The Caribbean is a large region that extends beyond the Caribbean Islands. The Caribbean Sea laps some Central American and South American nations, including the shores of Colombia, Belize, and the 130-mile east coast of Costa Rica, a country known for its remarkable biodiversity and ‘pura vida’ lifestyle, roughly translating to living a pure, simple, and positive life.
Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has those palm-fringed sandy beaches that may instantly spring to mind when you picture a Caribbean scene, punctuated with beach towns serving sizzling Caribbean fare. But further up the coast, near Costa Rica’s border with Nicaragua, there’s a rich, wild, remote Caribbean jungle — Tortuguero.
Where is Tortuguero?
Tortuguero is a small and remote village located on the northeast Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and named after the 40,000 turtles that come to nest on its beaches every year. The village is within the wider Tortuguero National Park, a broad floodplain known for its dense rainforest, swampy lagoons rich in wildlife, and communities connected by a network of canals. Imagine a misty stillness where crocodiles and caimans bask on the banks with whoops of howler monkeys and calls of green macaws, and you’ll begin to get an idea of the magical jungle surroundings of Tortuguero. The glorious remoteness here will give you a wonderful far-from-home feeling.