Isla Tortuga

Isla Tortuga is a beautiful tropic isle. A white-sand beach lined with coconuts is the main attraction on Isla Tortuga. The island is a favorite destination point for many excursion boats. Cruises bring passengers from various destination points to the isle.

Passengers take a 90-minute cruise from Puntarenas and Los Sueños marina, at Playa Herradura, near Jacó to head to Isla Tortuga. A half dozen cruise companies send their passengers to the isle. Each cruise company has its own section of the beach. On the weekend three or four cruise companies might allow their passengers to disembark at the same time, creating congestion.

Things to Do on the Island
There is more to do than just enjoy the scenery on the rise to Isla Tortuga. One can play volleyball, swim, snorkel, hike, or take a nap in the sun. For more fun, there are pedal and oar boats, water-bicycles, kayaks, and Spyaks (glass bottom boats). Isla Tortuga is accessible from Montezuma as well, although most visits in the daytime originate from Playa Herradura in Jacó and Puntarenas.

What You Can Expect
Costa Rica only has two distinct seasons—dry and wet. There is no true summer or winter, as the temperature average is 70 to 81. The coolest time of the year is from November to December. The rainy season lasts from May to December. April and December have little rain. September and October have the most rain. The average rainfall for a year is 100 inches. Some mountain areas get 25 feet of rain per year. The worst time to visit is from March to May, as it gets quite hot, with the humidity.

Cruises to the Island
Information about the cruises to the island can be obtained at 506/256-272, by phone; at 506/256-6767, by fax; or online at calypsocruises.com. With one cruise, passengers will go by 23 islands in very calm waters. During the cruise, one can see porpoises, dolphins, birds, sea turtles, and many other sites. A tour typically lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.