Tirimbina Rainforest Center

Among all the things there are to do in Costa Rica, experiencing the rainforest ought to be number one. And at Tirimbina, you have an awe-inspiring and educational 2 hours or 2 days. The bridges, the river, the easy trails, the guides, the comfortable rooms, the night programs -- all make for an authentic experience. It's great to see all the students there, knowing that they are learning to conserve what ecotravelers are enjoying! I heard about (but did not see)puma, ocelot, and tapir enjoying the forest, too! Hundreds of birds and plenty of monkeys.

The Tirimbina Rainforest Center is a fantastic experience. Beautiful with very easy trails to walk and the longest 'Suspension Bridge' (860 feet) in Costa Rica. You can go either on guided walks or do your own self-guided walk. The Bat Tour is one of-a-kind in Costa Rica it is very educational and exciting to see live bats up close. The Chocolate Tour is also unique, one learns about cacao and the importance of it, first to the early native inhabitants and then later to the European settlers. In the end one can make their own chocolate candy.

The Tirimbina Center's staff are the best in Costa Rica very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Their restaurant is worth a stop for a great typical Costa Rican meal and they now have rooms to rent at the main Education Center site.

Besides the education of tourists, Tirimbina services over one hundred local schools bringing classes of students to the Center to experience the rainforest first hand. Many clases from schools and universities in the United States also visits Tirimbina and stay at their Research/Field Station. There is also over fifteen research projects taking place on the land conducted by researchers from around the world. And finally, this unique premontane rainforest has been preserved for future generations to enjoy, as well as, conserving thousands of unique species of plants and animals.

The Tirimbina Rainforest Center is well worth the time for a visit either for the day or for several days. I would highly recommend it for any visitor traveling to Costa Rica.