Tortuguero in October: Nesting Turtles, Rainy Weather and Canal Days

On an October night in Tortuguero, the only sounds are the surf and the low rustle of a green turtle hauling herself up the dark sand to dig her nest. By day the canals steam under a soft gray sky, and howler monkeys start up well before the village does. This is the Caribbean rainforest in its wettest, greenest mood, and a month when the turtle season is winding toward its close.

A canal through the rainforest at Tortuguero in the rainiest months · Illustration

What is the weather like in Tortuguero in October?

Tortuguero in October brings warmth, heavy moisture and plenty of rain, falling on nearly every day that month, yet it does not always last.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
September	83.5	74.0	25.6	87.1
October	82.7	73.7	26.8	86.5
November	80.8	73.0	24.4	84.4

Rain falls throughout the year on the Caribbean side, which marches to a different beat than the Pacific coast’s dry-season, green-season pattern. In this place, rain may come at first light, midday, or deep in the night, and a misty, overcast morning is just as probable as a heavy soaking. Some days still turn bright and steamy between the clouds, so the canals are worth heading out on early, when the animals are most active.

Afternoons are sticky, and the nights hardly cool at all. Clothes dry slowly in this humidity, so plan on a rain jacket or poncho for boat rides, quick-drying shirts and a spare pair of socks. The light is often soft and diffuse, which is kind to photographs of green leaves and wet wildlife, though distant views can be hazy.

The Atlantic hurricane season, which includes the Caribbean Sea and lasts until the end of November, takes in the month of October. Most activity there comes between mid-August and mid-October. Keep an eye on forecasts, and know that a tropical system can bring days of heavy rain, which can disrupt boats and flights into the village.

Can you swim in Tortuguero in October?

These warm waters might tempt you to stay in for ages, but swimming is not what Tortuguero’s beach is for, so treat the sea here with the respect it deserves.

The Caribbean off Tortuguero is bathwater-warm in October, which makes wading at the edge pleasant. The trouble is the shore itself. This broad, steep, unsheltered stretch of sand takes a pounding from waves much of the time, and the rip currents here, as along the rest of Costa Rica’s coast, are extremely hazardous, with several U.S. tourists drowning every year. Lifeguards are absent at most beaches, as are alerts regarding hazardous conditions, and Tortuguero follows that same pattern.

Most visitors treat the beach as a place to walk, look for the tracks left by turtles and listen to the waves, not as a swimming spot. Families and nervous swimmers will be happier splashing at the water’s edge, or cooling off in the pool at a lodge.

Treat Tortuguero as a beach for walking rather than swimming. Snorkeling and surfing are not what Tortuguero is known for, so leave the gear at home and bring a hat and sandals instead.

What to do in Tortuguero in October

The month’s main event is the turtle nesting. Green sea turtles mainly head to shore to nest between roughly July and October, which puts October at the season’s close.

Night walks to see them are done with a licensed guide, and a sighting is a chance rather than a promise. If you do see one, you will probably remember it for years: the slow dragging crawl, the digging, the quiet and the dark.

Around October 12, the Day of the Cultures, the port city of Limon holds its Carnival, with parades, music and Afro-Caribbean food. Dates can shift from year to year. Tortuguero is a boat ride from the main events, so it fits best as an add-on for travelers already on that coast, rather than a base for the party.

Canal trips by boat

The canals are the village’s main road, and gliding through them in a small boat is the heart of any visit. Quiet electric or paddled boats are best, because they let you hear the forest. Look for herons, kingfishers, caimans on muddy banks, basilisk lizards on branches, and with luck a sloth or a troop of monkeys in the canopy.

Go early. Morning is when birds are busiest, and the light is gentle even under cloud. In October the rain can soak you fast, so ponchos and a dry bag for cameras matter more than anything else you pack. Boat trips suit almost everyone, including older travelers and children who can sit still and keep quiet.

The village and the beach walk

A compact row of brightly painted wooden homes makes up Tortuguero village, along with little sodas that dish out rice, beans and fresh fish, gift shops, and a handful of bars where music floats into the night. Coconut turns up all over Caribbean cooking, so watch for rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, along with fried plantains and fish in a coconut sauce. Walk the sandy lanes between rain showers, and stop at a covered bench when the sky opens.

The beach, empty and wild, is a good place to stroll at low tide or at dusk. Look at the sand for the broad, tractor-like tracks of nesting turtles and for the odd tangle of driftwood washed in by storms. Keep out of the water beyond your ankles, for the reasons above.

Rainforest walks

A guided walk on a muddy trail lets you see what the boat cannot: leafcutter ants marching in lines, poison dart frogs, the shapes of tree roots and the calls of birds hidden overhead. Rubber boots are the right footwear. A guide also spots animals that would otherwise be invisible.

Expect mud, humidity and the chance of a sudden shower. Take your time, since the forest rewards patience more than distance. This is an activity for people who enjoy looking closely, not for those who want a long hike.

A two-day itinerary for Tortuguero in October

Day 1. Get to your lodge by boat or on a small plane, as no roads reach this place, and make yourself at home. Daylight lasts almost twelve hours in October, so there is time for a first look. Walk the village lanes after lunch, eat at a simple soda, and then rest through the heaviest part of the afternoon heat.

As dusk falls, head out on a night walk with a licensed guide, hoping to see a green turtle nesting. Follow your licensed guide’s instructions. Dinner afterward is usually fish or chicken with rice and beans, and bed comes early.

Day 2. Set out on a canal boat ride in the morning, when birds and monkeys are active. Return for a late breakfast, then take a guided rainforest walk in the mid-morning, rubber boots on.

In the afternoon, stroll the beach between showers and browse the village shops for crafts. If the rain sets in for good, a long lunch, a hammock and a book are a fine plan, as is a cooking session or a craft stop at your lodge if one is offered. Leave in the afternoon or the next morning, depending on your boat or flight.

Is Tortuguero busy in October?

October is generally a quieter month in Tortuguero, since the rain keeps many visitors away, though the turtle season still draws devoted wildlife fans.

Rooms are usually easier to find than in the dry months, and the canals feel less crowded. Book ahead for the best choice, especially if your dates are fixed around the turtle season. Because everything arrives by boat or small plane, transport is the thing to line up first.

Limon’s Carnival around October 12 can bring travelers to the coast, so if you want to combine the two, reserve early for those days. You will not need a rental car, since no roads lead in.

The night turtle walk is done with a licensed guide. Ask your lodge to arrange it when you book.

What to pack for Tortuguero in October

Think wet, warm and muddy, and pack things that dry fast.

Pack a light rain jacket or poncho, as showers can arrive at any hour.
Quick-drying shirts and pants, since humid air keeps cotton damp.
Sturdy sandals and closed shoes for muddy trails.
A dry bag for phones and cameras on boat rides.
Pack bug spray and sunblock for the beach and the canals.
Dark, quiet clothing for the night turtle walk.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.

October falls within the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, so keep an eye on the forecast before you travel. Since the only ways into Tortuguero are by boat or small plane, rough weather might push back the day you get there or the day you head home. Build a little slack into your schedule, and line up your transport to the village before anything else.

Tortuguero in October vs September and November

If you visit in September, one month sooner, the ocean is a touch warmer and the rain lets up a bit, plus the turtle nesting comes nearer to its peak. It is also nearer the height of the hurricane season, which crests around September 10.

A month later, in November, the sea cools a touch and the rain is heavier, with more water falling over the month. The nesting of green turtles is usually over, so the night walks lose their main draw. The village feels even calmer, and the forest stays green and thick.

If turtles are the goal, choose September or early October. If you want the quietest canals and do not mind steady rain, October or November will suit you well.

Is October a good time to visit Tortuguero?

Yes, October is a good time to visit for wildlife lovers who accept rain as part of the rainforest and who want a chance at the last of the green turtle nesting.

If you love the beach or simply need days that are dry and sunny, pick a different month, because rain falls on the Caribbean side throughout the year and October ranks among its wettest stretches. Travelers who are happy in a poncho and rubber boots will be rewarded with empty canals and a deeply green forest.

Arrange your night turtle walk with a licensed guide when you book. After that, the canals at dawn, the muddy forest trails and a plate of coconut rice and fish come easily. What October gives Tortuguero is the sight of a green turtle crossing the dark sand in the rain.

Sources

Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.543N 83.502W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026