La Selva Biological Station

Location: De Rancho Robertos 28 km carretera, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Horquetas, Las Horquetas, Heredia, Las Horquetas, CR

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Check-out: 11:30 AM

Instructions: The front desk is open daily from 8 AM - 5 PM. This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in. To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions. The front desk is staffed during limited hours.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Free WiFi
• Terrace
• Garden
• Concierge service
• Wheelchair accessible
• Library
• Free breakfast
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Smoke-free property
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Playground on site
• Free self parking
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Free buffet breakfast
• Mosquito nets
• Banquet hall
• No elevator (single level property)
• Well-lit path to entrance

Rooms Available

• Double Room, Garden View

  1 Queen Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

  323-sq-foot room, balcony with garden views

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Safe, desk, and wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and ceiling fan

  Need to Know - Bed sheets not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bed sheets not available

Guest Reviews

• Sam (10/5): Highly recommend for anybody interested in nature. - I loved my stay at La Selva and ended up extended it by an extra day. You feel fully immersed in wildlife and free to explore. A memorable moment was being on the hanging bridge in the dark with bats flying everywhere, my torch picked out the eyes of a caiman in the river and a great potoo flew overheard and along the river. Breathtaking!
• Nicholas (10/5): - Come here for the wildlife and the birds, they are incredible. The food is good, and the facilities are more than adequate.
• Andrew (8/5): - This is not a typical hotel or cabin stay. If you want luxury, keep looking. The food and accommodations are quite basic but serve the purpose. The real bonus about staying here is the great access to being very close to the nature of Costa Rica. The purpose of my trip was birding, so please be advised that I speak from this perspective, and fancy accommodations and other excursions were not important to me during this stay. You can do some great birding right around the cabin houses and have an easy stroll to the reception area. There are many kms of marked trails and I’ve probably walked 10 (km) of them in my two stays, and have very rarely run into other people other than near the researchers’ compound. If you stay on site there is a 2-3 hr nature tour with a knowledgeable guide which is good. Morning birding and night tours can be arranged as well. I hope to return one day.
• Ulla (8/5): Great stay on La Selva Biological Station - La Selva is a great place for nature lovers. Tropical rainforest with a lot of birds, monkeys etc just outside the window. Cabins are big, charming and clean but don’t expect luxury- you are sharing the place with scientist and other nature lovers. 3 great local meals were included in the room price as well as a guided rainforest walk - a very good surprise.
• catherine (10/5): - The forest and the wildlife are the reason for staying here so in that respect this place gets 10 out of 10. We did a birding tour and a night walk and took advantage of the free nature walk. The latter was conducted by Joel and I strongly encourage people not to pass on this even though they may have other tours booked. It was absolutely superb and held our interest for every minute of the 3 hours. The accommodation is simple. The beds were a little hard and the pillows win the prize for the worst in the world but the bed linen was clean and fresh and the fans were effective so overall we slept well. The bathroom was clean and well lit and the shower was probably the best we encountered throughout CR, even in some expensive places. The wifi worked well in the rooms and there was a pleasant balcony at the back of the cabin to sit and watch the birds. Laundry is cheap and efficient and there is a bag in the room for this purpose. Food was served in the canteen and was buffet style. It was pretty much the same every day and I think it was a bit over-priced for what we got. We had a car however so we ate in town for 2 of our 3 nights there. Breakfast was ample and there was free coffee and water all day. There are many trails here that you can follow without a guide and the beauty of being a resident means you have free access to them whenever you want. All the staff here were excellent. We would certainly return but might consider bringing our own pillows next time!
• Brian (10/5): - True and non-comercialized Costa Rican nature. A wonderful place to experience native flora and fauna.
• Mary Ann (10/5): - Staying at La Selva was a unique experience. The accommodations are very rustic, which fits a research station. The highlight was the 3-hour guided tour that was included in the stay. A great experience for nature lovers.
• philippe (10/5): Super sejour - Super sejour. La visite de 3h du parc avec guide etait super. Logement simple mais propre. Environnement exceptionnel
• Bianca (4/5): - Die Unterkunft ähnelt einer Jugendherberge. Was jedoch negativ auffiel, war die inkludierte Tour: Unser Guide hatte kein Teleskop, weil er es „nicht mochte“. Wir waren die einzige Gruppe ohne Teleskope, wodurch es sehr schwierig war, einige Vögel zu beobachten. Wahrscheinlich würde ich hier nicht wieder übernachten und auch keine Tour buchen. Der Guide war außerdem sehr desinteressiert.
• Carol (10/5): - An outstanding research and educational center. It was a privilege to stay onsite and enjoy an example of Costa Rica’s stellar conservation example
• Roger (6/5): It’s about the wildlife not the accommodation - The accommodation is basic . It’s designed as shared student rooms . While the food too is fairly basic - served in student canteen fashion - it is perfectly edible and satisfying. But you don’t come here for either . You come to be close to the biological reserve and the wonderful birds and wildlife . So you can be up at dawn to catch the chorus and do the night walk after dark with the knowledgeable guides
• Gordon (8/5): - Excellent birdwatching and a great vibe with plenty of young people enjoying nature. The only problem was Google Maps kept directing us in the wrong direction down tiny little country lanes. This led to severe frustration because we wasted our limited time before even arriving.
• Kathryn (10/5): - Lovely place to stay for those interested in wild life and nature. Accommodation is basic but that’s not what you come here for. Maps of trails could do with being better
• Cathy (8/5): - This was an amazing area for birding, either on a tour or just sitting on the patio. Staff was very accommodating and especially helpful when constant rains caused flooding in the river. Our living quarters were roomy although beds were quite firm. The property is several miles from Puerto Viejo, the nearest town so transportation is a little difficult without a car (but taxis are available). All roads n all, our stay here was great!
• Ann (8/5): - Peacefulness. Birdlife.
• Neil (10/5): - This is a unique place of natural wonders and that makes it difficult to review or compare to other accommodations. This is not your regular hotel with a/c, maid service, restaurant and bar. No, this is a cabin with resident gecko and without a/c. If you eat on site, the meals are cafeteria style, good and hearty. In return, you wake to the sound of Howler Monkeys, toucans and macaws. You walk from your cabin into the forest and you are immersed in the natural world. We love this place. It was our second visit and we will return.
• Lin Lee (8/5): - The counter staff were very patient and helpful. They made our stay stress free. The kitchen staff also very hardworking. Food is reasonably good . The park staff and workers are all very friendlly and helpful. Had a very good time staying there for more than 2 week. The room service was not average . Had to remind them to clean the room thrice.
• Narayan (8/5): - One should be careful about the ' Auto latches ' which may lock automatically behind us. ( So we should ensure to carry the keys always with us !!) 2. The reception desk/restaurant are in 25minutes walking distance from the room..
• Edward (10/5): Great place to see wildlife (Sloths) and birds - We had a great stay but wished there was air conditioning
• Matthew (10/5): - La Selva is no frills accommodations with no air conditioning, but it is a working biological station with animals and plants that you won’t see anywhere else. The guides were amazing, especially Chris on the night tour. It was a unique experience that I will always remember as a highlight of my time in Costa Rica!
• James (8/5): - Heaven for birders; we saw 115 species in two days of hiking mostly paved trails. rooms are spartan but clean, with good hot showers and porches looking into the forest. The mattresses in our unit need replacing, and one of the ceiling fan lights could not be turned off-- apeoblem in units without air conditioning.
• Allison (10/5): - Very kind, welcoming, and helpful staff. Beautiful and biodiverse place with cozy cute cabins to stay in.
• Noland (10/5): - This property was especially excellent because of its hospitality, value, and quiet, non-touristy environment. Right when we arrived to check in, the staff were smiling and welcoming. They made us feel at home during our stay, and every time we would see them they would be happy to see us. For the price of this stay, there was so much value. Access to a large property, breakfast included, as well as a 3 hour private tour with Octavio. Even though I traveled with a friend with much knowledge in herping, Octavio was excellent at spotting species for us. He was funny and also interested in what we had to say. Being on this property was also nice because most of the people were biologists and researchers from universities. I really enjoyed the non-touristy environment of the area. I would definitely stay again, so much to see and do!
• Lindsay (10/5): - Absolutely gorgeous place, a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip
• Clara (10/5): - Delighted in being within nature setting; Day and night exposure to animal sounds, and Convenience to food services.
• Angela (10/5): - What a unique experience! The room included breakfast and a ~2 hour guided tour of the reserve. The rooms (with bunk beds) and the food/dining hall were bare bones, think summer camp vibes, but a summer camp where you are awakened by howler monkeys and tucans. Recommended!
• Lawrence (10/5): - This is a working biological station with some overnight options, not a hotel. Jean Carlos in Reception was friendly and helpful. We came here to see the flora and fauna and were not disappointed, we only wish we had booked a longer stay! We had a great Natural History hike with Joel and were able to walk the trails at will. The food was good and filling. We hope to return and stay longer, we were here for 2 nights.
• Carol (10/5): - Most beautiful and respectfully treated forest I've seen in Costa Rica. Quiet. Excellent place for those who love the flora, fauna, and land of Costa Rica.
• Atriya (8/5): Overall a good but itchy experience;) - We booked our stay from hotels.com. If you do that they don’t include some amenities and we had to pay extra for that. You are in middle of a rainforest, so LOTS OF BUGS in the rooms and bathroom. We had two types of bug spray but neither was very effective;) We didn’t have warm water to shower. It was very cold, not sure if all the rooms were like that or not. Nature walks are beautiful, but you need a guide to be able to actually see animals, as they somehow know where the animals are;)
• Brynn (10/5): - A great place to stay to see wildlife in its natural habitat. The accommodations are rustic and if you don't have a car, the walk is about 15 minutes on a concrete path to the rooms (just FYI). You get one guided tour with your stay, but we also booked a private night walk that was definitely worth doing.
• Sarah (10/5): - This is the place to go if you want to see wildlife! I've never seen such diversity of birds, frogs, mammals, etc! The plants are incredible as well. The staff are incredibly kind and accommodating and the food is delicious! This is an ecolodge where researchers are frequently conducting field work, so it is an amazing authentic rainforest experience!
• Laura L (10/5): - Love this off the beaten path kind of place. This is a biological research station built for accommodating groups of peolpe. It is not frilly hotel with all the amenities. It is old school with metal doors that will lock you out easily, double bed and bunk beds under a high ceiling with fans, screen only windows, and a large desk and work space. There is a private bathroom with a shower a private balcony that overlooks the rain forest. The wifi is strong, the water is hot, towels and sheets are provided and the bed was more comfortable that many in Europe. Basic room, but comfortable. Meals were provided in a covered pavilion only a short kilometer walk away along a gorgeous, wide "stone" path through the rainforest with the birdsong accompanying you. (You can also drive to the food pavilion as well.) One, 3 hour guided nature tour is provides with your stay with an expert local guide. We watched a mama sloth move around with her baby and saw a yellow pit viper (my two wishes). Also saw so many birds and frogs and insects. It was one of the best guided tours I have been on in Central America, as the guide was very educated on the flora and fauna and knowledgeable on the local culture as well. Due to Covid, there were not a lot of people here, but I did come across a few researchers as I hiked the extensive trails. The staff went out of their way to help me with onward travel plans and gave good tips on dining out. Would definitely stay here again.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Very good maintained property with many excellent hiking trails.
• Verified traveler (6/5): - It is a biological station open to visitors which is fantastic. However they had no record of our reservation. Questions at reception were answered by "this is not a hotel". The rooms were fine but extemely basic. For instance the pillows were like bags of cement. The cafeteria food was expensive and forgetable. The wilife and trails were terrific.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Accommodations are basic but adequate and very clean. Meals are cafeteria style and the food was never very hot.
• Zoe (8/5): - Great to stay at the heart of ecological research. Amazing free 3 hour morning nature-spotting walk with Luis. Food good and lovely atmosphere with other birders and researchers. Well situated. We were in a 6 bunk private room with bathroom.
• Joanne (8/5): - Peaceful & quiet room overlooking trees. It was raining most of the time so the animal life was less active. Would go back during dry season.
• Gary (10/5): La Selva - excellent
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Very basic rooms which could be much better as not cheap to stay at and no reason to be so basic with the infrastructure in place. But you are here for the nature which is perfect.
• Jeanie (6/5): - Not enough sheets .. the accommodations were a little sparse , but for our stay there to photo birds was and our guide Jorge was great👍
• Lester (8/5): - No A/C or heating -- ceiling fans and screened windows in use. While breakfast was included, this is not a B&B. It is an academic institution, not a tourist resort. My room was a 1 km walk from the reception/food service area. That being said, I had to option of driving to a closer access point. It is also gated with armed guards. This property is a good option for automobile-free enthusiasts. Birders and biological sciences personality types.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - This is a great place to see animals and birds. There are trails of different levels set out, some are paved. You can walk alone or hire a guide. Birding is terrific here and we saw frogs, snakes, sloths, peccaries, monkeys, iguanas etc. It was a wonderful experience.
• Verified traveler (4/5): - Overpriced. Terrible food. Guide was soso. Would not refund for hikes not taken. Armored guards was weird. Other than the wealth of Flora and fauna it was not a pleasant stay.
• ELIZABETHj (10/5): Marvellous - This is not an hotel.It is a centre for scientific research with an amazing facility for others to get a glimpse.The room was very basic (and a longish walk from the canteen);the food was also very simple,but the access to acres of protected area for birds and other wildlife was superb. We had a memorable guided tour included too. We would happily return and would now also seek out similar accommodation to include in a mixed bag(allowing for some nights of more comfort too!)
• Verified traveler (6/5): - Great birding at La Selva. Sleeping at night was challenging due to no a/c.
• Peter (10/5): La Selva - La selva is a gem. The staff helped me so many times that I am eternally grateful to them. The park is simply amazing.
• Cheryl (10/5): Fantastic finish to Costa Rica tour - To get the best access to many trails in the rain forest this is the best place to stay. Accimodations include buffet breakfast and a fantastic rainorest guide with scope for 3 hours.
• humbaba (8/5): - At times dreadfully humid. Birds were extraordinary.
• Loretta (10/5): La Selva was better than I had hoped - I had a fantastic time. I have read mixed reviews all over the internet, but for myself, I would do it all over again. The lodging was much better than I expected. I was lodged in a modern, immaculately clean unit call Zompopa. They have two such buildings - the only downside is that they are as far from the "campus" as you can get. It is a 3/4 mile walk through jungle - concrete paths. But the food and other facilities were pleasant. My first day, they put me on a nature walk with a very good guide, Lenin Duarte. Although we did not cover much ground physically, we saw much more than I had hoped for. For anyone with a desire to see a variety of birds with the least amount of discomfort, this is the place to go. This is NOT a resort, but it is definitely worth putting on your to do list.
• Nancy (10/5): Great for birding - This was a basic location where we could indulge in our passion for bird watching. The room was simple and adequate for our needs. The cafeteria where we ate with other birders, scientists and students was very nice. The food was basic and delicious. I would recommend this place for anyone who likes birding.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Fantastic venue - The animal life is fantastic, but this is not a fancy hotel, and several of the reception staff were bored and not very symapthetic.
• suzanne (10/5): Great Birding area. - Nature walk and all meals are included with your stay. Amazing place to see birds and other animals.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Wonderful location. Fantastic for birdwatching. - Excellent place for learning about rainforest ecology and wildlife viewing. Very good guides to enhance your experience.
• Karen and David (10/5): Basic accomodations in the heart of the rain fores - We love to stay in locally run accomodations and do not need fancy amenities. We loved this place. It had comfortable twin beds, a modern, very clean bathroom, a balcony, and plenty of storage space. There was a long walk to meals, but we had a chance to observe wildlife along the way. The meals were tasty, offered variety, and food was plentiful. The tour that was included was 10 star!

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