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San Jose, Costa Rica vacation, travel and tourist information by reviewer Janette Higgins.
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Costa Rica
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Tortuga Lodge and Gardens
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c/o Costa Rica Expeditions
PO Box 6941-1000
San Jose, SJ
Costa Rica, n/a
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| Phone: 011 506 257 0766 |
| The pool melds with the river. One is safe for swimming; one isn't. |
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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A couple I’d travelled with earlier in the month preceded me in visiting Tortuguero, an isolated nature reserve on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast. I had reserved to stay later at Tortuga Lodge and Gardens but my friends had booked a tour that had them staying at two of the other somewhat secluded lodges in this national park area. They’d be gone by the time I arrived; so imagine my surprise when I arrived at Tortuga Lodge to find my friends had left a note for me.
It read in part: “…we took a boat ride here and got dropped off for two hours. What a difference!!! So comfortable and welcoming. We had coffee and cookies and sat by the pool in the double lounge. Even the breeze here is super. This is heaven! You will love it! Wish we were here with you, you old travel partner.” My friends may have a penchant for superlatives but they proved to be on the right track.
To back up a bit, I’d left my visit to Tortuga Lodge and Gardens to the end of my Costa Rican travels. I’d booked the two-night package offered by Costa Rica Expeditions, the travel outfitter which owns the lodge. They’d picked me and some other guests up shortly after 6 A.M. at our lodgings near San Jose and had taken us by van across the mountains to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We turned off the highway at the town of Siquirres and drove past banana plantations on a rocky road which ended at an inland waterway. From there we were taken by covered boat to a spot where we stopped for a picnic provided by our Costa Rica Expeditions guide.
We arrived at the lodge in early afternoon and were oriented by senior staff as we sat in the comfortable lounge room with refreshing fruit drinks in hand. Notably, the lodge is on the west side of a river facing across to a long spit of land that contains the actual beach. (With all that water though the only safe swimming is in the pool.) I checked into my darkly handsome room with screening on three sides, The room was all rich coffee- stained wood brightened by the citrus-coloured linens on the beds and simple coverings of heavy unbleached cotton on the windows. The bathroom was large and the walk-in shower plenty big enough for two.
That afternoon I, and the people I’d arrived with, decided to take the free boat across the river and walk along the beach to the village. It was rather hot and took longer than we expected and by the time we arrived we had no thought for anything other than a cerveza pick-me-up and a boat ride back to the lodge. Mistake!
I was later chagrined to discover that guests who took the boat ride to the village and walked back along the beach did it the right way. Why? Because they were still fresh and took time to wander around the village to suss out anything interesting Yes, there are not-a-few schlocky made-in-China touristy things but they just happened on some locally-made gourd rattles with shells loosely attached to the outside – completely original and unlike any other Costa Rican souvenirs I’d seen.
But let’s cut to the chase. Setting aside the good food, the gorgeous pool for lounging about and visits to an out-of the way village; we’re here because of the flora and fauna. And it’s available right up to the top of your rubber boots. I wish. Another regret is that I didn’t have enough time during a two-night stay to take a guided hike unless I’d pushed it. Because of the way heat affects me an inland water tour was all I could handle in one day – I needed the afternoon to chill out. It did rain a bit but I have to say Tortuga Lodge has thought through that scenario as well. Large green and white umbrellas stand at the ready everywhere and wide covered porches beckon with protection from the sun and rain.
Of course I did get to do the inland water tour of Tortuguero National Park, We pulled up to the park’s ranger station along with several other boats jostling for space. Our guide bought our tickets and off we went. We silently glided along while our guide pointed out caimans, turtles, blue herons and other birds. It was an interesting tour but there was no cover on this boat (this to ensure we could see everything) and it was very hot for this northern snowbird.
So my one real regret is that I didn’t don the rubber boots, slather on the insect repellant and follow the guide on what could have been the best part of the trip according to reports back from those who did. So my recommendation to you? Take at least three nights at this fascinating place. Anything less and you could be kicking yourself.
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Reviews of Janette Higgins'
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Janette Higgins' reviews
of Ontario's best bed and breakfasts
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Tortuga Lodge and Gardens, Tortuguero National Park
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.costaricaexpeditions.com |
| Best to call: |
Business Hours |
| Languages: |
English, Spanish, plus more |
| Season: |
All Year |
| Rates: |
USD S $91.95-115.23, D $103.59-138.50 per person (taxes included) Meals extra. See website for further details |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
VISA |
| Facilities: |
Rooms and Penthouse; swimming pool; bar; fans in rooms |
| Parking: |
n/a |
| Breakfast: |
Extra cost |
| Location: |
Tortuguero National Park is in one of the most remote locations of Costa Rica accessible only by small plane or boat. |
| Directions: |
Obtain when booking |
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