Tortuguero canoe tour, hike & night wildlife: 4 activities

Four separate 2-hour tours let you mix and match what you want to see in the park.

This tour in Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast offers four distinct 2-hour activities: a canoe paddle through the canals to spot wildlife, a daytime forest hike with a certified guide, a night walk to observe nocturnal animals and nesting turtles (July to October), and a climb to Cerro, a 119-meter volcano viewpoint overlooking the coast. A bilingual guide, lifevest and spotlights are included. You choose which activities to combine for your day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tortuguero National Park

• Start canoe tour at main pier
• Observe wildlife on canoe tour
• Hike trails with certified guides
• Visit Mirador Cerro viewpoint
• Join night tour or turtle spawning

The experience

The canoe tour starts at the main pier and takes you into the park's canal system, where alligators, river turtles, monkeys and birds move through the water and trees. The guide navigates while you sit and watch, a setup that works for anyone who wants wildlife without hiking. If you go at night instead, available November through June, the forest comes alive with insects, reptiles, bats and birds that only emerge after dark. From July to October, the night walk becomes a turtle spawning tour, where you can witness green turtles nesting on the beach.

The daytime hike takes certified guides into the park's trail system, where they explain the forest's biodiversity and the park's history as you walk. Cerro Tortuguero, the viewpoint tour, climbs a small dormant volcano formed 1.8 billion years ago to reach the highest point on the Caribbean coast: a 119-meter rise with views across the region. Each activity runs 2 hours, so you can book one, two or more depending on how much time you have and what draws you most.

A bilingual guide leads whichever tours you choose. Lifevests and spotlights (for the night walk) are provided. Transportation to Cerro by boat is included when you book that tour. The operator notes that infants must sit on an adult's lap during the canoe tour, and the experience is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• lifevest for canoe tours.
• spotlights for night walks.
• boat transportation to Cerro volcano.

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 100

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Solangie's tour, from the main pier of Tortuguero, walk 200 meters south, this is towards the national park. The meeting point has a sign with the name Solangie's tour.”

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

Paid on siteUS$ 33

Prices and times updated 4 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?Each activity is 2 hours, so you can fit one into a morning or afternoon, or combine two or three if your schedule allows a longer day in the park. The canoe tour works for anyone who prefers to stay seated; the hikes suit those who want to walk the forest; and the night tour and Cerro climb each offer something the daytime activities don't.

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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 see on the canoe tour through Tortuguero?

The canoe tour passes alligators, river turtles, monkeys and a wide variety of birds as you navigate the park's canal system from the main pier. The guide spots them from the water while you remain seated in the canoe.

Can I see nesting sea turtles on this tour?

Yes, but only during the turtle spawning tour, which runs from July to October. The night walk becomes a spawning tour in those months, where you can witness green turtles nesting on the beach. Outside that season, the night tour focuses on nocturnal insects, reptiles, bats and birds.

How high is Cerro and what will I see from the top?

Cerro Tortuguero stands 119 meters tall and is a dormant volcano formed approximately 1.8 billion years ago. From the summit (the highest point on the Caribbean coast). You get a spectacular view across the region. A boat transports you to the base, then a guide leads you to the top.

Do I have to book all four activities or can I choose just one or two?

You choose which activities to book. Each one runs 2 hours, so you can combine them based on your schedule and interests. The canoe tour, day hike, night tour and Cerro climb are separate bookings.

What's included in the tour price?

A bilingual guide in English and Spanish is included for whichever activities you book; a lifevest for the canoe tour; spotlights for the night walk; and boat transportation to Cerro when you book that tour.