Ratings based on 19 Verified Reviews
4.2 Room cleanliness
4.3 Service & staff
4.0 Room comfort
4.3 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler
Great place, but maybe not a ‘hotel’ as such
Posted 11 Jun 2023 on HotelsIt may be important to know there is no bar or alcohol available at the biological station. Bring your own booze, or there’s a good bar/restaurant about a quarter of a mile away on the road back towards San Vito.
by A verified traveler
Posted 21 May 2023
Get an appreciation for a special climate and animals of Costa Rica. The guide service was informative. We even did some extra trips after hours. Food service is simple, convenient, and more than sufficient.
by A verified traveler
Posted 12 Feb 2023
The tour of the gardens was fascinating.
by A verified traveler
Costa Rica
Posted 13 Jan 2021 on HotelsThe free tour was worth every minute of it through the greens. I also enjoyed the free breakfast and the view from my balcony.
It was a very nice and peaceful place to be
by A verified traveler
Posted 7 Jan 2021 on Hotels
excellent place, it felt good our money contributed to some meaningful eco work. The shop was closed so no chance to contribute more by buying the gardens souvenirs. solar-power water heater, plenty of very hot, high pressure water despite cloudy/rainy day.
by A verified traveler
Very disappointed
Posted 17 Dec 2018 on HotelsWe were given a private cabin in the forest which we thought would be better than the villas across from the dining hall. The photos of the rooms on hotels.com, however, are of the villa rooms, which appear to be better, but I can't vouch for that as I did not see them in person. Our cabin was dirty, run down and in need of a major remodeling. There was no hot water, the mattresses were in poor condition, and the shower was so gross, neither my husband or I used it. There was mold on the ceiling above the beds and various insects crawling about the cabin as well. The breakfast was skimpy-- undrinkable coffee, two small pieces of papaya, a couple scoops of rice and eggs and musty-tasting toast that had the crusts sliced off. We only stayed one night to go birding in the Wilson Botanical Garden and were glad to check out in the morning. We stayed the following night at Casa Botania a mile down the road, which was absolutely wonderful.
Recommended
for Everyoneby A verified traveler from Volcan, panama
Beautiful plants and birds
Posted 10 Apr 2018Very simple accommodations, very simple meal plan, grounds of Wilson Botanical fantastic to see and wander about. Staff very helpful and tour guide Jason very pleasant and a book of knowledge about Flores and fauna.
Comment from Hotel Management
17 Apr 2018 by Aixia R., Hotel Management
Dear William,
Thank you so much for your preference for the OTS, we really appreciate it.
Our biological station is a great spot to see flora and fauna in the garden and forest.
Pura vida!
Recommended
for Everyoneby A verified traveler from New Mexico
Good location for birders and plant lovers
Posted 18 Mar 2018This is a field station of the Organization for Tropical Studies, where scientists, students and volunteers conduct biological research. They offer available rooms to guests, along with full board. Rooms are small but comfortable for their basic purpose. Bathroom very small but adequate; plenty of hot water for showers. Food was plentiful and very good, plenty of salad, vegetables, and vegetarian options. No alcohol.
Anyone looking into lodgings here is presumably interested in the birds and/or plants, as many species of both are found here. The station is located in Wilson Botanical Garden, so you need only walk out your door to find what you came for. A guided walk is included with your stay. and is very informative.
If you want to stay here during the high season, you would be wise to inquire at least 6 months in advance. I inquired in September about availability of 3 nights in February or March, and at that time they had only two such slots still available.
This is not the least expensive lodging available in the area, but with all meals included it is good value for the money, and you can feel good about your dollars going to support OTS' good work.
Comment from Hotel Management
21 Mar 2018 by Aixia Rojas, Hotel Management
Wow, you really felt the OTS heart and our goals to keep research and protect the tropics.
Thank you so much for your wonderful words and support for our family.
Enjoy in our little paradise!
Recommended
for Everyoneby A verified traveler from Rural Retreat, VA
Wilson Botanical Gardens..
Posted 23 Feb 2018
Pros: Close to everything, clean and comfortable. Just look out the windows for a great view.
Cons: No suggestions, We thought it was perfect.
Location: Located in the mountains. We were exploring Costa Rica on motorcycles and the roads were excellent for us. Smooth, lots of curves that were fun.
We really liked the Las Cruces Biological Station and the hotel. Lots of trails to hike on that were well marked with numerous plants identified. Many birds to look at, take photos or just enjoy them. Guided tour was excellent and enjoyed by all. Hotel was very close to everything. Meals were excellent. Don't miss it.
Comment from Hotel Management
21 Mar 2018 by Aixia Rojas, Hotel Management
Dear Fred,
Las Cruces team really appreciate your preference and we are delighted to offer you a remarkable experience.
We wish you a great trip in our beautiful country!
Recommended
for Everyoneby A verified traveler from Santa Fe NM
world-class scientific garden
Posted 4 Feb 2018
Pros: Nice rooms with a double bed and single and a balcony looking out at the forest.
Location: The nearby Finca Cantaras is worth a visit.
We did both a night tour and an included morning tour with guide Jason. He was excellent. Wonderful palm and bromeliad collections. Terrific birding. At night--frogs, spiders, sleeping birds, toads, snakes. The bird feeding station had a wonder variety of tanagers.
Comment from Hotel Management
6 Feb 2018 by Aixia R., Hotel Management
Dear Bernardo,
Thank you so much for sharing, we really appreciate it!
We are more than glad to offer you a memorable experience, hope to see you in the future!
Best regards,
