Selva Verde is a 204 hectare (500 acres) private rainforest reserve complete with covered walks, birding trails, lookout points and a suspension bridge. Selva Verde provides a complimentary daily guide bird walk! Native and migratory birds found in the area include the Keel-billed Toucan, Great Green Macaw, White-winged Becard, Sunbittern, Acadian Flycatcher, and Wood Thrush. Other outdoor adventure offerings at Selva Verde include horseback riding, canopy tours, and white-water rafting! They also offer a special birding safari that takes you to other locations within the Costa Rican Bird Route and San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor that increases your birding opportunities. Go to different sites, bird different habitats, and see additional birds!
After an adventurous day of rainforest exploration take time to relax and refresh in the pool near the dining room, before enjoying a delicious buffet style meal. In the evenings there are several opportunities to get in touch with the local culture, this includes dance lessons, cooking classes and sitting in on lectures. The grounds themselves are great for night hikes, make sure you bring a flashlight.
Selva Verde is also home to the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center, an educational non-profit dedicated to linking communities and environmental conservation through education and ecotourism. The center is right next door and offers a library, souvenir shop with locally made goods and can provide you insight to local education and conservation programs.
All of the accommodations at Selva Verde are classy, clean and comfortable. Rooms accommodate one to four guests in twin beds. Features include spacious wooden verandas with hammocks, private bathrooms with hot water, hair dryers, phones, safe boxes and ceiling fans. There are also newly remodeled rainforest bungalows with A/C. The bungalow rooms are discreetly tucked into the forest near the botanical garden located across the roadway from the main lodge. Their secluded location affords a peaceful ambiance for relaxing and keeping an eye out for wandering wildlife. These rooms feature spacious and screened-in balconies, coffee maker and a refrigerator.
Contact Information
To arrange for transportation or lodging, please contact info@selvaverde.com. For USA and Canadian guests call 800-451-7111. For our Costa Rican guests call 506-2766-6800. Outside Costa Rica, USA and Canada call 352-377-7111. Visit their website at: www.selvaverde.com.
DIRECTIONS
There are two ways to get to Selva Verde from San José, both of which take approximately 2 hours. From the Airport travel north on Highway 125 until you reach Route 9 past Poas Volcano and Varablanca. Continue over the mountain to San Miguel. Continue through San Miguel down hill through La Virgen and toward Puerto Viejo. Selva Verde will be on your right about 30 mins after San Miguel.
The other route takes you through Braulio Carillo National Park. After approximately 45 minutes, you will pass over the Río Sucio. Continue for 7 km, and turn left at the main intersection. Continue 33 Km to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. At the main intersection go left and continue 7 km to Selva Verde on your left side.
Buses leave San José to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí from the Caribbean Bus Station approximately every two hours between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Be sure that you get the bus to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and not to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca/ Limon. Once in Puerto, you can hire a cab to get you to Selva Verde. The lodge also offers Airport Shuttle; contact them for more information and pricing.
There is bus service to Quebrada Grande from Pital.
