What's on in Tortuguero, Costa Rica through the year

Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cold-surge rains (empujes frios) (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)), Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 3 Jan)

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Cold-surge rains (empujes frios) (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually))

Busy — Semana Santa, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Leatherback nesting

  1 Mar – 31 May · usuallyTurtle nesting

  Leatherbacks use the same beach in the spring, in ones and twos rather than in numbers. Tours run every night of the season and finding one is a matter of walking and waiting. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Semana Santa

  29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Costa Rican families fill the lodges and the boats from La Pavona for Holy Week, months before the turtles arrive. It is the busiest week of the low season by some way. Source ↗

Busy — Semana Santa

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 May (usually)), Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr)

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 May (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Busy — Green turtle nesting, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Green turtle nesting

  1 Jul – 31 OctCrowdedBook early

  The largest green turtle rookery in this half of the world, tens of thousands of females on a strip of black sand. Tours leave at eight and ten with a licensed guide: no torches, no cameras, dark clothes, and hatchlings running by October. Source ↗

Busy — Green turtle nesting, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Green turtle nesting (1 Jul – 31 Oct)

Busy — Green turtle nesting, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  The September dry spell

  1 Sep – 31 Oct · usuallyDry season

  The Caribbean lowlands get a break from the rain in September and October, which lands on the tail of the nesting season. The canals are calmer and the boat from La Pavona keeps to its times.

Still on: Green turtle nesting (1 Jul – 31 Oct)

Busy — Green turtle nesting

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Green turtle nesting (1 Jul – 31 Oct), The September dry spell (1 Sep – 31 Oct (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

• Hazard

  Cold-surge rains (empujes frios)

  1 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyWinter storms & gales

  While the rest of Costa Rica dries out, cold surges from the north push rain and wind onto the Caribbean side from November to February. Expect grey spells that last for days and a wetter, choppier boat ride in; no turtle nesting tours run then either. Source ↗

Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  18 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The lodges fill with Costa Rican families over the holiday even though the turtles are long gone; the draw is the canals, the caimans and the boat ride in. Source ↗

Still on: Cold-surge rains (empujes frios) (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually))