Tortuguero is the “Caribbean Amazon” — a maze of jungle canals on Costa Rica’s northeast coast, famous for nesting sea turtles and reachable only by boat or plane. With no roads in, getting there is a real part of the trip planning. Here is how to do it.
The standard way: bus and boat
The overland route means a drive from San José to a launch point such as La Pavona or Moín, then a public or lodge boat through the canals. It is scenic but adds up to a half-day or more in each direction, with fixed boat departure times to work around.
The fast way: fly
A charter from San José to Tortuguero (TTQ) is about 35 minutes — $1,235 for the aircraft (~$247 per seat for five) — replacing a bus-and-boat day with a short, low-altitude flight straight over the rainforest and canals. You arrive with the whole day still ahead of you.
What to do once there
- Canal boat safaris for caimans, river otters, monkeys and abundant birds.
- Sea-turtle nesting walks — green turtles come ashore roughly July to October.
- Kayaking the quieter lagoons at dawn.
- Visiting Tortuguero village and the sea-turtle conservation centre.
When to go
Turtle nesting peaks July to October, and the Caribbean side is often at its driest around September — a great window when the Pacific is wettest. See the best time to visit. Bring rain gear regardless; it is rainforest year-round.
Plan your flight
Tortuguero pairs well with a few nights on the southern Caribbean afterwards. Request a flight to lock in your dates, or ask us on WhatsApp.
The Charter Advantage for Your Costa Rica Journey
Private charter flights deliver logistics that scheduled airlines cannot match. Departing from SJO or SYQ, charter flights reach any Costa Rican destination in under 2 hours with flexible scheduling. This flexibility is especially valuable when combining activities across regions or managing group travel.