If you’re short on time in Costa Rica but want to see the country’s famous biodiversity beyond the concrete capital, this day trip to the Tortuguero National Park is ideal. Travel through the canals and lagoons on a boat and look out for toucans, crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, and much more. The highlight, though, is seeing the sea turtle nesting sites on the beaches, which give the park its name.

An easy way to visit Tortuguero from San Jose
Breakfast and lunch will be provided
National park fees are included
Travel in comfort in an air-conditioned vehicle

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast
Lunch
park fees

gratitudes

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

06:00 am

Pickup details

We pick up passengers in all Hotels , B&B, Hostels, AirB&B located in San jose downtown, Heredia downtown and Alajuela downtown

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Infant seats available
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travellers can participate
We require to get complete name and passport number from every person going in this tour. This is necessary for registering every person to the park ticket's system, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to enter the park. Please add your names plus nationality and passport number. We highly appreciate you to send us this information as soon as possible to avoid eventual troubles like missing the chance to visit the park, as there are limited tickets available everyday
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

5.0

17 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 17 reviews

Don’t recommend

Michelle_R, Feb 2023

I had very high hopes for the tour, but it ended up being a very long, tiring, sort of uneventful day. The van was WAY too small for 9 total passengers; a family sized van, not a tour van. Very tight. I felt very bad for the people in the back row. Every time we stopped and got out they had to move the seats forward to allow the back and middle passengers to get out. The ride was scary, two lane road, lots of semi trucks. Even the tour guide said “this road very bad, lots of accidents”. WAY too long of a drive. Keep in mind 1/2 your day is spent just driving there and back. The tour guide had pretty broken-English. He tried very hard, but not very charismatic or articulate. We saw very few animals and that was my main goal. A couple small crocodiles along the canal, a couple iguanas, birds, two monkeys on the walk. Just too few animals for all the effort. Tortuguero not exciting, could be skipped, the ocean was cool though. I dreaded getting back in the van at the end of the tour, I think everyone did. I definitely would not recommend this tour to a friend. Just too long of a day, too cramped, I was exhausted.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

We are sorry that the tour did not meet your expectations. We care about the satisfaction of our customers and we will try to improve those details that you mention so that passengers enjoy this experience. Thank you for giving us your comments.

Both the tour guide and...

RW_C, Feb 2023

Both the tour guide and the boat guide were excellent. Saw lots of wildlife. Lunch was very good. Would do the tour again.

Great day trip with superb guide and delicious food

Johanna_K, Aug 2022

We had booked this as a group tour but in the end the two of us had a private good. The guide arrived on time to collect us and was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. On the boat tour our guide / boat driver spotted some animals we would definitely not have seen on our own. We got a bit unlucky with the weather so unfortunately we didnt see any monkeys as it was constantly raining but that just happens when you travel in the summer months. The lunch provided was excellent and a good vegetarian option was served as well. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are glad to hear that everything went well and that you enjoyed the tour.

Very knowledgable guide...

Lena_H, May 2022

Very knowledgable guide who really made an effort to find animal both on the beautiful canal tour and at the rainforest walk.

Response from Host, June 2022

we are glad to know that your experience on the tour was the best. Thank you for sharing your impressions.

Motion sickness

atlfergusons, Apr 2022

We saw 3 wild sloths on our way, Carlos and Giovanni stopped the van on the road for us to take pictures. Bring money for bathroom breaks. Food and drinks were good. Bring motion sickness medicines because the van ride round trip is life threatening, Carlos was passING cars on the shoulder, across double lines, and played with the radio while driving. I will say it was a good time and I'm glad we went, but that bucket list has been checked off.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

thank you so much for the feedback . We are glad to know you were able to see as many animals as possible during the excursion. Regarding your comment about the driver, we take seriously the security of our passengers and will be making a follow up on this matter..Muchas gracias !!

Most amazing trip!!

Joshua_R, Mar 2022

This trip was amazing! Our tour guide was so kind, caring, friendly and so knowledgeable so would definitely recommend him - he was called Giovanni. The canal ride through Tortuguero National park was stunning and it felt like we were out of this world! The trek through the National park was also amazing and our guide pointed out animals like the red frog to us and he climbed with us to the viewpoint. Lunch was so delicious! We then walked along the beach and had some time to relax. I would highly recommend this tour! It was my favourite tour in Costa Rica!

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Hello Joshua.. We are happy to know you had a great day in Tortuguero..thank you for the feedback .. Pura vida

Loved the trip

Kris_S, Feb 2022

Our guide was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the country and it's history. Never rushed anyone, loved answering our questions, and made our trip very enjoyable. We had a wonderful hike, we sow howler monkeys, dart frogs, the ocean and the black volcanic sand, ate a wonderful lunch and had a few minutes in a very small town for shopping. A great day was had by all.

Response from Host, Mar 2022

Happy to know you had a great experience during the tour and that you were able to see lots of animals.. Thank you sharing your comments and for giving us the opportunity to serve you ..

Incredible Experience

Elena_R, June 2021

This was an incredible experience! We enjoyed every bit of it and really learned so much that we were able to apply to the rest of our trip in Costa Rica. Could not recommend this tour enough!

Response from Host, June 2021

Hello Elena, it gives us great pleasure to read your comment and know that the tour was to your complete liking, that you enjoyed it and full of enough learning. Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with other travelers. Pura vida !!!

A la caza visual de la fauna.

santos_f, Mar 2023

El paseo de los canales en el bote. Vimos cocodrilos, iguanas, monos cara blanca... en la excursión hasta el mirador donde podíamos ver la playa donde desoban las tortugas, encontramos ranitas rojas de patas azules, cueva con murciélagos y un sin fin de arboles gigantes. Tuvimos la gran suerte de ir solos con el guía y con el "capitan". Lo mejor de todos los tour que hicimos en Costa Rica. Y el guía un profesional y gran persona.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Nos complacer saber que el tour fue de su total agrado y que pudo disfrutar de los detalles del mismo. Gracias por compartir sus comentarios.

Maravilloso

MiriamRebeca_B, Feb 2023

Es una experiencia inexplicable . En cada momento la naturaleza sorprendió mis sentidos de la vista , olfato y oido . Un lugar maravilloso para permitir que la naturaleza nos sorprenda . El Guia Arturo fue bastante profesional , divertido y sobre todo apasionado por su trabajo .

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Muchas gracias por sus comentarios. Nos alegra saber que el tour fue de su satisfaccion y que pudo disfrutar de las maravillas de este lugar junto al guia Arturo. Pura vida

Génial!

VALERIE_M, Dec 2022

Superbe journée avec un guide super organise et très sympa. Attentif aux besoins de chacun et qui a pris le temps de bien chercher les animaux sauvages pour nous donner l’opportunité de les voir.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Nous sommes très heureux de savoir que la tournée a été la meilleure et que nous avons répondu à vos attentes. Merci de nous permettre de vous servir.

Magnifique

Jrme_M, Dec 2022

Journée très agréable avec de belles balades à pied et en bateau accompagné par un super guide. Le tout sous un soleil radieux

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Merci d'avoir partagé vos impressions sur la visite. Nous sommes heureux de savoir que vous avez apprécié et que le guide a fait du bon travail.. PUra vida

Recomendado al 100%

Paulina_A, Jan 2022

Muy buen tour, recomendado al 100%. El lugar era muy lindo y el guía fue un siete. Excelente experiencia

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Hola Paulina, nos da mucho gusto saber que disfruto del tour y que lo recomienda a otros. Gracias por sus comentarios y por permitirnos servirle !!

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Day Trip from San Jose to Tortuguero National Park (Canals)

From USD 195.00

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