La Selva Biological Station

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

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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
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
M
Morin • solo_traveller • ca
10
2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
S
Sonny • couple • gb
10
An amazing stay at a Legendary research station!
Pros:

The stay was even better than we imagined! The facility and staff were amazing and really friendly and helpful. This was my first time at the Legendary Biological reserve and it was even better than I thought it would be. Wildlife was all around, we went mainly looking for reptiles and amphibians and found a really good amount of species! Sloths were sighted around the main site and the trails were well maintained and signs were well kept.

The food was great and the accomodation had great AC which was brilliant when coming back from a rainforest walk in 31 degrees! The reception area was also great where you can buy small snacks and sit outside on the balcony overlooking the canopy which was great.

Cons:

Maybe one tiny thing would be if you don’t like coriandor they put it in more or less every meal.

2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • couple • ca
10
Our stay at La Selva Biological station was wonderful, it’s a little gem in the middle of the jungle
Pros:

Being in the middle of the jungle was a wonderful experience. All the staff were very helpful and passionate about nature.

We had a very great experience.

Cons:

The bedroom was simple with no AC which can be difficult with the high temperature but it was not really a problem for us as it was more environmentally friendly and conscious.

2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

Le lieu, la chambre, les guides.

Cons:

La nourriture est un peu basique (cantine)

2026-05-17 • via Nuitee