The 14 Best Tortuguero Tours & Canal Trips

1.Small-Group Tortuguero National Park Night Walk in Costa Rica

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $28Our pick

Meet at 6:30 pm near Tortuguero’s main wharf for a two-hour night walk with a naturalist guide. You may spot sloths, frogs, toucans, iguanas, and snakes as your guide scans the forest with a flashlight. Warren and Diego have earned praise for sharp wildlife spotting. Boots, shoes, raincoats, and transport are not included.

“This was a good tour. Saw sleeping sloths A pair of snakes breeding and other things. Walked the beach hoping for a leatherback as one was seen the previous week. Just starting to return to the nesting area.”

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2.Canoe tour dentro del Parque

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $28

Meet Tortuguero Adventures at 6:00 am for a three-hour canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park. A multilingual guide helps you spot caimans, howler monkeys, and tropical birds. Binoculars, ponchos, and paddles are included. The group is limited to 10 people, though park and canoe admission fees cost extra.

“Die Tour war von Anfang bis Schluss perfekt. Sehr einfache und freundliche Kommunikation mit Carmen. Die Tour startete pünktlich um 6.00 Uhr - davor gab es noch Kaffee und Tee. Der Guide war perfekt - er erklärte uns alles im Detail und nahm sich die Zeit alle Fragen zu beantworten. Wir sahen super viele Tiere.”

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3.Adventure Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $25

You paddle a non-motorized canoe through Tortuguero National Park for about two hours with an accredited guide and up to five other people. Guides such as Leroy, Norton, and Eric have helped guests spot monkeys, sloths, caimans, toucans, basilisk lizards, green macaws, and other wildlife. Bring rain protection and budget for the $17 park ticket.

“We had a good time with Leroy and saw quite a few different birds and two caymans despite the bad weather. Overall it was a nice tour that I don't regret, but I do have to dock at least 1 star: all the other passengers spoke Spanish, so Leroy was switching between Spanish and English, but clearly said a lot more in Spanish — it was practice for me but still a bit annoying at times. Other than that, all of us paddled since the boat had no motor — I think it was a nice experience, but it's definitely not for everyone and I got quite wet due to…”

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4.Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $45

Start at 6:00 am in Tortuguero for a three-hour guided kayak trip through the national park’s canals. Christian, Jordan, or another guide points out monkeys, caiman, sloths, birds, turtles, and more. Kayak gear is provided, but you’ll need to pay the park entrance fee separately.

“The booking and the contact with Tortuguero Adventures was quick and easy. Emanuel the owner made sure to explain the procedure of booking a ticket to the National Park. The tour took place early in the morning and they welcomed the group with tea and coffee and cookies. During the tour Christian the guide took the time to explain about the geography and the wildlife of Tortoguero, he knew exactly where to look for the animals and was very open and informativ and answered all the questions I had. He himself had inspiring stories and I could quite quickly understand he really loves the park and the wildlife and enjoys…”

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5.Canoe tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Join guide Hugo at 6:00 am for a 2.5-hour canoe or kayak trip through Tortuguero National Park’s canals. You’ll search the water and trees for caimans, crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and birds. The group is limited to eight people, though park entry is not included.

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6.Turtle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $33

From July through October, a guide such as Carlos, Bernie, or Luis leads you onto Tortuguero’s beach after dark to watch sea turtles arrive, lay eggs, cover the nest, and return to the ocean. Expect park-controlled timing, a walk on uneven sand, mosquitoes, and no guarantee of a particular turtle. The guide is included, but park admission is extra.

“Das Nesting selbst war sehr beeindruckend. Unsre Gruppe allerdings sehr groß und unser Guide Carlos hat wenig übe die Schildkrötn erzáhlt. Man musste konkrete Fragn an ihn richten, von sich aus hat er nicht erzählt. Vor Ort kreisen dann 5Read more”

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7.Turtle Nesting night Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Walk into Tortuguero National Park after dark with a bilingual guide such as Leonardo, Manuel, or Luis. In a group of up to 10, you may watch a green turtle lay eggs, compact them, hide the nest, or return to sea. The tour lasts about two hours, costs $37, and forbids phones, cameras, and bright lights near the turtles.

“We were fortunate to see 2 turtles nesting AND baby turtles emerging all in one evening. But making the experience even better was our guide, Manuel, who explained everything with knowledge and enthusiasm.”

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8.3-hour canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Paddle through Tortuguero National Park for about three hours with guides such as Pablo or Abel. The small-group canoe trip looks for birds, crocodiles, caimans, monkeys, snakes, and plants along the canals. Canoe, paddles, life vest, and guide materials are included, but park entry costs $17 extra.

“Abel was a great guide. Very knowledgable, excited to show us the amazing wildlife. We saw an American crocodile, caiman, many birds, a vine snake, white faced capuchin monkeys and much more. Fantastic experience.”

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9.Observation of Turtles in their Natural Habitat in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $40

Walk Tortuguero’s trails after dark with a guide such as Luis or Carmen, wait at designated posts, then approach the beach when permitted. You may see green turtles emerge, lay more than 100 eggs, cover the nest, and camouflage it. The tour lasts about two hours, costs $40 per person, and allows no cameras or phones on the beach.

“Una muy buena experiencia. Uno no se puede ir de Tortuguero sin hacer la actividad de avistamiento de tortugas”

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10.Canoe Boat Tour in Tortuguero Canal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Explore Tortuguero’s rainforest canals by canoe with Sunbittern Nature Tours. Expect about three and a half hours on the water, a maximum of eight people, ponchos, life jackets, and careful wildlife spotting. Guides such as Adrian know how to ease into narrow channels and find quiet places where animals hide. The Tortuguero National Park ticket costs an extra $16.95.

“Fantastic time seeing the canals and the nature of Tortuguero! Adrian was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and its nature and helped us to get through narrow canals to see the best nature and hidden spots. He had a great sense of humour as well. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone going to Tortuguero… ask for Adrian!”

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11.Canoe experience exploring Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Andrew for about two and a half hours on Tortuguero’s waterways, using a canoe or small boat, oars and a life vest. Look for caiman, sloths and birds while learning about the park’s nature, culture and history. The group is limited to six people. Park entry, costing about $15 to $17, is extra.

“Andrews told us a lot about the animals we saw during the tour. We saw caiman, sloth, several birds (including a very rare herron). It was raining a little bit, but Andrews still found the animals.”

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12.Small Group Tortuguero National Park Canoe Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Meet at 5:30am for coffee, tea, biscuits, and fruit before paddling Tortuguero National Park by canoe. Guide Kevin explains the rainforest and its wildlife as you move quietly through the canals. The tour lasts about two hours, carries no more than 10 people, and includes binoculars and a dry-bag. The $16.95 park fee is extra.

“Guiden Kevin, kunnig och otroligt mycket positiv energi. Vi hade hoppats på att få se fler och större kajmaner och apor. Mycket fokus på fåglar.”

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13.Relaxing Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Paddle quietly through Tortuguero National Park with Green Tours and a local guide, often starting between 6:00 and 9:00 AM. The canoe carries no more than seven people, giving you a calm way to watch wildlife from the park’s creeks and lagoons. Guide Johnatan, also called John, is noted for his professional approach.

“great canoe tour in the early morning. we saw beautifull animals and out guide Johnatan or John was very Professional”

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14.The best of Tortuguero: Canoe, hike and night tour (turtle in Jul-Oct)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $101

Start before sunrise with a canoe through Tortuguero National Park, hike at 11 a.m., then join a night wildlife tour or, from July to October, a turtle tour at 8 or 10 p.m. Guides may include Andre, Juancito, Cloied, Norton, or Israel. Small groups are capped at 10, with binoculars, ponchos, cushions, and life jackets supplied.

“Had good time and guide was good & very informative, local & knowledgeable places & animals. All three activities are good.”

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