Tortuga Lodge & Gardens by Böëna

Resort

A lovely spot staffed by pleasant staff. Rooms (ours was upstairs) all have views of the canal and have air conditioning (if you choose to turn it on — and/or a fan.
Food very good and staff friendly.
Our arrival was at Canó Blanco and it is a good 1.5 hours to the hotel by boat from there. Our ‘induction’ was poor as it was rushed (guide was waiting for others to turn up and they did not) so hard to talk and enquire about the various activities on offer. That is the only thing that could be improved as the activities will vary according to your interests. The walks through the forest (alone or with a guide) are great (and DO put on deet at all hours! ). The boat activities to look for wildlife lovely though we might have only done it once (rather than twice) if we had known more. We happened to get a private boat trip on one journey and that was lovely as we could spend more time looking at what interested us.
Our couples massage on site was lovely. Recommended.
I suspect we were lucky as the weather was perfect with just a drizzle one day.
Swimming pool large enough to do some small lengths.

We stayed 3 days. Did 4 guided tours all are recommendable. Saw many animals during the boat trip.
The food in the restaurant is really excellent, breakfast lunch as well as dinner.
The service and friendliness and knowledge of the staff is outstanding.
Rooms are good but need more equipment such as rails for towels and a little bit more "nicely".

A fabulous resort adjacent the river and surrounded by lush gardens and forest. Our spacious room with comfortable bed overlooked the river. It was a peaceful retreat. The resort organised various adventures for us, including river cruising, kayaking and walks. Quality meals were served in a delightful outdoor setting. Staff were all great, but we’d like to specially mention Enrique in the restaurant who took great care of us and was always cheerful.

What a special place this was in the Tortuguero National Park. We had a stay which we will never forget.
For starters it is an adventure to get to. We were told to drive to the small dock of Cano Blanco which would have been straight forward had the sat nav not sent us off around the banana plantations! On arrival the hotel representative introduced himself and took our order for lunch on arrival. He checked which activities we were signed up for and whether we wanted to add anything else on — all good.
Then we boarded a private launch for the one hour boat ride through the waterways of the national park (it has no roads! ) to the hotel (there is a luggage weight restriction on the launches which is why we booked a private one as we had a lot of stuff between us). This journey was magical and we spotted kingfishers, turtles and a crocodile en route.
On arrival at the colourful waterside lodge we were shown straight to our table for lunch before we spent the afternoon on our balcony experiencing a huge Thunderstorm. Food all delicious and service warm and friendly.
After dinner we went to the beach to see if we could catch the turtles laying eggs and were in luck. The whole experience was really special and felt carefully controlled so as not to upset the turtles.
The other special activity we did was a guided kayak trip when we saw/heard monkeys galore!

We stayed at Tortuga Lodge for 3 nights and were very sad to leave.
Highlights: kayaking on the river and the canals in the jungle (this is a MUST DO), the early boat tour was also amazing with the sunrise light & the twilight tour provided a unique insight into the rainforest.
Additionally, the live Caribbean music on Sunday nights is a very nice touch and the refreshing freshly made complimentary drinks coming off the boat from the yours was very much appreciated!
The staff at Tortuga were incredible, always went above and beyond. The atmosphere is personal yet professional. Eric was a great tour guide — very friendly, knowledgeable and passionate. We were served by Martha and Joseph and the restaurant, who really looked after us and Joseph even took time to help us with our Spanish and anticipated all our needs! Also, the food was of a very high standard with a great variety, especially for being in the middle of a rainforest!
The wildlife here is so special, from hearing and watching howler monkeys, the different birds and the resident chilled iguanas. There is so much to enjoy.
The beds were very comfy and rooms very clean.
Good to know: the mosquitos here are rife, of course, and if you are someone who attract mosquitos (like myself) come prepared e. G. Loose, long clothing, strong repellent, ibuprofen and steroid cream for bites.

Wonderful experience with fantastic setting and great service.

Wonderful hotel and gardens. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Highlights of our stay included walks around the gardens and the property. Food is very high quality and delicious. Superb setting for wildlife watching with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides.

The gardens of this lodge are amazing. We saw so many animals and bird# just wandering about. We went in the early morning guided boat tour of the National Park and were treated to sightings of a myriad of different species.
Overall a really great place to see wildlife.

Simply paradise. All attentive to whatever we need in each moment. 5-star service and luxury rooms.

Truly a phenomenal location with an incredible staff. There are not enough words to describe how lovely our stay was here. I will definitely be back.

This place was fantastic. Things could not have gone better. We booked using Costa Rica Expeditions and they took care of everything. The staff and guides were amazingly helpful and knowledgeable.

Amazing location. Rooms clean and comfortable. Staff friendly. Liked the all day coffee and cakes service. Food good.

Absolutely stunning place. Comfortable and clean rooms, helpful staff and good food. As a wildlife enthusiast the whole experience was a dream come true, as lizards and birds abound. The natural history tour is an absolute must, and bring cameras (and waterproofs! ).

Intimate and very friendly, helpful and obliging. Can't help but fall in love with these people. Food and lodge — superb. We don't want to leave.

This place is amazing. The staff here is so nice and helpful. They offer so much help and local knowledge. Also in a perfect spot to explore Tortuguero. Hands down my favorite place to stay in the area!

I'm speechless it's amazing. Totally inside the nature and in the jungle with the local fauna. Just like a dream.

Very nice and quiet place, arrive cool by boat through jungle flow.

I had to cancel my Costa Rica trip last minute, and they were extremely understanding in my cancellation due to a medical reason. Although I did not stay at Tortuga Lodge, the staff were extremely prompt and understanding!

Probably the best in Tortuguero but it costs accommodation service and food.

I've been this Easter one night. Normal room €180 the Night + 14 € every breakfast. If you also eat and dinner (it is quite apart from everything), it calculates about €300 a day per couple.
The worst part is that it's far away. And they have the ugly detail of charging you $20 per person for going to pick you up at the Dread Pier. The beach is across the river, they take you free of charge (this time yes), but it is a part of the Caribbean Sea without bath. Lots of waves and they say sharks. In fact there are no swimmers. I also didn't like that the room was small and the towels somewhat old. Very friendly staff, although I asked the day of my departure to a receptionist if at last the POAs volcano was open and she consulted and assured me yes. Well, I lost my last morning in the country trusting her because it was closed.
The best: The views, which is a little overcrowded hotel, that as they do not have crystals in the windows (although Yes mosquito nets) sleep between the pure wild sound of the jungle and, finally, that offer free (even if you tip) visits for the observation of Birds with a professional guide in which you can hardly see a lot of animals with their spyglass in 45min.

The staff at the hotel are fantastic, both the waiters and the receptionist, the boat captains… all!
They make you feel at home.
The food very rich and the place exceptional.
I recommend reading the Guide with warnings that leave in the rooms.

Enjoyed the tropical sounds of toucans and howler monkeys in the morning. The food was a typical mix of Costa Rican traditional and American style food… all very good. The service was excellent, with tropical juices served each time a boat brought you into dock. Nice little touch given at night with a little liquor and some nuts. Good access to national park. I loved the Word Adventure program that offered a service opportunity. Great place to stay.

A beautiful setting. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food was excelente and so was our guide, Norton. Who took us on a river your where he helped us spot many birds, sloths, monkeys, lizards and gave us lots of information about them.

Wonderful lodge full of friendly, helpful and professional staff. Has an air of ease and comfort. Good food at the restaurant, lovely small outdoor pool, beautiful grounds. Rainforest literally right in the backyard. Rain boots and walking sticks available for hiking and you definitely want to use them. Rooms have only screens so you can enjoy the sounds of the wildlife and the rain. No TV, no a/c but the breezes and fans keep you cool. We loved our stay. Highly recommend.

It was very beautifully maintained and quiet. The employees were solicitous and polite, almost hovering. We did not enjoy the food although it was well presented and high quality. The menu items were complicated in an attempt to be gourmet, but we would have preferred more basic dishes with less exotic ingredients, for example there was pumpkin in the pasta sauce and eggplant in everything. There was no privacy, just screens on the windows with people walking by six feet away. Also no fridge, TV, or a/c. The wildlife tour was wonderful.

Professionally managed with an emphasis on a quality, exceptional personalized service; that's Tortuga Lodge! We could not have asked for more. The accomodations were superb with a comfortable firm mattress, plenty of hot water, immaculately clean, and quiet with the faint crash of surf from the Caribbean to lull you to sleep. The food was expertly prepared and presentation and service was generous. The seafood, fresh fruits, great variety of vegetables, freshly baked breads and local specialty desserts made dining a memorable experience. However what really makes the lodge a worthwhile adventure is the varied number of activities that help you to appreciate the natural and cultural heritage that is unique to the Tortuguera area. The lodge's naturalist guides are experts at finding sloths, caimans, spiders, opposums, monkeys, crocodiles, bats, otters, herons, macaws, and so much more while taking you by boat or kayak or hiking with you into the many waterways and jungle ecosystems that surround the lodge. So if this sounds like a happy satisfied customer who enjoyed his stay here, then you've read me right. A tip of the hat to the wonderful staff who work here. They do their country proud!

Great staff, great location, superb wildlife. Shame about all the rain!

A dream hotel, with wonderful staff who make the stay an unforgettable experience. The kitchen is outstanding, the service is perfect in all areas.
Missing the Lodge.

A real gem in Tortuguero! They have an excellent chef in their restaurant! Amazing pool. Excellent reception, great tours and guides. All staff appear to be speaking English fluently. Everybody is so friendly, loved every minute!

Best place to stay. Staff is amazing. All came out to see us off.

Very nice lodge. You can see a lot of animals at the gardens, like iguanas, Tukans, monkey, slot etc … Nice rooms, friendly staff.

Beautiful place and nice people. Perfect experience for everyone.

We really enjoyed our stay. The adventure of arriving was amazing alone. The accommodations are a great mix of respecting nature and making sure guests are comfortable and cared for.

Clean, quite, serenity, and all the employees go over and beyond to make sure you are care for. The food has been incredible too.

Stunning riverside lodge. Very attentive staff and beautiful grounds. The accommodation is proper jungle lodge style with no closing windows, private balconies, hammocks and large verandas to chill on. There's a lovely pool and some good trails through the adjoining jungle. Food is the best we've had in Costa Rica and the service is to match. Tours and trips from the hotel are quite pricey. Tip: you can take the resort's free boat-ride into the nearby village, where organised tours and kayak rental are also available. Entrance to the National Park can be gained here too from the official visitors centre. Rent a kayak and go exploring. It's proper Jungle Book territory!

Amazing on every level! Of the 3 lodgings that we visited on our honeymoon, this was our favorite. The location is pristine and the service is fantastic. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and can spot wildlife from a mile away. They serve you fresh fruit juices when returning to the dock after a boat ride. There's no A/C, but that is common for the area. Great memories!