No cars, no roads, no noise — just footpaths, boats and the sound of howler monkeys. What daily life in Tortuguero feels like.
When guests step off the boat for the first time, the same thing always happens: they pause, look around, and ask "...where are the cars?"
There are none. Not a single road connects Tortuguero to the rest of Costa Rica. The village is a ribbon of sandy footpaths between the canal and the sea, and everything — people, groceries, building materials, even the occasional sofa — arrives by boat.
What that means for your stay
It means you wake to howler monkeys instead of traffic. It means children play football on the beach after school and neighbors chat on porches in the evening. It means the loudest thing you'll hear at night is rain on leaves.
Getting around
Everywhere in the village is a short walk. The national park entrance, the beach and the village center are all within five minutes of the hotel. For everything else, there's a boat.
A community that protects its paradise
Tortuguero grew up around turtle conservation, and the village remains deeply proud of its role protecting the nesting beaches. When you book a guided tour, you're directly supporting local families who chose conservation over poaching generations ago.
Come see what a town without cars sounds like. We'll have the coffee ready.
Planning your Tortuguero trip?
Book direct and we'll arrange tours, meals and transport for you.
