The area of Tortuguero is rightfully called "The Amazon of Costa Rica" because access is only by boat on winding jungle rivers. Turtle Beach Lodge, located 5 miles north of the town of Tortuguero, is a secluded resort that spans 175 acres. Surrounded by lush jungles, a meandering private canal and a half mile of private beach on the Caribbean Sea, it is the ultimate in seclusion, tropical beauty and exotic adventure on a Costa Rica tour.
Rooms
Turtle Beach's airy cabinas feature comfortable beds, ceiling fans, cool tiled floors, private baths with hot showers and wide, screened windows that let in gentle ocean breezes and melodic sounds from the jungle as you fall asleep. Standard rooms are available with one double bed, two twins, or one double and one twin. Larger rooms are available for family groups.
Food
The chef and staff combine local and international cuisine along with fresh juices, fruits and vegetables to create a mouth-watering buffet three times daily. There is always enough to choose from and even the pickiest eaters never go hungry.
Unwind from your jungle explorations in a thatched roof bar with your favorite mixed drink, a local cerveza or a glass of wine. You can shoot a lively game of pool, join a game of cards or play a quiet game of checkers or chess. Share in lively discussion with your fellow travelers from around the world as you eat dinner in a spacious open-air restaurant, or dine in romantic solitude with only the sound of the ocean's roar.
The Pool
The uniquely designed pool complex at Turtle Beach Lodge features a shady thatched hammock hut overlooking a large turtle-shaped pool, both conveniently situated near the restaurant and bar. The waters of the pool are kept sparkling with an environmentally friendly salt filter, which is equally healthy for skin and hair.
Grounds
The grounds practically explode with a breathtaking array of colorful flowers and plants, herbs and a special medicinal garden with plants native to Costa Rica. Lush trees bear fruit such as lemons, papaya, mango, bananas, avocado, and of course coconuts. Ask your guide or a gardener to open a coconut with his machete and let you drink the "pipa" water or sample the delicious meat. Better yet, so you don't miss a thing, take a Guided Garden Tour for a blend of plant and flower identification, local customs and myth.
About the Lodge
Turtle Beach Lodge is a secluded resort spanning 175 acres inside Tortuguero National Park. It encompasses miles of jungle trails, a meandering private canal and a half mile of isolated beach on the Caribbean Sea.
The lodge provides highly trained staff and guides who ease you into an extraordinary jungle experience. Tortuguero has incredible biological variety due to the existence of eleven different habitats, including rainforest, swamps, beaches and lagoons. The beaches are a key nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, including Hawksbill, Loggerheads, Green and Leatherbacks. Manatees, caiman and crocodiles live in the canals and the jungle is home to endangered jaguars, three species of monkeys (spider, howler, and white-faced Capuchin) and three-toed sloths. Basilisk lizards and tree frogs inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of plants.
Return from your explorations each day and relax on the beach, in a hammock by the pool or perhaps kayak through the canals. Shoot pool, play chess or cards in our bar rancho and enjoy a leisurely dinner with your fellow travelers. Whether you are seeking adventure, relaxation or a combination of the two, the unique location and diversity of Turtle Beach Lodge provides an unforgettable experience for all.
The lodge is a viable part of the community and proudly supports local organizations, donating annually to COTERC to support turtle research and helps to build their museum. They also provide support for the volunteers of Global Vision International. They rebuilt the school in the neighboring pueblo of San Francisco and donated musical instruments and the money for traditional clothing to form a children's dance troupe there. They regularly donate to the police department and the school in the Village of Tortuguero. Arrangements can be made in advance if you want to combine your vacation with volunteer opportunities in either village.
Lodge Activities
Remarkable adventures await you right on the grounds of Turtle Beach Lodge. They are the only hotel in the area actually located in Tortuguero National Park and the only one that offers beach access as well as rainforest and canal environments. Their 175 acre property always provides something exciting to see or do! Stroll along the Caribbean Sea, fish in the surf or canal, explore the acres of unspoiled jungle, swim in the pool, relax in the hammock hut or bar and games area or kayak the adjoining Canal of Palms - all without leaving the property.
Guided Tours
Garden Tour:
The Garden Tour provides the opportunity to explore the plants and flowers grown in the gardens of Turtle Beach Lodge. From the tour of the medicinal garden to learn the local uses of medicinal plants to hearing how the developers and gardeners at Turtle Beach Lodge contribute to the health and preservation of our turtle population, you will come away from the Garden Tour with a new appreciation and enjoyment of the foliage of Costa Rica and the gardens of the lodge.
Day and Night Jungle Tours:
Consider taking both of these exciting tours during your stay, as the jungle by night is totally different than it is during the day. At any rate, it is important to take a guided tour in the jungle before you go in alone. Guides will explain the layout of the trails, the way the jungle environment works together, help you spot wildlife and give you safety tips for when you explore the jungle without them.
Tortuguero National Park and Canal of Palms Boat Tour:
The black waters of the lodge's private canal, the Canal of Palms and throughout the National Park is caused by the tannins from certain trees that grow in the area. The canal waters flow slowly, which cause a dramatic mirror image reflection of the lush foliage that is constantly changing. This tour is slow paced, with many opportunities for asking questions, spotting wildlife and pondering the magic of the unique waterways. The sights and sounds vary from day to day, but typically, wildlife is active early in the morning, while a sunny afternoon is perfect to find fresh water turtles, caiman and lizards sunning on logs along the banks of the canals. There is an additional charge of $10.00 per person to enter Tortuguero National Park.
Turtle Watching Season:
(in season) The Atlantic Green Turtles have been coming to the Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero for centuries to lay their eggs. Much has been researched and written about them. When the baby turtles grow to adulthood they return to the same beach where they were hatched. At Turtle Beach Lodge you have the unique opportunity to witness these magical events! During the prime season from June through early October we have nightly turtle watching tours right on our own beach.
Tortuguero Town Tour:
The town of Tortuguero has a fairly basic life style. Wash is done by hand and hung on trees, bushes, and occasionally a clothes line. With the frequency of showers, sometimes it hangs there for days. There are no cars and as you walk through the town you will find children at play like anywhere else in the world. The play will be imaginative and simple like it was before television and computers, though internet HAS made it to Tortuguero and there is even an internet cafe. There are a few shops and restaurants in Tortuguero and be sure to walk the little foot paths among the houses. These paths are the roads of the town. To venture down them is to discover rustic charm as if from another time.
Optional Tours
Guided Tortuguero Mountain Tour:
Stately Tortuguero Mountain is the remains of an ancient volcano, the reason the beaches are black volcanic sand. The climb up the mountain is strenuous, but your guide will go at a pace that accommodates the whole group. Along the trail he or she will point out many plants and animals that you might otherwise miss. There are often groups of monkeys and many kinds of birds near the top of the mountain. At the very top of the mountain you will have an interesting perspective of the jungle canals, Tortuguero town and the Caribbean in panorama below you.
Jungle Canopy Tour:
A fun adventure for the whole family, Tortuguero Canopy has eleven platforms, seven zip lines and four hanging bridges. Lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours, the equipment and safety regulations are certified by the I.C.T (Costa Rica Tourism Board).
