This was the prettiest and cleanest place we stayed in our trip. The room was beautiful with private bathroom and the bed was confy and neat. The tour we took in the morning is absolutely recommended, they are the only place to offer a boat tour with electric motor so animals don't get scared with the sound of the boat approaching. They offer a really good breakfast and lend rubber boots to enter the reserve for a night tour or just the walk. You get what you paid for and more.

This hotel has an excellent location, it has an amazing water view and offers the best opportunity to leave and get on the island. The morning tour is absolutely recommended and staff is very friendly. When it comes to the rooms there is not much to say but having a good value for your money. The rooms with street view can get very warm, and if you don't like sleeping in a warm room it would be better to have one with water view on ground level as those rooms are being covered by a second floor and get less heat. Breakfast is included and although it's not special it certainly is typical.

Casa Marbella is a great bed and breakfast for Tortuguero- clean, good hearty breakfast, and great reasonably priced boat tours, although the showers could have been a bit warmer.

However, other than the wildlife boat tour and a 30 minute stroll around the national park, Tortuguero itself does not have much to offer. The locals are not friendly, the prices are extremely inflated for food, souvenirs, and tours. Don't bother speaking Spanish either- you will be bound to get more of a look of disgust rather than an encouraging smile. If you are planning on coming, don't stay more than a night, otherwise you will become just as weary of the locals as they are of the tourists.

Casa Marbella is an excellent alternative to the expensive package tour. The atmosphere is relaxed and intimate. Our tour guides were amazing. Book a tour with Ross. His knowledge of the local ecosystem is encyclopedic and his presentation is compelling. Watching tiger herons from the riverside deck was a treat. Daryl is an excellent host, very helpful with lots of good advice and anecdotes. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. The evenings were quiet and the early morning noise is just a necessary consequence of being able to be on the river at the best time for wildlife viewing.
For us, Casa Marbella best exemplifies what Tortuguero is all about.