Beyond the village in one direction is the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s research station.

Once we got off the boat a gentleman that worked at the info centre gave us directions to Casa Marbella which was just down the dirt road a bit.

Breakfast was good, rooms are clean and comfortable (some have AC and some don’t).

The room was very clean, with very good air conditioning, wifi and a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast was served.

Rooms are clean, breakfasts are satisfying, coffee is plentiful.

Rooms were clean, good air conditioning and very central.

The room was very clean and the maids did a good job of coming into the room while we were on a tour or at breakfast to clean up.

Showers hot and towels come in some awesome creations  and rooms are very clean.

Rooms are clean, cleaned every day and the towels are original folded.

The rooms are clean, simple and quite lovely.

It was very reasonably priced and the room was clean and airy.

The towel sculptures in the rooms are wonderful, they have plenty of fans when it's hot and the rooms are spotlessly clean.

The rooms were so clean and the bathroom was nicely updated.

Lovely clean rooms with plenty of fans, helpful reception staff, amazing towel sculptures!

The rooms are clean and very nice, we loved the breakfast and the chairs on the terrace with canal view.

The room was clean and OK and the fan helped to keep IT somehow Cool.

The room was clean with a large bathroom.

but very clean rooms and a great price and a great lounging area right on the river.

Casa Marbella has very cosy and clean rooms, even hot showers.

The Casa Marbella is near these landmarks: Tortuguero National Park, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sendero Cerro Tortuguero, Tortuguero Tours - Adventures close to Nature, Tortuguero Adventures, Tortuguero Eco Experiences, Roots Tours, Tuanis Tour Tortuguero, Costa Rica Roots Tours, Tortuguero Infocenter Tours, Tortuguero Native Tour Guide, Casa Cecropia, Hugo Tortuguero tours en français, Tortuguero Tours, Tortuguero Green Tours, Tortuguero Natural Tours, PEDRO TOURS TORTUGUERO, trips nativos tortuguero, Erik Tortuguero tours en français, Tortuguero Sport Fishing, Agalychnistours Tortuguero, Tortuguero Tours, Tortuguero Info, Mawamba Lodge Twilight Tour, Aaron Tour's Tortuguero, Hotel Cabinas y Tour Aaron Tortuguero, Iglesia de Tortuguero, Tortugueros, Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica Tours, Cariari Tours and El Zota Biological Field Station

This hotel is just the right place for our family--we've graduated from backpacker hostels and sleeping in bus stations,

- A/C in our room 

Cons:
- the beds were VERY uncomfortable and extremely hard
- our room (room 2) was on the ground level and faced the road. The walls are incredibly thin, we could hear street noises (the dogs barking!!!!!)

Our room was average, uncomfortable bed, minimally furnished.

We had a bad shower room and uncomfortable bed.

The only negative about Casa Marbella would be the service, the ladies in reception were not the most helpful and didn't explain things very well, breakfast was put on the tables without a hello or a smile and we were left feeling a bit uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Casa Marbella

uncomfortable bed

uncomfortable

station

direction

sea-turtle-conservancy

The resort provides ear plugs in the room.

but if you are bothered by noise, they provide ear plugs.

So if you can't sleep through rain, wind or night sounds - bring ear plugs.

My only advice is that ear plugs are needed.

We did not need to use the ear plugs that were supplied during the night.

(They provided ear plugs if you needed them.)

Word of caution: if you are a light sleeper, use the ear plugs (provided) to prevent waking up by the 4:30 am howler monkey serenade.

Well not in the room i was in, that doesn't have a full window, I believe that some lodges have been renovated and added AC and full glass windows.

You feel like you are dinning on a boat…

There is no glass on the windows, only screens.

No glass in windows, just netting with fan above as no air con

We were there in low season (June) so with more people there it could be less special and the screened windows without glass or AC could be problematic if there were noisy neighbors

Instead of glass there are screens meant to promote airflow and enhance your immersion into your surroundings.

All the rooms have no glass windows, and of course, no AC’s.

The windows are screened - no glass - and there is no airconditioning.

There are only screens on the windows no glass.

However, the rooms do not have glass windows,

Second: there are no glass coverings on the windows.

but no glass so you are immersed in the jungle.

No A/C and screens are on the windows, no glass.

Although the rooms are a little tired and could use some modernisation,  they are very charming and have fly screens instead of glass windows which allows you to hear the monkeys and birds and all the other sounds of the rainforest at night.

The room - like all others has no glass windows just mozzie nets.

Fly into Tortuguero by small plane, 4-10 seater, and hotel is very clean despite having no glass windows, only screens.

There is no glass on the windows--the idea is to fully experience nature.

We loved the fact that there was NO ac, tv and no glass windows so you could hear the jungle all around you!

There are no glass windows in the rooms, only screens which allowed us to hear the sounds of the rain forest both day and night.

The lodges have mesh not glass for windows and the sound of the jungle is all around as you drop off to sleep.

I took away a star because we had a scary situation where they served me a food item that contained my daughter's food allergy (she's anaphylactic to sesame).

Rain is a regular intrusion when wandering the trails or out on activities, so be prepared to have plans altered or put up with minor soakings; comes with the territory, and is a joyous part of the wetland experience.

We saw more wildlife from the pool than almost anywhere else in the country, including resident iguanas, 20 species of birds, 3 kinds of monkeys and even a snake and caiman (both small and not scary).

Each room is open on two sides with only screens on the windows, meaning all of your neighbors can hear everything you do.

However, our double kayak was well balanced and at no point did my wife or I ever feel in danger of falling out or rolling over.

but our neighbours were quiet, might be a different story if they hadn’t been.

This also means that you hear your neighbors and vice versa.

You just need to be mindful of your neighbours and speak in hushed tones.

We were on the bottom floor and our upstairs neighbors could see us every time they went to and from their rooms (upper floor rooms will have more privacy).

You can also hear your neighbors have conversations and do all sorts of bodily functions, so keep that in mind (and they can hear you too).

However I would avoid the trails as they are quite dangerous especially after rain

The only downside is that because the windows are only screens, and the walls are thin, we can hear everything our neighbors were saying and doing next door.

though there was any danger of an allergic reaction at meals.

The restaurant has some of the best food we have ever eaten served by very friendly staff.

The food was superb and the terrace at the restaurant is beautiful and peaceful right on the canal banks.

The food was superb, some of the best we have had in Costa Rica.

Great food, incredible location, comfortable no frills accommodation combine with staff that really know to put their guests front and centre.

The food was incredibly delicious, and we could all relax and just enjoy everything, knowing that we were in such good hands.

I would go back instant for the food and hospitality!

We enjoyed having lunch at El Patio and visiting The sea turtle Conservancy.

The food was incredibly tasty and the restaurant was gorgeous!

The food was excellent - every meal was well thought out and the staff were thoughtful enough to remember my daughters silly fruit preferences

The Lodge's food is some of the best I have ever had at any hotel/resort even in much more populace areas.

The food was excellent, best we had in our whole 2 weeks in CR.

I will think about the food for many years to come!

Food is sublime … just love this place and would highly recommend to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

but particular thanks to Zulay in reception, Bernardo, one of the guides and Martha and Mykal in the restaurant who all contributed to a memorable stay

Not only did this hotel have a great restaurant (top food and great service), a wonderful setting on the river border and a beautiful forest behind the hotel where we spotted monkeys,

If you're vegetarian or vegan - not a problem; if you like to eat dessert at lunch and dinner - NOT a problem.

though and chose to get a water taxi to/from the village for a couple of meals.

The rooms were spotless clean  and our cleaner was always cheerful and helpful.

The rooms were very clean and well appointed and the WiFi was top notch.

The rooms were spotless, the pool was incredible and the food… I don’t even have words for how good it was.

The rooms are immaculately clean, perfectly screened, the tap water is filtered and the towel arrangements are a delight every day!

Rooms were clean and comfortable, recommend you stay on second floor as you can see so much wildlife from your room.

Very good food, friendly staff, very clean rooms, you can see a lot of animals from the terrace, good value for the price, pick-up was also good from San Jose.

The room was clean and the wifi excellent.

The rooms are very clean and well guarded against any animals getting in!

The rooms are clean, the cleaninglady does a very good job and the shower was the best we had during our stay in CR.

The room was very clean, a good size with 2 x double beds, which were very comfortable, an  ensuite bathroom, and a sitting area.

Throughout our three night stay the food and service  were fantastic; the staff were extremely helpful and efficient; our room was immaculate and the surrounding jungle stunning.

Our room was clean, comfortable, and spacious.

The housekeeping folks create amazing art from the towels when they clean the rooms and the rooms themselves are clean and comfy.

The Tortuga Lodge & Gardens is near these landmarks: Tortuguero National Park, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sendero Cerro Tortuguero, Tortuguero Tours - Adventures close to Nature, Tortuguero Adventures, Tortuguero Eco Experiences, Roots Tours, Tuanis Tour Tortuguero, Costa Rica Roots Tours, Tortuguero Infocenter Tours, Tortuguero Native Tour Guide, Casa Cecropia, Hugo Tortuguero tours en français, Tortuguero Tours, Tortuguero Green Tours, Tortuguero Natural Tours, PEDRO TOURS TORTUGUERO, trips nativos tortuguero, Erik Tortuguero tours en français, Tortuguero Sport Fishing, Agalychnistours Tortuguero, Tortuguero Tours, Tortuguero Info, Mawamba Lodge Twilight Tour, Aaron Tour's Tortuguero, Hotel Cabinas y Tour Aaron Tortuguero, Iglesia de Tortuguero, Tortugueros, Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica Tours, Cariari Tours and El Zota Biological Field Station

In Tortuguero, we recommend visiting the Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum, with show rooms and an interesting video about the Museum, its activities for the conservancy of the turtles and general information as well about the national parks in Costa Rica and their mission.

We did the interesting Wildlife Boat Tour and Tortuguero Village and Sea Turtle Conservancy trip.

I also enjoyed the tour of the town and the sea turtle conservancy.

The lodge also provides access to a variety of activities including kayaking, nature tours, the Sea Turtle Conservancy and others we heard about from other guests.

We went on a number of tours, some of which were included - bird watching, kayaking in the canals, visit to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and teaching English in the village school, one was at extra cost - tour to the turtle nesting sites in the national park.

-Tortuguero town with Norton: we went to the sea turtle conservancy.

I will definitely return to this lodge next time we visit Costa Rica!!!

Canal visit … turtle 🐢 giving birth.. magical.

Tortuguero is absoletely a gem to discover and Tortuga Lodge & Gardens is definitely thé place to recommend if you visit Tortuguero.

We will definitely stay there again on our planned return visit to the area.

We highly recommend 2-3 nights at the Lodge if you are ever visiting Tortuguero.

While we didn’t visit during turtle viewing season we completely enjoyed our stay.

If you’re looking to be in the heart of Costa Rica, and truly on a adventure vacation come visit Tortuga Lodge!

To be clear, we would visit here again in a heartbeat - just a couple of things to have proper expectations set!

If you are thinking of visiting Tortuguero, treat yourself to Tortuga Lodge. .

Monkeys came to visit in the trees right outside our room.

Also visited Tortugero village which is a nice little place with shops, restaurants, colorful graffities and nice people who are proud to show their school, kindergarten, hospital and community place.

Despite terrible weather when I visited, I would strongly recommend the Tortuga Lodge.

Make sure Tortuguero and Tortuga Lodge on our your itinerary if you visit Costa Rica.

We saw a full nest of baby Green turtles make their scramble to the ocean; efforts to protect nesting turtles on the beach are a special aspect of any visit to this lodge and Tortugeuro village.

We had a wonderful visit here this month and saw more wildlife in a few days than in the rest of our 3 week trip.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, being able to check many items off of our animal sighting bucket list with the excursions we booked with the front desk.

We kayaked, watched turtles laying their eggs and return to sea, caught Tarpon, visited the village, hiked the jungle, and did a boat tour.

The staff could not be more helpful even setting up the appointment and accompanying us to town when my son had to visit the doctor and sorting us out with ground transport when the flight was cancelled.

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

ear plug

glass

neighborhood

plug

restaurant

visit

Then on the boat he was again giving loads of bits of info as well helping us spot wildlife on the journey in.

Mauricio, our boat captain, could spot the smallest of creatures from miles away.

The hotel is very simple and rustic inserted in the middle of nature with exclusive access by boat.

Trip by boat around rainforest canals, trip to tortuguero village and kayaking through rain forest canals.

Spent 2 nights at the lodge making in a number of boat rides to see local village and wildlife.

The only way of reaching the property is by boat, and when we were leaving, the boat ride took well over 2 hours in the heat.

We flew in and a staff member was waiting for us at the airstrip and took us by boat to the dock, just a minute away.

Getting to the lodge is great fun (by boat), as are the excursions.

The motor of the boats scare away the animals and you wont see as much as in kayak.

I like being on boats and on the water and it was kind of a cool thing,

We also went on a boat tour and a hike at the Cerro with Jainer and Chito.

You get to see a lot of wildlife and trips on the boat were quite enjoyable,we did one with Jason and another one with Luis, they were quite good at spotting wildlife!.We went for a night walk with Carlos to try and spot some baby turtles, and we got to see them, so cute!

Reachable by boat, the anticipation of where you will land is rewarded by a great lodge.

The boat trips are good and we saw lots of wildlife.

Boat trip to get here taking in the sights and scenery was really nice

Boat ride through the canals was brilliant.

All your meals are included because you literally can’t go anywhere else except by boat.

Peaceful getaway no noise was from passing boats and birds.

Basically the price was for the boat to and from.

The trip back on the boat was thrilling as the water was racing and logs blocking the way.

although not safe to swim due to strong rip tides and waves.

Small baggage advisable due to the boats you travel on.

Altogether it took around 4 hours due to traffic, stop for breakfast, changeover to 1 hour boat ride and so on.

Our score would be closer to 3.5 due to the rooms.

but swimming it not permitted due to the currents.

but quite dark, and due to being an eco-lodge, without air-con which meant it was a slight shock to the system being our first stop off in a far warmer country than England!

but due to the volume of rain during our stay they were a little bit of a washout.

but a fan, due to being in a conservation area.

but you cannot swim there due to rip currents and huge waves.

It was so uncomfortable even in the night that I had difficulties turning in due to the high warm temperature.

but my real issue is once you are there what do you do Can't go anywhere, can't swim in the ocean too dangerous, can't swim in the river due to Crocs, I honestly felt like it was 3 days of travelling for 2 two hours boats trips (very nice ones) and two nights in a belowe average hotel.

but due to rain they told us we'd wait till 10.30am.

though due to dangerous currents) and Tortuguero National Park on the other.

Absolutely no swimming due to huge rip tides and cross currents.

Kids were a bit bored between tours due to schedule too.

We were only staying 2 days and 1 night due to school on Monday and the whole time we were there they singled us out and made us feel unwelcome.

There are apparently no ac in tortuguero due to ecological reasons.

When paying for the tours at the hotel, bear in mind, they do not have the technology to accept touch payments on phone or card and are unable to put in card details manually.

Having looked at other pictures of rooms, ours were wooden and considerably darker than those which are painted (to the extent where even in day time we were using phone torches), so those in painted rooms may have a different overall impression.

There are no A/C, phone, or TV in rooms of course don't expect to have any Wifi.

The electricity in our room wasn't very good and made charging phones and drying hair very difficult, having said that it really didn't spoil our time here.

but there are daily boat trips, (they call them canal trips) and many animals and birds are seen.

If I had a sheet of my own to put down I would have slept a million times better (minus the morning Howler wake up call of course!).

Many phones will not work here and the internet was patchy at best.

but walls are thin and visitors from other countries seem to think that 3 or 4 am is the best time to call home.

You will probably be woken by howler monkeys at 4am which was a pretty unique alarm call.

and lizards as well. The rooms are extremely primitive and Spartan - no phones, sparse furnishings and amenities and no hot water in the sink (only in the shower.)

Getting a wake-up call from howler monkeys was one of the high-points, even if it was 5 a.m. !

I'm not sure why they call it a "lodge," since the rooms are more like connected cabins in rows.

This is a rustic facility - no phone, TV or amenities (though they do have a pool,

Before my arrival at the Lodge I was a little hesitant about staying here because I was told that rooms had no air conditioner, television, or telephone.

So that you can go and walk on the beach, and search for turtles on your own, without having to go on a boat ride first.

It’s very unique in that it takes a van ride and then a one hour beautiful boat trip up the canals to get there.

You can only reach it by boat and the nearest village is about 5/10 minute boat ride away.

Access to the lodge was a 1 hour boat ride.

We didn’t do this as the early morning boat ride was enough.

Included in the room rate is a visit and tour of the village and a mid morning boat ride where your guide will point out lots of wildlife. There are also 3 other tours you can pay for, an early morning boat ride (highly recommended

We were picked up at our hotel by our guide,Sebastian.He was with us for the next 2 days.Sebastian was wonderful,entertaining, and very passionate about his job.Getting to the lodge was an adventure.It is a long boat ride

Whilst its a long journey, boat ride to get here it was well worth it.

We didn’t mind too much as the ride on the river was beautiful.

Nothing in the vicinity of the hotel, the village is a boat ride away.

It takes about 1 hour and ½ by boat to reach it (amazing and enjoyable ride)

Location:
Excellent away from everything, say hello to peace and quiet.

The pick-up schedule in San Jose was a little hectic and time consuming and the bus ride into the boat landing was quite long and bumpy.

After a 4-5 hour drive/boat ride, this needed to be good and it didn't let us down.

We had to ride on long boats and travel through the jungle where we saw alligators, lizards, birds, parrots, monkeys, sloths, turtles, and so much more.

The boat ride in had lots of wildlife and the boat captains were great at spotting things.

Day 2 began with a boat ride to Tortuguero National Park.

Boat ride to the river for bird / animal watching was very interesting.

The cottages and rooms was clean and spacious with rocking chairs on the covered porch.

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