Palo Verde Biological Station

Palo Verde Biological Station, inside Palo Verde National Park

The Palo Verde Biological Station sits inside Palo Verde National Park in Guanacaste, among the dry forest and wetlands along the Tempisque River. It is a research station run by the Organization for Tropical Studies, and it suits birders, student groups and nature lovers who want to sleep where the scientists work.

This is a simple, rustic stay. The reward is waking up next to a wetland that waterbirds depend on, both resident and migrating.

Why we choose it

• Birds on the doorstep. The marshes beside the station draw herons, egrets, storks, grebes, ducks, ibis and jacanas, both resident and migrating.
• Learn from the people who study it. Guided walks explain the ecosystems and the research, education and conservation work of the Organization for Tropical Studies.
• Made for groups that want to learn. Student and educational groups are at home here, with shared meals, trails and guides who know the park.

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Rooms and views

Accommodation is basic: rooms with bunk beds, private bathrooms and a fan, shared by small groups. This is a field station, so the comfort is simple and the setting does the rest.

Ask us about the room layout for your group, because the station's room types need confirming before we book.

On the property

Meals are served at set times with all the guests together, with vegetarian options and packed lunches for long days in the field. The station also has a library, a small shop and laundry.

Guided walks lead through the dry forest, the limestone cliffs and the marsh, and longer explorations can fill a whole day. Several trails start from the station, and the station offers photography workshops and educational trips.

Location and getting there

The station is inside Palo Verde National Park, in Guanacaste. A boat trip on the Tempisque River, through the mangroves, is a good way to see crocodiles and waterbirds, and we can arrange it with your stay.

Palo Verde fits well into a Guanacaste trip, between the beaches and the volcanoes of Rincon de la Vieja.

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