La Selva Biological Station comprises 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of tropical humid forests and disturbed lands and is bordered on the south by Braulio Carrillo National Park, which contains more than 46,000 hectares of forest land and is the core conservation unit of the 91,000-hectare Cordillera Volcánica Central Biosphere Reserve. La Selva Biological Station offers a unique opportunity to experience and learn about tropical ecosystems at one of the top two biological research stations in the Neotropics.

La Selva is home to 120 species of mammals, including white-faced monkeys, jaguars, tapirs and 60 species of bat. There are about 2.000 species of vascular plants in this tropical rain forest, 420 bird species and 500 species of butterflies.

At La Selva Lodge, the visitor may schedule an array of activities suited to every interest and ability, from relaxing in a hammock and absorbing the wonder of the forest, to riding the Sarapiquí River or hiking the rainforest trails with a resident naturalist. These and other high-quality educational experiences are led by bilingual guides, either biologists or local naturalists trained in intensive courses by the Organization of Tropical Studies.

At La Selva you can also go on a three-hour natural history walk which is a good introduction to the rain forest biology; take a Birdwatching tour, which combines classroom instruction with field identification; visit the arboretum, where 1,000 trees are labeled; and walk around the forest to watch for toucans and enjoy flowering bromeliads.

Accommodations
Accommodations at La Selva are very basic and rustic, consisting of six-person dormitory rooms and cabins.

Services & Facilities
A central dining hall accommodates more than 100 people for meals day in and day out. A large workshop serves both Station maintenance and researcher needs. These facilities, combined with the forest reserve and Braulio Carrillo National Park, make La Selva one of the world's premier sites at which to conduct ecosystem research.

 Print PDF