The 14 Best Tortuguero Canal & Turtle Tours

1.Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 206 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $46Our pick

Meet Native’s Way in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm, then ride about 30 minutes to protected beaches near Playa Grande. Guides such as Ivan, Fabio, and Irving search the sand for Olive Ridley and Green Pacific turtles. Expect darkness, waiting, quiet observation, and possible beach walks. Red light is used to protect the turtles.

“We had a great guide who found 3 nesting leather back turtles, one of which was laying eggs. Very exciting and something my wife and I will never forget.”

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2.Turtle Nesting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 132 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet guide Luis at 5 p.m. in Tamarindo for a 3 to 4-hour trip to Playa Mina. Ride rough tracks, walk 10 to 15 minutes to a dark beach, and spend about an hour looking for ridley, green, black, or leatherback turtles. Seeing turtles is never guaranteed, but the sunset, wildlife, and conservation lesson add real value.

“It was an adventure! Our guide was patient and knowledgeable. We got to see a turtle and it was a beautiful thing.”

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3.Small-Group Tortuguero National Park Night Walk in Costa Rica

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $28Top rated

Meet at 6:30 pm near Tortuguero’s main wharf for a two-hour forest walk with a naturalist guide and flashlight. Guides such as Warren and Diego are praised for spotting sleeping sloths, snakes, frogs, toucans, and iguanas. The group is capped at seven, but routes can be busy with other night walks.

“Warren was our guide during the night tour, and it was unbelievable the amount of animals he spotted. Next to all the animals we saw, we learned a lot and not to forget, the fun facts he was able to tell us about the animals. The best end of our visit of Torteguero we could think of.”

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4.Tortuguero National Park and Canals Day Trip from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $230

Leave San Jose at 5:30 a.m. for Tortuguero National Park, passing coffee farms and Braulio Carrillo cloud forest. Your day includes breakfast, a Caribbean lunch, a guided canal boat ride, wildlife spotting, Tortuguero Village, and a possible climb to a mountain viewpoint. Guides such as Al, Jerry, Edgar, and Arturo are praised for sharp eyes and lively nature talks.

“This was one of our best tours we experienced while visiting Costa Rica. It was a long day but we saw so much wild life it was awesome. The guide was absolutely amazing with his knowledge and experience.”

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5.Adventure Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $25

Paddle a canoe through Tortuguero National Park with an accredited guide such as Leroy, Norton, or Eric. The roughly 2-hour-15-minute outing is limited to six people and focuses on wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, toucans, basilisk lizards, otters, caimans, and more. Bring rain gear: the canoe has no motor, and you will paddle.

“We had a great boattrip watching birds, monkeys and caimans. Our Guide Norton was very nice and helpful to see this animals in the canals of Tortuguero.”

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6.All Inclusive Package 2 Nights 3 Days from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 77 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $478

Travel from San Jose through Braulio Carrillo National Park to Tortuguero by bus and boat. Stay two nights at a jungle lodge, enjoy guided canal and forest tours, visit the village and Turtle Museum, and look for monkeys, caimans, sloths, birds, and iguanas. Guides such as Ray, Fernando, and Oliver have earned especially strong praise.

“Our guide, Fila, was fantastic! He explained many details about the wildlife and spotted so many birds and animals. He took a lot of time explaining everything about Tortuguero. He also organized all the people and activities very well. The hotel staff were great and the food was healthy and outstanding!”

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7.Turtle Nesting night Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Walk into Tortuguero National Park after dark with a bilingual guide such as Leonardo, Manuel, or Luis. In an assigned beach sector, you may watch a turtle lay eggs, compact them, hide the nest, and return to the sea. The tour lasts about two hours, costs $37, and follows strict no-photo rules to protect the turtles.

“Finalmente no hicimos la ruta de las tortugas, si no la de animales nocturnos, porque se estaba acabando la época del desove, y no había ya muchas tortugas. El tour fue genial, vinos ranas, iguanas, monos, perezoso, serpientes...y lo pasamos muy bien con nuestro guía. Muy recomendable!!”

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8.3-hour canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Join PabloToursTortuguero for a three-hour canoe trip through Tortuguero National Park. Guides such as Pablo and Abel paddle with you through quiet channels, pointing out birds, American crocodiles, caimans, monkeys, snakes, trees, and plants. The group has no more than eight people, and the tour returns to its starting point.

“Excelente día con Pablo. Se ha esforzado en darnos a conocer el entorno y mostrarnos la fauna y flora local explicando sus interacciones. Ha estado en contacto y pendiente de nosotros incluso antes de llegar a Tortuguero ofreciendo su ayuda para cualquier cosa que pudiéramos necesitar. Gracias Pablo por la fabulosa experiencia que nos has ofrecido.”

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9.Observation of Turtles in their Natural Habitat in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $40

Join Don Chico Tours in Tortuguero for a 1 to 2 hour night walk to the beach, where guides such as Carmen and Luis help you watch sea turtles nest without disturbing them. Expect dark clothing, no phones or cameras on the beach, a mandatory decal or peganita, and groups capped at 10 people.

“Una muy buena experiencia. Uno no se puede ir de Tortuguero sin hacer la actividad de avistamiento de tortugas”

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10.Canoe Boat Tour in Tortuguero Canal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Explore Tortuguero’s rainforest canals with Sunbittern Nature Tours in a group of no more than eight. Your guide helps you spot camouflaged wildlife, reach narrow waterways, and understand the forest’s sounds and species. Adrian is a guide worth requesting if available. The tour lasts about three and a half hours and costs $35, plus the $16.95 national park ticket.

“Fantastic time seeing the canals and the nature of Tortuguero! Adrian was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and its nature and helped us to get through narrow canals to see the best nature and hidden spots. He had a great sense of humour as well. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone going to Tortuguero… ask for Adrian!”

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11.Canoe experience exploring Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Andrew for about two and a half hours on Tortuguero’s waterways, using a canoe or small boat, oars and a life jacket. Expect close views of wildlife, fresh air, and clear explanations of local nature, culture and history. Groups are capped at six, and the SINAC park ticket costs about $15 to $17 extra.

“Andrew est LE guide parfait ! Nous avons passé une matinée juste parfaite, il a prit le temps de nous montrer un maximum d'animaux en nous donnant toutes les explications. Andrew est un amoureux de la nature et de sa ville et sait le faire sentir à ses clients. Un moment juste unique ! Si vous souhaitez faire la sortie surTortuguero vous devez la faire avec Andrew. Il a rendu l'excursion juste incroyable !!! Merci Andrew Pascaline”

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12.Small Group Tortuguero National Park Canoe Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Meet at 5:30am for coffee, tea, biscuits, and fruit before paddling Tortuguero National Park’s canals. Your guide, including Kevin on some outings, points out birds, caimans, monkeys, and aquatic life. The canoe tour lasts about two hours, carries no more than 10 people, and includes binoculars and a dry-bag.

“Heel gaaf om in een kano op de vroege ochtend het water op te gaan. Kevin, onze gids, heeft ons met veel enthousiasme vertelt over het regenwoud. Meest bijzondere was de kaaiman van 1,5 meter naast onze boot. Aanrader!”

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13.Relaxing Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Green Tours for a quiet, eco-friendly canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park. Your local guide, possibly Johnatan, also called John, handles the route while you watch for wildlife along the creeks and lagoons. The tour lasts about two to two and a half hours, runs in the early morning, and limits the group to seven people.

“great canoe tour in the early morning. we saw beautifull animals and out guide Johnatan or John was very Professional”

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14.The best of Tortuguero: Canoe, hike and night tour (turtle in Jul-Oct)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $101

Start near Roxana at 5:30 a.m. for a canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park, a daytime forest walk, and an evening wildlife tour. During turtle season, the final outing shifts to a 8 or 10 p.m. turtle tour. Guides such as Andre, Juancito, Cloied, Norton, and Israel have earned praise, though guide experience can vary.

“LA mas interesante estuvo el tour de canoa cuando vimos un serpiente que estaba comiendo un pajaro .”

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