As part of our stay at the Evergreen Lodge we had a visit to the village of Tortuguero. This famous backpacking destination is in the heart of the National Park. It sits just on the Caribbean coast and has one long strip of hotels and shops. It really is quite a unique place. If you are wondering what to see in Tortuguero village, this post is for you! If you are more interested in the wildlife, look at my blog posts on boat tours and treks that you can do in Tortuguero instead.
What to see in Tortuguero Village – Is it worth going to?
The Beach
It goes without saying that the beach is one of the main things to see. Don’t go in thinking that you’ll see white sand and pristine blue waters though. The National Park is mostly comprised of rivers and swamps, all of which lead out to the sea by the village. This silt all then gets transported here, making the sand a dark brown. Even the water looks a bit dirty!
Despite this seeming like an ugly Caribbean beach, it is far from that in reality. Like the surrounding area it seems wild, natural and untouched by civilisation. Look closely and you can make out turtle tracks as they come in to lay eggs. If you are lucky, you can see juvenile turtles running for the Ocean. Come at the right time (and have exceptional luck) and you could see a jaguar feasting on a turtle supper.
The beach is anything but a tranquil Caribbean tourist hot spot out of a Kuoni catalogue. I like it though; it is just the natural beach you want here.
Shops and Tourist Traps
Tortuguero has one long ‘strip’. It goes on for about a mile and has a variety of buildings along it. A lot of these are your classic souvenir shops. I don’t want to do them a disservice though. Many of the shops have some lovely things to buy and take home, including ornaments, magnets, clothes and cuddly toys.
Whilst shops may not be top of your ‘what to see in Tortuguero village’ list, it is a perfect place to buy any souvenirs. It is a lot cheaper than the rest of the main tourist hot spots in Costa Rica. Seriously, some things we found were 4x cheaper here than they were in Monteverde or Arenal. This also includes bottled drinks – friends of ours told us to stock up here. Easily some of the best advice we got and saved us plenty of cash.
Like any big tourist strip, you get the tourist traps. These either are tours or some of the shops. With the shops, make sure you look around before purchasing anything. The prices can fluctuate along the village and you don’t want to pay extra in one shop. With the tours, make sure you ask your hotel first. Tortuguero village will be cheaper than those offered by your hotel, but they are not always as ethical. Some obviously are, if not better, but others will just be looking for a quick dollar.
Speaking of dollars – bring Colones too. Sometimes you can get a slightly cheaper price with it than if you use a dollar.
Restaurants
Whilst not strictly something to see in Tortuguero village, there are some nice options here. You will find that there are two varieties along the strip. You have the more traditional ‘restaurant’ which will clearly state what it is and is usually housed in a larger building. You also have the smaller and more local ‘sodas’.
The restaurants offer a really good variety and you can find all sorts here. I would say that this option is slightly better for families, or the less experienced traveller. The food is decent, it is still cheap and you can’t really go wrong. Just make sure that you check out the reviews first!
Sodas are smaller and are essentially bars. These are perfect for groups of people who really want to meet people, or just enjoy a beer. The prices are not too dissimilar and there tends to be fewer (and different) options for food here.
Statues and Art
When you approach the village by boat, you cannot miss the famous statues. These are easily the most iconic things to see in Tortuguero village. You have the giant green machaw and, next to him, his friend the toucan. What is also cool though is that their jungle friends live beneath them as bins. You have the frogs, sloth and many more! I love these and really like the fun element that they add.
Around the village are some murals that are well worth a visit. The famous mackaw wings are just opposite the school, on the way to the beach. They reminded me of the famous ‘angel wings’ in Los Angeles, but with a jungle twist. Another must-see is the multicoloured Pura Vida sign, found halfway up the strip on the left.
Is going to Tortuguero Village worth it?
No matter where in the National Park you are staying, a visit to the village in some form is a must. There is plenty to see in Tortuguero village from fun shops and sodas to iconic art. Not only that, but the wildlife follows you here and is very much a part of the village. Lastly, eeverything is really cheap here and, to be honest, is as nice as anything anywhere else in the country. Don’t wait until Monteverde to buy souvenirs. We were almost charged $45 for two pairs of socks – true story!
