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Reviews of La Selva Biological Station

3 out of 5
La Selva Biological Station
De Rancho Robertos 28 km carretera, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Horquetas, Las Horquetas, Heredia

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 63 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 63 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 63 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 63 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 63 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lin Lee

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Narayan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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..
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Donna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

James, Decatur

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Allison

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very kind, welcoming, and helpful staff. Beautiful and biodiverse place with cozy cute cabins to stay in.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Noland

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!

10/10 Excellent

Xihong

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely gorgeous place, a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clara

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Delighted in being within nature setting; Day and night exposure to animal sounds, and Convenience to food services.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Traveled with group, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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!

8/10 Good

Lesley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Lesley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carol

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brynn

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Atriya

Traveled with family
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;)
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Laura L

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good maintained property with many excellent hiking trails.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Accommodations are basic but adequate and very clean. Meals are cafeteria style and the food was never very hot.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Zoe, Somerset, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Joanne, St. James City, FL

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Aixia Rojas on Dec 23, 2019
Dear Joanne, Thank you much for your visit, we hope you can visit us again!

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Aixia R. on Dec 10, 2019
Thank you very much for your visit! :)

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
La Selva
excellent
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019
Response from Aixia R. on Oct 24, 2019
Dear Gary, Thank you so much for your support to save the tropics, we are pleased to give you as much as we can. Hope to see you again! :)

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019
Response from Aixia R. on Oct 28, 2019
Dear guest, Thank you for your visit, we offer two room rates, full board and breakfast only, additionally we gave you a courtesy guided walk for three hours with our best guides. Fortunately you enjoyed the nature inside the forest, our gem La Selva. Best regards,

6/10 Okay

Jeanie, Toronto Ontario , Canada 🇨🇦

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Not enough sheets .. the accommodations were a little sparse , but for our stay there to photo birds was and our guide Jorge was great👍
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019
Response from Aixia R. on Sep 23, 2019
Dear Jeanie, Thank you so much for your visit, we are pleased to know that you enjoyed with Jorge in the courtesy guided walk for three hours that we gave you. Hope to see you in the future, and next time, please tell to our receptionist that you want extra sheets during your stay! ;)

8/10 Good

Lester, Silver Spring, Maryland USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in May 2019
Response from Aixia R. on May 22, 2019
Dear Lester, Thank you for your comments about our Biological Station. We are the perfect place for nature lovers, there are 16 kilometers of paved trails to see birds, trees, mammals and a lot more! Our goal is to keep working to save our tropical forest; ecotourism help us to maintain our magical place. Warm regards, La Selva Team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

ELIZABETHj

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
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!)
Response from Aixia R. on Apr 25, 2018
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you so much for sharing. We appreciate your preference and we are more than glad you enjoyed this gem. ¡Hope to having you in the future!

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
Great birding at La Selva. Sleeping at night was challenging due to no a/c.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018
Response from Aixia R. on Apr 17, 2018
Thank you very much for your visit!

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Peter, Toronto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017
Response from Aixia R. on Dec 13, 2017
Dear Peter, We are grateful for your support, your thoughts make us so happy, thanks for your preference for the OTS La Selva Biological Station. The best from your friends in Costa Rica

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017
Dear Cheryl, Thank you so much for sharing your experience, we are extremely happy to be your last spot in Costa Rica and to offer you an amazing place with 16 kilometers of paved trails to see different species. Hope to see you in the future, best wishes from the OTS La Selva Biological Station! Pura Vida!

8/10 Good

humbaba

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
At times dreadfully humid. Birds were extraordinary.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017
Response from Aixia R. on Dec 5, 2017
Thank you so much for your visit, hope to see you again! Pura vida!

10/10 Excellent

Loretta

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

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.

10/10 Excellent

suzanne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Birding area.
Nature walk and all meals are included with your stay. Amazing place to see birds and other animals.

10/10 Excellent

John, Bristol, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderful location. Fantastic for birdwatching.
Excellent place for learning about rainforest ecology and wildlife viewing. Very good guides to enhance your experience.

10/10 Excellent

Karen and David, Massachusetts

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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!

10/10 Excellent

Philippe

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Claudie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Expérience incroyable et authentique grâce à des scientifiques qui partagent leur savoir et font découvrir de nombreuses variétés d’oiseaux
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023