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| CARIBBEAN
REGION |
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| TORTUGUERO
NATIONAL PARK AND TOWN |
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Tortuguero, meaning " place of turtles " is located
on the north-east of Costa Rica on the luxurious Caribbean coast. Geologically,
this is a recent part of the territory, formed by rivers bringing sediments
down to the vast Caribbean plain from the young volcanic mountain ranges. Volcanic
activity has raised the Caribbean coast here, leading to changes in the drainage
system. The evergreen swamp forest is interlaced by tranquil canals, both natural
and manmade, and form the basis for the fascinating exploration possible for
nature lovers in Tortuguero. Lumbering was once an important industry here,
and today interesting traces of the machinery can still be seen.
However, these activities ceased with the designation of the
National Park Tortuguero in 1975. This park protects one of the most important
beaches in the world for the egg-laying activities of the second biggest sea
turtle in the world, the Green Turtle. The national park encloses some 20,000
hectares ( 43,000 acre ) of evergreen swamp forest.
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A trip to Tortuguero offers a wonderful transect across most
of the main geographical regions of Costa Rica, across the high and mountainous
continental divide into the vast and inaccessible Braulio Carrillo National
Park, into the industrious Caribbean plain with glimpses of banana plantations
and agriculture crops. A boat ride will take you along the different canals
and mouths of the various rivers, bordered by quiet and beautiful forest, until
you arrive at the village of Tortuguero. Searching for toucans, sloths, monkeys
and caymans on a small craft in the luxurious narrows of the area will be the
highlight of this unique trip - in fact the Amazon of Costa Rica!
Your cozy lodge in the village is designed to maximize your enjoyment of the
mystical marvels of the Tortuguero National Park.
