La Selva Biological Station

Costa Rica , Northern Mountain Zone / Arenal
LAS HORQUETAS, De Rancho Robertos 28 Km Carretera Puerto Viejo De
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2026

CHERYL

We really enjoyed our stay at La Selva. Loved the guided tour that is included and also did a bird tour on the property which was great. Both guides were very knowledgeable and we had a great time on both tours. Multiple trails on the property to explore on our own. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The rooms are rustic and basic but we knew that when we booked it so no problem. Dining is cafeteria style which was fine because we were not there for the food but for the nature and the birds.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 May 2026

Wolf

Great birding location with excellent staff from guard gate to guides. The main downer was the lack of AC. It was very hot and humid and even though we kept the fans going at high speed all night it was difficult to sleep.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2026

Chris

Very friendly staff. The rooms are basic but comfortable. The property has amazing trails for hiking and abundant birds and wildlife to see.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Mar 2026

Karen

What a little gem! Great intro to Costa Rica! We saw so many new birds and animals 😁

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2026

Carolyn

Cabins are clean and Well stocked. The cafeteria had good food. The place is well organized. But th highlight was the nature walk. There were so many birds there that I haven’t seen before.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2026

Vince

Spartan but functional. The main attraction is the natural and wildlife which is stupendous. Food is pretty decent too!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2026

Marty

Clean doom with nice bathroom and warm shower

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2026

A G

The wildlife along the concrete forest trails.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2025

Brian

Room was great with an excellent fan and a fridge! Breakfast was outstanding and the staff was exceptional!

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2025

Barry

This was our 2nd stay at La Selva, the first being 20+ years ago. It is a biological research station that hosts tourists to help pay for the work, not a fancy hotel. Meals are cafeteria-style. But if you are up for that, it's a wonderful place to stay and see nature. Guides are great, fellow guests are there for the same reason, there are no crowds. Rooms are clean and comfortable. And your tourist $$ are helping to support science.

But if you are using Google Maps to get here, search for \"OET,\" NOT La Selva Biological Station - that one takes you to a gate with a sign warning of a dangerous dog, several km away, though the residents were nice and helpful.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Nov 2025

Gillie

It was all very good. Staff helpful. Food ok.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2025

Gary

Excellent!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2025

Sam

Highly recommend for anybody interested in nature.

I loved my stay at La Selva and ended up extended it by an extra day. You feel fully immersed in wildlife and free to explore. A memorable moment was being on the hanging bridge in the dark with bats flying everywhere, my torch picked out the eyes of a caiman in the river and a great potoo flew overheard and along the river. Breathtaking!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Aug 2025

Nicholas

Come here for the wildlife and the birds, they are incredible. The food is good, and the facilities are more than adequate.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2025

Andrew

This is not a typical hotel or cabin stay. If you want luxury, keep looking. The food and accommodations are quite basic but serve the purpose. The real bonus about staying here is the great access to being very close to the nature of Costa Rica. The purpose of my trip was birding, so please be advised that I speak from this perspective, and fancy accommodations and other excursions were not important to me during this stay. You can do some great birding right around the cabin houses and have an easy stroll to the reception area. There are many kms of marked trails and I’ve probably walked 10 (km) of them in my two stays, and have very rarely run into other people other than near the researchers’ compound. If you stay on site there is a 2-3 hr nature tour with a knowledgeable guide which is good. Morning birding and night tours can be arranged as well. I hope to return one day.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2025

catherine

The forest and the wildlife are the reason for staying here so in that respect this place gets 10 out of 10. We did a birding tour and a night walk and took advantage of the free nature walk. The latter was conducted by Joel and I strongly encourage people not to pass on this even though they may have other tours booked. It was absolutely superb and held our interest for every minute of the 3 hours.
The accommodation is simple. The beds were a little hard and the pillows win the prize for the worst in the world but the bed linen was clean and fresh and the fans were effective so overall we slept well. The bathroom was clean and well lit and the shower was probably the best we encountered throughout CR, even in some expensive places. The wifi worked well in the rooms and there was a pleasant balcony at the back of the cabin to sit and watch the birds. Laundry is cheap and efficient and there is a bag in the room for this purpose.
Food was served in the canteen and was buffet style. It was pretty much the same every day and I think it was a bit over-priced for what we got. We had a car however so we ate in town for 2 of our 3 nights there. Breakfast was ample and there was free coffee and water all day.
There are many trails here that you can follow without a guide and the beauty of being a resident means you have free access to them whenever you want.
All the staff here were excellent.
We would certainly return but might consider bringing our own pillows next time!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2025

Brian

True and non-comercialized Costa Rican nature. A wonderful place to experience native flora and fauna.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Mar 2025

Mary Ann

Staying at La Selva was a unique experience. The accommodations are very rustic, which fits a research station. The highlight was the 3-hour guided tour that was included in the stay. A great experience for nature lovers.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2025

Carol

An outstanding research and educational center. It was a privilege to stay onsite and enjoy an example of Costa Rica’s stellar conservation example

8/10

Excellent

04 Feb 2025

Gordon

Excellent birdwatching and a great vibe with plenty of young people enjoying nature.
The only problem was Google Maps kept directing us in the wrong direction down tiny little country lanes. This led to severe frustration because we wasted our limited time before even arriving.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

03 Feb 2025

Roger

It’s about the wildlife not the accommodation

The accommodation is basic . It’s designed as shared student rooms . While the food too is fairly basic - served in student canteen fashion - it is perfectly edible and satisfying.
But you don’t come here for either . You come to be close to the biological reserve and the wonderful birds and wildlife . So you can be up at dawn to catch the chorus and do the night walk after dark with the knowledgeable guides

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2025

Kathryn

Lovely place to stay for those interested in wild life and nature. Accommodation is basic but that’s not what you come here for. Maps of trails could do with being better

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 Dec 2024

Cathy

This was an amazing area for birding, either on a tour or just sitting on the patio. Staff was very accommodating and especially helpful when constant rains caused flooding in the river. Our living quarters were roomy although beds were quite firm. The property is several miles from Puerto Viejo, the nearest town so transportation is a little difficult without a car (but taxis are available). All roads n all, our stay here was great!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Dec 2024

Ann

Peacefulness. Birdlife.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2024

Neil

This is a unique place of natural wonders and that makes it difficult to review or compare to other accommodations. This is not your regular hotel with a/c, maid service, restaurant and bar. No, this is a cabin with resident gecko and without a/c. If you eat on site, the meals are cafeteria style, good and hearty. In return, you wake to the sound of Howler Monkeys, toucans and macaws. You walk from your cabin into the forest and you are immersed in the natural world. We love this place. It was our second visit and we will return.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 May 2024

Lin Lee

The counter staff were very patient and helpful. They made our stay stress free. The kitchen staff also very hardworking. Food is reasonably good . The park staff and workers are all very friendlly and helpful. Had a very good time staying there for more than 2 week. The room service was not average . Had to remind them to clean the room thrice.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 May 2024

Narayan

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..

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

21 Apr 2024

Edward

Great place to see wildlife (Sloths) and birds

We had a great stay but wished there was air conditioning

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2024

Matthew

La Selva is no frills accommodations with no air conditioning, but it is a working biological station with animals and plants that you won’t see anywhere else. The guides were amazing, especially Chris on the night tour. It was a unique experience that I will always remember as a highlight of my time in Costa Rica!

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

06 Feb 2024

James

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.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2023

Allison

Very kind, welcoming, and helpful staff. Beautiful and biodiverse place with cozy cute cabins to stay in.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2023

Noland

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!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Feb 2023

Lindsay

Absolutely gorgeous place, a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2023

Clara

Delighted in being within nature setting; Day and night exposure to animal sounds, and Convenience to food services.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2022

Angela

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!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2022

Lawrence

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.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jan 2022

Carol

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.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2022

Brynn

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.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Jan 2022

Atriya

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;)

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2021

Sarah

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!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Mar 2021

Laura L

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.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2021

Verified traveler

Very good maintained property with many excellent hiking trails.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

20 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

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.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

26 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Accommodations are basic but adequate and very clean. Meals are cafeteria style and the food was never very hot.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Jan 2020

Zoe

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.

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

21 Dec 2019

Joanne

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.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2019

Gary

La Selva

excellent

Self

8/10

Excellent

19 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

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.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Sep 2019

Jeanie

Not enough sheets .. the accommodations were a little sparse , but for our stay there to photo birds was and our guide Jorge was great👍

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2019

Lester

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.

Leisure Self