Adjacent to the hotel is the beachfront entrance to the Las Baulas National Marine Park. Here you will begin your guided nocturnal tour with one of the park rangers.
In a small group you walk silently down
the beach with only the stars and moon to light your way. You will feel
as though you have traveled back in time. It won't take long before you
come upon an enormous creature slowly emerging from the surf. Imagine how
far both you and the turtle have traveled to finally meet on this secluded
shore. Then begins the hour long nesting ritual that can be observed from
beginning to end. This wonderful experience will be something you will always
remember.
There are turtles at Playa Grande all year 'round. The
nesting season for the giant leatherback turtle is October through March
when they can be seen every night. Up to 100 of these dinosauric (max.to1800
lbs.) sea creatures have been spotted nesting at one time. Beginning in
early January it is normal to see the 4 inch baby turtles emerging from
the sand and making their way to the ocean. Experts consider this nesting
beach to be one of the most important in the Occidental Pacific. Right up
the street is the Turtle museum. The kids will love it. You can shop there,
or our small gift shop, for local handicrafts or take a tour to an artisan's
village which specializes in Indian pottery.
There is plenty to do at Las Tortugas
in addition to relaxing. The beach trail to the north along the Cape is
pristine and beautiful. There are nice tide pools for snorkeling, bathing,
and exploring. The trails around the estuary are teeming with wildlife and
contain small patches of still-intact dry, lowland forest, the most endangered
type of forest on the planet. Predatory birds abound. Horses and horseback
tours are available.
Costa Rica's most consistent surf break is right in front
of the hotel. The break works best at high tide. Call us for tidal information.
It is customary to share the waves. The other Playa Grande breaks are within
a few minutes of the hotel, as is the Tamarindo River mouth via the beach
access road. We rent boards and Boogies (bring your own fins). Take a dip
in our ocean front swimming pool or, at night, try the hot jacuzzi under
the stars. The laid back atmosphere makes Las Tortugas a children's paradise.
Canoes and a jungle boat are available for
excursions in the 1500+ acre salt water estuary. Over 180 recorded species
of birds are found in and around this unique jungle. Costa Rica's two largest
wild animals, the American crocodile and the giant leatherback turtle can
be seen in the wildlife sanctuary. Glide noiselessly through this audiovisual
spectacle in the chosen craft of the indians and experience a world lost
in time.
We have an excellent deep sea fishing program and offer top quality yachts (to 38 feet), captains, and equipment.
We fish the world famous Papagayo waters
and are only 20 min. run time from these grounds. All fish are released
except for client food, and the latest conservation techniques are employed
in handling the fish. Fish the shoreline for snook, jack, rooster, and snapper.
You will enjoy the delicious seafood and international dishes of our restaurant/bar.
Try our potent Margaritas. Our staff is looking forward to showing off their
world famous hospitality.
A 20 minute drive takes you to the beaches of Tamarindo, Conchal, Brasilito, or Flamingo, for a variety of national and international cuisine (40 restaurants and bars). Because of its exclusive location, Hotel Las Tortugas on Playa Grande offers travelers the unique opportunity to escape to a tranquil and serene beachfront haven that offers all the amenities and activities of the neighboring Gold Coast beaches but without the crowds.
Thank you for visiting with us and we hope to see you some day soon on beautiful Playa Grande.
Hotel Las Tortugas
c/o Louis Wilson
(USA):
SJO 1869
P.O. Box 025216
Miami, FL 33102-5216
(Costa Rica):
Apartado 164Tel/Fax 011 (506) 2653-0458 or, Tel 2653-0423
e-mail:
surfegg@cool.co.cr
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