Caribbean North

Discover Caribbean North

Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica’s Northern Caribbean is a watery world of canals and rivers that in the past were used and exploited for logging. In the 1950s the logging ceased because the resource ran out and since then, nature has made an astonishing comeback. Gliding along the riverways on the way in to Tortuguero, you would be forgiven for thinking you’re travelling past unspoiled primary rainforest. In fact the dense, diverse and lush growth has regenerated since the 1950s into today’s splendour.

Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica’s best and most species-diverse areas and should definitely be on the short list if you are a nature lover. Costa Rica’s nature guides have a supernatural ability to spot the wildlife you’re here to see. Named after the visiting turtles, there’s a chance to see turtles nesting and hatching from March all the way through to November. Stay fully-catered in comfortable lodges in Tortuguero, and explore this world under the expert guidance of the resident guiding team.

Climate: The tropical rainforests of Tortuguero are likely to be warm, wet and humid year-round, though there’s a chance that February, March and September are slightly less-wet.

The area of Sarapiqui is also within this warm and humid Caribbean climate zone. It’s well inland but low in altitude, around 50m above sea level. Sparsely populated and agricultural, the area is well known for white water river sports opportunities at every level of expertise but there are also important wildlife reserves and refuges. Here’s a great opportunity to see many birds, amphibians and mammals. Visit Tirimbina reserve for a guided night walk, where there’s tarantulas, toads and frogs (including species of poison dart frogs), sloths, porcupines, and many other species. By day, Tirimbina’s also a great place to walk the primary rainforest trails and to learn about chocolate production from cacao tree seed to the chocolate we know today. Elsewhere nearby, keen birders might like an early morning birdwatching tour at La Selva biological station.

Climate: Sarapiqui is slightly less warm, less wet, and less humid than the Caribbean coast. However this is still tropical rain forest with the “less-wet season” between December and April.