Located in Limon, Costa Rica, the Tortuguero National Park is made up of coastline, lakes, rivers, canals and tropical forest. There are hiking trails in the forest that are perfect for a walking tour, but the most popular tours are conducted by boat, canoe or kayak, as these offer the best opportunities for spotting wildlife. And spot wildlife you will if you take a tour of the Tortuguero National Park. The park is home to dozens of different species of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds, making it one of the best places in Costa Rica to view the native wildlife. If you’re planning on a tour of Tortuguero National Park, here are just a few of the types of wildlife you might encounter.
Turtles. The word “Tortuguero” means “region of turtles”, and that’s a fitting name for this sea turtle conservation site. There are four species of sea turtles that make their homes in Tortuguero National Park. These are the green turtle, the leatherback turtle, the hawksbill turtle and the loggerhead turtle. You can find tours specifically designed to help you catch a sight of some of these turtles. The leatherback is the world’s largest largest sea turtle, and the green turtle is the one you’re most likely to see on shore.
Monkeys. Of the four types of monkeys that are native to Costa Rica, three of them live in the Tortuguero National Park, and on a good day, you may be able to see all of them. The spider monkey, the howler monkey and the white-throated Capuchin monkey all make their homes in the tree canopies of the park. While you might think that you would be more likely to see monkeys during a walking tour, the truth is that you’re more likely to catch a glimpse of these playful primates while you’re touring by boat. The dense tree canopies can make it hard to see monkeys high in the tree tops while you’re walking underneath them.
Butterflies. When visiting the Tortuguero National Park, the butterfly farm is a must-see stop. Here you can find many species of butterflies in their natural environment. A guided tour of the butterfly farm not only lets you see the butterflies themselves and the butterfly garden where they mate and lay their eggs, it also provides you with interesting information about the butterflies and their mating habits, defense mechanisms and metamorphosis. The butterfly farm also provides a lot of great photo opportunities.
Of course, these are only a tiny percentage of the animals that inhabit Tortuguero National Park. Other species that you can look forward to seeing include iguanas, alligators, sloths, parrots, herons, and egrets, just to name a few. If you’ve ever wanted to get close to the wildlife of Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park is the place to do it.
