La Selva Biological Station

Hotels
9 (173 reviews)
2050 San Pedro de Montes de OCA Ciudad de la Investigación UCR , Sarapiquí , CR

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
Hiking
Laundry
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great wildlife experiences
Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Cons:
Basic room quality
Food could be better

Categories

Cleanliness
8.39
The accommodations are clean but basic, with some reviews mentioning simple but tidy rooms.
Service
9.86
Prompt and friendly service highlighted in multiple reviews, especially during check-in.
Location
9.4
Amazing rainforest location with great access to trails and wildlife experiences.
Room Quality
8.35
Rooms are simple, lacking luxury, but this fits the experience focused on nature and research.
Amenities
8.88
Basic amenities are available, including organized tours and dining experiences.
Value for Money
9.34
Strong value with included tours and meals, especially considering the unique experience.
Food and Beverage
8.39
Food quality is decent, but some comments suggest it could be improved relative to price.
Overall Experience
9.36
Overall very positive experiences with many guests highlighting unique wildlife experiences and staff.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 12:01

Property Description

Nature Lovers' Paradise

  • Scenic Views: Enjoy stunning garden and mountain views from your own private balcony.
  • Culinary Delights: Indulge in a variety of breakfast options and savor local cuisine at the on-site restaurant.
  • Adventure Awaits: Embark on exciting hiking adventures in the picturesque surroundings of Sarapiquí.

To immerse yourself in the beauty of Sarapiquí and experience top-notch hospitality, book your stay at La Selva Biological Station today!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:30 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 173 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.39
Service: 9.86
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 8.35
Amenities: 8.88
Value for Money: 9.34
Food and Beverage: 8.39
Overall Experience: 9.36
M
Max • solo_traveller • gb
9
Great place for nature lovers - truly unique stay
Pros:

The food was super. The accommodation came with three meals and a two hour tour, so the value for money is so much better than it first appears.
There's also so much space to walk around. Just walking to dinner I saw Howler monkeys, all different birds, spider monkeys etc.
Staff are all really really friendly and helpful.

Cons:

The accommodation is basic. The bathroom wasn't all that clean. There are a few small easy wins that could make a bit of difference, e.g. a kettle in the, some milk and coffee sachets. I had a lovely balcony overlooking the forest, it would have been really nice to have been able to make a coffee in the morning and sit on the balcony.

2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
J
Johan • couple • ca
10
Excellent nature experience and trails, guided tour included
Pros:

Excellent place the experience nature with lot of hiking trails, and the included guided tour of 3 hours is excellent. Enjoyed it so much.

Cons:

Breakfast was poor, so not a place to recommend for food

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
G
GREGORY KOVALCHICK • solo_traveller • us
10
Look forward to another stay here. Saw nearly all of the target birds that I came to see.
Pros:

Cafeteria style cuisine service. Coffee always available.

Cons:

Access to observation tower only available to employees and researchers affiliated with the station.

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
E
Emilie • solo_traveller • fr
9
2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
Z
Zhiren • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
C
Clothilde • solo_traveller • fr
10
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
恵理子(ERIKO) • solo_traveller • cr
9
ジャングルをゆっくり散策して癒されました。
Pros:

ゆっくり、熱帯雲霧林の散策をすることができた。食事がとても美味しかった。

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • gb
9
Suitable accommodation in a breathtaking location with surprisingly good food
Pros:

La Selva is a magical place and perfect for all nature lovers. Hiking on the trails all day was great and having the accommodation so close was also a bonus. The courtyard near the restaurant and the bridge were amazing places for birdwatching if this is your goal in La Selva. We saw so much wildlife on the trails along with a very close (too close!) encounter with a snake.

The food blew us away! I think mainly because we weren't expecting much, but every meal we had was top notch, in abundance, healthy and comforting.

Cons:

Our bedsheets were really dirty when we arrived. Also there was lots of insects in our bed, but I guess you need to expect this in the jungle! The accommodation is about 1km from the restaurant, fine for us but it's not clear. You can drive there too.

There was a younger guy, maybe a biologist as I think he was stationed across the bride, but every meal we had, breakfast lunch or dinner, would be on facetime talking to someone and it was so loud! It was really annoying in such a beautiful place.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • ch
10
2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
J
Joseph • couple • ca
9
Pros:

I love how easy it was to access nature. The biodiversity here was incredible!

Cons:

We had booked a private room and were given the option to stay in a student dorm which was a lot closer. So we decided to stay in the dorm, which we did have all to ourselves. The room was very basic and often times very hot! Only one ceiling fan to keep us cool. Should have stayed in the private lodge instead. But, nonetheless, it was a fantastic place if you enjoy the freedom to explore nature on your own!

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
P
Phyllis • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sandrine • extended_group • fr
10
Visite passionnante de la réserve !
Pros:

L’ambiance apportée par les étudiants et les chercheurs
L’accueil
La visite de la réserve pendant 3 heures avec un vrai professionnel, passionnante, et en français !
Les bottes prêtées pour la visite
Le calme
Les singes hurleurs le matin, les toucans, les paresseux…
La courte balade pour aller de la chambre au réfectoire/reception
La pension complète (pas besoin de chercher un restaurant)
C’est tout à fait confortable mais ce n’est pas un hôtel.

Cons:

Rien

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
M
Morgane • couple • fr
10
2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • fr
10
Pros:

Immersion extraordinaire

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
J
Jordi • solo_traveller • es
10
Pros:

entorno espectacular, el.personal muy amable y las instalaciones muy limpias. habitaciones sencillas pero correctas

Cons:

la cama un poco incómoda

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa Sophie • solo_traveller • ch
8
Pros:

Super Tour mit gutem Guide inkludiert. Sehr gutes authentisches Frühstück unter Forschern und Studenten.

Cons:

Die AC hat in einem der Zimmer leider nicht funktioniert. Sonst alles perfekt.

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
B
bubleyack • solo_traveller • fr
8
Pros:

Des sentiers bien entretenus, et une nature (bota, avifaune, faune...) très accessible

Cons:

La grosse voie routière non loin de là, sur tous mes enregistrements vidéo, on a en bruit de fond la circulation

2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
J
Joshua • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
M
Marlon • solo_traveller • nl
8
Pros:

Mooi gelegen bij het regenwoud, prima kamer voor een of twee nachten

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
S
Sung Min • solo_traveller • at
8
2026-07-07 • via Nuitee