Are you traveling to Costa Rica soon? A place not to be missed is Tortuguero, the only place in the world that the endangered Green Turtle lays its eggs.
Tortuguero, located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, is a paradise set deep within the lush jungle. Arrival is made only by boat. You will travel a mellow canal for a few hours, stopping along the way at small local shops, if so desired. When arriving in the small village of 500, it feels like stepping back in time. There are no cars and only small foot paths interlinking the various establishments and locals’ homes. The villagers are very welcoming and friendly and are a wonderful source of information for the local flora and fauna.
The accommodations vary from a normal hotel room to a grass hut. The grass huts are quaint little rooms outfitted with comfortable beds and running showers. A special touch to the grass huts is the sound of Howler Monkeys howling into the night. It sounds as if Godzilla might be just outside the door.
The food in town is delicious. All ingredients are fresh and the dishes homemade. When stepping into the local restaurant it is like walking into the house of a new friend. The chefs are known to take the time and get to know their tourist clientele. The local favorite of beans and rice is the freshest and tastiest throughout my travels in Costa Rica.
There are guide services in town that will take you on different types of tours:
• You can experience “up close and personal” canoe or boat tours through the canals. It is common to see many different types of animals by boat such as White Faced, Spider and Howler monkeys and crocodiles.
• Walk the beach at night and observe the Green Turtle coming ashore to lay its eggs or the babies crawling out of the sand and starting their new life.
The guides are a wealth of knowledge and are well worth the money spent. It is amazing to watch a guide throw a piece of food in the water and the entire food chain come alive. They are also great for pointing out various animals stealthily hiding behind plant life.
If flying into San Jose you can take the Grey Line bus, hire a taxi, rent a car (it’s about a three to four hour drive) or fly. There are travel agencies in the city of San Jose that can assist you in the connections needed and provide information on the various accommodations.