Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)
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Unique Experiences
Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)
Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

The Basics

While a mix of activities, such as hiking, canopy tours, and pickup volleyball games keep visitors well entertained on land, most travelers visit Tortuga Island for its waters. The volcanic reef surrounding the island is home to diverse wildlife, such as moray eels, spinner dolphins, and octopi—plus three shipwrecks—which make it a great spot to snorkel or dive.

Tortuga Island is an ideal day trip destination, with day trip cruises typically running from San Jose and Jaco on mainland Costa Rica and allowing visitors to glide past some of the 23 islands scattered around the Gulf of Nicoya. Opt for a glass-bottom boat or sea kayak tour for a chance to admire the underwater scenery without getting wet

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View all 16 experiences
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco
star-4
USD138.00 per adult
Traveller Favourite
Great way to spend a day
I had the best day! The English speaking crew members were kind and responsible. They kept us safe while snorkeling and made sure we are having fun
Dana_C, Mar. 2023
View all 16 experiences

Recent reviews from experiences in Jaco

Great day on the water & beautiful beach!
star-5
Great day on the water & beautiful beach!
Lisa_F, Mar. 2023
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from San José
Great day on the water and the beautiful beach. Nice, clean & comfortable catamaran, professional & friendly staff. Hotel pick up on time in comfortable vans, delicious lunch on the island. Unfortunately the snorkeling wasn’t great (no fault of tour company) because water visibility was poor and so sad the reef isn’t healthy, very few fish. We would definitely do the tour again minus the snorkeling.
Perfecto
star-5
Perfecto
SABRINA_B, May 2023
Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch
The beach was beautiful and the staff were very friendly and kept the drinks flowing. The excursion was well worth the expense and experience
Fun day in the sun
star-5
Fun day in the sun
Blair_M, May 2023
Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch
Roberto was great! Very knowledgeable about anything we asked about when traveling or doing activities. Keep in mind they have a lot of people to pickup, ours was scheduled at 4am but got picked up at 445am. If they confirmed your hotel pickup location they’ll be there!! Weather was great but the water was a bit rough, made snorkeling a little rough but that’s not the guides fault! Great time!
Paradise
star-4
Paradise
Liesel_G, May 2023
Tortuga Island Cruise with Lunch from San José
Everything was good except had to wait long time for bus and the snorkeling was not the best area for snorkeling as i did not see much.
Wonderful Day in Tortuga
star-5
Wonderful Day in Tortuga
Travis_J, May 2023
Tortuga Island Full Day Tour - Puntarenas.
The trip to Tortugas was one of the highlights of our vacation. We saw dolphins, lots of monkeys, and other wildlife. The island is beautiful. Our guide, Manuel, was wonderful. He was attentive and knowledgeable and went above and beyond to ensure a lovely time. The entire crew was great. We truly enjoyed the experience.
Amazing trip!
star-5
Amazing trip!
Damir_M, May 2023
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from San José
Excellent full day trip with several good services, with the professional crews, very kind and polite.
Excellent day trip
star-5
Excellent day trip
Mark_D, Apr. 2023
Tortuga Island Full Day Tour - Puntarenas.
Excellent day! First time snorkeling for the kids and one of the tour guides pointed out various fish, starfish, etc. Very good lunch considering it was a small island off the coast. Thank you for the memorable experience!
Isla Tortuga
star-5
Isla Tortuga
Alicia_H, Mar. 2023
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco
Boat ride was great and the crew was amazing and very hospitable. The transportation was smooth and prompt. Would definitely do this activity again.
Beautiful and fun!
star-5
Beautiful and fun!
Estefania_R, May 2023
Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch
Tour guide was very nice and informative, loved the bus ride. Was very comfortable since it is a long trip. The boat ride to the island was pretty, the guides take good care of you. When you get to the island there are different activities you can do, take the trail! Very pretty view towards the end.
Isla Tortuga
star-5
Isla Tortuga
Defne_A, Mar. 2023
Isla Tortuga Adventure tour - from Jaco
For everything that is included, this trip is so worth it! There is so much that the crew does and it was a wonderful day. 10/10 would recommend this
Great experience!
star-5
Great experience!
Linda_C, Feb. 2023
Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco
Every one of the crew members were extremely kind. Everything went smoothly from snorkeling to banana boat ride, the lunch was really tasty! It was a beautiful day!
Amazing experience!
star-5
Amazing experience!
AudreeAnne_P, Nov. 2022
Isla Tortuga Adventure tour - from Jaco
Amazing experience with our guide Daniel! We had such a great Time! Daniel gave a lot of explanations and tips, we learned a lot! Hé came with us in the water to show us the wild sea life! The lunch provided was good! We highly recommand!
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Things to Know Before You Go

  • Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent.

  • Bars, restaurants, and local vendors offer food and drinks.

  • Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

  • Tortuga Island is kid-friendly, and the day cruises to the island are popular among families.

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How to Get There

Tortuga Island is located just off the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, close to the Curu Wildlife Refuge, and is only accessible by boat. Operators depart from a variety of ports, including Jaco, Montezuma, Puntarenas, and San Jose. Most boat trips include snorkeling, meals, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

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Trip ideas

When to Get There

Tortuga Island is open year-round, with peak season running from late December through January. The island is only accessible via day tour, as there is no lodging on Tortuga. Though the official average of 120 visitors per week seems delightfully low, be aware that on weekends and in December and January, those numbers spike.

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Turtle Islands

Tortuga Island is actually comprised of two islands, Alcatraz and Tolinga, but just about everyone refers to them as Isla Tortuga, or Turtle Island, named after the area’s most popular wildlife resident.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)?
A:
Q:
What else should I know about attractions in Jaco?
A:
As well as visiting the Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga), check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit:

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