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Waterway among treetops and mist-covered forest.

Costa Rica · Tortuguero

The park’s water trails

Tortuguero’s official canals, which allow motors and which are paddle-only.

8 places

  1. 1

    NatureOpen

    Canal boat tour

    Departs from the village or lodge docks2.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A guided boat trip through the park’s canals and surroundings to see caimans, river turtles, monkeys, sloths, basilisks and water birds. It is the core activity of any visit.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Park ticket $16.95 on top of the tour. Rough Guides quotes tours from about $25 (2024).

    Tip: Go early, when wildlife is most active. The Chiquero and Mora canals are paddle-only.

    Nearby: Kayak and canoe, guided or self-guided (0 km) · Birdwatching on the canals (0 km) · Caño Mora (1.1 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · Rough Guides – Best Tortuguero National Park tours

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  2. 2

    WaterOpen

    Tortuguero River water trail

    South of the Cuatro Esquinas post10.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The park’s widest channel and the gateway to the other canals; motorboats are allowed. Water birds and poponjoche trees, which have large flowers and fruit, are common sights.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $16.95 for foreign adults and $5.65 for children 2–12, VAT included.
    Time needed
    SINAC gives 4.3 km; the conservation area counts 2,990 m beyond the Caño Chiquero junction.

    Nearby: Caño Mora (7 km) · Boat ride from La Pavona (7.5 km) · Canal boat tour (8.2 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística

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  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Caño Harold

    Entered from the Caño Chiquero junction0.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A 3.5 km canal about 5 m wide, with very calm water and secondary forest on its banks. It is the only narrow canal open to motorboats, which makes it the most in demand.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $16.95 for foreign adults and $5.65 for children 2–12, VAT included.

    Tip: Caimans and river turtles are common; cacao and coconut trees from old farms can sometimes be seen.

    Nearby: Cuatro Esquinas sector (0 km) · El Jaguar trail (0 km) · Night walks on park trails (0 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística

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  4. 4

    WaterOpen

    Caño Chiquero

    Entered from the Tortuguero River2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A canal of about 2.3 km and 4–10 m wide with dense vegetation, trees and epiphytes. It is reserved for canoes and kayaks, which allows quiet wildlife viewing.

    Source: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $16.95 for foreign adults and $5.65 for children 2–12, VAT included.

    Tip: SINAC groups it with Caño Mora (2.3 km) and also mentions electric motors; the conservation area says canoe and kayak only.

    Nearby: Canal boat tour (1.4 km) · Kayak and canoe, guided or self-guided (1.4 km) · Birdwatching on the canals (1.4 km)

    Sources: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero

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  5. 5

    WaterOpen

    Caño Mora

    At the end of Caño Chiquero3.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A short branch of about 770 m off Caño Chiquero, with still water and less than 10 m wide. Canoe or kayak only; it is one of the park’s most scenic stretches.

    Source: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $16.95 for foreign adults and $5.65 for children 2–12, VAT included.

    Nearby: Canal boat tour (1.1 km) · Kayak and canoe, guided or self-guided (1.1 km) · Birdwatching on the canals (1.1 km)

    Sources: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero

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  6. 6

    WaterOpen

    Caño Palma

    Barra del Colorado refuge, north of the village7.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    $$ · US$15–50
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A narrow, calm canal of about 5.1 km with thick vegetation and many water birds. It is entered from the Penitencia lagoon, beside Cerro Tortuguero, and is the only one that does not start from the Tortuguero River.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Although it lies in the Barra del Colorado refuge, the park manages it and you need its ticket.

    Nearby: Cerro Tortuguero (2.6 km) · Aninga zipline (6.6 km) · Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitor’s Center (7.4 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero · Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística

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  7. 7

    NatureOpen

    Jalova sector

    Southern end of the park, toward Parismina30.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The park’s southern sector, with the Jalova lagoon, Caño Aguas Negras (1,155 m, with very dark water) and Caño California (4,255 m). It has an entry control, ticket sales and toilets.

    Source: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $16.95 for foreign adults and $5.65 for children 2–12, VAT included.

    Tip: Caño California has strong currents in the rainiest months. Fishing is prohibited.

    Nearby: Parismina (0.3 km) · Pacuare Reserve (14.6 km)

    Sources: Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística · SINAC – Parque Nacional Tortuguero

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  8. 8

    WaterOpen

    Kayak and canoe, guided or self-guided

    Main canal in front of the village2.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $15
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Paddling is the quietest way to see wildlife. Many lodges lend kayaks and canoes, and locals in the village rent them; the Chiquero and Mora canals are paddle-only.

    Source: Rough Guides – Best Tortuguero National Park tours · 2024 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $ · under US$15

    Tip: Without a guide, stay on the main canal: the lagoon system northwest of the village is easy to get lost in. You need a ticket to enter the park’s canals.

    Nearby: Canal boat tour (0 km) · Birdwatching on the canals (0 km) · Caño Mora (1.1 km)

    Sources: Rough Guides – Best Tortuguero National Park tours · Rough Guides – Tortuguero National Park · Área de Conservación Tortuguero – Información turística

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