La Selva Biological Station
Hotel in Heredia Province
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Internet / Wifi, Parking and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this hotel
Situated in Sarapiquí, 1 km from La Selva Biological Station main area, the lodge has a garden and a shared lounge at the dining hall, as well as free WiFi.
Amenities
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
TV
Wheelchair accessible
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Heredia Province
Available Rooms
2 Single • 322 ft²
Sleeps 3
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Reviews
100% verified reviews
8.0
La actividad guiada fue muy buena, el guía tenía excelente conocimiento y nos dio muchísima información de todo lo que vimos y de la zona en general.
El colchón de la cama era muy suave, padezco de la espalda y eso no me ayuda. Con un colchón más firme le daría 5*
10.0
The accommodation is basic but who cares, you're not there for the room-you are there for a once in a lifetime wildlife opportunity and that is what you get. On our free guided tour (with just three other lovely people and an expert guide) we saw two types of vipers, two types of poison dary frog, countless birds, armadillos, peckarys (and more) and learnt so much. Equally, walking the trails ourselves was amazing! The food was tasty and it was nice to meet all the scientists conducting research here. If you like wildlife, make the effort and go. Also, if like us you are backpacking with huge, heavy bags, you can ask to leave them at reception and just take what you need to your room. We travelled all around Costa Rica and this was our favourite location.
10.0
Very nice breakfast and very helpful and friendly staff at the reception..They helped me to sort out Taxis to Sarapiqui and gave me lots of help with onward travel arrangements to the bus station
8.0
The location and the Reserve are great. Seemed like a good place for family
Your food is good quality but quite monotonous.
10.0
Amazing and immersive rainforest experience. The forest itself is the true star of the show. The diversity of wildlife is outstanding. It was so special to have the researchers for the guides (you get a free morning tour if you stay there and we paid for a night tour). We saw and learned so much. we stayed for two nights with full board and loved every moment.
Its not a hotel and we really enjoyed that it was something different. We embraced it as a place for learning and enjoyed that everyone was there for the same reason.
Pillows and mattresses need replacing but still slept fine. Maybe more places to hang wet clothes (hooks?).
10.0
24 hour access to many miles of great paths into the amazing forest.
Mattress was well used
10.0
I am a birdwatcher and nature lover, and rated highly for that experience rather than the room and board. Room was very clean and the overhead oscillating fan was appreciated. Electrical outlets by each bunk. Staff were helpful and guides worked very hard with multiple tours a day. Grounds are safe and marked, with wifi extending away from reception and room. To save me the long walk to my room and back for meals, they moved me closer to the main reception and eating area. Able to accommodate gluten free menu.
I knew going in that accommodation and meals is more like summer camp. Bunk beds, thin sheets, bad pillows and minimal lighting, but that is easy to accept as it is a research station first...that happens to allow tourists to stay. I received an accessible room, which is great if you need it, but it is missing the lockable cabinet and outdoor bench other rooms had and I realize they didn't make wardrobe accessible....hanger rod is 6 feet high. Not a deal breaker, but to be noted.
10.0
Incredible wildlife right at your doorstep! The facilities are fantastic and clean. Staff are helpful and friendly and the cafeteria food is great. Would love to stay here again, you can walk along the variety of trails at any time (In our short 24hrs at the station we spotted sloths, coatis, agouti, spider monkeys, 4 species of snakes, many poison frogs, glass frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, toucans, woodpeckers, bullet ants, and much more).
Note for other visitors some of the accommodations are roughly a 15-20 minute walk away from the dining hall/reception. It's a comfortable walk along a mostly flat, fully paved path but you will need torches/headlamps at night to navigate.
Highly recommend all nature enthusiasts to visit La Selva Biological station
8.0
The place is full of birds and wildlife. The night tour was pretty good. The guide really knew his stuff. It's a great place to birdwatch and to get acquainted with the natural side of Costa Rica. I'm a birdwatcher and saw many new species (not easy for me, even in Costa Rica), maybe six species of frogs, a bird snake, peccaries, and an agouti. They have a resident ocelot on the property, but it wasn't around during my stay. The guide told me that they also occasionally get jaguars there. The place is apparently thick with fer-de-lances, but I didn't see any.
The rooms are rustic. They had bunk beds only and the beds on the top were constantly damp due to the rain. Our shower drain had no screen on it, leaving me to wonder if I was going to find a fer-de-lance in my room one day. I didn't. The food in the dining facility was a little worse than not good.
8.0
Professional staff could not be more helpful. Fully manned reception desk, good sense of security on site with a 24 hour guarded gate. Good map of the site, facility and trails. Rooms and facilities all close together. It is important to realise for the visitor that La Selva is firstly an academic research facility and as such is set up to accommodate the needs of researchers. As natural history or eco-tourists we are lucky to be be given access to the facility, mixing with the researchers and freedom of access to the trails.
A minor criticism was poor or zero internet in the accommodation, but that may have been limited to just my room. Some of the trails were missing sign posts making it difficult to know where you are in the jungle.
10.0
The wild life and birding is exceptional. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the accommodations were rustic which was expected since it’s a biological station.
nothing to dislike
6.0
Forest setting is superb
Room standards are very poor. No fridge in room. Poor sound proofing. Very basic room. Canteen facilities are only adequate.
9.0
The forest!!!
The staff is friendly
Réception work and help is outstanding
The tours are great
That i couldn't stay longer....
9.0
The food was good (buffet style). Our morning guided nature trip was very good value. For naturalists it is an excellent place - many many birds and animals. The restaurant was a good place to hang out and watch the world go by.
Our room was a bit basic and one km distant (along a forest path) from the restaurant, so a car would have been handy (a road leads around to it). But we only slept in our room as we were out and about all day, so it wasnt really an issue.
9.0
Wonderful breakfast with a lovely view of the gardens. Nature walk in the morning with Kenneth was excellent
10.0
Location was awesome. We went on a night tour and a day tour. Saw lots of different animals on the two tours. The man in charge of reception was very nice and friendly. We were woken up by howler monkeys but never saw one.
The meals could have been a little better but it was an enjoyable visit.
8.0
Breakfast was basic. Guides were fantastic and made this really worthwhile for birding. Tea and coffee around the clock.
Room could have benefited from better lighting snd a couple of chairs.
8.0
research station, very quiet, dark at night, with forest trails
nothing
7.0
The location is fantastic, a true paradise for birdwatchers. In that sense, it is totally worth the price! The trails are beautiful too
The prices are quite steep compared to other properties, especially for the services provided. Of course paying a little more for this fantastic location is no problem at all, but the rooms are pricey for what you get (kind of like empty student rooms, bunk beds, the wifi in our room also did not work), prices of the food are quite high for the quality you get. If you take guided tours (night walk, birdwatching), the guided are excellent, but again the prices are kind of high compared to similar places in the area. Since this is a research station I guess it is non profit, so maybe paying more would be less or an issue if I knew where the money goes, maybe it is used to buy more land to conserve forest, in which case I wouldn't mind as much!
8.0
This acommodation is mainly meant for students, researchers and true nature enthousiasts, don't expect luxury, but lush nature in return.
The rooms all consist of 3 bunk-beds, but when you book as a tourist you have the room and all it's facilities to yourself.
The main dining area reminds of a classic school cafeteria as is the case with most research facilities. The meals are good and cater to everyones needs, but can be a bit expensive considering you can dine in a restaurant in nearby Sarapiqiuí for less.
The trails an nature however are amazing, they have an extensive trail network which leads through various habitats and interesting sites for a high diversity of wildlife.
The rooms are a bit noisy, which can make it awkward if early risers and late turners have rooms next to eachother.
When we turned in around 11.pm our neighbours were quick to complain about our discussion of sightings from the nightwalk.
8.0
Amazing location for nature observation! Highly recommended for scientists and nature enthusiasts. No noisy tourists here which is a huge bonus. We stayed in five different locations in the norther half of Costa Rica and this was the BEST for nature. Great bird watching.
Be cautious when asking for a cab. The main concierge man is AMAZING but a different guy who stood in for him on his day off tried to get the maximum price for the cab driver which was WAY higher than the actual rate. I had to insist on a lower price. I wish I remembered his name so that I could report him to his manager.
9.0
Top tier location in a wild and preserved reserve
Highly skilled tour guides
Very clean and quite confortable
Bed mastress could be of better quality
9.0
I love staying at OTS biological stations as they usually include a free 3 hour morning nature walk with a super experienced guide that works at the station for 30 years, can find all the birds and tell you lots of interesting things about the flora and fauna - all scientific, research based and first-hand knowledge. The walk itself is worth the money, the room is a bonus :)
The station itself is wonderful, the hanging bridge over the river is just so beautiful - i took probably a 100 pictures and never wanted to leave from there. There are many many walking trails, you could stay for a few days and always do different ones. Excellent birds, you can see some really rare ones and so many different species.
It's nice to imagine that you are a biologist doing research in the forest and what that kind of life would be like for a few days.
The room is very simple, but functional. Excellent hot shower! If there was a double bed instead of bunk beds, I would call it a comfortable stay without any stretch.
The food is expensive and rather meh, but it wasn't a big deal for us. They do vegetarian no problem, though, which is great!
FAQs
How much does this hotel cost compared to others in Heredia Province?
The average price for a rental in Heredia Province is $86 per night. This rental is $6 above the average.
Is parking included with this hotel?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at La Selva Biological Station. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this hotel?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this hotel. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is La Selva Biological Station pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this hotel is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at La Selva Biological Station?
We found 8 amenities for this rental. This includes internet / wifi, parking, laundry, balcony or patio, and tv.
Explore similar vacation rentals in Heredia Province
Explore all rentals in Heredia ProvinceHeredia Province travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Best East Coast Beaches and Getaway Locations You Can’t Miss
Budget Travel
7 Most Affordable Snowbird Destinations for 2025
Guides
Top Activities to Try in Panama City Beach, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama: Adventure and Fun Await
Local Culture
Exploring Miami’s Wynwood District: Street Art, Food, and More
Guides
Fun Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland
Local Culture
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Dining in Orlando, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Oahu and Honolulu
Keep exploring
- Kauai Villas
- Orlando Villas
- Kiawah Island Villas
- Miami Beach Villas
- Kissimmee Villas
- North Naples Villas
- Florida Keys Villas
- Phoenix Villas
- Los Angeles Villas
- St Petersburg Villas
- Palm Desert Villas
- Miami Villas
- Las Vegas Villas
- Venice Villas
- Key West Villas
- Palm Springs Villas
- Lake Tahoe Villas
- Hollywood Hills Villas
- Seabrook Island Villas
- South Lake Tahoe Villas
- Pocono Mountains Villas
- Scottsdale Villas
- Myrtle Beach Villas
- Hilton Head Island Villas
- Marco Island Villas
- North Miami Villas
- Sanibel Island Villas
- West Palm Beach Villas
- Fort Myers Beach Villas
- Haines City Villas
- North Las Vegas Villas
- Destin Villas
- Lake Tahoe Cabins
- Ruidoso Cabins
- Blue Ridge Cabins
- Estes Park Cabins
- Lake George Cabins
- Eureka Springs Cabins
- Branson Cabins
- Lake of the Ozarks Cabins
- Lake Arrowhead Cabins
- Lake Texoma Cabins
- Canyon Lake Cabins
- Sevierville Cabins
- Flagstaff Cabins
- Colorado Springs Cabins
- Hot Springs Cabins
- Bass Lake Cabins
- Buffalo River Cabins
- Possum Kingdom Lake Cabins
- Chattanooga Cabins
- Nashville Cabins
- Wears Valley Cabins
- Cloudcroft Cabins
- Deep Creek Lake Cabins
- Mammoth Lakes Cabins
- Anna Maria Islands Rentals
- Outer Banks Vacation Rentals
- Rosemary Beach Rentals
- Holden Beach Rentals
- Hilton Head Vacation Rentals
- Topsail Beach Rentals
- Kiawah Island Rentals
- Panama City Beach Rentals
- Ocean Isle Beach Rentals
- Folly Beach Rentals
- Dauphin Island Rentals
- Rehoboth Beach Rentals
- Bethany Beach Rentals
- Cape Cod Rentals
- 30A Rentals
- Seaside Florida Rentals
- Edisto Beach Rentals
- Fort Myers Beach Rentals
- Miramar Beach Rentals
- Port Aransas Rentals
- Emerald Isle Rentals
- Orange Beach Rentals
- Surfside Beach Rentals
- Hampton Beach Rentals
- Assateague Island Rentals
- Jacksonville Beach Vacation Rentals
- North Shore Vacation Rentals
- Ogunquit Vacation Rentals
- North Redington Beach Rentals
- Lido Key Vacation Rentals
- Sea Colony Rentals
- Pass A Grille Vacation Rentals
- Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals
- Vail Lodging
- Jackson Hole Lodging
- Winter Park Lodging
- Telluride Lodging
- Big Sky Rentals
- Aspen Lodging
- Park City Rentals
- Steamboat Springs Lodging
- Breckenridge Rentals
- Lake Tahoe Rentals
- Copper Mountain Lodging
- Mammoth Mountain Lodging
- Beech Mountain Rentals
- Crested Butte Rentals
- Sun Valley Lodging
- Keystone Lodging
- Taos Lodging
- Sugar Mountain Cabins
- Beaver Creek Lodging
- Deep Creek Lake Rentals
- Smith Mountain Lake Rentals
- Ocean Lakes Rentals
- Lake Anna Rentals
- Torch Lake Rentals
- Lake Winnipesaukee Rentals
- Norris Lake Rentals
- Lake Gaston Rentals
- Canyon Lake Rentals
- Lake Oconee Rentals
- Lake Wallenpaupack Rentals
- Lake Martin Rentals
- Lake Havasu Rentals
- Lake of the Ozarks Rentals
- Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals
- Lake Chelan Rentals
- Finger Lakes Rentals
- Lake Keowee Vacation Rentals
- Lake Conroe Rentals
- Lake Erie Vacation Rentals
- Lake Austin Vacation Rentals
- Sebago Lake Rentals
- Lake Tillery Rentals
- Keuka Lake Rentals