Travel to Tortuguero in Costa Rica

The small well hidden destination of Tortuguero in Costa Rica is known as turtle's paradise. Turtles from all over come to nest in Tortuguero each year. There are many things to do around the little village of Tortuguero and it caters to families in many ways.

Turtle tours is a great activity that lets you see many varieties of turtles including the loggerhead, green sea turtles and the "Giant Leatherback" among many others. Giant sea turtles usually lay their eggs somewhere between April and October on the beach. Tortuguero has always been one of the primary Atlantic nesting areas for green turtles. The turtle tours are almost every night and they are very cheap for families to attend.

Costa Rica is known for its extensive walking trails and occasional rain shower, Taking pictures is strictly forbidden on the beach and the beach always has security personnel monitoring the preservation of the turtle and protecting their well being. In order to go on the turtle tour and turtle nesting beach you must be accompanied by a registered tour guide. It is important to remember that while visiting the turtle beach nesting area, preserving the turtles habitat is key in protection of the turtles and continued survival of many of the species. If while going you see anyone digging up turtle nests before the baby turtles before they have hatched, you should promptly it to the proper authorities immediately. Handling turtle eggs or nests can significantly put the turtles at risk for being harmed.

The Tortuguero National Park is another favorite destination area in Tortuguero and a hiring a natural guide can make sure to take any family on a really unique wildlife experience. Wildlife in the park consists of sloths, monkeys and iguanas, however occasionally in some waterways you will be able to see up close manatees. The Barra del Colorado is an anglers dream with many fishing full or half day excursions. Barra del Colorado may be well-known for many things especially tarpon fishing.

Tortuguero is a small village but is virtually circled by many canals and rivers. Canal tours give all visitors including families a chance at seeing all that Costa Rica has to offer. Costa Rica has almost every animal species imaginable including caiman, iguanas, tropical birds and of course plenty of monkeys. Costa Rica is also known for it beautiful landscapes and scenery including exotic flora. Canal tours can be taken by small boat, kayak or in canoes.

Tortuguero Hill is on the Caribbean region of the country and anyone wishing to walk the Tortuguero area should hire a personal tour guide. Hiking around Tortuguero is a blast there are plenty of spectacular things to see and typically the hikes take approximately two hours in order to complete. It is important to remember however if you are taking your family to plan for possible rain showers and dig in if the hill gets slippery and muddy. The top things to remember is however to bring bug repellent and to always follow your guide and stay on the well traveled paths.

The visitor's center at the far end of the village has a small Tortuguero and Costa Rica museum, the museum can enlighten you about the turtles habitat and nesting areas., as well as many of the other species. In order to visit the museum, everyone is asked to make a donation however it is quite small and is said to reflect an entrance fee. It is also best to tip everyone from your guides to local craftsmen since they make very little in wages.

The Caribbean architecture is exquisite and the artwork surrounding the entire village is breathtaking and unique in itself. The artwork is indicative of the local people and the culture, as well as providing you a true appreciation of Costa Rica's history and how the country has progressed over the years.

Although many people try and discourage swimming there are some things that anyone wishing to swim should know including being aware that Costa Rica is well known for strong currents, sharks are often found in Costa Rica's deep water and anyone swimming should apply sunscreen often. The best advice is to go with local guides because they can tell you about the local waters and what to watch for.

Although Costa Rica is known for many tourism sites and attractions, Tortuguero provides a very laid back atmosphere and backdrop for any family looking to take in the sites while staying off the beaten path of the main tourism areas of Costa Rica. Tortuguero is well known for having plenty of small quaint, very cheap lodging avenues including many that include meals and other amenities. The lodging isn't much to look at but it is clean and the people are very kind. Food prices are very cheap and range from Costa Rican cuisine to many American cuisine staples such as the "BLT" or bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich.

I truly loved everything about Costa Rica and spent a lot of my time walking the paths around the beaches and through the small village areas such as Tortuguero. As well as visiting the turtle beach area and learning the local culture from the villagers. Many villagers sale goods and share with visitors many different forms of local arts and crafts.

References for this article include: www.therealcostarica.com/living_in_costa_rica/retire_in_costa_rica.html
www.tortugueroinfo.com/usa/sea_turtles_tortuguero.htm
costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Tortuguero.html
www.travelingcostarica.com/travel/costa-rica/turtles.htm