Shuttle and Boat San Jose to Tortuguero (B/L/D)
At 7:00 AM, depart from San José with your naturalist guide and drive past coffee plantations, heading into the mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Enjoy the sight of steep slopes covered in thick cloud forest and stunning waterfalls visible from the road. At 8:30 AM, stop just after the park for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast, featuring fruit juice, coffee, eggs, and the popular gallo pinto. By 9:30 AM, cross expansive banana plantations. At 10:30 AM, abandon the bus and embark on an exciting boat trip into the jungle of Tortuguero National Park, where you'll learn about the tropical humid rainforest. Spanning 29,000 hectares, Tortuguero is a crucial nesting site for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and a habitat for endangered mammals like sloths, monkeys, agoutis, coatimundis, and manatees, as well as abundant birds such as toucans, trogons, egrets, herons, and aninghas, plus crocodiles, turtles, and vibrant butterflies like the blue morpho. Arrive at the lodge by 1:00 PM and enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail followed by a delicious buffet lunch. At 2:45 PM, take a canal tour in Tortuguero National Park, exploring hidden canals and lagoons, with towering trees adorned with bromeliads, vines, and orchids, and spot diverse wildlife. Return to the lodge by 4:30 PM to relax before dinner, which will be served at 7:00 PM. Enjoy a delicious dinner to conclude your day.