In our past articles, we talked about reptiles and birds. This time it is the turn of our friends of the plant kingdom. We will focus on three beautiful flowers you can often find in Tortuguero. These photos were taken in our garden. We have plenty of these for you to enjoy in our lodge. Well, with no more hesitation, let’s start this list.

Bauhinia Purpurea

The first on our flowers list is a guest that feels at home in Tortuguero. It is the Bauhinia Purpurea, native to India and Myanmar. Introduced to almost all the world’s tropical areas after stable commerce was established between Western countries and South Asia. Its vibrant purple color makes it attractive for flower enthusiasts.
While its value in Western culture is merely decorative, in Asia it is used as a medicinal plant, mostly its leaves.
In Costa Rica, it is known as “Orquidea de Palo”, a name that implies it is some kind of orchid with its own tree. But this plant is not from the Orchidaceae family but the Fabaceae.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Our next guest is another import from Asia. Called the Amapola in Costa Rica, the Hibiscus is a very colorful flower with many variants of different colors, from bright red to vibrant orange.
Malaysia’s national flower, the hibiscus is very well known in Asian cultures, where it is used for religious and medicinal purposes. The Amapola is well extended all around the country and the continent itself but it is in areas like Tortuguero that it will look more vibrant thanks to hot temperatures. This flower and the plant are not fond of cold weather.
It produces a sweet aroma and nectar. This is why many birds love to see it as a source of food, helping the reproduction process of the plant. Once the flower is fertilized small pods start to mature. Once those reach maturity, they crack releasing small seeds that are taken by the wind or fall on the floor.

Ipomoea pes-caprae

Our latest of today’s list is the Bejuco de Mar as it is known here in Costa Rica. This flower is a beach lover, as it is one of the few land plants that can stand salt air well.
The seeds can float in the sea for miles and endure the salt levels that could destroy any other seed kind. A dune conqueror, the plant grows as a vine, covering the sandy part of the beach. It is a very resilient plant that can even endure the desert as it is close to the coast.
The flower brings a unique vibrant purple color to the beaches of the world. The hairy seed is contained in the flower and when it reaches maturity it is released into the air. Then the sea breeze takes those flowers seed to other sands to conquer.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed the information provided about these flowers. We plan to write a second part as soon as possible with more beautiful plants, so stay tuned.
If you want to enjoy these plands in person, you can book one of our packages with hosting, transport, and food. Check our main page for more info.

It is vital to give a brief check-in to the history of the province of Limon and Costa Rica, to have at least a superficial understanding of the convoluted cuisine style of this Caribbean paradise. A combination of pre and post-Columbian flavors, it is the product of multiple migrations for almost 400 hundred years. Let’s start

History of the cuisine of Limon

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is full of stories. Let’s start with the fact it was one of Cristobal Colon’s destinies in his first travel to continental America. Then Gil Gonzalez Davila visited the coast coming from Panama and named it the “rich coast” diving (without knowing) the name the country now uses. He named the place because the indigenous population wore luxurious jewelry made of gold and other precious metals.
There were 3 tribal factions in the area when the Spanish arrived, the Bribri, the Talamancan, and the Cabecar, who cultivated important ingredients for the dishes to come in the next centuries.

The legacy of the rail train

Around the beginning of the XIX century, the country, now turned into a Spanish colony, had an economic boom, needing labor. So, the authorities brought African Caribbean people, mostly from Jamaica.
Despite most of the labor needed in the Central Valley, most newcomers stayed on the Caribbean coast, changing it forever with their unique culture, language and cuisine. After the independence of Costa Rica, Limon was visited by Europeans, mostly French and Dutch, who collaborated to add new flavors to the local cuisine with new imported ingredients.
But the last but not least important addition to the Caribbean culture did not come until the mid-century XIX when a flock of Chinese people came to the territory. The cause was labor needed for the railroad being constructed to the port, which was exporting tons of coffee overseas.
These Chinese immigrants rapidly established businesses, some of those being restaurants that used local ingredients and recipes in their dishes. During the 20th century the cuisine in the Caribbean continue developing with new ingredients or methods added to the recipes, while maintaining its identity.

Some examples of the Caribbean food menu

Now that we are familiar with the region’s history, we can easily guess why the local dishes are so unique. It is a blend of cultures using the African Caribbean cuisine as the core. It is hard to find those conditions somewhere else, even in the rest of the American continent.

Rondon:

This is a special recipe that is cooked with whatever sea ingredients or meat you can find. It is a stew made with coconut milk, vegetables, spices, and the aforementioned meat. It can be eaten with “platano” chips or alone.

Patí

Imported from Jamaica, the empanada is some sort of empanada with a meat filling. Most of the time, this filling is spicy.

 

Pan Bon

Strong flavors are part of Caribbean cuisine. This includes the bakery. Pan Bon is a bread with a special sweet taste and a pinch of cinnamon. The sweetness comes from the Tapa Dulce, an ingredient made of sugar cane juice. Your tongue can tell the recipe does not have white sugar at all.

 

Plantinga

Another empanada but sweeter, which filling is a red-colored dough made of ripe banana(platano).

 

Caribbean sauce

this sauce is made of coconut milk, sugar, and boiled tomato among other ingredients. It is mostly used to be applied on cooked fish.

 

The escabeche

This type of marinade was introduced to the americas from Spain. However, it was adapted to the Caribbean cuisine using local ingredients. Also, it tastes sweet instead of the traditional bitter or neutral taste. Whenever you are served fried fish, it will probably be accompanied by escabeche.

 

Rice and beans

Not to be confused with “gallo pinto” which is the typical breakfast in Costa Rica, consisting of rice, beans and spices. In the Caribbean food,the main difference lies in how the rice is cooked, using coconut milk. Habanero pepper is added to the recipe for a spicy touch. Most of the time, it is served with chicken thighs.

 

Cod with rice

The least known of the list, it is fried cod in coconut oil along with other ingredients. Once the ingredients are fried, remove the oil, add the rice then water. Let the rice cook on low fire for a while to get a delicious dish.

 

Agua de Sapo

Literally translates to “frog water”. It is called that way because one of the ingredients, the tapa dulce gives the drink a brownish color, like the mud waters where a frog lives. But despite the aspect, this drink is magical. It can replenish your strength after a hard working day.

Conclusion

The Caribbean food is still evolving. Immigrants from Nicaragua and Panama are coming lately and adding their own twist to the local cuisine. It will be not a surprise that the are could become a gourmet destiny soon, as more people is discovering the unique caribbean food. If you are planning to visit Tortuguero, check OUR PACKAGES HERE. We are waiting for your visit.

If you want to know more Costa Rica’s recipes, you can visit the site Puravidamoms which have tons of recipes

If you are curious about our cold-blooded friends, Tortuguero has plenty of species of reptiles. It is the perfect place for these creatures: places to hide, a lot of food sources and water, water everywhere. We are going to talk about three of the species you can find near our hotel.

Alligator

We cannot start this article about reptiles without mentioning the king of the Tortuguero’s scaled creatures. In the area, alligators are the dominant species, only second to humans. Do not worry as the Tortuguero alligators are not too big compared to humans and rarely get near boats or human settlements. Still, you have to be cautious and stay at a safe distance if you see one. These carnivorous animals tend to feast on smaller preys that dare to get near any water body the crocodile chooses as its lair. The lack of prey can force them to walk several kilometers in the dry land, only seeking another river or lake. They tolerate salt water but prefer manglers, rivers, lagoons, and swamps. Like any other reptile, they reproduce by laying eggs. They like to hang out in the sun for several hours to get their body temperature controlled.

 

Black River Turtle

The black wood turtle is a creature endemic to the Caribbean coast of Central America. Tortuguero’s slow waters are the best suited for these turtles because they love to eat mollusks. The slow currents allow the procreation of these and other kinds of creatures. This allows our reptile friends to capture prey easily on the river bank. But they do not only eat other animals but water plants and fruits that fall from the trees. These turtles have the particularity that they need several years to reach sexual maturity, hatching eggs until 15 or 20 years after being born. They like to sunbathe often, which brings a good chance of finding one in the open and getting a nice pic.

Green Crested Basilisk

If you are paying attention while you are visiting Tortuguero o any part of Costa Rica’s Caribbean area you’ll probably see a curious animal running on the water. You read it right! The green-crested basilisks, an endemic subspecies from Central America, can run at great speed plus their rear feet have long toes. When running these toes make contact with the surface creating small bubbles of air allowing the basilisk to remain over the water for a few seconds. Once the animal runs out of stamina, they just stop running and dip into the water. Since they are excellent swimmers this is no problem. They do this mostly when they feel in danger. The basilisk feeds on small mammals, insects, snails, worms, and mollusks. They spend most of the time resting on trees but not too far away from the ground.

If you are planning to visit Tortuguero, check OUR PACKAGES HERE. We are waiting for your visit.

In the last article, we speak about the reasons Tortuguero is the best place for birdwatching in Central America. We covered four birds in Tortuguero you can easily spot in the area if you have a good eye. In this new article, we will cover 4 more birds you can find around. With more than 211 species of birds in this national park, this is just the iceberg peak of bird sightings in Costa Rica.

The belted kingfisher

The Belted KingFisher is common in North and Central America. It is not exactly a migratory bird but can be found in the north during the summer season and flies to warmer waters during winter. If the place they fly to proves to be good enough, they stay, if not they go back to the north in summer looking for food The female has a brighter blue than the male. From far they appear to be black and white colored but their “black” feathers are, in reality, blue or grey. They feast not only on fish but mollusks, small amphibians, insects, reptiles, and even other birds. They have the particularity that their nest is often a tunnel in the riverbank or sandbank. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. You can find them waiting for their prey in any tree near the river or lagoon.

 

The Egret

This once-in-danger bird is now common on all continents. Despite being one of the easiest birds to spot, they still call the visitors’ attention for their vibrant white feathers. These feathers were the reason people hunted them in the XIX century. Hatmakers demanded a lot of feathers for their designs. Egrets are in many inhabits. They avoid cold and arid climatic regions or high mountains. They prefer marshes, manglares, rivers, and lakes. Despite the egret not being a migratory bird, in the northern hemisphere, they emigrate to northern regions in the summer sometimes. Tortuguero is one of those places the egret find as a suitable place to stay the whole year. They are great hunters, mostly in shallow waters. Impaling their prey with their sharp bill they hunt amphibians, fish, small mammals, and other small species.

The Collared Aracari

This bird is endemic to the American continent. It is of the same family as the toucan. What identifies most to this species is the yellow chest with a red belt. The collared species has a red collar around the neck. Not as colorful as the toucan is still a beautiful bird worthy of a good photo. Their nests are mostly located in cavities on trees. While they feed mostly on fruits, they have been seen eating small amphibians and reptiles. Also, they can eat eggs and nestlings from other species of birds. The aracari can be a very social specimen. In one cavity you can find an entire of aracari nesting together to pass the night. This photo was taken just a few meters away from the hotel lagoon.

The Russet-naped wood rail

Our last bird of the article is one of the most shy and secretive of the species of Tortuguero. They keep themselves most of the time inside the dense forest, not coming to the river unless they can’t find sources of food in the vegetation. Little is known about their diet and breeding. It is suspected that they feed on small crabs, snails, and vegetable matter. They put their nest in the bushes using sticks and plant fibers This species has deep red eyes and pink legs, which does not make the best camouflage but makes it cool for a good photo. This specimen, we found it near the lagoon we use for our kayak tour. The lagoon is a feeding spot for many curious species of birds like the wood rail.

Conclusion

We enjoyed writing this article. We hope it was as informative as it was for us. The objective of our articles is to give you a glimpse of the natural wonders you can find in Tortuguero. If you need a hotel when you come to Limon, Costa Rica, please take us into account. If you are interested in making a reservation, do it here. Want to know more about our commodities? Please visit our main page. Remember that we take care of every detail of your trip, from transportation to hosting. The birds in Tortuguero are awaiting for your camera and binoculars.

When it comes to birds, Tortuguero is the best place in the American continent. Well, Maybe only second to the Amazonian forest. But what is clear is that Tortuguero is more accessible to visitors. The area of the National Park, together with the Nicaraguan area is smaller than other rain forest in the continent. Because of this, the density of birds per square kilometer is greater, increasing the possibility of bird sightings. This includes both rare and common birds. So, what is clear here is that your visit to Tortuguero guarantees you’ll have tons of photos of some of the 211 bird species located so far in the area. Let’s talk about some of these birds. These pictures were taken in the area of Caño Palma, which is the canal used to arrive at Turtle Beach Lodge.

Bare-faced Ibis

The god Thoth of Egyptian mythology was based on the Ibis, a bird with a peculiar beak. The American continent has its species of ibis birds, one of them is the barefaced Ibis. Is a relatively big bird, like the size of a turkey. They like to live near the river where their main diet of worms, clams, and insects resides. It is very curious to see the big birds over a tree branch while trying to maintain balance. They are often seen in pairs, watching for their nest, which won’t abandon unless there is a good reason, like searching for food.

 

Bare-throated tiger heron

This heron is known for its curious and loud sound. For mating reasons, the male makes a unique sound when sitting in a tree near any body water. Fish, crabs, frogs, and insects are part of the diet of these medium size birds. They aren’t as shy as other species, as you can see them often near humans settlements looking for some prey the fishers left off. Stripes in their feathers are the first thing you will notice, the reason people call them “tiger” herons.

Toucan

The toucan is maybe the most representative bird of Costa Rica. Meanwhile, the yiguirro, a less attractive bird but with a harmonious chirping, is the official bird of the country. However the toucan is represented in many of the works done by local artists. Perhaps because the vibrant colors of the feathers call the attention of the painters. Some years ago, a toucan was savagely attacked, and its beak broken. The incident moved the consciousness of the whole country to the point that the toucan became the mascot of animal rights. “Grecia”, as the media called the toucan, won the hearts of the Costa Ricans. After an intense campaign, funds to create an artificial beak specially made for Grecia were reached quickly. Grecia is not with us anymore, as when the incident happened, the bird was old already. But the legacy remains, as Grecia helped to reach a political agreement in approving the law against animal aggression. In Tortuguero, Grecia’s familiars are often found near fruit trees, as these birds have this source of food as the main ingredient in their diet.

The anhinga

This bird is the perfect example of ostentatious. You’ll find it displaying its wings to their full extension as if it were posing for photographers. In reality, the anhinga is drying its feathers in the sun. This bird will be often soaked because they consume themselves in shallow waters to fish their prey. Their neck is rather long. Used with the head and the beak, the anhinga becomes a sharp harpoon, perfect for catching any fish that dares to swim near the surface. You’ll find them in the canals or rivers, resting in a rock or logs.

More birds coming soon!

We have more birds we can talk about, but we will save that for another article. We have plenty of photos to share with you, so stay tuned for more articles like this soon. Meanwhile, check our hotel information here, so you can start planning your trip to Tortuguero.

The Turtle Beach Lodge Hotel installations include a bar where you can rest, read, chitchat, play billiard, and last but not least, have a drink. It is just some steps away from the beach and next to our pool. You can hear the waves sitting at the bar while enjoying one refreshment from our wide range of drinks available.
Our bartender is ready to serve a cappuccino, maybe a beer, or a carefully prepared cocktail. Alcohol beverages and cocktails are on the menu, and some non-alcoholic variants are available for underage and teetotaler.
We would like to use this article to mention our personal recommendations for drinks according to age and taste. You can find all these drinks in our family-friendly bar.

Juices and milkshakes at the bar

Children need healthy beverages in their diet, we have a range of shakes and juices available for them. Milkshakes: Our bartender will blend fresh and nutritious fruits with milk to get some delicious shakes. Perfect for kids or those looking to get the advantage of vitamins and minerals present in both products.
Juices: The same as the milkshakes but not milk used for those who are intolerant to lactose. These shakes are perfect if you are looking for an energy source for your body.

 

Teenagers and young adults

Teenagers are looking for new sensations and experiences. It is our duty as adults to guide them carefully. This is why we offer cocktails and coffee beverages. Non-alcoholic cocktails have quite different flavors from shakes. Coffee helps teenagers to feel they are closer to maturity.
Some examples are
Mojito: This beverage is cool with or without alcohol, but non-drinkers will find it special because it can be served after meals and works perfectly to give you a sensation of freshness in your stomach. Also, the spearmint gives the drink a superb aroma and a unique flavor.
Daiquiri: Rum is a famous alcoholic beverage made from sugar cane. But there are also alcohol-free versions perfect for delicious daiquiris. Strawberry ones are the most famous and refreshing. Mango ones are also very popular.

Our bar drinks for adults

Are you ready to party? For those looking for a night to remember we have very well-known and exotic beverages to share with friends.
Gin tonic: For those who like the feel of effervescence in their mouth, the gin tonic is perfect. What started as a medicine ended up being one of the most famous alcoholic drinks in the world.
Caipiriña: This drink’s composition seems too simple. Its base is the “cachaza”, a Brazilian distillate made from the juice of fermented sugar cane. The secret to get a terrific drink is the balance of the ingredients added.
Mai Tai: Be careful with this one as it is a very strong beverage since most of the ingredients contain alcohol. Very much recommended if you are not a first drinker and looking for new flavors.
Sex in the Jungle: This drink will call your attention for sure, because of its vibrant green color. Also, it contains a lot of different fruit juices, blended with rum or vodka. It is very popular among young adults.

Conclusion

Our bar is designed as a space for social interaction. Friends, family, and couples can have quality time after coming back from one of our tours. Canned beverages are available too, so every taste or craving is covered. And, who knows, maybe you can meet someone new.
If you are planning to visit Tortuguero, check OUR PACKAGES HERE. We are waiting for your visit.

The Boat-billed heron is a curious bird you can spot in Tortuguero all year. Here in Costa Rica and other countries of Latin America is better known as the “Chocuaco”, a funny name we personally didn’t find the origin of yet. We dedicate this article to one of the most curious-looking birds you can find just some steps away from the Turtle Beach Lodge Hotel.

The bill or beak of the chocuaco

The first thing that will call the attention is the long bill. These bills are very important for their feeding. As herons, they lurk in shallow waters waiting for their prey to show up. Contrary to the rest of the heron family, the beak is wide The bills are used to dig in the mud or the sand too. This is why the chocuaco can localize mollusks, small crabs, and other small animals. Transportation is another use for the bill. Parents carry the food they captured to their chicks. Despite the bill looking sturdy, probably it is very sensitive. The scientists hypothesize that the chocuaco can localize their food at night thanks to this sensitivity. If this is proven, we can say the bill is some sort of radar that allows the chocuacho to localize and chase their prey.

The appearance of the Boat-billed Heron

The chocuacho has some sort of fluffy appearance. That is because their feathers are small and fine. Big eyes and long legs. They have long necks but not as long as other species of herons. If you find them during daylight, they will be resting their head over their body, shirking their neck to the point that one could think there’s no neck. The chest of this heron can be brown, their wings are most of the time grey in color. The feathers over their heads are black and there is a crest present that is used when the chocuaco feels in danger. The eggs are blueish and they put up to four or five eggs in their nest. The diet of these birds varies from small insects and mammals to mollusks and fish. As we mentioned before, they are nocturnal creatures, rarely feeding in daylight. During the day, they spend time resting over tree branches, while accompanying other chocuacos, so they can overwatch over the colony.

The Chocuaco Trail

The Turtle Beach Lodge Hotel is very near a mangrove that a colony of chocuacos chose as their home. Our trail set the right distance between our guests and the birds, so they won’t feel threatened. You can watch them and take pictures while they rest. Also, there you can find strawberry dart frogs, iguanas, and smaller species of amphibians, birds, and reptiles. Snakes are present too but do not worry as we provide you with an expert guide and the right gear to avoid any issues. The trail is 30 minutes long. The tour could take more as you’ll find species of animals and plants you want pictures of. Our guides will be patient and give you the time to take the photos.

Come to Tortuguero with us and enjoy this and many other wonders of nature. Check our packages now.

Tortuguero is a fantastic place. What makes it so special is being a nature reserve where human interference is strictly controlled. This is done in order to protect the fauna and the flora of the area to the most extent possible. Because of this, you need to be prepared because it is not like you can walk to the nearest pharmacy or store just like you do at home. Let’s share with you our safety tips for visiting Tortuguero.

Transportation

As we mentioned several times on our website and in other articles, boats are the main way to move around here. Almost no roads and the few ones are just suitable for motorcycles. So you will be riding boats while staying at Tortuguero. When it comes to guided trips and hosting packages, like our nice packages, you’ll be riding boats that are always checked and count with all the safety regulations.

 

Life jackets for every passenger, experienced helmsman, following all the safety regulations, boats constantly checked by certified mechanics. These are just some of the advantages of coordinating your visit with a hotel like ours. But if you need to go there on your own, be aware that public transportation does not count with a life jacket for passengers. Much better to bring your own life jacket in case you need to move around the area on your own terms.

 

Whenever a boat is on the move, stay sit. It is easy to lose balance and falling in the water is not the worst scenario but falling on someone or something else and getting some bruises. Traveling by boat is one of the most relaxing experiences one can have. Just sit, and enjoy the travel.

Water and provisions

Tortuguero is that kind of place you have to go prepared. A good backpack will be your best partner on this trip. You don’t need to pack a lot but the necessary. Water’s the first because most of the hotels around the area depend on water wells. We can’t say all of these waters aren’t drinkable but those with delicate stomachs could have some issues.

 

Having a good bottle of water is a must. You can refill your bottle in town. Or buy some in any supermarket downtown that you pass by before getting to the dock. Turtle Beach Lodge always offers you the best quality water for drinking in our hotel lobby. Just refill anytime you want to drink water and take it to your room.

 

Bottled water in Costa Rica is not expensive, for a dollar, you can get a 1-liter bottle, enough for a whole day. When it comes to food, it is good for you to have some snacks like energy bars in your backpack. While most of the hotels around Tortuguero offer snacks in their lobbies, maybe some could not be to your taste. Have something you like ready in your backpack.

 

Last but not least in your provisions, some pills for body aches can be life savers sometimes. Our lobby counts on first aid medkits and over-the-counter drugs. But it won’t kill you having your own in case you are not in the hotel. Something against dizziness could be useful if you start to feel strange while on the boat.

Clothes and shoes

Choosing the right clothing is important to deal with the weather and the jungle. Tortuguero can be hot and humid. Wrong clothes can cause light fainting or dehydration. Fresh clothes are good while you’re traveling by boat, in the hotel, downtown Tortuguero, or on the beach. Then, we have tours of the jungle. If you want to keep the mosquitoes at bay, wear pants, long sleeve shirt, and a hat too. If you have a mosquito repellant you can make these tours using your T-shirt and shorts but can still get a sting. Most of these tours are short, so you can wear thick clothes quickly and then get back to your fresh ones.

 

Last but not least, your shoes! Wear some tennis with a good grip. Sandals aren’t recommended unless you are in your hotel. If you want to visit a tour in the jungle, please use rubber boots. Our hotel offers you boots of this kind when you want to visit our trails. If you do not have boots, try to stay in clear areas where you can see you are stepping. But it is highly recommended to not get into any high grass areas without boots. Ask your hotel for boots, we have them ready for you.

People

Most incoming from many people around is fishing, transport of goods, tourism, and commerce. Locals are honest and friendly people. But as always, visitors from outside come to Tortuguero sometimes to take advantage of people who are not careful. Waist bags are quite popular around here, the best option to carry the few things you need when you are out of your hotel. Just do not get too confident, have your money always in your bag.

 

Keep your phone in the waist bag. Take it for a photo or answer a message. Tortuguero is not exactly the place to bring expensive equipment or jewelry but if you did, ask the hotel for a safe place to store it. Employees in cafes, restaurants, and other services are trustable. There is a police station in the middle of Tortuguero downtown.

 

Not much to do in Tortuguero at night, unless you reserve a tour to visit the turtle nesting, it is best to stay at the hotel. If you are for a fancy visit to the beach at night, do not go alone and do not stay for that long. Coast guards are constantly checking the beaches with nightlights for turtle egg poachers. Remember, you are inside a national park with surveillance to protect the fauna and the flora.

 

If you are planning to visit Tortuguero, check OUR PACKAGES HERE. We are waiting for your visit.Do not forget the safety tips we just shared with you.

Kayaking in Tortuguero could be one of the most relaxing activities one can do while burning calories. But before going into details, we would like to review briefly the story of the kayaks for those who are not familiar with this amazing sport.

Kayaking as transport

Kayaks are born of the necessity of having a means of transport in highly unhospitable areas. The Inuit’s and the Aleut tribes in North America had to go from their villages to their fishing spots as fast as possible. Also, many tribes were located near the coast so most of the goods traded between them were transported by sea. While most kayaks were for 1 or 2 persons, these tribes have bigger kayaks, designed to transport entire groups or families. These primitive kayaks were made of driftwood or whale bones in their structure. Meanwhile, the surface is made of stretched animal skin. Whale fat was used to coat the surface to not allow the water in.

Modern Days

In the XIX century, the kayak made it to Europe. Soon the Europeans were kayaking for sport in both calm waters and rapids. For explorers, the kayak becomes the perfect means of transport to delve into unexplored areas like the arctic ocean or the Amazonian River. In the XX century, the kayak becomes an Olympic sport. Many of the kayak events in sports events are performed in white waters. Nowadays kayaks are made of polyethylene plastic, a material that allows waterproof, maneuverability, and lightweight properties.

Is Tortuguero suitable for kayaking?

If you are looking for rapids, Tortuguero isn’t exactly your place. La Suerte river has strong currents, but nothing compared with Pacuare and Reventazon, two very famous rapids in Costa Rica. Otherwise, if you are looking for calm waters for mild physical activity, wildlife watching, athletic rowing or just relaxing, Tortuguero has plenty of canals, rivers, and lagoons for that. The main branch of the Tortuguero river is wide and long enough for a good session of athletic rowing. The canals’ waters are so calm that you can hold still while taking pictures of the vibrant wildlife that lurks nearby, including birds, turtles, and amphibians. The lagoons offer a good place to kayak with family and friends and have a time of leisure.

Is safe to kayak in Tortuguero?

As you suit the right gear there is nothing to be afraid of. As you can expect from any water activity, you should know how to swim and keep your composure if you fall on the water. There are crocodiles here and there, but they are small and prefer to feed on smaller animals than face a human. They are not dumb. Of course, we always recommend it, if you are not familiar with the area it is much better to be accompanied by a local guide.

What about tours?

Our hotel, Turtle Beach Lodge offers a kayak tour to a beautiful lagoon with pitch-black waters. This causes the lagoon to reflect the sky as if it was a mirror. Our guide will be always with you, and we’ll take you there safely on a boat and back again to the hotel. You will be provided with the equipment needed for your security. It is a fun activity enjoyed much better in groups or the family. Still, you can do it alone and have an introspection moment. Or just relaxing. Check our tour section for more info.

We hope you enjoy this article. We are waiting for your visit here at Tortuguero, Limon, Costa Rica, in the Turtle Beach Lodge hotel.