Tortuguero National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐢 Green Turtles Nesting on Black Sand
⏱ 2–3 days 🥾 Easy trails
🌍 #12 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #1 in Central America #3 in Tropical Forest
Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica 1144 spp. recorded

Tortuguero is the most important sea turtle nesting site in the Western Hemisphere, protecting 35 km of Caribbean beach where green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles nest annually. The park's labyrinth of natural canals and lagoons — often called the "Amazon of Costa Rica" — shelters an extraordinary diversity of waterbirds, caimans, river otters, manatees, and three monkey species.

10.490° N   83.370° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

20–30% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

70–80% · Very likely
Common Caiman ★
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

80–90% · Very likely
Great Green Macaw ★
CR

Great Green Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara ambiguus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

80–90% · Very likely
Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

70–80% · Very likely
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

70–80% · Very likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely
Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

60–70% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Anhinga
LC

Anhinga

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anhinga anhinga

60–70% · Likely
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
LC

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tigrisoma mexicanum

60–70% · Likely
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

50–60% · Likely
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

50–60% · Likely
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

50–60% · Likely
Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

40–50% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

30–40% · Possible
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
LC

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

20–30% · Possible
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

20–30% · Possible
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

20–30% · Possible
Jaguar
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · Possible
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · Possible
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Great Green Macaw ★
CR

Great Green Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara ambiguus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

70–80% · Very likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Anhinga
LC

Anhinga

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anhinga anhinga

60–70% · Likely
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
LC

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tigrisoma mexicanum

60–70% · Likely
Little Blue Heron
LC

Little Blue Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta caerulea

60–70% · Likely
Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

60–70% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Northern Jacana
LC

Northern Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Jacana spinosa

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

20–30% · Possible
Common Caiman ★
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

80–90% · Very likely
Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

60–70% · Likely
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

50–60% · Likely
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

50–60% · Likely
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

50–60% · Likely
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

40–50% · Likely
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

40–50% · Likely
Black Terrapin

Black Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Rhinoclemmys funerea

30–40% · Possible
Blunthead Tree Snake
LC

Blunthead Tree Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Imantodes cenchoa

30–40% · Possible
Humble Anole
LC

Humble Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis humilis

30–40% · Possible
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

70–80% · Very likely
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

60–70% · Likely
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

40–50% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

40–50% · Likely
Hypsiboas rufitelus

Hypsiboas rufitelus

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Boana rufitela

30–40% · Possible
Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax elaeochroa

20–30% · Possible
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

10–20% · Possible
Eastern Masked Tree Frog
LC

Eastern Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca manisorum

10–20% · Possible
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

10–20% · Possible
Tink Frog
LC

Tink Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Diasporus diastema

10–20% · With luck
Vaillant's Frog
LC

Vaillant's Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithobates vaillanti

10–20% · With luck
Green Climbing Toad
LC

Green Climbing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Incilius coniferus

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🐢

Green Turtle Nesting Season

JulAugSepOct

Under cover of darkness, hundreds of green turtles haul their massive bodies onto the black-sand beach, digging deep nests and laying clutches of eggs before slipping back into the surf. This is one of the Caribbean's most important nesting sites, and guided night walks let visitors witness the ancient ritual.

Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

20–30% · Possible
🦜

Great Green Macaw Nesting

DecJanFebMarApr

One of the region's rarest and most spectacular parrots, the great green macaw pairs off to nest in the towering cavities of old canopy trees, its raucous calls echoing over the waterways. Watch for these vivid emerald giants flying in bonded pairs above the forest.

Great Green Macaw
CR

Great Green Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
🦩

Waterbird Breeding Season

MarAprMayJun

The flooded canals and lagoon edges come alive as anhingas, bare-throated tiger herons, and great egrets gather to court and nest, the egrets flushing with delicate breeding plumes. Boat trips glide past rookeries where these long-legged waders raise their young at the water's edge.

Anhinga
LC

Anhinga

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anhinga anhinga

60–70% · Likely
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
LC

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tigrisoma mexicanum

60–70% · Likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Green Turtle
<5
10–20
10–20
<5
<5
10–20
10–20
20–30
50–60
60–70
50–60
<5
Central American Spider Monkey
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
Common Caiman
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
Great Green Macaw
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
Green Iguana
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
Basiisk Verde
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
Montezuma Oropendola
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
Black Vulture
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
Mantled Howler Monkey
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
Brown Basilisk
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Great Kiskadee
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Turkey Vulture
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
Anhinga
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Red-eyed Treefrog
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
70–80
60–70
Animal Events
🦩 Waterbird Breeding Season
🐢 Green Turtle Nesting Season
🦜 Great Green Macaw Nesting

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐢 Green Turtles Nesting on Black Sand

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
732
🐒 Mammals
219
🦎 Reptiles
129
🐸 Amphibians
64
1144 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
47 Threatened 69 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
72%
📊
Coverage (246 species at ≥5% of 1144 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (5 bird, 4 reptile, 2 mammal, 1 amphibian)
47% Global avg
91%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
151
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
23
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
42
⚖️

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