Hi travellers! I’m Greta Omoboni and welcome to my travel guide on the beautiful Isla Tortuga of Costa Rica. I grew up in Milan, Italy. As a child, I was lucky that my parents travelled a lot for work and always used to bring me along. I got on a plane for the first time when I was only one month old.
My Dad is a TV Producer and so I grew up around cameras. When I used to travel with him for his travel documentaries, he would often give me one of the spare cameras to film with. It mostly felt like a game but some of the footage did at times make it into his shows. This was such a cool feeling!
I have always loved taking pictures too. Capturing awesome experiences and being able to share them through photography has always fascinated me. One place that I visited recently that offered incredible experiences everywhere was Costa Rica. Let me tell you about my experiences below.
Two Awesome Weeks in Costa Rica
To be completely honest, I hadn’t really thought of visiting Costa Rica until a friend suggested it. I received a text from a friend in December asking if I wanted to go with her in February. I looked up some photos and was immediately sold. Before the end of the week, I had bought my flight.
We spent just over two weeks in Costa Rica. We spent the first ten days exploring and driving around. We visited San Jose, Orosi, Tortuguero National Park, Sarapiqui, La Fortuna, Santa Teresa and Isla Tortuga.
I loved Costa Rica because of the huge variety of activities and adventures. In such a short time we did loads of different things including: horse riding, rafting, surfing, swimming in waterfalls, hiking and zip-lining.
A Highlight of Costa Rica: The Beautiful Isla Tortuga
When we were in Santa Teresa, our hostel had signs about their weekly boat trip to Isla Tortuga. We saw some pictures of this paradise and were immediately sold. So off we went on a day trip to Isla Tortuga – setting off at around 8AM in the morning and returning around 6PM.
The boat trip took an hour and we opted for a one day, all inclusive tour from Montezuma ($70 USD from Santa Teresa which includes a 45-minute transfer by minibus). On the way we witnessed breathtaking views of the Pacific and on our way back we even saw a humpback whale jumping.
Our tour had three stops. Two for snorkelling in the cliffs surrounding Isla Tortuga and one for lunch on the beach of Isla Tortuga. The snorkelling was amazing and we were lucky to spot Manta rays. Lunch on the beach was also delightful. After lunch we had free time to explore by ourselves.
Best Attractions of Isla Tortuga
Isla Tortuga is made up of two islands: Tolinga and Alcatraz. The main thing to do on Isla Tortuga is to go snorkeling. In front of the main beach there are smaller islands, all rich with marine flora and fauna. Here you can see all sorts of colorful fish and even the occasional ray and turtle.
There are lots of other fun activities on Isla Tortuga which can suit all types of travellers. You can do things like rent a kayak/jet ski, go hiking in the mountains or walk along the coast. They also arrange banana boat tours for the adrenaline-lovers. But the best activity is just relaxing on the beach.
As soon as you arrive you will be welcomed by lounge chairs and umbrellas on a beautifully inviting beach. This will entice you to immerse yourself in the fine white-sand, bright turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. Isla Tortuga really does embody what a stereotypical island paradise looks like.
Where to Stay Before Visiting
There is no accommodation on Isla Tortuga. We visited on a day trip from Santa Teresa where we were staying at Lost Boyz Hostel. If you like hostels, I can highly recommend Lost Boyz. They have dorms, private rooms and tents – as well as plenty of communal spaces for socialising.
Favourite Memory from Isla Tortuga
Funnily enough my favourite memory from Isla Tortuga was when we left the island. As we were cruising back, we spotted a huge whale that was jumping in and out of the sea not far from our boat. I had never seen a humpback whale in the wild and it was a pretty magical moment.
Need to Know Before you Go
Day Trips from Santa Teresa are a bit more expensive since they include the 45-minute bus journey to Montezuma where the day tour boats for Isla Tortuga set off from. You can save a bit of money (and 1.5 hours on bumpy roads) by staying in Montezuma before and after your Isla Tortuga day trip.
Even from Montezuma the journey by boat is a bit long (around 1 hour) so make sure to bring seasickness tablets if you tend to get seasick. Keep your eyes open during the cruise, you might spot whales which is a highlight of the journey. Thanks for reading and enjoy your day in paradise!
