By the Where to Stay in Costa Rica editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Most visitors are happiest at a canal lodge sold as a package: two nights with the boat from La Pavona or Caño Blanco, meals and guided tours included. It takes the logistics out of a place with no roads and few restaurants. Our pick is Tortuga Lodge.
Stay in the village if you're on a budget or want to plan things yourself. You can book canal and turtle tours with local guides on arrival, eat at small sodas, and walk to the beach and the park station.
Village or Lodge?
| Village guesthouses | Canal lodges | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Low; pay as you go | Higher, but transport, meals and tours are usually included |
| Getting there | Public boat from La Pavona, or a flight | Lodge boat transfers; some packages include the drive from San José |
| Food | Local sodas and a few restaurants | Buffet or set meals at the lodge |
| Nature | Beach and park station on foot | Gardens, pools and wildlife on site; boat to the village |
| Best for | Budgets, independent travelers | Families, first-timers, short stays |
Lodges across the canal need a boat to reach the village; Mawamba, Laguna Lodge and the village guesthouses let you walk.
Map of Tortuguero Lodges
The village sits on a strip of land between the main canal and the sea; most lodges are a few minutes north by boat.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Tortuguero stays →Best Lodges
Full-board stays with tours, from the most comfortable to the most jungly.
Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
Riverbank across from the airstrip, Tortuguero
Our top pick: the most polished lodge in Tortuguero, on the riverbank across from the airstrip, with guided tours and good food.
Best for: Fly-in luxury
- River views and air-conditioning
- Breakfast included
- Across from the airstrip
More about this hotel
Tortuguero's most comfortable lodge, with river-view rooms that have air-conditioning, an outdoor pool and breakfast included. It is directly across the river from the airstrip and 10 minutes by boat from the village.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Lars0001, Public domain
Manatus Hotel
Canal-side, north of the village, Tortuguero
Small, comfortable canal-side hotel with air-conditioning and a pool, north of the village.
Best for: Comfort with AC
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Pool with canal views
- Family rooms
More about this hotel
A small canal-side hotel with air-conditioned rooms, a pool and a bar. It sells itself as full board, so check what your Booking rate includes.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: S. Rae from Scotland, UK, CC BY 2.0
Mawamba Lodge
Between the beach and the canal, Tortuguero
Between the beach and the canal, with a path into the village; popular in turtle season.
Best for: Turtle season
- Between the beach and the canal
- Breakfast included
- Turtle tours July–October
More about this hotel
A long-running lodge on the strip between the Caribbean beach and the canals, with breakfast included, a pool, two restaurants and turtle tours in nesting season.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: C T Johansson, CC BY 3.0
Pachira Lodge
Across the canal from the village, Tortuguero
Large lodge across the canal from the village, usually sold as a package from San José.
Best for: Packages from San José
- Five minutes by boat to the park
- Pool and sun terraces
- Transfers from San José
More about this hotel
A large lodge on a 34-acre estate, five minutes by boat from the park entrance, with a pool and bus-and-boat transfers from San José for a fee.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Greg Frediani, Public domain
Evergreen Lodge
In the national park area, Tortuguero
Cabins in the forest on the edge of the national park, for the most jungle feel.
Best for: Jungle immersion
- Surrounded by forest
- Pool and massages
- Wooden cabins
More about this hotel
Wooden cabins in the forest outside the village, with a pool and massages. The listing mentions meals, so check what your rate includes.
Laguna Lodge
Between the lagoon and the sea, Tortuguero
Colorful lodge between the lagoon and the sea, a walk from the village.
Best for: Beach and lagoon
- 2-minute walk to the beach
- Large gardens and pool
- Lagoon and river views
More about this hotel
Six acres of gardens between the lagoon and the beach, which is a two-minute walk away, with a pool and lagoon views.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: S. Rae from Scotland, UK, CC BY 2.0
Best Village Stays
Simple, local and cheap, with tours booked direct.
Casa Marbella
Tortuguero village, Tortuguero
Owner-run B&B in the village, on the canal, with knowledgeable local hosts.
Best for: Budget village stays
- In the village
- River-view rooms
- Breakfast and transfers
More about this hotel
A friendly B&B in the village, about 600 m from the park entrance, with river-view rooms and staff who can arrange transfers.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Miss Miriam Beachfront Cabins
Tortuguero village, beachfront, Tortuguero
Simple beachfront cabins in the village, with Caribbean home cooking.
Best for: Budget beachfront
- Beachfront
- Caribbean restaurant
- Family rooms
More about this hotel
Simple beachfront cabins in the village with a traditional Caribbean restaurant on site.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Tortuguero Lodges at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Tortuga Lodge & GardensRiverbank across from the airstrip, Tortuguero · SplurgeFly-in luxuryCheck prices -
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Pachira LodgeAcross the canal from the village, Tortuguero · Mid-rangePackages from San JoséCheck prices -
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Miss Miriam Beachfront CabinsTortuguero village, beachfront, Tortuguero · BudgetBudget beachfrontCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
Riverside lodge
|
Riverbank across from the airstrip, Tortuguero | Splurge | Fly-in luxury | Check prices |
|
|
Manatus Hotel
Full-board hotel
|
Canal-side, north of the village, Tortuguero | Splurge | Comfort with AC | Check prices |
|
|
Mawamba Lodge
Lodge
|
Between the beach and the canal, Tortuguero | Mid-range | Turtle season | Check prices |
|
|
Pachira Lodge
Package lodge
|
Across the canal from the village, Tortuguero | Mid-range | Packages from San José | Check prices |
|
|
Evergreen Lodge
Jungle lodge
|
In the national park area, Tortuguero | Mid-range | Jungle immersion | Check prices |
|
|
Laguna Lodge
Lodge
|
Between the lagoon and the sea, Tortuguero | Mid-range | Beach and lagoon | Check prices |
|
|
Casa Marbella
Village B&B
|
Tortuguero village, Tortuguero | Budget | Budget village stays | Check prices |
|
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Miss Miriam Beachfront Cabins
Beach cabins
|
Tortuguero village, beachfront, Tortuguero | Budget | Budget beachfront | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Getting to Tortuguero
- By car and public boat: about 3 to 3.5 hours from San José to La Pavona (paved most of the way, then a flat dirt road; no 4x4 needed), where you leave the car in guarded parking. Public boats run several times a day and take 1 to 1.5 hours.
- By package: most lodges sell transfers from San José by shuttle and boat, some via Caño Blanco instead of La Pavona.
- By air: domestic flights land at Tortuguero's airstrip, saving most of a day.
- From Puerto Viejo or Cahuita: boats run along the canals from Moín, near Limón, in about 3.5 hours.
Turtles, Tours and Park Rules
- Turtle season: green turtles nest from about July to October; leatherbacks, fewer in number, from about March to May.
- Night beach rules: the beach is closed from 6 pm to 6 am except on guided turtle tours, which run in set time slots. Cameras and white light are not allowed near nesting turtles.
- Park tickets: buy entry to Tortuguero National Park online in advance on the SINAC website. Turtle tours are a separate fee.
- Canoe tours: paddled or silent electric canoes get into the narrow channels where motorboats can't, and early morning is the best time for wildlife.
The sea here is rough, with strong currents. Swim in your lodge's pool, not the ocean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.