Tortuguero Rainforest Family Expedition
4 Days and 3 Nights
Letter Codes: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Pick Up to Tortuguero National Park (L,D)
Early morning transfer from your pick up point to Tortuguero National Park.
Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle,
the Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest
in Central America. Eleven habitats are found in the park. 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 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 Purplethroated Fruitcrow.
You and your family will have the opportunity to observe these and more species
during your boat rides through the backwater creeks of Tortuguero National Park.
Depending on your pick up point, your transfer will involve a van ride followed by a
boat into the park, or, if you’re coming from San Jose and have chosen to fly, it will
involve a 35-minute flight.
Upon arrival at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, you may schedule additional tours (at
additional cost) or walk in the gardens, hike the trails behind the lodge, play in the
riverside swimming pool or slip into a hammock set between the Tropical Rainforest
and the Tortuguero River.
For children, there is a guided garden walk every afternoon from 2:30-3:30pm,
followed by fishing from the dock with live bait caught by the children with the
assistance of their Tortuguero Naturalist Guide.
Dinner and overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, River View Downstairs Terrace
Room.
Traveling July - September?
Ask us about adding a Turtle Nesting Expedition to your package
Day 2: Tortuguero (BLD)
Morning in Tortuguero National Park: After breakfast, leave the lodge by boat
(shared with other guests) with your Tortuguero Naturalist Guide to explore the
creeks of Tortuguero National Park. The morning hours are especially active in the
rain forest, when wildlife is hungry and in search of their energy source for the day.
It's not uncommon to find troops of Howler monkeys in search of tender young figs
or the leaves of the Monkey Plum tree. You might even encounter River Otter
hunting. The Northern Jacana is often perched on an island of Water Hyacinth
looking for insects and miniature shrimp and the caiman is quietly waiting for its
next meal to swim by.
Your guide will describe the lives of these unique tropical species, pass on unique or
strange evolutionary traits and teach your children how to spot movement in the
forest.
This tour is a three-hour trip into the back water lagoons and creeks of Tortuguero
National Park. Your boat is equipped with an ice chest with water and if you'd like to
have additional beverages in the boat you can ask your guide to stock the ice chest
with your favorite drinks (at additional cost). The time of your scheduled tour may
change depending on weather conditions and occupancy.
Return to the lodge in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, your Tortuguero Guide will take you on a tour of the Village of
Tortuguero. Today the town has a population of approximately 1500. The first
inhabitants of the area were the Zambo-Miskito Indians and escaped slaves; they
controlled the entire Caribbean coast raiding cacao plantations and hunting turtle.
Late afternoon, return to the lodge where you’ll have time to walk in the gardens,
hike the trails behind the lodge, play in the river side infinity swimming pool or slip
into a hammock set between the Tropical Rainforest and the Tortuguero River.
For children, there is a guided garden walk every afternoon from 2:30-3:30pm,
followed by fishing from the dock with live bait caught by the children with the
assistance of their Tortuguero Naturalist Guide.
Dinner and overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, River View Downstairs Terrace
Room.
Day 3: Tortuguero (BLD)
After breakfast, leave the lodge by boat with your Tortuguero Naturalist Guide and
your kayaks to the entrance of Caño Chiquero or Caño Mora. Kayaking gives you a
new perspective of the rainforest; these creeks are designated for non-motorized
boats only.
Your guide will unload the kayaks and help you get your life jacket and your kayak
seat adjusted so that you can paddle the back water creeks and lagoons of
Tortuguero National Park in safety and comfort.
We offer double and single sit-on-top kayaks, so parents can ride in tandem with
younger children or separately when children are older and want to try paddling solo.
There is no need to have previous kayaking experiences, your Tortuguero Naturalist
Guide will give you a full safety briefing and paddling instruction before your tour
begins. He will be with you the whole time to interpret, spot wildlife and insure
that you are all having fun.
Kayaking gives you a whole new perspective of the rainforest, from this position you
become the river, look up to see what the rainforest canopy looks like if you're a river
otter swimming in the creek, scan the understory of the forest and imagine foraging
for seeds that are hidden there.
Close your eyes and listen to the sun dried seed pod of the Gavilan tree burst
making a gunshot sound and dispersing its seeds, the call of the Chestnut
Mandibled toucan in the distance and the sound of Spider monkeys crashing
through the trees.
After two hours of paddling, you and your guide will pack up your gear and return to
the lodge in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, join The Words Adventure Program, where your family will have the
opportunity to help local kids learn English and perhaps play an impromptu soccer
match.
For children in Costa Rica nothing beyond the Three R's in their own language is as
valuable for them to learn as English. Young adults with a working knowledge of
English have vastly more opportunities than their mono-lingual peers. This is
especially important in Tortuguero where tourism is the largest source of
employment. Yet in Tortuguero the majority of children grow-up without learning
English.
Late afternoon, return to the lodge where you’ll have time to walk in the gardens,
hike the trails behind the lodge, play in the river side infinity swimming pool or slip
into a hammock set between the Tropical Rainforest and the Tortuguero River.
Day 4: Tortuguero to Drop Off (B)
After breakfast, transfer (shared with other guests) to your drop off point.
Pick Up and Drop Off Points
We pick up and drop off at hotels in any of the following areas, so you can work
Tortuguero into the flow of your Costa Rica itinerary:
 Metropolitan area San Jose (4 Hour van, 1-hour boat)
 Arenal Volcano Region (4.5 - 5-hour van, 1-hour boat)
 Sarapiqui (2-hour van, 1-hour boat)
 Puerto Viejo or Cahuita (4-hour van, 1-hour boat)
From San Jose we offer transportation via either a small charter plane (25-minute
flight), or a combination of van and boat. You choose. There is no cost difference
between the two. Van transfers from San Jose are with Costa Rica Expeditions.
Transfers from Arenal, Sarapiqui or Puerto Viejo/Cahuita are with shuttle
transportation companies that normally pick-up and drop off at several hotels before
embarking on the journey. They use a hub system, so you may change to a vehicle
specific to your destination halfway through the trip.
The driver will be Spanish speaking, and it’s important to keep in mind that this
transfer will not be accompanied by sightseeing or wildlife stops. We offer private
transfers with our vans and drivers at considerable additional cost. Let us know if
you want a quote.