2-Day Tortuguero Tour: Night Jungle, Canoe & Turtle Spawning

Walk the jungle after dark, paddle calm canals at dawn, watch Green Turtles nest on the beach

A 2-day tour of Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast combines three distinct wildlife experiences: a night hike through the forest with a certified guide, a canoe journey through the park's canal system, and (July to October) a guided beach walk to witness Green Turtle spawning. A bilingual guide, lifevest and lanterns are included. The park entrance fee applies to the canoe day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Night jungle tour

• Night hike in Tortuguero National Park
• Observe nocturnal wildlife

Day 2: Canoe and turtle spawning tour

• Canoe tour through Tortuguero canals
• Observe wildlife from canoe
• Guided night walk to see turtle spawning

The experience

The first night you walk Tortuguero National Park's forest trails after sunset, when the jungle shifts into a different rhythm. Sloths, snakes, armadillos, frogs and nocturnal birds emerge in the dark: species you won't see during daylight hours. A certified local guide leads the 2-hour hike with lanterns, pointing out animals in their natural habitat and explaining how the forest operates when most visitors are asleep. This is not a casual stroll. The guide's job is to help you spot what's actually there, not to narrate a script.

Day two splits into two parts. The canoe tour navigates the calm canals that thread through Tortuguero National Park, starting from the main pier. From the water, you move quietly past alligators, river turtles, monkeys and tropical birds without the noise and disturbance of a larger boat. The 2-hour paddle gives you a privileged vantage: low to the water, slow enough to watch animals behave naturally. After the canoe, the second activity depends on the season. July through October, a guided night walk takes you to the beach to witness Green Turtle spawning, one of the most visually arresting natural events in Central America. November through June, you hike the national park trails with an expert guide instead, moving through the tropical forest in daylight to observe fauna in total freedom.

The tour runs across two days and two nights, so you'll need accommodation in Tortuguero village (not included). Bring insect repellent for the night hikes and wear closed shoes. The forest floor is uneven and wet. The bilingual guide speaks English and Spanish, and you'll wear a lifevest during the canoe portion. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• lifevest for the canoe portion.
• lanterns for the night hikes.
• the 2-hour night jungle walk, the 2-hour canoe tour through the park canals, and the 2-hour turtle spawning walk (July–October) or national park trail hike (November–June).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 24

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Solangie's Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine nocturnal jungle wildlife, daytime paddling through canals, and (July–October) turtle nesting. Three separate two-hour experiences you can fit into a single trip.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals will I actually see on the night jungle walk?

Sloths, snakes, armadillos, frogs and nocturnal birds are the species most commonly spotted during the 2-hour forest hike after sunset. The guide uses lanterns to locate them in the dark, and what you see depends on the night: the jungle doesn't perform on schedule, so every hike is different.

Is the canoe tour suitable if I've never paddled before?

You're not paddling. You're a passenger in a canoe guided by the operator through the Tortuguero canals. The water is calm and the pace is slow, designed for wildlife observation rather than speed or physical effort. A lifevest is provided and required.

When can I see the turtle spawning, and what happens if I visit outside that window?

Green Turtle spawning runs July through October, and the guided night beach walk is part of the tour only during those months. November through June, you do a guided hike through Tortuguero National Park trails instead, observing monkeys, sloths, reptiles and birds in the daytime forest.

How much time do I spend in the water versus on land?

The canoe tour is 2 hours on the water. The night jungle walk is 2 hours on forest trails. The spawning tour or daytime park hike is 2 hours on the beach or forest trails. You're in the canoe once. The other two activities are on foot.

Do I need to arrange my own accommodation in Tortuguero?

Yes, lodging is not included in the tour. Tortuguero village has hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of the main pier where the canoe departs. Public transportation options are available to reach the village if you're arriving from elsewhere on the coast.