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Tortuguero Photos

Tortuguero National Park is a photographer’s dream. Except for that part where the canoe wobbles and you drop your 5D in the lagoon, and the incredibly dim lighting, and the tropical downpours that appear out of nowhere, and the complete darkness and flashes prohibited on the beach when the sea turtles are nesting…Okay so Tortuguero is probably a photographer’s nightmare, but we’ve gotten some pretty nice pictures there.

The wildlife is incredible and especially the birds.  Rent a canoe or kayak and spend the day on the senderos acuatio (water trails) under the towering giants of the Atlantic tropical lowland rainforest and you won’t ever forget it (even if you don’t drop your new Canon in the drink).

The best plan is to fly in then boat out (or vice versa depending on where you’re headed next) and Tortuguero is part of one of our “Best Trips Ever.” which outlines a really amazing 8-10 day itinerary ending here.

Joluva ranger station
Boca del Parismina just south of Tortuguero National Park Ranger Station at the south end (Joluva)
middle of Playa Tortuguero
Near the middle of Playa Tortuguero with Cerro Morazon and Lomas del Sierpe in the background. The canal is barely visible as a horizontal band about half way between the horizon and the beach
Trees reflected in Lago Tortuguero at sunrise, northern Caribbean Costa Rica. This was a long day. We saw the sun climb out of the Atlantic and in the evening watched it drop into the Pacific near Tarcoles.
Trees reflected in Lago Tortuguero at sunrise, northern Caribbean Costa Rica. This was a long day. We saw the sun climb out of the Atlantic and in the evening watched it drop into the Pacific near Tarcoles after a collectivo boat ride, a km or two hiking with our gear because the water level was too low to reach the end of the road, a collectivo bus, a public bus to San Jose where we picked up a rental car and headed west.
Tortuguero Canal aerial
It’s hard to tell if you’re not a traind botanist, but Atlantic tropical lowland wet forest like this is quite different than most of the rainforest found on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.
Tortuguero Village aerial
Tortuguero Village from the air. Park headquarters are on the near shore where the canal (darker water coming in from the left) intersects the oxbow of the river.
Tortuguero national Park Ticket office
Tortuguero national Park Ticket office
Tortuguero Airport (yes that's all there is to it). This is downright fancy compared to Drake and a big step up from the dirt track in the jungle at Sirena.
Tortuguero Airport (yes that’s all there is to it). This is downright fancy compared to Drake and a big step up from the dirt track in the jungle at Sirena.
Tortuguero aquatic trail map (Senderos Acuaticos)
Tortuguero aquatic trail map (Senderos Acuaticos) – rent a canoe or kayak and paddle the narrow channels
motor launches Tortuguero
Tourists waiting in motor launches for tickets to enter the park
National park office operating hours
National park office operating hours
Tortuguero conservation area map
Tortuguero conservation area regional map
Sue in a canoe on a Tortuguero sendero
Sue in a canoe on a Tortuguero sendero
Really big spider (about 20 cm) on a log on the bank
Really big spider (about 20 cm) on a log on the bank
Greenback heron
Greenback heron
Tour boat
Tour boat
Caiman
Caiman
Tiger heron stalking
Tiger heron stalking
Boat billed heron
Boat billed heron
An emergent giant along the banks of the Tortuguero River
An emergent giant along the banks of the Tortuguero River – Emergents are trees that push above the canopy to exceptional heights to gain access to more sunlight
Unloading vegetables at the Tortuguero dock
Unloading vegetables at the Tortuguero dock. There are no roads so all supplies arrive by boat.
Sue smiling
Sue smiling
Relaxing in Tortuguero
Relaxing in Tortuguero
Tortuguero Canal aerial
Tortuguero Canal near the mouth of the lagoon (aerial)
Motor launch headed back to the lodge at sunset
Motor launch headed back to a lodge from the village at sunset
Collectivo
Collectivo water taxi from Tortuguero to La Pavona
Jolio Swamp
Jolio Swamp
Half the fun of Tortuguero is getting there and gettig away. We recommend going one way by small plane for the spectacular aerial views and the other way by small boat/collectivo water taxi to experience the canals.
Half the fun of Tortuguero is getting there and gettig away. We recommend going one way by small plane for the spectacular aerial views and the other way by small boat/collectivo water taxi to experience the canals.
Pushing the Collectivo water taxi upstream in a drought
Pushing the Collectivo water taxi upstream in a drought that reduced the water level so much that the motor could not be used.
Collectivo in low water
Collectivo in low water

 

Ray & Sue

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Costa Rica National Park Photos
  • Tortuguero Beach – National Park & Sea Turtles Nesting
  • Tortuguero Village & Canals Photos
  • Savegre National Park
  • La Cangreja National Park Photos
  • Carara National Park Photos
  • Irazu Volcano Photos
  • Tenorio Volcano Photos
  • Tortuguero Photos
  • Turrialba Volcano Photos
  • Arenal National Park Photos



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