National Park Vacations
Arenal and Tortuguero National Park Tours
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Tortuguero and Arenal National Parks are located in Costa Rica. From your perch on the deck of the luxurious Arenal Observatory Lodge, watch as glowing red boulders tumble in slow motion from the mouth of Arenal Volcano. Raft, kayak, hike, rappel and boat deep into the heart of Costa Rica's untouched wilderness on this true multisport adventure. Float the canals of Tortuguero National Park to a soundtrack of exotic birdsong, watching for monkeys, caimans, crocodiles and turtles. Trek along lush trails through the rainforest in the shadow of the smoking Arenal Volcano. Explore a pristine canyon as you rappel down waterfalls and enchanting gorges. Tackle the epic class III-IV Pacuare River rapids. Relax at the end of the day in the sulfur-rich waters of Arenal’s hot springs. |
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Austin-Lehman’s Arenal and Tortuguero Vacations:
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Costa Rica | Arenal to Tortuguero Costa Rica adventure travel of a lifetime that feature hiking, rafting, wildlife viewing and cultural exploration with the best tour guides in the world. Read More > |
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Costa Rica | Los Angeles Cloud Forest to Manuel Antonio Costa Rica adventure travel from Austin-Lehman, featuring hiking, rafting, scuba diving and horse-back riding. Adventure and fun in the sun for the whole family! Read More > |
While Tortuguero National Park may be difficult to reach (it's accessible only by airplane or boat) the good news is it's not too good to be true. It's a real-life naturalists' paradise – teeming with wildlife and untamed natural beauty.
Tortuguero National Park extends north along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica across 47,000 acres of lush rainforest, swamps, canals, beaches and lagoons. It's bordered by the sea to the east and the volcanic hills of Coronel, Caño Moreno and the Sierpe Peaks to the west. Tortuguero’s beaches are key nesting ground for endangered hawksbill, loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles.
Rivers within Tortuguero National Park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, caimans, crocodiles, and tropical gar, considered a living fossil. Forests are home to spider, howler, and white-faced capuchin monkeys, jaguars and three-toed sloths. Basilisk lizards and poisonous frogs also inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds, including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, peacocks and parrots. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of plants inside Tortuguero National Park.
There's no better way to explore Arenal and Tortuguero National Parks than with a professional naturalist guide on a small group adventure tour with Austin-Lehman Adventures.
Did You Know…
- Tortuguero National Park – one of the most varied within the park system – has 11 ecological habitats, from high rainforest to herbaceous marsh communities.
- Hawksbill turtles have a natural defense against ending up in turtle soup. Their flesh and skin are highly toxic and as of today, no antidote exists.
- Green turtles are named for the color of their flesh rather than their shell. Their nesting season extends from July to October.
- Heliconias are common in Tortuguero, their flowers look like clusters of lobster claws and are pollinated by hummingbirds.
- Ceiba tree seeds are encased in fibers called kap, which is traditionally used to make furniture cushions.
- Tortuguero's fragile manatee population is endangered and was thought to be extinct until a population was located in remote lagoons within Tortuguero.
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