Tortuguero turtle spawning & wildlife tour: Canoe, hike, turtles

Canoe at sunrise, hike the jungle, watch turtles lay eggs at night

A three-activity package in Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast combines a dawn canoe tour, a mid-morning hike and an evening turtle spawning watch, with breakfast and free kayak time. You can run all three in one day or split the turtle tour to a separate night. A guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age 4 are welcome. The national park assigns your turtle tour time by lottery. You'll pick it up at the tour office between 5pm and 6pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife tours and turtle spawning

• Arrive early for snack and coffee
• 6 am canoe tour for wildlife viewing
• Enjoy breakfast by the river
• 11 am hike on Jaguar Trail
• Visit Tuanis office for turtle tour schedule
• Attend turtle spawning tour at assigned time

The experience

The day starts before sunrise. You arrive 10 minutes early for coffee, tea, biscuits and fruit, then paddle into the lagoon as light breaks across the water. The canoe tour runs about two hours and forty-five minutes, and the waterways hold alligators, iguanas, birds and mammals that move through the trees and along the banks. Once you're back on land, breakfast waits by the river.

At 11 am you step onto the jaguar trail for a two-hour hike through the national park. White-faced monkeys, sloths and snakes move through the canopy. The guide points out what most visitors miss. After the hike, you have free access to a kayak for the rest of the afternoon. The lagoon is yours to explore at your own pace.

The turtle spawning happens at night, either 8pm to 10pm or 10pm to midnight, depending on which time the national park's electronic lottery assigns you. You'll learn your slot between 5pm and 6pm at the Tuanis tour office. Wear dark clothing, closed shoes and mosquito repellent. Bring a raincoat if rain is forecast. No phones, cameras or electronic devices are allowed during the tour. This is when you watch green turtles emerge from the sea and dig into the sand to lay their eggs: a moment most travelers come to Tortuguero to witness.

What’s included

• Breakfast by the river after the canoe tour.
• pre-tour snack of coffee, tea, biscuits and fruit.
• waterproof bag for the canoe.
• two hours of free kayak time in the afternoon.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 00:00Last departure this season: 25 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (19 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

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: “Tuanis tour office, located 50 meters south of the main wharf of tortoise”

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tuanis Tour Tortuguero

Is this one for you?The full package runs about seven hours, which means you can fit it into a single day or split the turtle tour to the night before and keep the next day open for rest or other plans. The lottery-assigned turtle time (either early evening or late night) is set by the park, so plan your other activities around whichever slot you're given.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

Can I do the turtle tour on a different night from the canoe and hike?

Yes. You can book all three activities in one day, or split the turtle spawning to a separate night and do the canoe tour and hike on another day. The package is flexible on timing.

What animals will I actually see on the canoe tour?

Alligators, iguanas, birds and some mammals are common sightings on the lagoon. The early morning timing, the tour starts at 6am, is when animals are most active along the waterways.

How do I find out what time I'm assigned for the turtle tour?

The national park uses an electronic lottery to assign turtle tour times. You go to the Tuanis tour office between 5pm and 6pm on the day of your tour, and they'll give you your assigned slot: either 8pm to 10pm or 10pm to midnight.

What's included in this package?

Breakfast after the canoe tour; the pre-tour snack of coffee, tea, biscuits and fruit; a waterproof bag for the canoe; and two hours of free kayak time in the afternoon are all included. The national park entrance fee is purchased separately online at the SINAC website.