caribbean coast raiding cacao plantations and hunting turtle.

You are also welcome to visit the town of San Francisco de la Barra de Tortuguero and join The Words Adventure Program.

Dinner and overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, River View Downstairs Terrace Room.

Day 3: Tortuguero / San Jose (B)

After breakfast, transfer (shared with other guests) to your San Jose hotel. Transfers are included to hotels in the Metropolitan Area; there is a surcharge for hotels outside of this radius.

IMPORTANT NOTE LUGGAGE LIMITATION: When flying or traveling by boat within Costa Rica a maximum of 25 pounds of luggage is allowed per person. The 25 lb weight limit for flights or boat trips within Costa Rica does not mean that you need to limit yourself to 25 lbs of baggage for your entire trip to Costa Rica. While it always makes sense to travel light, you can bring more than 25 lbs of luggage. We are happy to store your excess luggage in San Jose, and catch it up to you as soon as your return from your excursion. Arrangements can be made to permit more luggage per person at considerable extra cost.