Arrival Into Costa Rica
Upon arrival into Juan Santa Maria Airport in San Jose Costa Rica, students will stay one night at a hotel in Alajuela. We will make the reservations at the hotel on your behalf and depending on your course and your arrival time, someone may meet you at the airport to make sure you get to the right hotel. In the event that no one is able to meet you at the airport upon your arrival, you will be provided with instructions on how to get to your hotel. You will be responsible for your own meal expenses on this first night. A number of local restaurants are close to the hotel including some fast food establishments. The next morning you will be served a traditional Costa Rican breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will then take a shuttle bus to cross over the central mountain range as you travel to the Northeast, Caribbean lowlands.
As your shuttle gets closer to the research station, you will pass through banana and pineapple plantations. Leaving the paved highway, the shuttle will travel over gravel/dirt roads eventually leading to the small town of Primavera. On the edge of Primavera, lies the entrance to the La Suerte Biological Research Station (LBRS). Passing through the gate, you are immediately exposed to the rainforest with all of its wildlife, plants, sights, sounds, and smells. You are now surrounded by an 800 acres of rainforest that is an island in a sea of agriculture including cattle ranches, palm oil, coconut, and pineapple plantations. Most students walk the narrow road approximately ¾ mile to the main house where you will have all your meals. The main house does have limited room accommodations for students, while some students may stay in our cabins that are only a short hike away.
Room Accommodations
The main house is located in a clearing surrounded by forests and students will be immersed in the tropical atmosphere at the La Suerte Biological Field Station. The first floor of the main house contains an inside dining area that also functions as a classroom and a general gathering place. The outside patio also has dining tables where students can watch the forest, and the wildlife during breakfast and lunch – as it gets dark quick most everyone eats dinner inside. Going upstairs in the main house, the second and third floors have simple room accommodations where students will typically share rooms. The beds can be single or bunk beds. Depending on the size of the room that is assigned, 2-4 students may share a room in the main house. The rooms on the second floor surround a communal lounge area shared by all students. This lounge has been utilized as a place to socialize, play board games, and even as a home theatre by some groups to present after dinner movies. All spaced in the main house are open air and have screened windows to keep the insects out. However, persistent insects often find their way into the rooms through the screens, so it is recommended that you bring mosquito nets to place above your bed at night.
Two sets of communal showers, toilets, and a bathroom sinks are located on the first floor patio. So, if you have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, you will need to come downstairs with a flashlight. Depending on how many people may be staying in the main house, you may need to work out a schedule so that everyone has access to the bathrooms and showers. Remember that all showers and bathroom facilities are shared spaces that our staff work hard to keep clean, so any help from you to keep these spaces clean for all will greatly appreciated.
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