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Aerial view of Tortuguero canals, rainforest and the Caribbean; a boat navigates the river

Transporte Smith · La Pavona ↔ Tortuguero

Boat transportation from La Pavona to Tortuguero

Shared and private trips, with local assistance to coordinate your arrival clearly and simply.

Request my booking

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Your request stays pending confirmation; no payment is charged.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Ask about your trip on WhatsApp

60 min

typical travel time

8+

years of local experience

0

roads — only water and air

ES · EN

bilingual service

Services

Boat transport options

Daily shared boats, private charters and direct hotel-dock transfers from La Pavona.

Tortuguero center (shared)

Main dock

(≈ $9 USD) · ₡4,000 · per person / one way

Request my booking

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Your request stays pending confirmation; no payment is charged.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Tortuguero by private boat

Flexible schedule · exclusive charter

From (≈ $198 USD) · ₡90,000 · per boat · from 2 people (round trip)

Request my booking

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Your request stays pending confirmation; no payment is charged.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Amount subject to quotation / Coordinate with the team

Other hotels and lodges (standard route)

main route

(≈ $9 USD) · ₡4,000 · per person / one way

Request my booking

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Your request stays pending confirmation; no payment is charged.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Amount subject to quotation / Coordinate with the team

See full schedule and prices

Most requested lodges

Direct connection to your accommodation dock, with the price visible from the start.

  • Anhinga Lodge

    One way
    (≈ $17 USD) · ₡7,500
    Round trip
    (≈ $33 USD) · ₡15,000

  • Mawamba Lodge

    One way
    (≈ $17 USD) · ₡7,500
    Round trip
    (≈ $33 USD) · ₡15,000

  • Pachira Lodge

    One way
    (≈ $17 USD) · ₡7,500
    Round trip
    (≈ $33 USD) · ₡15,000

  • Laguna Lodge

    One way
    (≈ $18 USD) · ₡8,000
    Round trip
    (≈ $36 USD) · ₡16,000

  • Manatus Lodge

    One way
    (≈ $18 USD) · ₡8,000
    Round trip
    (≈ $36 USD) · ₡16,000

  • Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

    One way
    (≈ $18 USD) · ₡8,000
    Round trip
    (≈ $36 USD) · ₡16,000

Shared rate per person. CRC is the real price; USD is approximate.

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero. Your request stays pending confirmation; no payment is charged.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Amount subject to quotation / Coordinate with the team

Our Story & Commitment

More than a boat trip, we take care of your journey to Tortuguero

For us, every voyage along the canals is personal. We are passionate about providing warm, hospitable service, making every passenger feel safe, cared for, and truly welcome from the moment they arrive at La Pavona.

Vessel liability policy · INS

Vessel liability policy documentation issued by Costa Rica’s INS is available for the boats. Current validity and scope are confirmed when coordinating.

Warm & Local Service

Local captains passionate about their craft, attentive to your needs, and dedicated to your peace of mind.

Complete Safety Gear

Life jackets for adults and children, onboard safety equipment, and heavy-duty rain protection for passengers and luggage.

“Our greatest satisfaction is that every passenger arrives calm, safe, and warmly welcomed in Tortuguero.”
Local dock team · La PavonaVessel liability · INS
Transporte Smith
How it works

From La Pavona to Tortuguero in 3 steps

  1. 01

    Coordinate on WhatsApp

    Message us with your date and group size. We confirm schedule, meeting point and rate before you travel.

  2. 02

    Arrive at La Pavona dock

    Driving? Guarded 24/7 parking lots sit right by the dock. We share the exact boarding point.

  3. 03

    Cruise to your destination

    About 1 hour (~60 min) along the Suerte River and canals to Tortuguero Village or your lodging dock.

On board Transporte Smith

This is what navigating the canals to Tortuguero feels like

Discover the journey from La Pavona as you glide through tropical waterways, lush rainforests, and scenery that makes the transit part of the experience.

Comfortable seatsRain protectionExperienced local captains

Wildlife on the route

What you might spot on board

The trip along the Suerte River and the National Park canals is part of the experience: caimans, monkeys, sloths, iguanas and wetland birds are often visible from the boat.

Smiling three-toed sloth resting in the rainforest canopy of Tortuguero
Sloth crossing a Tortuguero canal among tropical vegetation
Red-eyed tree frog peeking from tropical green bamboo
Keel-billed toucan perched on a mossy rainforest branch
Spectacled caiman resting along the Suerte River canal bank
Reptile close-up along the Tortuguero canal banks
White-faced capuchin monkey hanging lazily from a tree branch
Strawberry poison dart frog resting on a lush green leaf
Navigable canal reflecting the sky among tropical vegetation in Tortuguero
Green iguana among branches along the canal banks

Wildlife sightings depend on luck, time of day and conditions. The jungle decides.

Google reviews

What travelers say after taking the boat with us

Real experiences on the La Pavona ↔ Tortuguero boat route. Each review links to its original post on Google.

Real reviews published on Google

Leave a Google review

Carolina Antelo

Google

“Desde el primer momento, la atención de Rogelio fue impecable. Coordinamos nuestros traslados en lancha desde La Pavona a Tortuguero y de regreso, y realmente fue un servicio extraordinario. Nos mantuvo informadas en todo momento por WhatsApp, lo cual nos dio muchísima tranquilidad, sobre todo porque llegamos desde San José a La Pavona ya entrada la noche. Ahí estaba él, esperándonos en el parking con una sonrisa y toda la paciencia del mundo. Lo más destacable es que, además de coordinar todas las lanchas, él mismo fue quien manejó la nuestra y nos brindó un transporte privado, puntual y seguro. Rogelio fue siempre amable, atento y profesional, asegurándose de que estuviéramos cómodas en cada tramo del recorrido. Gracias de corazón por la dedicación y la calidad del servicio. ¡Lo recomiendo al 100%!”

Sannah Bonestroo

Google

“After arriving in Costa Rica, we quickly got in touch with Rojelio. Communication via WhatsApp was very smooth, and thanks to him, we had a fantastic transfer from San Jose to Tortuguero. We were also able to use his services (last minute) from Tortuguero to Fortuna. Everything went very smoothly and all the people we encountered during travelling (taxi drivers and people on the boat) were very friendly. Thank you!”

Kirti Sodani

Google

“Rogelio helped us taking to Mawamba lodge. We had a booking from a different company (I accidentally booked it ) he contacted the company and got us refund. In our lodge, we booked public boat, and the driver didn't stop to pick us up and he called her. He gave us an Awesome service. I will highly recommend this company.”

Max Hta

Google

“Merci pour la fiabilité de ce trajet aller retour La PAVONA pour Tortuguero. Hyper réactif sur WhatsApp, en anglais, clair et précis sur les tarifs. Aidant pour les bagages. Nous avons choisi le tarif Private qui est un peu cher à mon goût mais l’expérience globale était réussie.”

Carmen Renedo

Google

“Muy buena experiencia. Son muy formales, cumplen los horarios y el bote es muy seguro. El Capitán Rogelio domina a la perfección el río y es muy agradable viajar con él. La ida la concertamos privada y fue inolvidable, nos hizo un tour precioso de camino al lodge, parando para ver animales, todo un lujo!. Puedes concertar la ida y la vuelta a la vez. Muy recomendable. Volveremos!”

Laurenz

Google

“Kapitän Rogelio hat meinen Vater und mich zuverlässig von La Pavona zur Mawamba Lodge und wieder zurück geführt. Er schreibt schnell zurück, hat das Boot gut im Griff und ist sehr freundlich. Beim nächsten Mal wieder!”

Ready to travel to Tortuguero?

Message us on WhatsApp or leave your details — we coordinate your boat from La Pavona to Tortuguero, clearly and simply.

Chat on WhatsApp

Request information

Leave your details and we’ll coordinate your trip from La Pavona to Tortuguero.

Email is required so we can send your confirmation and ticket. WhatsApp is optional.

Trip type
Where are you traveling from?
Where to?
Service type

The schedule will be coordinated with the team.

Smith Guide

Your guide to getting to Tortuguero

Hi! I can help with schedules, prices, how to get there, and details for your Tortuguero trip.

Quick questions