Making the most of Tortuga Island
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Palm-fringed beaches surround Tortuga Island, which provides the setting for Windstar's signature beach barbecue.
There is no dedicated cruise terminal on Tortuga Island itself, so cruise ships generally anchor offshore nearby. Passengers normally reach the island in tender boats.
Just offshore from Curú, Isla Tortuga comprises two uninhabited islands and is widely considered Costa Rica's most beautiful island. Its white-sand beaches resemble baby powder, gargantuan coconut palms rise overhead, and the coral reef is ideal for snorkeling.
Off the Southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula lies beautiful, peaceful Tortuga Island. The peninsula's tip has fabulous laid back villages, outstanding pristine beaches, gorgeous reserves and wildlife refuges. Tortuga means "turtle"
Getting around
The main pastime is snorkeling.
For travel outside the towns, mosquito-bite protection is very important: the CDC recommends lightweight long pants, long sleeved shirts and insect repellents with high concentrations of DEET.
Nearby places
Costa Rica translates from Spanish as rich coast, and it may therefore seem the ideal tropical paradise. A native song says that the Virgin Mary came down to Costa Rica and never returned to Heaven.
Costa Rica is frequently referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.
Costa Rica's biodiversity results not only from its position as a land bridge between North and South America, but also from its varied terrain and weather patterns arriving from both the Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean. Impressive volcanoes, mountain areas, rivers, lakes and beaches occur throughout the country. Many beautiful beaches are found here: most popular ones lie on the Pacific side, although the Caribbean also has many excellent beaches.
Money
Colón(es) is the local currency, with an exchange rate of about 575 Colones for 1 US Dollar. ATMs are available in most places and normally dispense US Dollars and Colones.
Staying connected
Costa Rica's main language is Spanish, while English is widely used in areas populated by international tourists.
In Costa Rica, the emergency number is 911.