Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

While a mix of activities, such as hiking, canopy tours, and pickup volleyball games keep visitors well entertained on land, most travelers visit Tortuga Island for its waters. The volcanic reef surrounding the island is home to diverse wildlife, such as moray eels, spinner dolphins, and octopi—plus three shipwrecks—which make it a great spot to snorkel or dive.

Tortuga Island is an ideal day trip destination, with day trip cruises typically running from San Jose and Jaco on mainland Costa Rica and allowing visitors to glide past some of the 23 islands scattered around the Gulf of Nicoya. Opt for a glass-bottom boat or sea kayak tour for a chance to admire the underwater scenery without getting wet

• Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent.

• Bars, restaurants, and local vendors offer food and drinks.

• Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

• Tortuga Island is kid-friendly, and the day cruises to the island are popular among families.

Tortuga Island is located just off the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, close to the Curu Wildlife Refuge, and is only accessible by boat. Operators depart from a variety of ports, including Jaco, Montezuma, Puntarenas, and San Jose. Most boat trips include snorkeling, meals, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Tortuga Island is open year-round, with peak season running from late December through January. The island is only accessible via day tour, as there is no lodging on Tortuga. Though the official average of 120 visitors per week seems delightfully low, be aware that on weekends and in December and January, those numbers spike.

Tortuga Island is actually comprised of two islands, Alcatraz and Tolinga, but just about everyone refers to them as Isla Tortuga, or Turtle Island, named after the area’s most popular wildlife resident.

Yes, Isla Tortuga is absolutely worth going to. An unspoiled, uninhabited island right off the coast of Costa Rica, Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga) offers visitors powdery, white-sand beaches; brilliant turquoise waters teeming with tropical fish; and a lush rainforest interior that’s home to a wealth of wildlife.

Isla Tortuga is a remote island located just off the Nicoya Peninsula that can only be reached by boat. A wide range of day trips are available for visitors. Boat services regularly depart from mainland ports like Jaco and Puntarenas, while tours leaving from San Jose also include overland transportation.

No, you cannot stay overnight on Isla Tortuga. The island is uninhabited, and it does not have any hotel accommodations, to preserve its unspoiled habitats and natural scenery. However, the wide range of day trips available make the island easily accessible to visitors.

There’s so much for visitors to do on Isla Tortuga. Although it’s tempting to stay and sunbathe on its postcard-perfect beaches, there are more things to do, such as scuba diving or snorkeling amid Tortuga Island’s (Isla Tortuga’s) sunken shipwreck or hiking and ziplining in the island’s forested, mountainous interior.

Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga) is a tropical island, so wear clothing appropriate for heat and humidity, just as you would elsewhere in much of Costa Rica. Bring a swimsuit and water shoes to take advantage of seaside activities, as well as a towel and dry clothes to change into afterward.

The boat ride from Jaco to Isla Tortuga takes about 1.5 hours each way, depending on conditions. To make the most of your day out on Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga), it’s worth setting off early in the day so you can see as much of the island as possible.