Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica: Photo Gallery

We encountered Costa Rican monsoon rains on our way to Tortuguero.

We were stuck in traffic for a long time on our way to Tortuguero. This person appears to be having a difficult time, too.

We were moving…

On our trip to Tortuguero, we also experienced a major traffic jam in which we were stuck for almost an hour in a tunnel.

The traffic driving home from Tortuguero sucked, but the landscape and flora was beautiful.

A picture of the roads on the way to the river that we’d travel on to Tortuguero.

We didn’t pack much on our trip to Tortuguero, and rented a car from a “friend.”

There were tour buses at the dock to go to Tortuguero.

Two tour buses parked outside a shelter near Tortuguero.

The waiting area on the way to Tortuguero.

Another tour bus near to Tortuguero.

The restaurant at Rio Suerte near La Pavona. Down the hill from this restaurant, the boat disembarks for Tortuguero.

Television in the Tortuguero waiting area.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Walking down to the boat where some other people were just getting back from Tortuguero.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Walking toward the river boat we took to Tortuguero.

The flat topped river boat at Rio Suerte that arrived at 12:30 PM. We were the first on board this boat which was headed for Tortuguero National Park. The boat ride was about 1 hour and 15 minutes long.

View from the boat to Tortuguero.

A quick selfie on the boat to Tortuguero. Life vests were provided (they were orange).

The tropical environments we saw on the way to Tortuguero were a lot to take it.

The river on the way to Tortuguero.

This photo captures the feel of the river boat to Tortuguero and back pretty well, I think. The boat trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Tortuguero to La Pavona/Rio Suerte.

There were all sorts of sights to see on the way to Tortuguero…

Cows on the way to Tortuguero.

More cows on the way to Tortuguero.

Yet another picture of cows on the way to Tortuguero.

A better view of the stacked bags on the way to Tortuguero.

Arriving at Tortuguero.

Arriving at Tortuguero.

Arriving at Tortuguero… The pink building was a bar.

When we arrived at Tortuguero, the boat was pulled in to shore so we were able to disembark wtihout getting our feet wet.

There were some people waiting to get on our boat to leave Tortuguero.

One of the streets in Tortuguero.

Another view of Tortuguero.

A playground in Tortuguero. The humidity created a rust situation.

A house in Tortuguero.

Houses in Tortuguero.

A view of Tortuguero village. Note that the streets are sidewalks because there are no cars in this village.

Another plant lined street in Tortuguero.

A vibrantly painted house in Tortuguero.

The main drag in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.

There are no cars in Tortuguero, so “streets” like this are possible.

A selfie in Tortuguero (the obligatory selfie…)

This little stretch of the Tortuguero village walkway looks relatively deserted, but beyond the foliage are some weathered houses up on stilts.

View of Tortuguero village from the river.

This is a view to the left right after disembarking from the boat along the main/only path through Tortuguero village.

This scary-looking logging machinery is located adjacent to the children’s dilapidated playground in Tortuguero village.

The outdoor area of our hotel in Tortuguero was pleasant and included a little sitting area.

The room at Casa Marabella was basic, but very clean. The beds were comfortable and the water was hot.

The family room that sleeps up to 5 people at Casa Marabella was very clean and the staff was English-speaking and very friendly. The hotel also offered a healthy breakfast in the morning. We were able to warm food in a microwave in their kitchen as well.

The fan in our hotel room in Tortuguero.

Some preening before we went out to explore Tortuguero…

We took a nap in our hotel in Tortuguero before we went looking for turtles on the beach.

We went looking for turtles while we were in Tortuguero.

This was Jennifer’s view out of the boat from Tortuguero to Rio Suerte the morning after our sea turtle tour.

Another selfie on the river boat leading to Tortuguero.

The river leading to Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Walking on the shore going back from Tortuguero.

Sitting on our boat before leaving Tortuguero.

The vibrant colored buildings in Tortuguero were unique.

Leaving Tortuguero.

Leaving Tortuguero.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Leaving Tortuguero.

Looking back at Tortuguero.

Two men stand at the prow of the river boat on the way back from Tortuguero.

One of the drivers on our boat from Tortuguero works with a barrel.

There were quite a few tree branches on the river leaving Tortuguero.

Back on the river again, heading back home to Atenas from Tortuguero.

Leaving Tortuguero.

Leaving Tortuguero.

Leaving Tortuguero.

We passed some boats like ours on the way back from Tortuguero.

On our way back from Tortuguero, we had a different set up bags in the front of the boat.

On the other side of the river was a little shack where someone lived near to Tortuguero…

Another view of the shack near Tortuguero.

The waiting area where we parked our car while waiting for the boat to Tortuguero.

Lydian and John walking back to the restaurant after the river ride back from Tortuguero National Park. Note the big bus sitting there. Most of the tourists climbed into the bus to go back to San Jose.

Another view of the area where we waited for the boat to Tortuguero.

Food options at the waiting area to go to Tortuguero.

A view from the area where we waited for the boat to Tortuguero.

A drawing of Tortuguero village. The disco bar was the main attraction for many of the tourists who arrived by boat with us in the afternoon.

This was a drawing of my impression of what we would be going to do at Tortuguero National Park. I desperately hoped it would be more interesting than this, and thankfully, it was.

One of Jennifer’s drawings from our trip to Tortuguero.