How to get here
There are no roads leading to Tortuguero.
Tortuguero is a small, unique, remote, and truly one-of-a-kind village on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast. The setting is reminiscent of the Amazon, and the community is a beautiful example of living surrounded by water, nature, and lush vegetation.
To get here, you take a combination of ground transport and boat — or fly with a local airline. Four options below.
Right here — and how you reach us.
The whole journey on one map: fly in, or drive San José →
Guápiles → La Pavona, then it's a boat across to the lodge. GPS:
10.5513, -83.5074
View larger map · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Four ways in.
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Option 1
Fly to Tortuguero — ~35 min
Sansa Airlines runs domestic flights from San José (SJO) to Tortuguero (TTQ) in about 35 minutes. Check availability, schedules, and prices at flysansa.com.
Sansa also operates connecting flights to La Fortuna and Limón — handy if you're combining Tortuguero with Arenal or the South Caribbean. Schedules vary by season; check current availability at flysansa.com.
Send us your arrival time in advance and we'll coordinate your complimentary boat transfer from the airstrip to Mawamba Lodge.
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Option 2
We pick you up in San José
We collect you at your San José hotel and take you by van to the embarkation point near the Tortuguero River, then onto a boat to the lodge. We stop for restrooms and a meal along the way — we do not stop to look for wildlife on this route (a safety call). Right now this service is operated for us by a trusted shuttle partner that also runs the route.
- San José → Embarkation point
- ~3:30 hrs (not counting meal and restroom stops)
- Embarkation point → Mawamba
- 1:00 – 1:30 hr by boat, depending on river level
Pickups are only from a selection of most San José hotels. We do not pick up at the airport, Airbnbs, or private residences. If your stay isn't on our pickup list, we'll suggest the nearest hotel to meet at — message us via WhatsApp to confirm before booking.
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Option 3
Boat from the La Pavona embarkation point
Make your own way to the La Pavona embarkation point (the name everyone uses) by private vehicle, shuttle, or public bus. From there we offer transport by boat to the lodge at several times during the day. This is not a private service — you'll travel along with other guests.
Boat departures from La Pavona:
- 11:15 a.m.
- 12:45 p.m.
- 3:15 p.m.
- 4:15 p.m.
The ride is roughly 1 hour, depending on river conditions (water level). Schedules can shift when the river is high or low.
At La Pavona you'll pay separately for parking and restroom use, and there's a small pulpería (general store) on site for water, snacks, and basic supplies. Bring some cash in colones.
No boats after 4:30 p.m. Costa Rica's sunrises are early and so are its sunsets — all year round. For safety, no boat services run from La Pavona after 4:30 p.m. Plan your arrival accordingly.
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Option 4
Public transport (drops you in Tortuguero village)
Public boats drop you at Tortuguero village — not at Mawamba. From the village you have two ways to reach us, one kilometre away:
- Walk it. The path between the village and the lodge is just 1 km. We only recommend walking it during daylight and with light luggage — the trail is dirt and isn't comfortable with heavy bags.
- Hire a water taxi. A taxi-boat from the village to our dock takes a few minutes and runs as a separate paid service (cash, on the spot).
Public boat fares and schedules change with the operator and river conditions — confirm at the dock before you travel.
Need a shuttle to or from Tortuguero?
We can arrange transfers from Tortuguero to La Fortuna / Arenal or Puerto Viejo / South Caribbean, and the same in reverse. Our team quotes and books — message us via WhatsApp.