Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

Q: What are the nearest attractions to Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)?

Attractions near Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga): Carara National Park (Parque Nacional Carara) Jaco Beach Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls

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 17 experiences

Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco

49 reviews

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

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Recent reviews from experiences in Jaco

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.

Great time

Saul_P, Oct. 2022

Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from San José

Had a great time, staff were super friendly. They were super clean and had everything prepared for us. I can tell they always have a 100% customer service.

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.

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

Perfect!

Deena_S, Feb. 2023

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour - Puntarenas.

Our guide and captain were knowledgeable, kind, friendly and made our day great! We saw dolphins and monkeys on the way! The beach is beautiful and the food was delicious. It was a perfect last day for our week in Costa Rica!

Beware of rough waters

John_W, Feb. 2023

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

The beach was beautiful we loved it but the boat ride was so rough that many got sick. One guy threw up the whole time. So I’m not sure if it’s the time of year with the rough waters or if they are rough all the time. Just beware.

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!

Definitely recommend!!!

Monika_B, Jan. 2023

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour - Puntarenas.

This was such a fun trip. I would definitely recommend. The boat ride to the island was fun. We stopped to see Dolphins on the way. The snorkeling was amazing. On the island itself we had lunch and there were different fun options of things we could pick to do.

I don’t know if I would...

Denny_T, Jan. 2023

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

I don’t know if I would say this is a tour more like transportation/lunch. But it was a very lovely day and I am glad to have went.

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!

Mostly good

Kathryn_P, Oct. 2022

Full Day Excursion to Tortuga Island from Puntarenas

The boat ride and staff were wonderful, the food and drinks were good. We had great service and we had a lot of fun with the other guests. The only downside to the whole day was someone stole cash out of our backpack and a couple other people's while we were on the island. There are other tours and people here so keep in mind what you're bringing since everything can't be watched the whole time.

amazing day

Lauryn_S, Feb. 2023

Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from San José

I was picked up at the hotel in San Jose and then we made our way to the catamaran and from there on to the island. we received breakfast and lunch and also vouchers for free sodas on the island. it was a really beautiful island. 100% would recommend.

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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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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.

What are the nearest attractions to Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)?

Attractions near Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga):

What else should I know about attractions in Jaco?

As well as visiting the Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga), check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit:

Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

The Basics

Recent reviews from experiences in Jaco

Things to Know Before You Go

How to Get There

Trip ideas

Top 6 Beaches in Jaco

How to Spend 3 Days in Jaco

How to Spend 2 Days in Jaco

How to Spend 1 Day in Jaco

When to Get There

Turtle Islands

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