Name: Tortuga Lodge
Address: Across the river, Tortuguero, CR

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2025

Eyal

Great service. Great breakfast. Amazing rooms.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2025

Faye

We had a fantastic stay loved the boat ride to the lodge, rooms were spacious, lovely big bathroom
Balcony had a lovely swinging seat overlooking the river
Breakfasts were fruit plus fish of your choice and was excellent
Trails around the hotel were great to see frogs and birds
We did a fantastic magical kayaking trip which is a must
We visited national park to see turtles laying eggs, unfortunately she Borykng the hole before laying eggs but we did see the turtle going back to the sea and the hole shed dug, still a memorable experience
A highlight were the iguanas lounging around the pool with us and the macaws hanging out in the trees

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2025

Jason Christian

Tortuga Lodge was an amazing stay. The staff was incredibly friendly. The tours available were fun, informative, and worth it! The staff was very helpful in helping us schedule our tours. Definitely recommend.

A quick note. Transportation by boat is very difficult after hours. While the staff was able to connect us with a private transfer, it took alot of communication.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2025

Malcolm

Staff was outstanding. Beverage/Food quality was great but very pricey.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2025

valerie

Beautiful place, AMAZING food (gourmet! Fresh!) super friendly staff! Beautiful nature! We saw times of animals- crocodiles, birds, monkeys, even a couple of tayras! Unfortunately it was raining a lot but other than that, really nice place!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jan 2025

Maneera

Beautiful property with amazing, large rooms. Great patio with chairs and a swing bed. Large bathroom with a great shower, water pressure and hot water! Property was amazing with lots of trails and animals. Only downside was the transportation option offered by the lodge itself was very limited - they should offer more boat transfers from the mainland. And install blackout curtains in the rooms - made it impossible to nap in the afternoons!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2024

Verified traveler

Incredible stay. Very comfortable rooms with good AC, nice and quiet. Food was amazing for a remote lodge. Staff all very friendly and personable. Tours were fun.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Nov 2024

Michael

Tortuga lodge was incredible if you like seeing Iguanas walking around, howler monkeys in the trees sharing their breakfast with their babies, and Toucans and Macaws flying overhead. Zulay at reception was fantastic! She always had a smile on her face and was so incredibly helpful while solving some problems for us. Enrique and all of the wait/bar/restaurant staff were thoughtful enough to remember our names.Amazing service and amazing resort. We highly recommend the night tour on the property if you like creepy crawly critters. Just an amazing experience for our family.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Nov 2024

Scot

Loved it!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Nov 2024

Verified traveler

Had a wonderful time at this property. Kind staff, clean room and great amenities. Food is delicious as well.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Oct 2024

Man Wah

Beautiful grounds with private trail. Room has good amenities and food choices/service was excellent. It’s 10min boat ride to town so it’s a bit inconvenient (trade off is super quiet hotel) and gets costly for taxi boat ($8pp one way). There was construction above our room (#15) so we couldn’t take a nap or sleep in! Otherwise it’s a superb hotel and we would absolutely come back!

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

25 Oct 2024

Joachim

Beautiful hotel, fantastic service, great dining, excellent quiet location!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2024

Serena

Fabulous!

This lodge is hands down one of the best places I’ve ever stayed in all my years of travel. From the moment I arrived, the staff was friendly and incredibly helpful. The pickup from the small airport was seamless and really eased the anxiety of arriving in a new, unfamiliar place.

The pool was a highlight, with a perfect temperature and a unique design that overlooks the water—truly stunning. My room had tasteful, colorful decor and featured some fun outdoor furniture, giving it a lively, tropical vibe. It was also impeccably clean, which can be challenging in a tropical environment, but the staff does an excellent job maintaining it. Another thoughtful touch was the umbrellas provided in each room, a lifesaver in a place where it rains so often.

Fun benefit - the sound of howler monkeys in the mornings made the experience quite special.

The room was also incredibly quiet, ensuring I had great sleep each night. Getting into town was super easy with the water taxi service. All in all, I had an amazing stay and would highly recommend this place to anyone!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2024

Maxime

Fantastic cozy hotel next to the jungle. You can see beautiful animals wandering the grounds, and csn go on a wonderful small hike right next to the hotel. The restaurant is also excellent (loved the ceviche and bisque) and the rooms comfy and with air conditioning.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Sep 2024

Melania

Excellent hotel with great staff. We stayed 3 nights and enjoyed the hotel and also the tours they provide. Good food as well...recomended

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2024

Matt

This was a very unique stay, we enjoyed our time here and exploring Tortuguero!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2024

Tasia

A great place to relax
Great food

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Mar 2024

Arthur

Excellent boutique hotel in Tortuguero

Wonderful stay at Tortuga lodge. The accommodation and food were fantastic. This place is just magic and very convenient for a flight as Tortuga airport (very quiet) is just across the river. Highly recommend

Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2024

Adam

Good and could be great with more inclusive rate

Great service and good food. All the extras cost a bomb though so the final bill is huge. For example - a 5 minute shuttle on a boat was charged at over 30 dollars. That is a lot. Great place to stay for 2 days but not plenty to do beyond that. Good but felt a bit too much like a machine.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2024

George

Terrific Tortuga

A great stay in a beautiful place close to wonderful jungle to explore.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jan 2024

Helen

The hotel location is beautiful, although we didn't realise it couldn't be accessed by road, so please note that if you have a car you have to drive to one of the areas where you can get the boat taxis and leave your car behind. This, however, was a great way to get to the hotel. We had a room with a large balcony and lovely view, and our private tour the next day of the national park, with Elvis, was outstanding and definitely worth the money (although not cheap!). We saw so much from the water and would recommend it to anyone. There isn't anything to do at night, and dinner is from 6 - 8.30pm, but as most tours start from 6am this wasn't a problem as going to bed early is recommended. Beautiful, quiet location, with a free transfer to the local town, although only an hour is needed there as it is just a street with restaurants and shops. The beach isn't anything to write home about, as it is black sandy strewn with wood, so not somewhere nice to sit, but it is worth catching the free boat across the river to have a look at it, and this is also where the air strip is for the plane if you are arriving from San Jose this way. The staff were lovely, the pool is a lovely added bonus and we enjoyed a couple of hours by it and swam in it too. I would highly recommend this hotel if staying in Tortoguero National Park, which is a must if visiting Costa Rica.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Aug 2023

Verified traveler

The place offers really unique and relaxing experience. The grounds are beautiful, the staff is extremely helpful and accommodating. We loved the rooms though hard surfaces could use better cleaning and BR could use an upgrade. The ac was dripping pretty badly on the first day of our arrival but it was quickly fixed. The food, staff and their services were impeccable.
My biggest disappointment had to do with the steep fee charged for tours. We knew that direct booking through any hotel would be a bit more expensive but 3 times more felt simply exploitative. All the tours offer the same experience but you would pay a third or less booking with external providers. Additionally, there is no access to places outside the hotel except their services which were both quite expensive and limited in times. Also we were not aware that the last boat to get to the lodge leaves at 3:00pm. We had to change our flights to arrive a day early so we could make it on time from SJ. I wish someone would have informed us of this at the time of booking or on their site.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2023

Andre

We stayed in three locations/hotels in CR. Tortuga Lodge was our favourite. The staff and service were exceptional. Always a smiling face. Nice touch to remember all our names. Very flexible. Food was excellent and nothing was a problem. Wish we had stayed longer. Thank you Tortuga for a wonderful experience. X

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2023

Verified traveler

All of the staff were very helpful, friendly and made the difference.
Food at the hotel was particularly good, tasty and very well presented.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2023

Ethan

We Loved It and Hope to Return

Beautiful facility and wonderful staff who are so friendly and helpful. The food is excellent and plentiful. We only did two activities (extra charge) but both guides were outstanding. We highly recommend Tortuga Lodge.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2022

Jane

Fabulous stay at Tortuga Lodge

We loved everything about our stay at Tortuga Lodge. If you're looking for a place that provides both luxury and adventure, this is it. I never imagined I would enjoy a 6:00 am boat ride in the pouring rain on Rio Tortuguero, but since I was comfortably ensconced in my hotel provided poncho, I could fully appreciate the bounties of nature in all of its glory. The abundance of wildlife, skillfully pointed out by our wonderful hawk-eyes guide, Luis, truly made this a unique and special adventure. The highlight of our visit was the 10:00 pm trip to the Caribbean side to see greenback turtles nesting. No photos allowed or necessary. This incredible experience seeing turtles emerge from the water and watching them dig a hole with their flippers and lay their eggs is seared in my memory. While I know our guide Luis had experienced this thousands of times before, his enthusiasm for each new wonder of nature for us made each sighting all the more special. The hotel staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. Kudos to the chef for our wonderful meals. All in all, we had a fabulous three days at Tortuga Lodge and hope to return again soon!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2022

Agnieszka

Unique location

We loved everything about our stay: food, nature, location, services and customer care.
It is not the cheapest but you get what you pay for.
We would recommend and definitely would stay again.
Thank you for taking care of us.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

02 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

Overall this is a great place for the location. Staff was very kind and gracious, but would make promises but sometimes little follow through. The trails were closed due to flooding but the property and pool were beautiful and the food was great! Would stay again.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

exceptional service. Very hospitable staff. Exquisite food. Very relaxing environment.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2021

Jessica

The Tortuga Lodge is a one of a kind experience. We used their transfer from the dock at La Pavona. From the time we stepped on the boat we were treated like first class guests. Our captain and first mate both made sure to point out the different animals to see on the boat ride to the lodge. The staff at the lodge is extremely helpful in coordinating activities and even coordinating boat trips to town of Tortuguero, which saved us a bunch of money in water taxi fees. The rooms are amazing. The view and wildlife on site are amazing. There is no a/c which I read some negative reviews about, but we didn't seem to need it. There are no windows, only screens so there is a breeze and the rooms don't get hot and stuffy. I wish we had more than 2 nights. The menu is limited, but a short boat ride to Tortuguero and there are plenty of dining options. The kids enjoyed playing in the pool and I enjoyed reading in the hammock house. My kids were able to fish off their little pier and they provide everything, the poles and bait, but be careful, there are a lot of puffer fish and they are quite toxic. We hiked the property and glad we took up the offer for their supplied rubber boots because it is muddy! Also, they have a supply of sunblock and bug spray for guests to use. And boy, the bug spray was quite handy during the hike. I would love to come back in the future.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

Glorious setting, a really special place, well worth the effort to get to, the staff are amazing

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Fantastic

Absolutely excellent

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2019

JennaOBrien

The remote location is beautiful, the staff attentive and the property truly a once-in-a-lifetime eco-lodge. We had a wonderful, tranquil start to our honeymoon in this beautiful resort! Thank you Tortuga Lodge for the incredible tours (Norton is wonderful), the delicious restaurant and the stunning lodge and gardens! The pool, hammocks, wandering iguanas and yummy happy hours were an even bigger bonus.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

From the moment we arrived the staff was so welcoming and helpful. The property and rooms were beautiful and the food in the restaurant delicious. The tours we booked through the front desk were wonderful too! We went in the turtle and national park tours and visited the school too.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2019

Mia

One of my best travel experiences ever!

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens was an incredible place for me and my sister to stay in Tortuguero. As if the views and natural beauty surrounding the entire property weren’t enough to make this place so special, the staff are all so friendly and accommodating. We had everything we could’ve possibly wished for during the couple of days that we stayed here. The lodge made it so easy for us to book all of our tours and get around the area. Absolutely would not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone looking to stay in Tortuguero!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

The staff at the property truly make their guests feel welcome. We enjoyed local tours, walks through the garden at the property, and time at the pool.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2019

Rachel

This hotel was lovely. The room was large, the bathroom clean and modern, the pool and views amazing. The food was tasty and the staff was excellent.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

07 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Beautiful and peaceful. You may miss TV and AC, but there a lot more to see!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Excellent hotel in the middle of the Jungle. Stuff were really helpful. The complimentary tour was amazing, we got to see all sort of animals right in the backyard of our room.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

El hotel es precioso una ubicación fantástica, para quedarse a vivir. Desayunos cenas y comidas riquísimas!!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Immersed in Nature!

We had a lovely family holiday at Tortuga lodge for 2 nights. The hotel is set in a forest surrounding with beautiful gardens and a nature reserve behind. There is plenty of flora, fauna and wildlife. The breakfast and dinner was good with vegetarian options. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is no air conditioning in the rooms and it can get very hot in the night. You have to use the hotel water boat if available or a water taxi to go anywhere. We got on a packed public water taxi from Pavona dock for $10pp to Tortuguero town and then asked the taxi to drop us off to the hotel for $5 extra. Our return transfer was organised by the hotel and was very efficient. Overall a wonderful stay at the hotel. There was no network service but the wifi was good. The hotel can organise a lot of activities for those who want to do them.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2019

Stijn

Amazing!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Apr 2019

Delphine

Very nice, quiet and remote hotel with different trails to discover the local animals( we saw iguanas, monkeys, birds) , a warm pool with salt treatment and not chlorine. They have a restaurant which is a little pricey but the service is great .

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

The property is very remote but you can get to the small quaint town by boat. The monkeys are amazing and the strawberry poison dart frogs on the walking trail are breathtaking and so vibrant in color. There is no a/c or tv but good Wi-Fi. However the breeze off the water and fans in the room are good enough to stay comfortable in night and day. Plus the kayak tour with Norton is a lot of fun and interesting in spotting wildlife.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

The staff was exceptionally kind and helpful. The room was very clean and inviting. The overall facility afforded great relaxation and ample opportunities to appreciate and learn about the natural surroundings of the rain forest.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

You are so close to the National Park, The property walks by themselves are terrific.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2018

Jon

It's not possible to score 6* but the staff and overall experience at this hotel was amazing. .. customer service,, food, location and overall ambiance were fantastic. We worried that it's isolation would be an issue but this was actually a bonus, the jungle was right outside your door.
None of my family wanted to leave!
Thank you so much for a great start to our holiday.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2018

Gemma

A great 3 night stay along the riverside

A beautiful riverside lodge with excellent rooms and public spaces. Located just a 5 minute boat ride from Tortuguero village. Very friendly helpful staff. Highly recommended!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Sep 2018

V

Great location, very friendly and helpful staff, at least breakfast should be included in the room price.
I read a lot about overpriced food. Yes, the restaurant is somehow pricey but you always have to remember where you are ... in the middle of nowhere. And the food they serve is pretty good

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2018

Barry

3 great days in paradise

We loved this lodge. Can’t say enough positive things about it. Staff were amazing. Food was excellent and the room was charming. It gets 5 stars from us. Highly recommend this lodge.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2018

Mike

Awesome

We parked our rental car and took the boat ride from La Pavona directly to the hotel. This was a good choice, as the boat had a naturalist and we stopped several times to look at wildlife. Once arriving at Tortuga Lodge, we were greeted by friendly faces and given an introduction to the hotel, the gardens, and activities. Our room overlooked the water, which was beautiful and there were large iguanas and other creatures roaming the grounds. The restaurant was excellent, as was the pool area. The staff was simply amazing. We had a couple of issues. 1) Our safe door had trouble and after trying to fix it, they replaced the door, which solved the problem; 2) Our smoke detector started that beeping sound when the battery is running out right before we were going to call it a night. They security folks had to round up a tall ladder, but found it and got the thing to stop beeping. Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful. My only regret is that we didn't stay longer than 2 nights. I think 3 nights would be a good minimum here. Can't wait to return someday.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

A lovely hotel with high standard rooms. We were given an upgrade which was an unexpected bonus. Rates were quite high, but Tortuguero is a hard place to get to. If the Lodge boat transport isn't available to get to and from town you will have to pay more for a private trip back and forth. $10 each way seemed to be the going rate.

8/10

Excellent

01 Feb 2018

Kerry

Wonderful location

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. The food was excellent and the guides knowledgeable.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2017

Mcvea

Rain Forest Luxury

My wife and I stayed 8 days. Exceptional service, food, amenities, tours, scenery, animal and plants were among the many exciting things we experienced. We were met with a fruit drink and a cold towel to freshen up. We then were given a orientation by the staff while our luggage was taken to our rooms. Shuttle boats to the local town of Tortuguera across the river added to the many conveniences of Tortuga Lodge and Gardens. Immediately across the river was the air strip and just beyond that was the ocean. Daily maid service was a real plus. Strong WiFi everywhere.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Aug 2017

Verified traveler

Staff were excellent. Excellent tours and services. I rated cleanliness a 4 only because the screens were dirty, but I am not sure how often they would need cleaning in that environment.

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2017

Verified traveler

Cool location but very expensive.

Very remote area but they do offer a water taxi during certain times of the day to help you view the area. Overpriced hotel but I can see why in the remote area. Nothing is included in your stay, you pay for everything on top of your nightly charge.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2017

robert

Great hotel on the edge of the rainforest

Location right on the river is amazing, guides for the boat trips are very knowledgeable. Food very good even if the menu is a bit limited. Staff really friendly. Overall an excellent 3 days

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Mar 2017

amy

Unique

Hard to get to but worth it! Mystical, magical, beautiful,

Hard to be gluten free but not impossible. Amazing pool, jungle access, and total zen environment. Monkeys and scarlet macaws on parade.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Lovely jungle hotel!

I had a wonderful time at this hotel. Wonderful for R & R, informative jungle walks, and a accommodating staff. It's best to get a room that is not next to the steps, since people have to go past your window to get to their rooms (privacy issue). There's not a lot to do at the hotel besides wildlife watching and relaxing, so if that is what you are looking for, it's a gem.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2017

Fay

Fabulous location. The staff weee very friendly. The food was excellent.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

13 Nov 2016

Ortiz

Nothing to say at this time. ???????????????????????????????????????????

10/10

Exceptional

20 Oct 2016

Corinne

Between water and rainforest.

Loved to boat rides to town and the ocean with Jordan....he was so kind, always smiling. Willis was an excellent turtle tour guide, and even found some sloths and a toucan along one of our boat rides with him. Fantastic service from all!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Oct 2016

Ghizlane

Close to the jungle

Close to the jungle
Nature, could walk alone do the jungle...wonderful
Boots were provided, as well as moskito repelent,
Shuttle to the beach, to Tortuguero village,
Vip welcome, with a fruit cocktail
Excelent restaurant!
Farewell from the complete reception and some restaurant staff, it was so nice and in a way familiar!!
Everybody who likes nature, will love this unique place

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2016

michal

We really enjoyed our stay

It a very unique place, very comfortable and different in view and atmosphere. It is a place for people who love animals and nature, and want to relax and enjoy a different experience. The food is good and so is the guideness. The service is greater, every one is very friendly.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Sep 2016

oscar

Nice place

Good place to go by your own boat. A lot of space for docking and security at night.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Sep 2016

Carolyn

Great hotel in a very hard to get to area!

Service was 5 stars! Beautiful location and hotel. Wonderful food. Would absolutely recommend!

10/10

Exceptional

13 Sep 2016

James

A paradise by the river with private jungle!

I loved it.

Family

4/10

Poor

23 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

There were ants in our room.
The staff was not friendly.
Room was over priced.
Hotel is out of the way from any activities so you have to use hotel's tours or get water taxis.

8/10

Excellent

13 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

Great hotel and staff! The hiking trails provided were a lot of fun, and seeing all the different birds like macaws and toucans when you walk outside was amazing

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

Excellent Choice

Location, accommodations, food and staff were ALL excellent. Would recommend highly.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2016

Verified traveler

Beautiful, beware extra charges!

Beautiful room, beautiful grounds, fun trails to navigate on the property, delicious food, fun pool, good drinks. Altogether, an almost perfect trip! Note: the only way to access tortuguero town is via another boat. It looks like they can pick you up at La Pavona so you can go straight there and avoid the public boat everyone else uses. Just email them and find out - something we were unaware of. Also, the wins at the front desk attempted to charge us twice for the room. I had already paid through hotels.com, but I had put there would be 2 guests instead of three. Instead of charging us the $15 extra person fee, she charged me for the room again. We got it sorted, but be careful and study the charges they give you carefully!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2016

janet

Great location,staff and activities

Relaxing after long bus tour. Great staff. We arrived at 7 am by plane. They picked us up, fed us breakfast and put us in a room so we could relax until check in. We had a great tour of the park with Norton. Close to nature experience, including monkeys barking at sunrise. They provide ear plugs. I would highly recommend. Rained on and off but the boats are prepared for it.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Oct 2015

danny

Wonderful gem

Fell in love with this hotel and it's staff. Had a wonderful stay in this idyllic setting. All tours organised were fabulous saw monkeys, iguanas, birds, nesting turtles and more. Don't want to leave

8/10

Excellent

18 Sep 2015

Jennifer

Beautiful and relaxing hotel

We really enjoyed our stay at Tortuga. The rooms were really comfortable and had a great view of the river from the lovely balconies with hammocks on them. The staff were very friendly and we really enjoyed the kayaking and turtle nesting trips which were very well organised, with great guides and small numbers of guests per guide. The pool and gardens were lovely and we enjoyed the restaurant with its resident iguana although we felt there could have been a greater choice of menu in the evening. I would definitely recommend it.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2015

Paul

Perfect hotel in a lovely location

Family of 4 (with 2 kids) stayed in August.
Excellent hotel.
Lovely grounds - easy to see monkies, sloths, lizards, dart frogs etc etc
Wonderful restaurant & reasonably priced.
Tours organised by the hotel are good.
Brilliant Pool.

8/10

Excellent

22 Aug 2015

Katherine

Tortuga Lodge fun

Really interesting place with fabulous wildlife and friendly staff - make sure you wear insect repellent as I have more bites than I can count.

Family

8/10

Excellent

31 Jul 2015

Roxanne

Probably the best place to stay in Tortuguero

We stayed here for 2 nights in early July and had a wonderful stay. The hotel is well-maintained and perfectly located on the main waterway, across from the airstrip (particularly perfect if you're flying in/out of Tortuguero, which you should). They have excellent nature guides on staff and more than once while we were in the national park, we found other tours following behind us. Also, the billing for the tours is handled at & by the hotel. I would have expected that to be the norm, but when we checked in at the ranger station it became apparent that other hotels required guests to pay at the ranger station individually which appeared to hold things up significantly. Also Tortuga Lodge is the only lodge allowed to offer private night tours to see turtles nesting on the beach which is far superior to the mass waiting in the forest for a ranger signal and then entering the beach in groups of 10 to watch.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2015

Verified traveler

3 nights in June

Best pool ever! Food was also deliciously gourmet! Only screens on windows however, so the sounds of the wildlife cannot be shut out!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2015

Mario

Awesome Hotel close to a Lagoon, river and beach

Experience for honeymooners was just amazing!! We will be more than happy to come back some day!! Staff is very nice, friendly and respectful!! I LOVE IT!!!

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2015

Jenny

Beautiful hotel.

Lovely hotel with great staff and location. Little touches like giving you a cold towel and cold drink on return from your excursions on the river.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2015

D

Absolutely amazing hotel.

This place is amazing, and me and my husband had a great time.
We were collected from the airport which is a short boat ride just across the river, as we arrive very early the room was not ready, so we dropped our bags and went for a nature guided tour (a 3 hours boat tour). The guide was very knowledgeable and was able to spot a lot of wildlife. After that, we enjoyed the swimming pool which had a fantastic view and large iguanas walking in the near garden. We also explored the local trail, the receptionist provide us with repellent and rubber boots which was a nice touch. We managed to see monkeys, a lot of different birds, red frogs and many other species.
We stayed only one night but we made the most of it. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a place to relax and enjoy the nature!

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2015

Sharon

Great staff and visit

Nice place to visit away from the hustle and bustle from every day life. The staff was great and Carmen was the friendliest and most warming individual ever. She made our stay so enjoyable! 😀

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

Nice resort! Right on the water

Great time, I'm coming back one day! Good place if you want to disconnect from the world and truly relax. Service was excellent and rooms are very clean. Tours are very easy to setup with staff and the tour guides are on point!

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2015

Sarah

Friendliest Place Ever!

We were a party of 6 and booked three rooms. Arrived by boat and greeted by the Assistant Manager and Staff Member with a welcome beverage. Upon check-in we were given a detailed discussion about the property, i.e., where to see Spider and Howler Monkeys, Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs, and other wildlife on the property. There is a large refuge on the property with trails. Boots, socks and walking sticks are provided at no cost. This is a rainforest, so expect the trails to be muddy year-round.

Our rooms were all very clean. No windows partly because it is difficult to get window glass to Tortuguero. We were happy with the screened windows and enjoyed the breeze and the sounds of the wildlife.

The bar and restaurant were open-air and very enjoyable. Every meal was beautiful and delicious. Lunch and breakfast are optionally served family-style. You will not go hungry. The wine list was sufficient and the bar well-stocked. Coffee/tea and muffins or cookies are available at no charge all day. A snack is provided at happy hour.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2015

tracy

Beautiful, serene, and hospitable

I stayed at Tortuga Lodge as part of my Honeymoon - it was the best part! The staff was welcoming and accommodating. We did all our excursions through the hotel, and each time we returned they were waiting with a freshly made drink. The free grounds tour was fantastic! We saw so many birds (including the macaw and a number of different toucans), howler monkeys, frogs, and a sleeping sloth. Iguanas were just roaming around the property. There were many areas set up to relax and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness. They also had many different meal options for a vegetarian and would even make changes to satisfy my cravings.

8/10

Excellent

09 Oct 2014

erik

Good hotel, though not cheap.
You can also book the rooms without the whole package, and arrange that in the village (or use the lonely planet.) must cheaper, just as good (or even better). We used castor (see also lonely planet).

Boats to/from the village only go 5 times per day. Otherwise you have to pay 10 dollars, that is annoying. One time the boat also didnt show up.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2014

TaniaRiera

Un sitio precioso y muy cuidado

El lugar es precioso, las cabañitas a pesar de estar integradas con la naturaleza están muy cuidadas y todo super limpio. El personal es amable. La piscina y jardines son espectaculares. El hotel tiene una reserva de selva privada alrededor en la que puedes hacer varios senderos por tu cuenta (ellos te dan un mapa q indica q animales son los mas frecuentes en cada tramo para q te vayas fijando) ellos te dan las botas para la selva, dejan paraguas en la puerta de las cabañitas por si hay alguna tormenta tropical etc. Todo sin cargo.

Tambien tienen unas barcas para cruzar al otro lado del canal disponible casi todo el tiempo y tb para ir al pueblo varias veces al día.

Un sitio muy recomendable!!!

La unica pega son las cenas, el precio del restaurante es elevado (35 dolares por persona sin bebidas incluidas) y la comida no esta a la altura de ese precio en absoluto.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Aug 2014

Hawkins

Tortuga lodge

Everything here was amazing . I went with my wife and two children (15,11) and had a wonderful time . The staff were great , the services provided 5 star and a dream location . We went on organised excursions which were amazing. They had a fisherman on sight , he took me and my son out into the ocean, which takes 10 minutes and we caught a 101 lb tarpin . We saw turtles laying eggs , a twilight tour of the jungle directly behind the lodges was amazing , the dolphin spotting was awesome , the list goes on .
I would recommend this venue to everyone , a dream holiday destination, we stayed for 7 days and found chilling by the infinity pool with iguanas fabulous .
Only downside to the holiday was having to leave , although that in its self was exciting as there is a runway for small planes 100 yards away . Brilliant .

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Jul 2014

David

Fun Isolation

Since most of the big cities are not really worth visiting, it is great to get out into the natural environment of the smaller towns. With no roads and only travel via boat within the region, it is a great place for relaxation and experiencing nature. The staff is friendly and the rooms are nice. Do plan on wearing insect repellant (which the hotel will provide) as there as many creatures around!

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2014

Trish

Fantasy Island

Our family had visited Costa Rica before but never quite like this. After we contacted Costa Rica Expeditions (transportation was needed to the island) We were met at the airport with a sign displaying our name. From there, their was a 3.5 hour chartered bus ride through the city, the cloud rainforest and many villages to the dock. On the boat ride down, looking at the beautiful rainforest and river all around us we knew that this was going to be amazingly different. Everything was wonderful. It was both relaxing and adventurous. The staff was friendly and very accommodating. They met us with a refreshing all natural fruit welcoming drink. We had the 3 meal a day Full American plan for our 6 days there and this was EXCELLENT. The food was delicious with great portions served. Overall this was an excellent hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2014

Gandhi

Family

Very nice place, beautiful setting, helpful staff. All in all a very good experience.

Family

8/10

Excellent

31 May 2014

Verified traveler

Great staff

Excellent service and food, the staff is second to none

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2014

andrea

Very nice hotel in a superb location

We stay only 1 night but we really appreciated the staff and the environment

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2014

Ed

Wonderful place

Stayed there with our kids for two days: amazon location, friendly staff, tons of activities around!

8/10

Excellent

31 Mar 2014

Marie

Incredible

Best place for à family vacation.

Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Mar 2014

Charlotte

Great hotel but unhelpful with transfers

We stayed two days at Tortuga Lodge. This is a wonderful hotel, comfortable with pleasant friendly staff. We did not purchase a package, however, and the staff were not at all helpful arranging transfers and Tortuguero is only available by plane or boat. The directions took us to the public boat transfer which required wading through water with our luggage to get on a boat that was filled to capacity. It took 3 1/2 hours to reach the hotel as the water was low and the boat had to be pushed several times. When planning for the return I asked several staff about arranging for a private boat back and no one was helpful so we went to the village and with another couple were able to arrange a private boat that took us back in 1 1/2 hrs. The guide books say not to do this as these boats are usually not insured but we didn't feel we had a choice. We loved our room except that it was closest to the pool and not very private (we were not able to change rooms). The morning boat tour through the creeks was wonderful and our guide, Norton, was amazing at pointing out monkeys, lizards, birds, cayman, iguana and more that are so easy to miss. The food at the hotel was good but to get to town you have to arrange taxis or use the hotel boat which does not have convenient times and is not always reliable on the return trips.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2014

Verified traveler

Very nice hotel

Spent 2 nights at Tortuga lodge. Facilities are excellent . Staff are friendly and helpful

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2014

Mikhail

Amazing staff

This is the first time all hotel's available staff greeted me upon arrival and departure - they gather all staff on the peer and waive smiling. So touched. They are trying to accommodate your needs beyond their job responsibilities.

8/10

Excellent

04 Feb 2014

Alfredo

perfect style for such a spetial location

fiendly and efficent people, location is great and all is in harmony with the area, good design and style. My family and I loved to be there, great experince.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2013

Wendy

Easy-going eco-lodge with all the comforts

We ended up staying at the lodge for an entire week vs the 2-3 days most people stay, but it met our needs--to relax and enjoy the rain forest. The isolated lodge is located along a river about 2 miles to the village of Tortuguero. There were several lodges along the river, but each isolated from the other. To get to the town, the staff will provide a free boat ride to the other side of the river and then you can walk either along the beach or air strip and path the village or you can also hitch a ride with the staff when they are transporting the workers to the village. The gardens around the lodge were beautiful and there are paths behind the lodge to check out the rain forest by foot...but you have to douse yourself with bug spray. The mosquitoes around the lodge were only bad around early evening. The best time to see and hear the birds and moneys are in the early morning (when the howler monkeys do their thing--howl!) Staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, we got to know them all. Meals were good, we only took the breakfast and dinner plan, which held us fine. Don't fill up on their awesome granola because they also will make you all the other regular breakfast fare. They had a bar so you can enjoy the local beers or tropical drinks any time. Because it is an eco-lodge, don't expect caribbean music playing, you're their to hear the sounds of the rain forest. We took a great kayak ride, boat ride, did the turtle nesting tour and saw baby turtles.