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Tortuga Lodge

On Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, nestled between the Tortuguero River and gorgeous plantation-style gardens, Tortuga Lodge & Gardens is the only hotel in the area with its own private nature reserve, offering high end, beautifully designed accommodation with an array of adventures and activities. Each of the 29 rooms, including the spectacular, very private Miss Florentina Villa, feature sweeping views of the river.

Tortuguero is a nature and wildlife lover’s paradise. Daily nature walks and boat trips are led by the lodge’s experienced naturalist guides, who also lead tours to turtle nesting sites in season, and kayak trips up the Tortuguero River, twilight nature hikes and more. At 51,870 protected acres, this is one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler, and White-faced), Three toed Sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk Lizards, and Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates) inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds including the Great Green Macaw, all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin and the Purple-throated Fruitcrow.

Tortuguero (“place of turtles”) is most famous for the thousands of sea turtles that come ashore between July and September to lay their eggs on the beach and bury them in a ritual millions of years old. Nighttime excursions to watch nesting, and later hatching, turtles is the area’s most popular adventure, along with boat tours of the huge network of canals.

Key Facts

No. of rooms: 29, all with river views, AC + ceiling fans, free Wi-Fi, nightly turndown service, plush, pillowtop beds and private terraces or balconies.

Room Categories: 

Miss Florentina Villa (200m sq): Luxurious stand-alone villa situated at one end of the property’s limits, surrounded by lush vegetation and water. The villa has its own private plunge pool and terrace, living area, large bedroom and has a maximum capacity for 5 guests (adults and children) with 2 full bathrooms.

Miss Evelyn Balcony Suites (65m sq): With a capacity for 4 guests, these suites are divided into two categories; with and without air conditioning. They all have king sized beds, a sofa bed with capacity for an extra twin bed. The rooms are decorated with bright fresh tones while maintain a historical with classical furnishings. The balconies offer a beautiful, serene area to watch the river from the comfort of large swinging beds. No children are permitted in the Miss Evelyn Suites.

Mr Mishak Downstairs Suites (65m sq): The same layout and facilities as Miss Evelyn Suites but situated on the ground floor with spacious terraces looking out to the gardens. Suitable for families with children.

Miss Perla Balcony Suites (previously River View Balcony) (6) and Papi Brown Downstairs Suites (previously Riverview Downstairs) (6): With sweeping views of the canals and grounds, these original refurbished rooms are the lead-in category with Queen size beds or 2 twin beds with King sized beds on request. They feature AC, ceiling fans and private balconies or terraces with seating areas.

Package basis: Full board (includes 3 meals a day, soft drinks, afternoon tea and pastries, 2 daily onsite experiences, boat transfers from and to Caño Blanco)

Excursion details:  A menu of excursions included in the ‘Tortuguero Jungle Experience’ with 2 activities a day: Motorised boat safaris into the canals of Tortuguero wildlife spotting, kayaking in Tortuguero National Park, Walking trails on Cerro Tortuguero, twilight wildlife walks, history and culture of Tortuguero Village, trails behind the lodge within their own private nature reserve.

Extra excursions include; Cacao tour and chocolate making, Turtle nesting (Jul–Oct) and hatching (Sep-Oct), full day kayaking and bird watching in Tortuguero, Atlantic Coast Fishing. Private guides are available on request (and should be booked in advance).

Rates from: 2024
Full Board:
Double Rooms from $505 per room per night (Papi Brown Downstairs) includes full board, but not transfers or excursions.

Jungle Expedition Package: Double rooms from $989 (Papi Brown Downstairs) includes shared boat transfers from and to Cano Blanco, full board, selection of onsight experiences.

2025
River Package: Double rooms from $530 (Papi Brown Downstairs)
includudes Breakfast and shared boat transfers from and to Cano Blanco

Tortuga Full Experience Package: Double rooms from $1038 (Papi Brown Downstairs) includes full board, shared boat transfers from and to Cano Blanco, 1 spa treatment per room, all shared excursions including the unique Laguna 4 – a remote boat, kayaking and commmunity based excursion – going deeper into the forest and learning from a local family of traditions and customs.

An extra $10 conservation fee per person per visit is added to each booking

For full rates see links in Gallery and Resources box below

Minimum stay: 1 night (2 nights in the Holiday Season (22.12.24 – 03.01.25)

Minimum age: N/A. Children’s rates from 3-10 years.

Dates of operation: All year

Facilities: Saline swimming pool, Bar and semi-open air restaurant with an exquisite menu, self-guided trails, WiFi, live music twice a week.

Internet: WiFi throughout

Senderos recommends: 3 nights, especially in Turtle hatching and nesting seasons.

Stories:

Senderos stories celebrate the positive impact that sustainable and regenerative tourism can bring to destinations, communities and the environment.

  • Click here to discover the insightful interview with Priscilla Murillo, Tortuga Lodge’s sustainability manager (see below).

“We have a responsibility to make sure that the locations we are in not only remain ‘pristine paradises’ but become even better through the work we do. It’s about far more than just doing less harm, it’s about creating a net-positive impact.”

Sustainability

  • Tortuga Lodge actively support the community, collaborating in as many ways as possible. This includes donating rooms and meals for local cultural and environmentally related activities such as the Local Music Festival and the local Health Fair.
  • They employ a solar energy system for heating the water in all rooms and the restaurant kitchen.
  • A high-tech system of filters and ultraviolet lights purifies water to be 100% drinkable. This system also helps eliminate the use of bottled water.
  • The swimming pool uses a system that works with regular salt instead of chlorine.
  • They use Bio-Agua, a mix of 80 different tropical microorganisms that ferments solid and liquid waste to eliminate odour, reduce solid and decontaminate the effluent runoff in the septic and grey water system.
  • Grey water produced by the lodge is treated by an Environmental Septic System, with two biodigesters that create methane gas used by the kitchen for cooking meals.
  • On their request, the Costa Rican Electric Company insulated the Lodge’s high-voltage cables to avoid the electrocution of wildlife.
  • Tortuga Lodge assists with local research programs. Bird tagging research is done every year in the reserve by Sea Turtle Conservation.
  • They privately own, protect and preserve 5.9 hectares (14.75 acres) of old forest growth and secondary growth around the lodge grounds.

 

Need to know:

  • Tortuga Lodge is the only high-end hotel option in Tortuguero, with all rooms and public areas newly refurbished with brightly coloured decor and the brand new Florentina Villa.
  • The lodge is surrounded by their own private 26-hectare nature reserve – the only one of its kind in the area.
  • One of the main attractions of Tortuguero is the Turtle nesting and hatching. The seasons are: Hatching –  September and October, Nesting – end of July – mid-September.
  • The all-inclusive package includes shared boat transfers from Caño Blanco to the Lodge. Private transfers and transfers between the Böëna Lodges can also be supplied on request.
  • The cuisine at Tortuga Lodge matches the top standards of that at Pacuare and Lapa Rios Lodges, with locally inspired dishes all made with fresh organic ingredients and served in the beautiful Green Turtle Restaurant. An extensive plant-based menu is also available here.
  • Part of the Boena Group which also includes Pacuare Lodge, Lapa Rios and Monteverde Lodge

 

Perfect for:

Families and wildlife enthusiasts, who want to discover the prolific wildlife of the water channels and beaches on the Caribbean coast.

Getting there

Road

By Road

A 3 hour journey from San Jose to Caño Blanco, followed by a 1 hour 30 minute boat transfer to the lodge (departing at 08:30am) (changed from La Pavona July 2023)

Aeroplane

By Air

A short 30 minute flight from San Jose to Tortuguero’s landing strip, 5 minutes from the lodge

Weather

It is best to be prepared for all kinds of weather. In general, expect most mornings to be sunny and clear followed by rain showers in the afternoon. During the day the weather will be hot and humid with temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s (28 – 30 C). Evenings are usually clear.

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