Attraction in Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park was declared on September 24th 1970 and its limits have been modified on three occasions (1980, 1995 and 1998) in order to incorporate more territory. Its extension has increased from 64,701.45 to 76,937 hectares. Of these, 50,284 are marine and 26,653 are terrestrial.
In the case of terrestrial area, 99% is used for absolute protection of resources and 1% as site visitation. The marine area is dedicated to 100% absolute conservation.
Tortuguero National Park (TNP) is located northeast of Costa Rican territory and is one of the main tourist icons of Costa Rica since it is internationally recognized for protecting the most important green turtles nesting beach in the Western Hemisphere.
Away from the city and made up by an extensive network of rivers and canals, the access is possible only through small boats: this way the Tortuguero National Park is, a place unlike any other; where small communities surrounding Protected Wilderness Area, as Barra del Tortuguero and San Francisco, still retain their traditions and also enjoy the benefit of having the bicycle as their main transportation method, making the travel a true encounter with Caribbean culture.
TNP is a paradise for research and ecotourism, the ecosystems of the area are so complex and diverse that visitors can expect anything in the routes, passing from calm to find any species of flora and fauna of Costa Rican Caribbean.
Weather:
At TNP humid tropical forest and very humid tropical forest predominate. The annual average precipitation reaches 19.6 feet (6,000 mm). The highest rainfall months are July and December, the least rain are March, April and October. The annual average temperature ranges between 77 Fahrenheit (25 ° C) and 86 Fahrenheit (30 ° C). The heat, humidity and rain are companions on the journey.
Ecological importance:
• Protect nesting beaches for 4 sea turtles species: Green (Chelonia mydas), Baula (leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea), Carey (Hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata), Cabezona (loggerhead, Caretta caretta).
• Protects important populations of endangered species.
• Protects the habitat of the manatee (Manati, Trichechus manatus), which is one of the most rare and endangered mammals in Costa Rica.
• Protects the habitat of the largest felines in America. Tortuguero has one of the largest populations of Costa Rica and a consolidated research program.
• Protects the ecosystem called Yolillal (Raphia taedigera)
Flora and fauna (identified to date):
• 734 plant species.
• 442 bird species.
• 138 mammal species (101 genera y 32 families).
• 118 reptile species (76 genera y 22 families).
• 58 amphibian’s species (27 genera y 11 families).
• 460 anthropoid’s species.
70301 Siquirres, Tortuguero Costa Rica
(506) 2522-6500
Monday6:00am – 3:30pm
Tuesday6:00am – 3:30pm
Wednesday6:00am – 3:30pm
Thursday6:00am – 3:30pm
Friday6:00am – 3:30pm
Saturday6:00am – 3:30pm
Sunday6:00am – 3:30pm