This area is the most important nesting grounds for the Green Sea Turtle in the Western Caribbean. During the summer months (July - September), thousands of turtles come ashore along these world-famous beaches to lay their eggs. Often called, "Costa Rica's Amazon", Tortuguero is a navigable network of lakes and channels that crosses this National Park and allows a great diversity of fauna and flora to be observed close at hand. It is possible to observe Iguana basking in trees, Monkeys and Sloths in the forest canopy, and the Raphia Palm with the largest leaves of any plant.

Biological Station "La Selva":

Adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park, owned and operated by the Organization of Tropical Studies (OTS), an international consortium of universities dedicated to the study of the rain forest and tropical areas. The National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. has recognized La Selva as one of the four most ideal places in the world for Rain Forest research. Over 500 species of birds, 100 species of mammals, and 2,000 species of plants have been identified in this biologically rich area.

Tortuguero/La Selva Excursion

3 nights/4 days

Day 1 - Bus and boat trip to Mawamba Lodge. Mawamba Lodge is located in the midst of Tortuguero National Park, a tropical rain forest, and a navigable network of lakes and channels that crosses the area from southeast to the northwest. This allows a great diversity of fauna and flora of the region to be observed close at hand. Additionally, it is the most important nesting site in the western half of the Caribbean for the Green Turtle. Located on a sand bar between the Tortuguero Lagoon and Caribbean Sea, the lodge has 40 comfortable rooms all with private baths with hot water, ceiling fans, a dock on the canals, swimming pool, family-style restaurant with international and local cuisine, nature trails, walking beach access, and a conference room where daily lectures on Costa Rica's natural history are presented. (B) (L) (D)

Day 2 - Day of tours on Tortuguero's navigable network of lakes and channels. Optional nighttime tour to observe the nesting of the leatherback turtles. (B) (L) (D)

Day 3 - Leave Mawamba by boat via San Juan river (natural border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua) to arrive at Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and Selva Verde Lodge. Selva Verde adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Reserve is one of Costa Rica's if not the America's premier rain forest lodges, located at the edge of the Sarapiquí River, on a 500 acre private rain forest reserve. The lodge provides ample accommodations with 45 double rooms with private baths and showers with hot water and open into large spacious wooden balconies. Delicious meals featuring the local cuisine are served in an open and spacious thatched roof dining room next to the river. Selva Verde offers excellent opportunities for bird watching, hiking, horseback riding and other activities. Afternoon free to explore the area on hikes or horseback. (B) (D)

Day 4 - Early morning guided hike to La Selva Biological Reserve, owned and managed by the Organization for Tropical Studies, a consortium of universities dedicated to rain forest research. The U.S. Academy of Sciences has recognized La Selva as one of the four most ideal places in the world for this kind of research. After lunch begin 2 hour drive back to San Jose with an enroute stop at the Rain Forest Aerial Tram. The Rain Forest Aerial Tram is only 45 minutes away from San Jose and is located in a 1000 acre private reserve of virgin rain forest that borders Braulio Carillo National Park, one of the most biologically diverse parks in Costa Rica and possessing one of the richest canopy communities in the world. This unique experience consists of an aerial excursion through the rain forest canopy, home to two-thirds of all rain forest species, accompanied by local guides.
(The guide training program is designed to provide locals with new work opportunities which protect the natural environment)

Package includes:


• 3 nights lodging
• All transportation
• All meals where indicated (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
• Aerial tram tour
• Tortuguero tours
• Guided hike to La Selva Biological Reserve