Visiting The Tortuguero National Park (Cerro Tortuguero Sector)—Photos And Brief (5-Minute Read): Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

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Our sister site, Pura Vida! eh? Inc., has discounts for national park tours. Con mucho gusto (you’re welcome) and pura vida!

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IMPORTANT: This article is part of our Memorable Costa Rica series.

The revered Latin American female writer Isabel Allende once advised: “Write what should not be forgotten.” Inspired by the quote’s brevity and the subject matter of lasting significance, the articles in our Memorable Costa Rica series are concise and highlight what we feel are the most memorable aspects of featured Costa Rica experiences. If you don’t want to waste time rereading the repeated facts and long-drawn-out paraphrased summaries that some other Costa Rica resources offer, then the personal briefs in our Memorable Costa Rica series are perfect for you. Use them to discover the unique qualities and unforgettable moments that we believe each Costa Rica experience provides, so you can easily decide which experiences are worth incorporating into your trip, and in only five minutes or less. 👍🏽

Estimated reading time for this article: 6 minutes

Tortuguero National Park (Cerro Tortuguero Sector) brief

A fun way to kill a few rainy hours in Tortuguero (or a few bright and sunny ones, for that matter) is by hiking to the top of Cerro Tortuguero (Tortuguero Hill), a hill with an observation deck—reachable via climbing up a staircase of 432 steps—that overlooks the bulk of the Tortuguero National Park from the north. Despite belonging to the national park, Cerro Tortuguero isn’t the park’s main attraction. (Most Tortuguero visitors are drawn to and tour the park’s marine sector, known as the Canales Sector, and others explore the park’s Cuatro Esquinas Sector, a terrestrial area adjacent to Tortuguero Village that’s toured on foot.) Regardless, visiting Cerro Tortuguero is one of the least expensive and most rewarding things you can do in Tortuguero, a winning combination that shouldn’t be missed. Although it’s possible to access Cerro Tortuguero entirely on foot from Tortuguero Village, quick 20-minute boat rides to and/or from the hill are the safer and more scenic way to reach it. Our preferred way of accessing Cerro Tortuguero is to take a boat that travels between the Almendro Dock in Tortuguero proper and a dock on the east side of the hill (you’ll find the staircase to the observation deck at the end of a short nature trail beyond the dock), then climb the staircase on our own. Alternatively, guided tours of the hill travel from Tortuguero Village and area hotels by boat, and they typically access Cerro Tortuguero from beyond a dock on the west side of the hill. (Accessing the hill via the west requires payment of the park entrance fee but accessing the hill via the east does not, although you should pay the entrance fee anyway to support and help maintain the park.) No matter which dock you enter through, the climb up the staircase to the observation deck is the same, and it’s not as daunting as it looks; you can stop and rest whenever you need. Not surprisingly, the panoramic view from the observation deck is stunning (you’ll have the Caribbean Sea, Tortuguero’s lagoon and canals, and the nearby community of San Francisco de Tortuguero in your sights), and although the view is more photogenic on sun-filled days, aim to make a trip to Cerro Tortuguero when it’s overcast to experience less heat, less humidity, and a more comfortable, enjoyable hike.

Tortuguero National Park (Cerro Tortuguero Sector) photos

Map of the Tortuguero National Park (Cerro Tortuguero Sector)

More information about the Tortuguero National Park (Cerro Tortuguero Sector)

For more information about the Tortuguero National Park, including the attraction’s current operations and visitor information, please see the national park’s website. (Note: If you wish to hike the Cerro Tortuguero hill, be sure to select the “Cerro Tortuguero” option, not the “Cuatro Esquinas” or “Canales” option, when reserving tickets to the Tortuguero National Park on the park’s website.) For information about the Tortuguero National Park entrance fee, don’t miss our related blog post: A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, And Refuges.

Pura vida!

Do you have questions about the Cerro Tortuguero Sector of the Tortuguero National Park, or how to best incorporate a visit to this park into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂

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