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San Gerardo Biological Station


The San Gerardo Biological Station is located on the Atlantic slope on the Tilarán mountain range at 1,200 above sea level, and within the BEN. The station can accommodate 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 offer trails along primary and secondary forest as well as regenerating pastures. The forest type in the zone is catalogued as Premontane Rain Forest, which 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 bird watching, we recommend visiting the site between April and June when a great portion of the species are very active due to their breeding season. The birds songs are melodious and the courtship displays of the Bare-necked Umbrella Bird (Cephalopterus glabricollis)are simply spectacular.

To make a reservation: Send a message to info@acmcr.org or call our central office at (506)2645-5200 or (506)2645-5003.

How to get there: Take the Pan American Highway from San José to the gas-station turnoff in Sardinal, and take the road to Monteverde. From there drive 35 km (20 miles) until you arrive in Santa Elena. 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.



 

Visitor

Price

International Tourist

$48 per day

National Tourist

$35 per day

International Student

$32 per day

National Student

$25 per day

International Volunteer

$32 per day

National Volunteer

$25 per day

Teachers/ Researchers

$30 per day

Guides

$30 for groups of 6 people per day

Children
5 – 12 years

$25 per day

Children under 5 years

Free

Special Prices

 

Researchers

$30 per night
Note: Researchers are given a special price under the condition that they turn in their results to the MCL, as well as share the information collected during their stay at the station.

 

Local School Groups

For groups of local students, the MCL offers a special price of $15 per student, including teachers, if everyone brings their own food, bed sheets, towels, etc. This price is not offered to any other group.

Note: These rates include: room and board (3 meals daily, bed, sheets, blankets, pillow, soap, toilet paper and towel, use of the field station and entrance to trails).  Use of installations, trails and audiovisual equipment. For extra meals, groups are charged $10 per person.