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Las Cruces Biological Station

3.0 star property
Enjoy free breakfast at this 3-star San Vito hotel

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Las Cruces Biological Station

Standard Double or Twin Room, Garden View | Balcony
Desk, free WiFi, bed sheets
Standard Double or Twin Room, Garden View | Garden view
Interior entrance
View from room

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Business services

Explore the area

Map
San Vito de Coto Brus, San Vito, 676-2050
  • Dante Alighieri Cultural Center
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • San Vito Park
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Wilson Botanical Garden
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Golfito (GLF)
    ‪85 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Double or Twin Room, Garden View

Standard Double or Twin Room, Garden View | Desk, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Double or Twin Room, Garden View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 1 Twin Bed

About the neighborhood

San Vito

In San Vito .Within 6 miles (10 km) of this San Vito hotel, you'll find San Vito Park and Dante Alighieri Cultural Center. Wilson Botanical Garden is within 6 miles (10 km) and Las Cavernas de Corredores is within 16 miles (25 km).

What's nearby

  • Dante Alighieri Cultural Center - 9 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • San Vito Park - 9 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • Wilson Botanical Garden - 9 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • Paradise Tropical Garden - 32 min drive - 13.8 miles
  • Las Cavernas de Corredores - 35 min drive - 13.6 miles

Getting around

  • Golfito (GLF) - 106 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante y bar La Rancha - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Las Huacas - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Las Cascatas - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Pollo Riviera - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Soda Mireya - ‬9 min drive

About this property

Las Cruces Biological Station

Enjoy free breakfast at this 3-star San Vito hotel
Along with a restaurant, there's a coffee shop/cafe on site. Free breakfast is served daily. WiFi is free in public spaces. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is available for a fee. A library, a terrace, and gift shops/newsstands are also featured at Las Cruces Biological Station.

This 3-star San Vito hotel is smoke free.

  • 65 guestrooms or units
  • Buffet breakfast (free)
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gift shop
  • No smoking on site
  • Coffee shop
  • 1 conference room
  • Dining venue
Las Cruces Biological Station offers 65 accommodations with ceiling fans. Rooms open to balconies. This San Vito hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms include showers. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Languages

English, Spanish

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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available
  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Library

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 5 PM
The check-in location differs from the property location; go to: [Caseta de Seguridad despues de las 5:00 pm]
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets and service animals are not allowed at Las Cruces Biological Station

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 350.00 per vehicle (one way)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. No onsite parking is available. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • Pets and service animals are not allowed on site.

Property is also known as

Las Cruces Biological Station Hotel San Vito
Las Cruces Biological Station Hotel
Las Cruces Biological Station San Vito
Las Cruces Biological Station
Las Cruces Biological Station Costa Rica/San Vito
Las Cruces Biological Vito
Las Cruces Biological Station Hotel
Las Cruces Biological Station San Vito
Las Cruces Biological Station Hotel San Vito

Frequently asked questions

How close is Las Cruces Biological Station to the airport?

Las Cruces Biological Station is 42.1 mi (106-min drive) away from the Golfito (GLF) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Las Cruces Biological Station?

As of Jun 1, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Las Cruces Biological Station on Jun 2, 2025 start from $125.66, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Las Cruces Biological Station have an airport shuttle?

Las Cruces Biological Station offers an airport shuttle 24 hours a day, for a charge of USD 350.00 per vehicle, one way.

Does Las Cruces Biological Station offer free breakfast?

Las Cruces Biological Station offers free buffet breakfast every day from 6:30 AM to 8 AM.

Is there a casino at Las Cruces Biological Station?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at Las Cruces Biological Station?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at Las Cruces Biological Station?

Free parking is not available at this hotel.

Does Las Cruces Biological Station have a pool?

Las Cruces Biological Station does not have a pool.

Does Las Cruces Biological Station have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does Las Cruces Biological Station have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Las Cruces Biological Station to downtown San Vito?

Las Cruces Biological Station is 2.8 mi away from San Vito.

Las Cruces Biological Station Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 24 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 24 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 24 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 24 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The food was simple, tasty, and consistent, prepared and served by lovely kitchen staff in a very clean, beautiful dining area open to the breeze and overlooking the Wilson Botanical Garden. Rooms were clean, spacious, simple. In addition to the gardens, there are good trails into the adjacent rain forest. This property is in the mountains of southern Costa Rica - not so hot as elsewhere and a very interesting place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Regina

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic staff at a spectacular location.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Russell

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great place, but maybe not a ‘hotel’ as such

It 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.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Roger

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The tour of the gardens was fascinating.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Costa Rica

The 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
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Monika

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2020

4/10 Poor

steve

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very disappointed

We 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.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

William, Volcan, panama

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful plants and birds

Very 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.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

eulabeans, New Mexico

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good location for birders and plant lovers

This 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.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Fred, Rural Retreat, VA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wilson Botanical Gardens..

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.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Don Bernardo, Santa Fe NM

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

world-class scientific garden

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.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Annette

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A gem of an ecolodge

Very well managed place with accommodations for overseas researches as well as tourists. Fantastic birding of Colorful birds at the feeders. The garden grounds is huge and full of hummingbirds.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kim Thompson, Panama

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

amazing flora and fauna!

absolutely beautiful!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent staff, hotel, garden and forest. The plants and birds that you can see are amazing.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

Gary, Cambridge, MA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

It Doesn't Get Much Better than This

The Bungalows at Las Cruces/Wilson Botanical Gardens are as close to luxury as one could expect at one of the most pristine active research biological facilities in Costa Rica. The rooms are nicely kept and the views are to die for. Meals are prepared for the guests, students and faculty of the facility by dedicated staff. A stay at the facility includes a guided tour of the Wilson Botanical Gardens, a birdwatcher's and gardener's paradise, and continued access to the gardens and surrounding nature trails and preserves. Highly recommended for travelers who want to commune with nature, right up to the doorstep.

2/10 Terrible

joe, OntarioCanada

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Over charge they were to revise and never received

Disappointed never reviewed bill as asked over bill Never received receipt took friends very disappointed would appreciate you sending us a justified bill.

10/10 Excellent

maria

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A great experience for nature-loving people

The biological station Las Cruces is integrated in the Wilson Botanical Garden, which is one of the most important and largest botanical collections in the tropics. We took the public bus from Ciudad Neilly and let us be dropped directly in front of the Las Cruces station (6 km south of San Vito). We spent 2 nights in the station: The rooms were very comfortable with a great view to the garden. At night, it can get cold, so it is a good idea to bring warmer clothes. The garden itself is very nice, botanically very interesting and an excellent location for birdwatching. Also, the adjacent tracks (many kilometers) into the primary and secondary rain forest are definitely worth a walk and one can easily spend several days exploring the station and area around (bring closed shoes!). The guided tour through the garden with Jeisson was excellent, he is really an expert,, was able to define and imitate nearly all birds and could answer all of our questions. The food was really excellent and the kitchen women were amazing and very helpful. As there were only few tourists, we were eating together with the researchers. All in all, the stay was great and we would absolutely recommend it, if you don't expect luxury, if you are interested in nature and want a familiar atmosphere.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Geweldige locatie

Geweldige natuurlijke locatie, prachtige plek om te verblijven, vriendelijke medewerkers en ultieme rust
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017