Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica's most visited national parks, despite its isolated location in northeastern Costa Rica, and only accessible by boat or airplane. The park's main feature is the sea turtles that nest and hatch on the beach, making it one of the most important turtle sanctuaries in the western Caribbean.

Tortuguero National Park, with its wet, tropical climate, nurtures a diverse habitat of rainforest, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, canals, and lagoons, all of which are rich in plant and wildlife species, making it a nature lover's heaven. A guided beach walk to see mother turtles nesting and hatchlings dashing to the sea is the most popular activity here. The turtles, however, are not the park's main draw. Visitors can take boat rides or paddle canoes through the mangroves and canals to see a variety of wildlife, including manatees, sloths, river otters, tapirs, and monkeys; birds such as green macaws, toucans, parrots, and herons; and reptiles such as giant iguanas, basilisk lizards, and crocodiles.

Location: Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Tortuguero National Park: For turtle nesting, July through October is the optimum time to visit Tortuguero. Tortuguero is best visited in September and October for the best weather. December, July, and August are the busiest months in Tortuguero.