Tortuga Island Tour: Your Full-Day Getaway from San Jose (2025 Review)

If you’re after a taste of paradise while visiting San Jose, Costa Rica, then a Tortuga Island full-day tour might be right for you. Is it the kind of trip that lives up to expectations, though? As a matter of fact, this review digs deep into what you can expect on the 2025 Tortuga Island tour, especially the one that includes lunch. Get ready to see whether it’s worth penciling into your Costa Rican adventure. We will cover the travel involved, what activities are on offer, and what the food is really like. More or less, this will hopefully arm you with enough info to make a decision you won’t regret.

Setting Off From San Jose: The First Leg

So, you might find the tour starts early – typically, that’s around 6 AM or 7 AM, very, very early for a vacation, right? What that means is an early wake-up to get you to the departure point, which is often in or near San Jose. Most tours take you from your hotel in a comfy, air-conditioned bus. We, too, have got to allow about 2 to 3 hours for this first leg of the journey, which takes you to the Pacific coast. Actually, it is often Puntarenas or a spot near there. That’s where you’ll actually catch the boat over to Tortuga Island.

Now, that trip itself can be quite interesting. Just a little bit, anyway. The views can be rather scenic as you leave the city and pass through Costa Rica’s countryside. You might spot some coffee plantations or see little towns waking up for the day. You see, what can impact this leg of the trip are the road conditions and also the traffic, more or less. Therefore, you need to factor that into your plans. Usually, the tour guides are pretty good at keeping you entertained and also giving you some background about Costa Rica as you travel, arguably, and in some instances they are pretty charismatic folks.

The Boat Trip: Coasting to Paradise

Alright, after reaching the coast, what’s next? It’s boarding a boat, usually a catamaran or some similar vessel, and setting sail to Tortuga Island. Arguably, this boat ride is where the real fun begins. It usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Sometimes a little more. So that gives you a chance to relax, take in the views of the Nicoya Gulf, and soak up the sun.

What many tours offer – and you will want to make sure this is clear when you book – is drinks and also snacks on board. What this could mean is everything from water and soda to some local fruit and pastries. Very occasionally, and in some instances only, some tours have an open bar, but clearly always check, just, and of course, drink responsibly. And hey, keep an eye out for marine life! We might catch glimpses of dolphins or sea turtles. Clearly, it makes the ride even more memorable. Arguably, seeing sea creatures from the boat can really make a tour worth the cost and journey.

Arrival on Tortuga Island: What to Expect

Hey, Tortuga Island is what it is talked up to be, it seems – picture-perfect, as a matter of fact, with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, more or less. As a matter of fact, the island itself isn’t that large, but there’s clearly plenty of space for visitors to spread out and relax. So you will likely be greeted by the sight of sun loungers and umbrellas. Apparently, these are set up by the tour operators, maybe, ensuring you have a comfy spot to enjoy the day.

Then what to do? Is that you are pretty much free to enjoy the island as you like. And too, it’s almost like options abound. One thing that you could consider is swimming in the crystal-clear water. And keep in mind that Tortuga Island is well-known for its snorkeling opportunities. Basically, the water is fairly clear. Is that there is an abundance of marine life just offshore. Usually, the tours include snorkeling equipment. Actually, this allows you to explore the underwater scenery. It might include colorful fish and coral formations.

Or, well, maybe you just fancy soaking up the sun. The beach is ideal for sunbathing. Very many individuals who travel to Tortuga Island want to return home tanned. Or in that case just enjoy a good book. The island has a relaxed vibe. Arguably, this vibe makes it so it’s a top place to recharge. Still, other common activities could be kayaking. This could be paddling around the bay, maybe. Very, very many people could take a guided hike on some of the trails.

The Lunch Situation: What’s on the Menu?

Alright, lunch on Tortuga Island tours is often a highlight – that said, is it something special? So most tours offer a buffet-style lunch, typically served right on the beach. Now, it’s pretty magical. Picture this. I mean, you’re digging into some delicious food, maybe with your toes in the sand, as I was saying. It is fair to say, there’s a warm tropical breeze. It would be great.

You should probably know that what’s typically included is grilled fish, chicken, rice, beans, salads, and also fresh fruit. Now, there might also be some vegetarian options available, just in case you don’t fancy any meat or fish. Also, you’re usually looking at plenty of food to keep you energized for the day. It depends on the tour operator, of course. That means the quality of the food can actually differ, apparently, quite a bit.

So reading recent reviews about the specific tour operator you are considering may prove a worthwhile venture, and also do not be afraid to be slightly direct. It is very easy to find a contact number, nowadays, for a travel business in Costa Rica. Very occasionally some tour operators could be described as being rather frugal in the provisions that they take with them, as I was saying.

What to Bring and What to Leave Behind

Arguably, packing right is key for enjoying the Tortuga Island tour, more or less. You, like your experience, might be affected by bad preparation. As I was saying, you want to make it great.

Sunscreen: The Costa Rican sun can be intense, very. Thus, plenty of high-SPF sunscreen is also arguably important to prevent sunburn. Don’t forget to reapply throughout the day, more or less.
Swimsuit: You would want to enjoy the ocean.
Towel: Some tours could provide towels. It depends. Verify that, anyway, just to be safe. A lightweight, quick-drying towel is actually always good.
Sunglasses and a Hat: For additional sun protection, as a matter of fact, I would bring some UV-resistant sunglasses and then also a wide-brimmed hat. As a matter of fact, they can make a huge difference.
Waterproof Camera or Phone Case: So you will actually want to capture memories of your day, arguably, so safeguard your gear from the water. The better cases work. You see, with more expensive phones being extremely resistant, now, you could perhaps take a risk. That said, are you the type? In other words, probably, spending only a couple of dollars extra just seems worth it.
Cash: I would suggest maybe for souvenirs, tipping, or extra drinks that, actually, might not be included in the tour price, just in case.
Insect Repellent: This part depends upon how prone you are to bites and also how far you actually move away from the sandy beach areas, but anyway it’s just not a bad idea.
Comfortable Shoes: For the bus ride and then walking around the island, in fact, flip-flops or sandals are suitable. So make certain you would not have to scale any cliff-faces or mountains because that just isn’t gonna happen!

Leave valuables at your hotel when possible, by the way, to minimize any risk of theft. So then also you need to be mindful of your belongings on the beach and on the boat. That, there, makes for a safer trip.

The Return Trip: Heading Back to San Jose

Alright, what might happen towards the late afternoon is that the tour will begin to make its way back to San Jose, anyway, and you can guess, right? So that usually starts with a boat trip back to the mainland, that you might well already be familiar with by now. Then we might pile back into the bus for the drive back to the city, so be prepared to sit tight. Actually, this second bus trip, it seems, can feel long. What with that being after a full day of sun, sea, and also sand.

What, so many people do on that trip is to take a nap, you know? Therefore, actually, bringing a travel pillow could well be something worthwhile. It doesn’t matter, maybe, too much, if you end up not using it. Just be happy. That said, do bring the means to nod off if you are the kind who really struggles to get comfortable. Bring what you want to be available, then. Now, also note, it could well be dark when you get back to San Jose. Therefore, just factor in potential difficulties getting any dinner depending upon your preferences for locations. Maybe even take something.

Making it Special: Tips to Enrich Your Tour

Alright, so just to squeeze the most from the Tortuga Island tour, as a matter of fact, a bit of extra effort really may boost your whole experience.

Book in Advance: Mainly if you are visiting during peak season, too. I would also suggest you book your tour well in advance. In other words, you get a confirmed spot. As well as that, possibly, a better price too. I mean, last-minute bookings do work out, I suppose, in some instances.
Compare Tour Operators: What’s involved in seeing what a couple of operators actually offer? And too, what is the opinion of the food with Operator A and what Operator B do to actually differentiate? Now, by weighing all the options I mean you could come out with something ideal for you. Or at least one with minimal disadvantages!
Check the Weather: A sunny day just makes for a better tour. Clearly, this depends, again, on you going on the trip during that trip period. But still, there is merit to checking some weather sites prior to actually solidifying any tour booking plans.
Bring a Dry Bag: Protect your phone, camera, and other belongings from water damage, more or less. Of course, if that item drops into the Caribbean without it then it is probably pretty much goodbye anyway. But hey, for everything else on that boat that is getting damp you have done your job!
Interact with the Locals: Get chatting with any locals working on the island or the tour. Very. What many suggest doing is gathering any tips or advice, for the day. So ask around, I am trying to convey!

So too, by being well-prepared and somewhat proactive, as I was saying, then you might be able to have the most delightful Tortuga Island tour. More or less.

A Few Drawbacks: Things to Consider

Is that it’s arguably very useful to actually set some reasonable expectations with a visit. Just so. With a long list of glowing compliments about places it seems useful to just consider any issues as a warning or in other words to avoid a clash of feelings.

Crowds: In peak season, what Tortuga Island gets can actually feel pretty crowded, by the way. Well that just doesn’t actually help that relaxed tropical island feel. Still, try to visit during the off-season, possibly, maybe to reduce the chances.
Cost: So tours that go to Tortuga Island, clearly, aren’t necessarily cheap. Especially if factoring in the travel period from San Jose. Verify it definitely fits inside that set holiday expense budget, now. Arguably, Costa Rica trips can burn through a lot.
Weather Dependency: A bit too obvious that the weather has this potential, in some situations, to entirely damage the experience. It doesn’t matter when that’s what trips to islands basically can be, still. Watch those weather sites.
Environmental Impact: Too much tourism and tour operation is probably very bad for its ecosystem. Search for the operations that really stick to ethical ways and just also consider all of your behaviours. You do your part. I suppose!

We, too, might enjoy and fully like the Tortuga Island visit. So think this over a tiny bit prior to setting aside this big chunk of holiday time for the Tortuga trip.

Read our full review: Tortuga Island Full Day Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Click Here)