Turtle Beach Lodge

Getting to Tortoguero takes real effort, including the boat ride, but that remote setting between the canals and ocean is beautiful. There are so many chances to spot wildlife, from insects and reptiles to all kinds of birds. The rooms are simple, spacious, and comfortable. Food is basic but nourishing, and they could meet my special dietary needs, gluten-free in my case. Visiting here is an adventure. Highly recommended.

The pool and beach were nice, and there’s a full bar. It’s a very remote place and you can only get there by boat. There’s no AC, though that wasn’t a problem for me in December. The menu was limited. Expect howler monkeys and bugs in your room, and don’t drink the tap water. I was in the military, so none of that bothered me.

The boat ride here was an experience on its own, and we spotted some wildlife along the way. Turtle Beach Lodge was our first stop on our Costa Rica honeymoon, and the remote location is fantastic. We’d been warned it would be basic, but it was a pleasant surprise. The rooms were kept impeccably clean, and the staff were all very friendly. Expect plenty of rice and beans, all good quality. I’d recommend the early morning boat trip and the guided walk through the jungle.

The location is great, but the food and accommodation were far below what I’ve experienced in remote places, even tea houses in the Nepalese Himalayas. I’ve travelled the world for nearly 50 years, and this was the worst hotel I’ve ever visited. There are no other food options nearby, so the meals matter. They were appallingly cooked, sometimes raw and sometimes badly overcooked, with everything swimming in water. Portions were minuscule at every meal. There was no coffee or tea at lunch or dinner. Food was easily the worst I’ve ever been served, by quite a margin. The room was very dark, with no windows, only dense mesh. There was no air-conditioning anywhere in the hotel, despite temperatures over 30 degrees and humidity in the high 90s. Our two fans were low speed and ineffective, and ran off a single on/off switch. I spoke with one woman who had heat-stroke. We’ve lived in hot, humid climates for years, but were still very uncomfortable. There was no water or tea setup in the room. Hot and cold water were available from a machine at reception. Our room was never cleaned and the beds weren’t made during our stay. There was nothing to replenish, so that part wasn’t an issue. On arrival, the non-alcoholic punch was welcome, but it was about 200m from the jetty to reception, with no baggage trolleys or help available. This place was so bad I hardly know where to start. I’m not exaggerating, give it a very wide berth if you visit the area.