Tortuguero, Limon

Located in a land of contrast, Tortuguero is an uncommon place in Costa Rica. Surrounded by wetlands, rivers, and the Caribbean Sea, this area is still a mystery for both locals and foreigners. Because of the swamps and marshes, it is really hard to find suitable land suitable for sustainable human living. Scientists believe there are a lot of flora and fauna species to be discovered yet in Tortuguero.
  
Also, the government declared most of the zone as a protected area, with one national park, Tortuguero, and a natural reserve, Barra del Colorado. This makes it almost no possible to build anything around the area without passing a huge list of requisites the government asks in order to keep the area from contamination.
  
Suerte and Colorado river divides into dozens of canals some kilometers inland. These canals go from north to south, east to west, and they are the main “roads” there. Hundreds of boats travel around all day and replace the buses, trucks, and cars as the main source of moving around between the few villages and hotels.

Reasons to visit Tortuguero

Sounds troublesome… Why go there? Because Tortuguero is not only unique in Costa Rica but around the world!! Thousands of birds, mammals, lizards, and amphibians make their home there. This is why countries like Canada and Spain have scientific stations placed at some strategic points. 
Take your camera and take a photo tour where an expert in the area will take you on a quiet trip around the canals and you’ll see iguanas, crocodiles, basilisks (lizards), turtle rivers, and frogs of all kinds, toucans, and hawks, etc. If you are “lucky” enough maybe a black panther or a jaguar. 
This is just a glimpse of what you can find in the marshes and mangroves. Then here comes the beautiful beaches, the favorite nest place of sea turtles!!

Sustainable Ecotourism

Carey and Baula turtles love these Costa Rica beaches to spawn their eggs. Both turtle species were in real danger and people then dug up the eggs for selling them in restaurants. Turtle eggs are considered a delicacy still today. 
Then the government has two issues to solve here, protect the turtles and the flora and fauna of Tortuguero, and give the locals ways to gain an income.  
Since then, some permits were given to build hotels around to create jobs. The Tortuguero National Park was created and local guides can take tourists to watch the turtles nesting with the right equipment and methods to not disturb them. 
Fishing is still allowed both in rivers and the sea but it is monitored by the authorities.  
Tortuguero is an example to the world that it is possible for a sustainable way of living for humans that is compatible with the conservation of the animals and plants we share this world with.

Photos

We share with you some photos of Tortuguero. It is solely a glimpse of all the things you can see there.