Tortuguero National Park is located in the Caribbean, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the city of Limon. Consisting of 18,846 hectares (46,570 acres) of land and 52,000 hectares (128,500 acres) of sea, this area was declared a national park in 1975 for two reason. First, it was an attempt to protect the four species of turtles that inhabit this part of the Atlantic Ocean: the leatherback (Demochelys coriacea), the largest turtle in the world; the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the most abundant species in the zone; the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), a tawny colored cousin; and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), endangered due to the use of the shell in handwork. Second, the park was to conserve the tropical wet forest it encompasses; its flora and its fauna.
The park has a damp climate. Temperatures average 26º Celsius (79º Fahrenheit), and annual precipitation is between 4,000 and 6,000 millimeters (160'240 inches). This is one of the rainiest places in the country.
Wonderful channels
Tortuguero Channels
The system of channels and navigable lakes leading to the park provides a unique means of observing the great variety of local vegetation. As one travels southeast to northwest, green overwhelms the eyes and floods the heart with hope. This is the jungle at its best. With more than 400 species of the trees and up to 2,200 species of the plants, there is no doubt that one is receiving a lesson in biodiversity. Eleven habitats have been identified here, the most predominate being: coastal vegetation, berma, high rain forest, slope forest, swamp forest, holillo forest, herbaceous swamp and herbaceous marsh communities.
Trees like sangrillo (Pterocarpus officinalis), cativo (Prioria copaifera) and poponioche (Pachira aquatica) have developed huge roots above water-level in order to survive. More than just a fascinating sight, this is a miracle, and, as we follow the channels, Mother Nature simply keep impressing us.
After navigating these waterways - nature's reflection upon the water allowing us to enjoy the scenery twice as much - we arrive at the Cuatro Esquinas station of Tortuguero National Park. From this center dedicated to the protection of the green sea turtle, you can walk the one-kilometer (5/8-mille) Gavilán trail. The hike, which starts from the channel, leads you to the sea and black sands of Tortuguero Beach. Witnessing finely tuned nature causes one to wonder which humanity does not copy this example of harmonious equilibrium. Leaving no permanent marks here is a simple acknowledgment that the tropical rain forest is a non-renewable resource to be enjoyed but not altered.
The people
The nearby town of Tortuguero, with its approximately 450 inhabitants, will be happy to share its Afro-Caribbean roots with you. The beliefs, celebrations, languages, dances and very special cuisine of the area are unlike those found in other parts of the country.
The Martinez family came from San Andres, Colombia, in the 30's, in search of wealth, the members of this clan started planting coconut trees and hunting turtles. Twenty additional colonists (two blacks, a ramati, three Caucasians and fourteen Miskito Indians) soon joined the Martinez's in Tortuguero. During the 40's, lumber companies worked the sea, cutting crabwood, cativo and almendro de montaña. The companies cut close to the channel to facilitate transport. The wood was then sent by these waterways to Limon, where it was sawed into planks for shipment to the United States and Ecuador. In the 50's, the main economic activity was agriculture; rice paddies and banana plantations were worked day and night. Today, the major source of income is tourist activity. The Martinez family, which came to make its fortune and leave, still resides in the legendary Tortuguero.
Just northeast of town is the Caribbean Conservation Corporation. Founded in 1959 by world-famous biologist, Dr. Archie Carr, the organization was established to fight for the protection of turtles. After 100,000 million years of fighting for survival, these creatures are now in danger of becoming extinct. Coastal development, contamination, exploitation and poaching are but a few of the causes for the decline in this animal's population. That is why the education of visitors is so important to the institution; it is the first effective, lasting step in protecting endangered species.
If you wish to observe fauna, you can take a morning tour from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. The number of animals you see and hear will delight you. There is an abundance of insects (800,000 species registered); fish (30 species identified); anurans, e.g., frogs and toads (60 species observed); birds (405 species - approximately half of those existing in Costa Rica and more than what you could see in all of Europe); and mamals (97 species).
Natural Attractions
Tortuguero Natural Attractions
Tortuguero Peak, 119 meters (390 feet) high and covering approximately 25 hectares (62 acres), offers a sensational view of the sea, channels and mountains. The breath-taking scenery will leave you baffled as to how a green could be so intense, while this color conveys a sense of peace to your soul.
The trail lead us through dense vegetation, a large number of roots and leaves. In the background, you hear the relentless sound of the cicadas.
The Caño Palma channel will take you to the biological station with the same name. The outpost's primary objectives are environmental education, research and conservation of the zone. Royal palms (Cheelea rostrato), used in the construction of homes typical of the area, line the route.
Nicaraguan natives Cruz Dominguez Martinez and his wife, Victoria Dominguez Ruiz, have been Caño Palma residents for more than thirty years. They remember how a turtle once made its nest in their kitchen. Two months later, they watched as the baby turtles hatched and departed for their habitat.
When the sun no longer illuminates the treetops, the reflections of clouds disappear from the water and the moon silhouettes the jungle, you can take a night excursion. The things visible between 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. will surprise you. For example, here, even the trees go to sleep. The wild tamarind (Pentaclethra macroloba) is the first signal the arrival of night; a member of the Mimosaceae family, this tree closes its leaves when the sun sets, offering something different from what you can see during the day. The night’s reflection in the water mirrors the panorama with perfect symmetry; it is a gift from the Creator - two worlds in one reflection-. The tourists hopes that the trip will never end are as limitless as the stars in the sky.
Ecotourism and Nature 
