How to get to Tortuguero Village Costa Rica LEONARDO Help YOU!!!!
Leonardo Estrada
Leonardo Estrada Tortuguero CR Leotortuguero@gmail.com
+506 85771685
leonardotours.wordpress.com
Here you will find a detail valuable tips and tricks to skip hawkers and over raised price increased due to commission habits on the tourism We hope to show you what is actually offered so you can make informed decisions.
How to get to Tortuguero Village Costa Rica LEONARDO Help YOU!!!!
Unfortunately, like many travel destinations, Tortuguero has its share of hawkers and touts trying to sell tours, lodging and transportation. We hope to show you what is actually offered so you can make informed decisions. Travel smart, check with other traversas to the area and seek out all your options and you should have a very enjoyable and interesting visit to one of the most fascinating places on earth. If you have any questions, suggestions or require more detail or help in communicating with one of the services listed below please contact Leonardo Estrada Cell : +506 8577-1685. Email: leotortuguero@gmail.com, www.leonardotours.wordpress.com and of course- I do not deny it – to offer you my services.
How to get to Tortuguero? The following is a summary of the options available to the independent traveller who wants to find his/her own way to Tortuguero village. These are not ALL of the ways and means to travel to Tortuguero but are the ones that are generally considered free of package-oriented or commission-paying options. Privately run companies provide practically all transport in Costa Rica. In the case of Tortuguero, only buses and planes lucrative to the travel agencies who sell them. As a result, information about independent travel has unfortunately remained somewhat of a mystery and has been erroneously referred to as very expensive and even dangerous. You will see below that travel can actually be rather inexpensive and as long as one is responsible and respectful while remembering that they are travelling in a country which is probably less developed than their own, can be interesting, safe and adventurous. This information is updated constantly due to the inevitable changes and improvements to the infrastructure of this developing country. Many travelers have commented that they would have benefited from having known more about their options before coming to Tortuguero. There are five ways an independent traveler can get to Tortuguero. Here they are in no particular order: New Express way Service to Tortuguero! Departs from San Jose 6:00 AM arriving in Tortuguero around 10:00 AM Departs from Tortuguero 2:00 PM arriving in San Jose around 6:30 AM Price: $20 each way *To reserve this service please send an email a couple of days in advance to leotortuguero@gmail.com or call Leonardo at +506 8577-1685.
1. Via public bus and boat through Cariari and La Pavona: This route requires a short introduction to eliminate some possible confusion you might encounter on the way. One source of the confusion comes from the
fact that La Pavona does not yet appear on any map. Secondly, there are two transport companies that provide the boat transport along the Suerte river to Tortuguero but this is a public service, so they operates one day each other (today Clic Clic and tomorrow Coopetraca), and the price is 1,600.00 colones each way. The boat operators use covered boats, they provide ponchos and a large plastic sheet to cover all the baggage. It is an adventure for all and generally quite safe (i.e. no white-water rafting!). La Pavona is currently the most popular route used to get into/out of Tortuguero for both locals and independent travelers, it is also the safest and very most reliable way of transportation. There is nothing complicated or dangerous about travelling on your own to Tortuguero along this route but remember and prepared to meet up with hawkers or agents. The Costa Rican Institute has received many complaints regarding false or misleading information provided by these people which you will meet up with on all the bus stations; along the way and arrival in Tortuguero. Please be aware they willl try to sell you lodging and tours. Some people have been talked out of standing reservations for lodging and tours before arriving in Tortuguero, so you have to deal with this. Don't be afraid to be firm. You are the boss and you can travel and choose your hotel and guides of your preference, and if you FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS, the non commission-paying, hard-working independent guides and services in the village will appreciate it.
Public Bus Itinerary: San Jose to CariariCaribe単os Terminal (2 hr ride)
Cariari to La Pavona (1 hr 15 min)
La Pavona to Tortuguero (1 hr ride)
6:30AM, 9AM, 10:30AM, 1PM, 3PM, 4:30PM, 6PM, 7PM
6AM, 9AM,11:30AM, 3PM
7:30AM, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM
Cariari to San Jose
La Pavona to Cariari
Tortuguero to La Pavona
5:30AM,6:30AM,7:30AM,8:30 AM,11:30AM,1PM, 3PM,5:30P
7:30AM, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM
5:30AM, 9AM, 11AM,2:45PM
Take the 9:00 am direct bus to Cariari (about $3, other departures leave at 6:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:20 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM) from the Gran Caribe単os bus terminal in San Jose. The 9:00 bus arrives at about 11:00 a.m. at the dedicated San Jose bus terminal in Cariari. You do not need to walk to Coopetraca bus station (which is about five bloks) since the Pavona bus now awaits for the buses coming from San Jose in order to pick up the tourists that go to Tortuguero. The cost for this bus ride to Tortuguero is 1000 colones; you will pay in the bus. The bus leaves to La Pavona at 11:30 AM. (There are departures also at 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM from the other bus terminal). At the end of the bus ride you will reach a big Restaurant and parking lot called Rancho La Suerte. Here, you need to go to the restaurant counter to buy the boat ticket to Tortuguero which is 1,600.00 colones, then make your way to the river where the boats are waiting. The boat departs from la Pavona at 7:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM to Tortuguero, the boat ride is about 1 hr long. The boats and buses always wait for one another. *There is an early bus that leaves Cariari at around 6:00 am for La Pavona, this route makes the 7:30 AM boat conntection to Tortuguero. The last bus for La Pavona leaves at 3:00 PM. The boats generally do not stop on the way to observe wildlife unless there is something in plain view on the river, so if you want to observe wildlife nothing beats a dedicated, slow early morning canoe tour through the water trails of the national park. There is a return boat service that leaves for La Pavona at 5:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:45 PM. These boats meet up with the buses that make the return journey from La Pavona to Cariari. The boat leaving Tortuguero at 5:30 AM makes the most efficient outbound bus connections it will connect you to the 9:00 AM bus to San Jose (bus ride is about 2 hrs) to then make your bus connection to many other destinations in the southern Caribbean, Monteverde or la Fortuna allowing you to arrive before dusk. Important Travelling information during sea turtle nesting season (Mar 1October 31):
If you are traveling on the late bus (3:00 PM Pavona bus) and would like to go on the Turtle Tour on your arrival day please reserve ahead of time by contacting us before your arrival in Tortuguero since there is a cut off time (5:00 PM) for guides to get a tour permit for you. 2. By rental car via Cariari/La Pavona: Please read the previous section for important information about this route (like buying your boat tickets etc.). You must get to La Pavona (Rancho la Suerte) for the 7:30 AM, 1:00 PM or 4:00 pm boat to Tortuguero. Here you will find secure parking for a $10.00 fee per night. Remember that La Pavona is not on any map. You may follow the route from Cariari which passes through the villages of CAMPO DOS, CUATRO ESQUINAS and PALACIOS. There are some road signs that will help you find Campo Dos and Cuatro Esquinas and La Pavona and finally Rancho La Suerte. First you will need to get to Cariari. You must first pass through Guapiles which is located on the San Jose-Limon highway. Exit to the north at the Santa Clara gasoline station just a few hundred meters east of the Burger King. At a point approximately 8.1 kilometers north of the Santa Clara Gasoline station you will reach a cross road. Turn left. Do not cross the tracks yet. Follow the train tracks west for approx. 0.7 kilometers and then turn right on the main highway (crossing the tracks) and continue north towards Cariari. Set your odometer to zero at the only gas station in Cariari (200 meters past the single lane bridge coming into town). Drive straight for 7 kilometers and turn right onto the newly paved highway. There is usually a sign here indicating Campo Dos. Follow this PAVED road with all it's twists and turns until the pavement ends after the village of Cuatro Esquinas (approximately 14.5 km after the gas station). Follow the gravel road (Do not make any turns at road junctions!) until you reach the general store ("Abast Palacio") in the tiny village of Palacios on the right (23.4 km after the gas station). You can buy cold drinks and snacks here. 50 meters after the general store is a road going off to the left. Follow this sometimes bumpy road for 5.7 km (29.1 km after the gas station) until you reach the farm called La Pavona on your left. There is one more kilometer to get to Rancho La Suerte where there is a safe parking lot for a fee ($10 per night at time of writing).
Both Coopetraca and Clic Clic's boats will be waiting (at 7:00am, 1:00pm and 4:00pm). Approximate driving time from San Jose to Cariari: 2 hours. Approximate driving time from Cariari to La Pavona: 1 hour. To reach the 1:00 pm boat you will need to leave San Jose at 9:30 am at the absolute latest. This will NOT leave time for mistakes or stops along the way if you want to have lunch etc. If you have questions about these driving directions call or write to the leotortuguero@gmail.com
3. By air: Nature Air 1-800-235-9272 / +506 2299-6000, www.natureair.com Note: Boat ride (US $8 pp.) to Tortuguero village (2 miles down the beach). Nature flies in and out of Tortuguero once per day early in the morning. The one-way fare was recently around $116.00 The rate depends on season. Please check the web sites for current prices. 4. By Lodge/private transport bus/boat (only when space available): Call one of the Tortuguero lodge or tour operators of your choice at 5:00 p.m. the night before you travel to Tortuguero. If there is space available you may be picked up at one of the San Jose hotels on their route the next morning between 6-7:00 a.m. Tell them you only need a ride to Tortuguero village. Price ranges from US $45-$100 or more per person one-way including breakfast. This is not reliable unless buying a complete package as space is often unavailable. They try to send the smallest bus/boat to accommodate their full-package clients. One of this Tour Operators is Jungle Tom Safaris +506 2221-7878 who has packages via Ca単o Blanco; also Fran and Modesto Watson offer complete packages via Moin but may provide transport only when they have space available. Call them at +506 2226-0986 or by email fvwatson@racsa.co.cr 5. Via Limon/Moin: a) By bus:
Take the 6:30 a.m. bus to Limon from the Gran Caribe bus terminal +506 2221-2596 in San Jose (no later or you may miss the boat connection in Moin). Buy the ticket one day in advance during the high season or you may not find room on this bus!. Take a taxi (US $4 for 10 km) to the JAPDEVA boat docks in Moin for the Tortuguero canals. There is bus route available to Moin as well as taxis which are charge cheap and are fast. The boat owners in Moin have formed an cooperative group, so there is a rotatory schedule organized in order to give all the captains a chance to take people to Tortuguero. Make sure your boat has all the necessary safety equipment required by Costa Rican law: lifejackets for each passenger, paddle, bailer, and a fire extinguisher. These captains speak some English and have well-trained eyes to find animals along the way. They travel on most days and provide a covered boat and ponchos. You can reserve your seat by contacting LEONARDO before you arrive to Moin +506 8577-1685, leotortuguero@gmail.com Cost: $70 US return or $35 one-way per person in a shared boat; a chartered boat may cost US $200 or more. If you arrive on time for your boat departure (10:00 a.m.) then the arrival time in Tortuguero is around 2:00 PM. Be aware that some boat captains from Moin work only with specific guides in the Tortuguero village and based on commission, guides who may not speak good English or may tell you that the guide you have been recommended no longer lives there or that they don't know them. So if you know your guide's name please insist in telling them that you have already a guide or simply don’t obey them; you will be able to go on your own and choose the hotel you would like to stay at, please notice that boat captains and guides collect commissions on the hotels they recommend. Also, remember that you can obtain the correct and updated information you need by sending in advance your request to this site, you will be put in touch with the guide you seek (or have suggested that suits the tour, language and budget desired). The return trip to Moin departs from Tortuguero at around 10:00 am. This allows you time for a second morning canoeing tour (if staying in Tortuguero for two nights and in case the first morning is rained out), and time for breakfast before leaving. You should be back in Moin before 1:00 p.m. This will give you plenty of time to get back to San Jose or down to the southern Caribbean coast during daylight hours.
Note: If you are planning on travelling only one-way along the inland waterway between Moin and Tortuguero, and, then heading up either to San Jose or the Arenal area, then you should only reserve one way and then leave Tortuguero via La Pavona – Cariari which is less expensive. You will find it more interesting travelling to Tortuguero from Moin since the boat makes more stops for wildlife viewing on the way to Tortuguero than when returning.
b) To Moin by rental car: Take Braulio Carrillo highway towards Limon leaving no later than 6:30 a.m. To get to the Moin docks leave the San Jose-Limon highway a few miles before you get to Limon. You will see the exit to Moin on the highway and on any good map. You will exit to the left after passing a gas station on your right (sign posted). Go past the oil refinery and under the only train bridge, you will immediately see an entrance on your left to a gravel road that leads to the JAPDEVA docks for TORTUGUERO. This is BEFORE you get to the huge international freight loading docks. Turn left after the big oil pipelines coming out of the ground to your left. DO NOT cross over a bridge (you will have gone too far). Just ask around once in the area and someone will tell you how to get there (JAPDEVA is pronounced "hap-DAY-vuh"). You will have to pass through a security gate. Just mention the word "Tortuguero" to the guards and they will direct you to the dock where the boats leave from. The boat captains and touts who are always there will tell you where to park the car. You'll see from the security gate that the compound is safe with 24-hour guards. You will need to pay the guards a couple of dollars per night spent in Tortuguero upon your return. See above for boat information. 6. Via rental car to the Cano Blanco Marina: This is the route some big lodges use to get to Tortuguero. Although, most of the captains and guides are under strict orders not to take on any passengers that aren't part of the package tour. It's best not to get stuck here without first having confirmed your water transportation. There are usually independent captains waiting here for people who get stranded by the second (and last) bus to Siquirres for the day or those who arrive here in a rental car having followed the enigmatic "Parque Nacional Tortuguero" street signs located on the main highway. They will either offer to take you to Tortuguero for an
amount similar to the Moin boats that travel much further or will take you to the town of Parismina a few miles south of the southern end of the Tortuguero National Park . They can take you into the National Park from Parismina which is pleasant enough but it is 25 miles from Tortuguero village and is not quite as good for viewing wildlife or the Green sea turtles during the nesting season. It is however, a better location for observing Leatherback turtles during their nesting season between March and May. Take the Limon highway as far as the town of Siquirres . Take the exit to the left before the overhead bridge into the center of town. Cross the train tracks and follow the signs to Tortuguero National Park. Drive the 37 km past the towns of El Carmen, Maryland and keep following the most travelled road to the marina called Caùo Blanco (about one hour: this is a rough road). There is secure parking at the marina. The local boats generally charge around US $100 for a pick up or drop off in Tortuguero from Cano Blanco. + OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remember to bring enough dollars or colones for your transportation, tours and lodging to Tortuguero. Please be advised there are no banks or ATM machines in Tortuguero. Traveler’s checks can only be changed locally with a hefty commission charge. Some of souvenir shops will take TC's or Visa. For those looking for TOURS while in Tortuguero, these can be arranged by asking around in the village (don't be surprised if someone not-so-innocently tells you that a recommended guide is not available). Be persistent. There are several excellent local guides who speak English or even German and French. Some of the restaurants and cabinas work based on commission so, if you would like to find a recommended guide you could go and ask at Tortuguero's Local Guides Association Information Center located next to the main dock; you could send us your request to leotortuguero@gmail.com The Tortuguero National Park charges $10 new rate after august 1first will be for children 6-12 years old $5.95 adults $16.95 fee per person for a one-day pass (this will allow you to explore any of the waterways or trails in the area). There is only one authorized trail (called "El Gavilan") located in the northern end of the National Park where you can hike on. Please be a responsible visitor and avoid going to any unofficial trail within the park limits; always try to hire the service of a local guide for this hike.
As a general rule, it is recommend to stay at least two nights in Tortuguero to take advantage of one morning canal tour (the best time of day for animal viewing) or an afternoon canal tour (if there is morning heavy rainfall). Don't miss your bus or boat connections. Travel wisely on buses and at terminals. The bus cargo compartment (under the bus) is generally safe for backpacks, hand luggage should be carried on your lap at all times; your hand luggage should never go in the overhead compartments. Bring rain gear, decent walking shoes if you plan on doing any hiking, and a flashlight for the frequent power outages. During turtle nesting season (July-October), any type of camera or videocamera are NOT allowed on the beach. Dark clothing is strongly recommended on these walks. Have a wonderful time during your stay in Tortuguero! Carpe Diem Horacio (Odas, I, 11)
Heartily Leonardo Estrada www.fb.com/lestradaf www.leonardotours.wordpress.com www.fb.com/leonardotoursadvisor