San Gerardo Biological Station

The San Gerardo biological station is located on the Atlantic slope in the Cordillera de Tilarán at 1,200 above sea level and within our private reserve the Children's Eternal Rain Forest (CERF).The station can accomodate 32 people and offers facilities for students, tourists and researchers. There are 6 rooms on the second floor each with a private bath and 2 bunk beds. The second floor balcony provides a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake and the surrounding forest. The first floor consists of a kitchen, dining area, rooms for guides and group leaders, and a meeting /lecture room.

The nearby areas of the Station offers trails along primary and secondary forest as well as regenerating pastures. The forest type in the zone is catalogued as Premontane Rain Forest that is an evergreen forest, with a canopy at 30 to 40 meters in height, abundant epiphytes and a dense understory. The annual rainfall is over 4000 mm and the duration of the short dry season could be 0 to 2 months.

If you enjoy birdwatching, we recommend to visit the site between April and June, when a great portion of the species are very active due to their breeding season. The bird's songs are melodious and the coutship displays of the Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis) are simply spectacular.

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the Pan American Highway from San José to the road to Monteverde. From there drive 35 km (20 miles). From the town of Santa Elena drive to the Santa Elena Reserve parking lot. It is a 3.5 km (2 mile) hike to the station.

Click to see Preliminary bird list for San Gerardo station

Poco Sol Biological Station