+1-833-344-5835 USA   +1-833-252-9786 CAN

   +506-4081-0362 Costa Rica & other countries

 

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+1833-344-5835 USA   +1833-252-9786 CAN
+506-4081-0362 Costa Rica & other countries

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English

 Welcome to Selva Verde

A TRULY UNIQUE COSTA RICAN ECO-LODGE 

 

FAQs

frequently asked questions

Click on any of the frequently asked questions below to find out more about Selva Verde. Naturally, feel free to contact us if you have any other questions!

 

Conference Center

Symposia, Seminars, and Retreats

Just 2 hours from San José, Selva Verde Lodge offers the amenities of an education and conferencing center in the heart of a rainforest reserve. The lodge offers total occupancy of 120-140 guests dependent on room configuration, and a variety of room types – from climate-controlled rooms to private bungalows, or situated on the forest edge or adjacent to the Sarapiquí River.


Conference room3 300x200Main conference roomSELVA VERDE IS AN IDEAL SITE FOR:

  • Scientific societies and association meetings
  • Sustainable tourism and conservation events
  • Recreation education forums
  • Experiential and immersive outdoor learning
  • Wellness and personal development retreats
  • Executive retreats in immersive

 

 

 


 

conference room 1 300x200Flexible room settingsMeeting Facilities

  • Main Conference Room - This air-conditioned room seats 200 people in theater configuration, with contemporary presentation equipment and a glass wall overlooking the forest.
  • Nature’s Classroom - Located amid the gardens with full view of the natural surroundings, this room is equipped with a dry erase board, retractable projection screen, and speakers, comfortably seating 45.
  • Outdoor Classrooms - Lectures or classes can be also be held in an outdoor meeting area, and similar equipment can be arranged.

 

 


 

Conference room2 300x200Full-service event managementCOMPLETE EVENT MANAGEMENT
Selva Verde Lodge, in conjunction with Holbrook Travel, offers full-service event management, hosting up to 200 participants for formal presentations, workshops throughout the property, and daily integrated activities focused on experiential learning, discovery, exploration, and community exchange. Event services include:

  • Local activity travel planning, options, and selection
  • Full board lodging
  • International group air contracts from the US
  • Transport to/from and throughout event

 

Selva Verde provides an exceptional backdrop to explore topics of interest to your organization or institution. 


Selva Verde Activities - On Site

AT SELVA VERDE LODGE and Rainforest reserve

 

Our lodge is a wonderful place for discovering and learning about the abundant wildlife and biodiversity of the lush tropical rainforest. Choose from a variety of activities on our premises. 

 

TO RESERVE ACTIVITIES, PLEASE READ BELOW.


 

Guided Nature Walk in the Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve

Experience first hand the wonder of exploring a tropical rainforest. Enjoy a personalized and leisurely ramble through Selva Verde's 500 acre private reserve with our knowledgeable naturalist guides. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals - discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Be on the look out for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera!

 

Time: 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $35, Children 6-11 $17.5, under 5 free

 


 

Night Hike at SElva Verde Reserve

Join Selva Verde’s naturalist guides for an exciting exploration of the rainforest at night! Bring your flashlight and search the grounds and surrounding trails for nocturnal wildlife – including tree frogs, leaf mimicking insects, and nocturnal mammals including kinkajous and bats!

 

Time: 7:00 PM
Duration: 2 hour
Cost: Adults $35, Children 6-11 $17.5, under 5 free

 


 

EARLY MORNING BIRD WALK AT SELVA VERDE

Grab your binoculars and join our naturalist guide for an early morning bird walk on the grounds of Selva Verde. Morning is a very active time for the birds, so you can count on sighting several of the stunning tropical species that inhabit Selva Verde. Every morning is different, but they are all exciting! Your guide has a keen eye and a high-powered scope, so you can get close up views of birds you might not otherwise notice. Binoculars can be rented at reception.

 

Time: Daily at 6 am
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $45, Children 6-11 $22.5, under 5 free

 


 

LATIN DANCE CLASS

Dancing is the soul of Latin America! If you have ever wanted to learn Latin dancing then this is the class for you! Merenge, Salsa, and Cumbia dancing styles are all lead by local dance instructors, step by step. You will practice with a partner and everyone can take turns showing off their new dance moves. This activity is great fun, perfect for families and friends, and for groups to kick off or end a tour.

 

Time: 7:00 or 7:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: Request price and availability at the frontdesk

 


 

HIKE THE ALMENDRO TRAIL

Are you fascinated with the frogs and other amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica? Could you spend two whole hours just exploring the amazing frogs or snakes hidden in the litter, hanging under the leaves and croaking near a puddle? Selva Verde has more than 49  species of frogs (amphibians) and  species of reptiles that hopefully you can see, some species, during the tour, our naturalist guide will share his knowledge about the amazing diversity and characteristics of frog life and other amphibians and reptiles. Some highlights include the strawberry poison dart frog, the green and black poison dart frog, and the red-eyed tree frog, snakes: fer-de-lance,  terciopelo (Bothrops asper),  Boa Constrictor ect.


Time:
 According availability of guide
Duration: 4 hours 
Cost: Adults $85, Children 6-11 $43, under 5 free

 


 

HOW TO PLAN YOUR ACTIVITIES

It is always best to make advance reservations for all of our activities! Most activities may be booked at Selva Verde reception with 24 hours notice. Please make advanced reservations during the high season by CONTACTING US before your visit.

Green Season (May 1 - 31st, Aug 1 - Dec 14th)
High Season (Dec 15 - Apr 30, Jun 1 - Jul 31)

Groups: Traveling with 5 or more people? Please make advance reservations by CONTACTING US.

Special Note: Tips & discretionary gratuities for guides are not included in activity costs.

For Boxed Lunches: Please make arrangements with reception at least 24 hours in advance.

 

Our Community

SARAPIQUÍ, Costa Rica

Selva Verde Lodge is surrounded by one of the most vibrant communities in Costa Rica. Located at the junction of Puerto Viejo and Sarapiquí rivers, the area has been a favorite destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Once you enter the area, it is not hard to understand why it is regarded as one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. The area is very close to several protected zones such as Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Station.

 

SCLCSarapiquí Conservation Learning Center, founded in 1993. THE SARAPIQUÍ CONSERVATION LEARNING CENTER (SCLC)

The Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC) was founded in 1993 by the Holbrook family and Selva Verde Lodge. Today it is a fully independent US and Costa Rica registered non-profit organization. The SCLC’s mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiquí region. The SCLC offers community programs such as English classes, computer literacy, environmental education and after-school activities. By offering local residents opportunities to improve their job prospects, the SCLC hopes the population is able to cultivate more sustainable occupations to improve their job prospects. 

 


selvaverde small 23 Tourism transportation by boat, Sarapiquí RiverABOUT SARAPIQUÍ

The Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica is in close proximity to some of the most exciting destinations in Costa Rica. Sarapiquí is the tenth Canton of the province of Heredia and it is by far the largest, comprising almost three quarters of the entire province. Sarapiquí has a population of 55,000 and five districts: Puerto Viejo, La Virgen, Horquetas, Llanuras del Gaspar and Cureña. Sarapiquí is largely agricultural with a network of important waterways such as El Angel waterfall, La Paz Waterfall, El Congo lagoon, and the Sarapiquí River.

 

 

foto miti 086 300x200Water dog or Nutria, Sarapiquí River A PLACE TO EXPLORE AND LEARN

Sarapiquí is also a gateway to many outstanding locations such as the Poás Volcano, along the ranges to the southwest, and Tortuguero National Park, further to the east on the Caribbean coast. Selva Verde provides an extensive collection of activities from the lodge. Sarapiquí offers 6 of the 8 tourism categories established by the Costa Rican Tourist Board: traditional tours, natural history tours, adventure activities, sport fishing, elder tours, and bird watching tours. Its varied landscapes contain tremendous biodiversity; with 3000 species of plants, 398 species of birds, 450 species of ants, and 69 species of mammals, among many others.

 

Announcing Selva Verde's New Website

New photos, recent news, travel packages and more - all mobile friendly!

If you're noticing a different look to our website, you're not imagining it. We've just launched a new website design with information to make it easier for our guests. We've chosen colors to mirror our natural surroundings and our gallery and accommodations sections provide a more vivid picture of the lodging experience. Plus, you can view the website easily from any mobile device. While we loved our old website, it was time to make a change - we hope you will like it! Feel free to provide any feedback as we want to continually improve the visitor experience, not just at the lodge. 

 

PhotoGalleryNew Photo Gallery


 you're invited to surf our website

Check our the new photo gallery, review our FAQs, or read our blog posts. In addition to our posts on Facebook and other social media, we have a new blog for past and upcoming news. 

View new room categories

Check our the new photos of the accommodations which now features six different room categories: Pioneer Rooms (new), Sarapiquí Rooms, Bungalows, Casona Rainforest Suite, Chilamate Rooms and the Chilamate Apartment.

 

new website features

  • Streamlined information on programs, activities and accommodations
  • Mobile friendly for viewing on any device, phone or tablet
  • Larger photo galleries for accommodations and new photo gallery section
  • Blog posts with information on recent activities and upcoming events
  • Detailed information about the area, the learning opportunities, and maps
  • Section for Conference and Event organizers
  • More to come!

 

 

Featured Story view all

GBD2022-1Migratory Season of Birds of Prey: A Privately Guided Sarapiquí Experience

Experience a bird-focused adventure. Join us this migration season to enjoy one of the largest movements of the year, where you can observe birds such as the Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). This package is designed for you to enjoy both migratory birds as well as the endemic and native species that are abundant in the country. Costa Rica is home to over 900 species, with Sarapiquí hosting approximately 515 of them.

 

READ MORE...

 


 

 

FROM THE BLOG ( VIEW ALL )

SVLvelvetwormVelvet Worm Sighting in Selva Verde Lodge!

The night of September 9, 2022, during a night hike, our guide Randy Alvarado managed to spot in the primary forest of Selva Verde Lodge a species that is exceptionally hard to find in Costa Rica, a velvet worm (Onicóforo in Spanish). This is one of the oldest living beings in evolutionary terms, as it is known they exist since the Cambrian Period, more than 515 million years ago.

 

 

NEWS ( View All )

GBD2022-1Migratory Season of Birds of Prey: A Privately Guided Sarapiquí Experience

Experience a bird-focused adventure. Join us this migration season to enjoy one of the largest movements of the year, where you can observe birds such as the Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). This package is designed for you to enjoy both migratory birds as well as the endemic and native species that are abundant in the country. Costa Rica is home to over 900 species, with Sarapiquí hosting approximately 515 of them.

 

READ MORE...

 


 

 

   OUR STORY

holbrooks 1982 ourstory idx

The Selva Verde Story

Selva Verde began with one woman's dream of preserving nearly 500 acres of endangered tropical forest and the multitude of species that call it home.

READ MORE ...