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Tortuguero Village & Canals Photos

The community is built on the strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and Tortuguero Lagoon.  It’s only a couple of blocks wide at most and the main street stretches between guest houses, tourist shops, mini-supermarkets and restaurants.  Along the lagoon side are docks where all the visitors and provisions arrive by small boat because there are no roads that reach here.

Sea turtle mosaic
Tile mosaic mural of the Sea Turtles that made the region famous

Many tourists stay at boat in lodges along the canal or Tortuguero Lagoon, visit the National park and turtle nesting beaches without ever seeing the village but it’s worth walking around and stopping for an authentic Caribbean meal like Rondón a traditional slow simmered stew of fish and coconut milk with whatever else is to be had – onion, sweet potato, plantains and peppers.

canal to moin
One of several ways to arrive at Tortuguero is via the coastal canals to the south from the dock at Moín.
Mahjong
Playing Mahjong in the central park of Tortuguero village
Rusty dredging equipment
Rusty dredging equipment that was used to create the canals both north to Barra del Colorado and south towards Parismina and Moin.
Main street Tortuguero
Main street Tortuguero
Gourd bowls with brightly painted interiors
handicrafts
A mural in progress
Pachinko and other slot machine style games are still popular in rural Costa Rica
Majong in the park
Above ground cemeteries are common
Pipas and bracelets for sale
Caribbean style cuisine
Caribbean style cuisine is distinct from the food in the rest of Costa Rica. Jamaican jerk, coconut milk curry and red beans and rice are some of our favorite specialties of the region.
Visitors typically stay at boat in lodges in the jungle along the Río Tortuguero or one of the side channels off the lagoon but the village is an interesting stop and the only place to pick up groceries or try a local restaurant.
The tree trimming crew duping logs in the current to be carried out to sea

When you’re done exploring the village the main attractions await.

turtle nesting | Tortuguero nat. park | canals & wildlife | village | lanchas | photos

Tile mosaic mural Sea Turtles
Tile mosaic mural of the Sea Turtles that made the region famous
tortuguero park office
Tortuguero National park by kayak is one of our favorite adventures. We were headed to a more remote southern channel of the park on this visit so we took a motorboat for the first few miles.
Tortuguero National Park ticket office is at the south end of the village and the first stop for boat tours.
Motor boating to the sendero acuatico trail head to kayak in Tortuguero National Park
photographing a troop of spider monkeys from the kayak
Bare throated tiger heron drying its wing and soaking up the early morning sun
terestrial turtle eggs
termites scurrying through an earthen tunnel
Boat taxis lined up at the tourist dock in Moin
Captains waiting to take you up the canal to Tortuguero from the tourist dock in Moin
Puerto Ecologico Caño Blanco – The tourist dock for Tortuguero bound departures
Restaurant at Puerto Ecologico Caño Blanco – The tourist dock for Tortuguero bound departures
The heavy cargo boat that serves Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado – shades of the African Queen
Downpour on the Tortuguero Canal
It was an absolute downpour on the road to the Tortuguero lancha and this cow climbed in the feed trough to get out of the rain.

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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