OTS established  La Selva Research Station in 1968. Before that, La Selva was a farm dedicated to sustainable forest research owned by Dr. Leslie Holdridge.

La Selva’s influence on tropical ecology is unmeasurable and of great cultural significance, having served as a key training and research site for numerous professional scientists. 

The species richness of La Selva is outstanding, with more than 2,077 species of plants; 125 species of mammals (72 of them bats); 470 species of birds; 48 amphibian species; 87 species of reptiles; 45 species of freshwater fish; and tens of thousands of insects, arachnids and other arthropods.

Day tours are offered, and if you want to make the most out of this Biological Station, they also offer basic sleeping facilities.