Las Cruces Biological Station

Country

Costa Rica

Description

In the enchanting and remote southern zone of Costa Rica, a Central American botanical garden, lush and serene, lies at the heart of the Organization for Tropical Studies' Las Cruces Biological Station. This Field Station is home to the Wilson Botanical Garden featuring beautifully diverse plantings of tropical and subtropical ornamentals, representatives of unusual plant families and rare and endangered plants from Costa Rica and elsewhere. It also boasts remarkable collections of cycads, tree ferns, aroids, bromeliads, gingers, heliconias, marantas, and palms. More than 1,000 genera in 212 plant families can be seen along trails that wind around palm-covered hillsides, through agave and lily beds, under rain forest canopy, through banana and heliconia groves, or to strategic overlooks on the rolling grounds. The Station serves as the principal center in the region for teaching, research, and on-site environmental education, as well as visitors who have a unique opportunity to experience tropical nature and to learn about it in a place where scientists and students from around the world come to research and study.

Station Rates (US dollars) Valid from: December 14, 2007 - December 15, 2008

All inclusive Rates per person per night Foreign Costaricans & Residents
Single $88 Double $82 Additional person $60 Children (5-12 years) $34 The rate includes: lodging, three meals, one half day guided walk per stay, and taxes. Children under 5 years are free of charge when sharing room with parents.

Location

San Vito de Coto Brus, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Distance from San José: 4.5 hr, 287km. Near the Panamanian border on Costa Rica's coastal range (8° 47' N, 82° 57' W). Las Cruces Biological Station is located in the Pacific highlands of southern Costa Rica, 287 kilometers (178 miles) southeast of the capital city of San José. The drive by car from San José takes a minimum of 4.5 hours (without stopping). From Downtown San Jose, go east toward San Pedro and find the Interamerican Highway South (Route No. 2) Stay on this highway, passing Cerro de la Muerte Before descinding to San Isidro del General: ³the capital of the South². From San Isidro head tower Buenos Aires San Isidro, and after you have passed Buenos Aires drive some 25 kilometers more to find Paso Real, the entrance to the Coto Brus Valley. Take a sharp left turn at the Paso Real sign, crossing the bridge at Río Térraba; San Vito is 46 kilometers after the bridge. Once in San Vito, take the fork in front of the city¹s park; Las Cruces is some 5 kilometers south of San Vito. Look for the Wilson Garden/Las Cruces Biological Station.

Advice to our visitors

Prescription medicines as needed, good walking shoes, hot weather clothes, insect repellent, umbrella or rain jacket, flashlight, binoculars, sun screen, film and camera extra batteries, plastic bags to keep film/paper dry. Most of these items are also found on our gift shop. If you are hypersensitive to insects, bees or wasps, always carry a sting kit with you. Please walk only on marked trails, and remain watchful for snakes, bees, and wasps. If you encounter a snake, back away slowly and allow the snake to move away of its own accord. Notify a staff member immediately in the event of an emergency.

Prices

Till Dec 15, 2008. Additional person. Includes: lodging, 3 meals, one half walk per stay and taxes: U$S 60
Till Dec 15, 08. Double room (p/person). Includes: lodging, 3meals, one half walk per stay and taxes: U$S 82
Till Dec 15, 2008. Single room. Includes: lodging, three meals, one half walk per stay and taxes: U$S 88
Till Dec 15, 2008. Children (5-12 years): U$S 34
Children under 5 years are free of charge when sharing room with parents.: U$S 0

Prices shown are subject to changes. Please consult.

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