Rio Tortuga, another day in paradise

June 1, 2026

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We started out at 7am, just as the sun was rising over the mountain range, in the Osa Peninsula. Hiking Rio Tortuga was just another day in paradise.

Our meeting spot was at one of the bends of the Rio Tortuga, 2km east of Ojochal, a charming, Tico & Expats community (Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica)

Did you know that: Osa Peninsula alone holds an estimated 2.5% of global biodiversity (reference – Tortugas de Osa) Looking up the biodiversity, I learned that the Tarcoles river is considered one of the most croc-infested bodies of water on the planet (reference). Tarcoles river winds for 111km, approximately 200km northwest of Ojochal.

The land along this mountain range is rugged, wild and rich with wildlife. Each day, the mountains carry novel cloud formations as cloaks in a magical kingdom.

Finding your way along the riverways:

You can explore countless springs and streams that flow into Rio Tortuga.
2 great references for hiking and orientation are:
https://mapcarta.com/es/37136660

https://ballenatales.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mapa-ojochal-costa-rica.pdf

Nature is Art in constant motion

The narrow pathways along the winding Rio Tortuga are steep and wild. I opted for hiking through the riverbed. And, was rewarded with finding some impressive, gnarly fallen tree remnants that looked eerily like hippos, body parts and ancient faces of monkey gatherings.

River wood: fallen debris turns into sculptures

What do you see when you look at these images?
Is it an elephant leg or a half hidden hippo?

I can’t help but think the formation below looks like a stone age carving of a group of monkeys. I imagine they are eating fruit by the river bed.

the endless running of water, carving, carving, always flowing, no end, no beginning

River Ponderings

how many years.
how many rain falls.
how many eons created this vista?
your guess is as good as mine.

every nook and cranny contains life in this 5 square foot sculpture of time
I could sit here for hours in a meditate trance.
But for safety reasons, I will not! (apparently, the venomous snakes hunt shrimp in the rivers at night…)

Tree Canopy View

Tree Ferns along the river.

You can’t resist fawning over the vast diversity of plant life in this part of the world. The jungle is a myriad of colours, textures, sounds, and aromas. This tree fern was majestic in stature (over 15 feet tall). The bronze fiddleheads contrast the layers of lush green fronds.

Tree ferns belong to the plant order **Cyatheales** – They can reach up to 10 meters in height. reference. The Cyatheales have been covering the earth for over 220 million years! (learn more here)

before the jungle river hike

Rio Tortuga Sightings

At the Rio Tortuga, we encountered:
Mica snake, toucans, parakeets, skinks, iguanas, geckos
Did you know they are all part of the four different suborders, iguana, gecko, skink and creeping.

You can add your sightings of reptiles to this online portal. Support Costa Rican wildlife by participating in preserving the flora and fauna. Build the knowledge network. Check out Project Noah

They are all reptiles (class Reptilia) and part of the Squamata order (Scaled Reptiles). – reference1 & reference 2

after the jungle river hike

Costa Rica, hiking the jungle, osa peninsula, rio tortuga

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landscape, nature, travel