Tortuguero National Park is located on the remote northern Caribbean coast and is accessible only by boat or plane. We recommend travelling through banana plantations and then taking a boat through the network of waterways that penetrate the dense tropical forests, linking rivers and lagoons. Simple, but comfortable, lodges are located along the canal banks around the small town of Tortuguero, well situated for easy forest hikes or boat trips to spot monkeys, sloths, caimans and toucans. Green turtles lay their eggs on the beaches here between July and September, while leatherbacks can be seen from March to June.
The untamed coast further south has pristine tropical beaches and an easy-going ambience, and is the heart of Costa Rica's Afro-Caribbean community. Head out to explore the nearby reef or lie in a hammock, enjoying this quiet corner of the Caribbean.