Estación Biológica la Selva

Introducing Estación Biológica la Selva

Not to be confused with Selva Verde in Chilamate, Estación Biológica La Selva (524 0629; www.ots.ac.cr; s/d with bathroom US$62/78, without bathroom US$56/70; ) is a working biological research station that is well equipped with laboratories, experimental plots, a herbarium and an extensive library. On any given day, the station is usually teeming with scientists and students, who use the station as a headquarters for researching the nearby private reserve. Although most guests are affiliated with an institution of higher learning, La Selva does welcome drop-ins, though it’s best to phone ahead and reserve your accommodation. Rooms are basic, with fan and bunk beds (a few have doubles), but rates include all meals and guided hikes.

La Selva is operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS; 240 6696; www.ots.ac.cr), a consortium founded in 1963 to provide leadership in the education, research and wise use of tropical natural resources. In fact, many well-known tropical ecologists have trained at La Selva. Twice a year OTS offers a grueling eight-week course open mainly to graduate students of ecology, along with various other courses and field trips that you can apply for.

The area protected by La Selva is 1513 hectares of pre-montane wet-tropical rain forest, much of it undisturbed. It’s bordered to the south by the 476 sq km of Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, creating a protected area large enough to support a great diversity of life. More than 430 bird species have been recorded at La Selva, as well as 120 mammal species, 1900 species of vascular plants (especially from the orchid, philodendron, coffee and legume families) and thousands of insect species.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009