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Tamandua Biological Station offers five rustic wooden bungalows among gardens and tropical forest. This is simple accommodation within a working biological station, with the sights and sounds of the rainforest close by.

Three bungalows each have three single beds and use bathrooms and showers in the nearby main hall. Two bungalows each have four single beds, a private bathroom and a private balcony; access is by stairs. Both types have large windows and garden and river views.

Yes. Bungalow guests receive sheets, towels, soap and toilet paper. Volunteers have different arrangements and bring their own sheets and towels.

Children are welcome. Pets are not permitted at the station.

Solar-powered electricity is available at the station, with charging in the main communal area. Discuss any specific equipment or power requirements with Tamandua before arrival.

Yes. The station has Starlink satellite Wi-Fi. Researchers should describe any specific data or internet needs when discussing their project.

The station is approximately 5 km from Agujitas Beach in Drake Bay, on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, close to the northwestern boundary of Corcovado National Park.

Direct vehicle access requires a high-clearance 4x4. The final road has steep sections and six river crossings. Access depends on current weather and river levels.

Rain can raise river levels and sometimes make crossings impossible. Contact Tamandua for current conditions and instructions before attempting the final journey.

From San José, you can travel toward Sierpe using TRACOPA services. The current information available to Tamandua includes an 8:30 am service. Another option is to travel via Palmar Norte and continue to Sierpe by bus or taxi. From Sierpe, public boats connect with Drake Bay.

Please confirm current bus and boat schedules with Tamandua before travelling, as services can change.

From San José, you can travel toward Sierpe using TRACOPA services. The current information available to Tamandua includes an 8:30 am service. Another option is to travel via Palmar Norte and continue to Sierpe by bus or taxi. From Sierpe, public boats connect with Drake Bay.

Please confirm current bus and boat schedules with Tamandua before travelling, as services can change.

Public boats from Sierpe to Drake Bay depart at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm (16:00). Reserve your boat seat in advance and confirm the schedule before travelling.

The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.

Yes. Advance boat-seat reservation is required. Tamandua can assist with the reservation and coordinate the onward local transfer.

Yes. Contact Tamandua for assistance with local transfers and the Sierpe–Drake Bay boat reservation. Confirm the meeting point and current arrival instructions before travelling.

You can fly with Sansa to Bahía Drake Airport, then continue by taxi or transfer. Tamandua can help coordinate the local transfer.

Walking is not the recommended normal arrival method. Access needs to be discussed with Tamandua in relation to daylight, weather, luggage and physical condition. Contact the station to arrange suitable transport.

Yes. Obtain current arrival instructions and confirm transport before setting off. Please confirm current schedules and access conditions with Tamandua before travelling.

The station is close to the northwestern Corcovado boundary and is the last construction before primary forest. Its private trails, waterfalls and natural pools offer an isolated forest setting away from the busier town.

Yes. Guests can use the communal kitchen, which has a gas stove, freezer and utensils. The main hall also includes the dining room, chairs and sofas.

Costa Rican breakfast, lunch and dinner are available separately by advance reservation. Mealtimes are flexible, and shared meals are an important part of station life.

Tell Tamandua about dietary requirements when reserving meals, so the station can confirm what is possible before your visit.

Water comes from a mountain spring and passes through filtration. Bring a reusable water bottle.

Bring lightweight quick-dry clothing, walking shoes, closed water shoes, a swimsuit, a reusable water bottle, insect repellent, a hat or cap and a flashlight. Walking sticks are recommended.

There is currently no laundry service at the station. Laundries are available in town.

Contact Tamandua in advance to confirm availability, departure arrangements, inclusions and any minimum number of total participants. Solo travellers, couples and smaller parties may enquire about joining other participants where availability allows. Sending an enquiry does not confirm a booking.

Ask Tamandua to confirm whether your quoted price is per person or per group before booking. Published prices are shown in the tour catalogue.

Inclusions differ by tour. Check the “Includes” line in the specific tour entry, and confirm any transport, meal or equipment arrangements with Tamandua.

The Corcovado National Park overnight tour, mangrove tour, whale and dolphin watching, and pelagic tour operate when at least 4 total participants are reached. Solo travellers, couples and smaller parties may still enquire and be combined with other participants where availability allows. You do not need to purchase 4 places yourself. Check the specific tour information and confirm availability with Tamandua before booking.

Good physical condition is required for the Sirena, San Pedrillo and Los Planes overnight tour. Discuss the demands and current conditions of your chosen activity with Tamandua.

Yes. A diving licence is required for the Caño Island scuba diving tour.

Bring light quick-drying clothing, long pants or riding pants where appropriate, a hat or cap, a raincoat, hiking shoes and water shoes, a swimsuit and a T-shirt for snorkeling sun protection.

Also bring a water bottle, a bag to protect belongings from rain, binoculars, biodegradable sunscreen, biodegradable insect repellent and walking sticks. Bring a flashlight for a night walk.

Yes. You may purchase one of our internal tours, or you can simply pay the entrance fee and explore our private trails on your own.

Whale and dolphin watching depends on whale presence and seasonality. Sightings cannot be guaranteed. Check the tour information and ask about current conditions.

Wildlife lives freely. Birds are abundant, and guided walks also interpret tracks, calls, feeding signs and other evidence. No particular animal sighting is guaranteed.

Tamandua’s primary forest is ecologically connected with Corcovado. Animals retain natural avoidance behaviour and may detect people and move away before they are seen. Indirect signs are part of understanding the forest.

Night tours are particularly good for looking for snakes, frogs and insects. Guides use patient observation and listening; sightings remain unpredictable.

The bungalows are closely connected to the rainforest, and insects or wildlife may occasionally be encountered. Comfort is simple, conditions change and nature is never completely outside the room. Discuss your concerns with Tamandua before booking.

The station welcomes short-term and long-term research, monitoring and thesis proposals. Projects need to be compatible with the forest setting, simple facilities and applicable national requirements. Contact Tamandua to discuss your objectives and support needs.

Yes. Researchers bring their own proposals. Send the objectives, methods, dates, team size and practical requirements so the station can discuss what it can support.

Yes. Both are welcome, including thesis work. Discuss the project and arrangements with the station before planning your fieldwork.

Tamandua offers the forest as a living laboratory, simple facilities, accommodation, a communal hall and kitchen, Starlink satellite internet and solar-powered electricity. Describe any specific workspace, equipment or logistical requirements in your proposal.

Researchers are responsible for obtaining the permits and authorisations required for their work, including SINAC and other applicable national requirements. Tamandua can provide guidance but does not complete permit applications on behalf of researchers.

For long-term projects, samples or marked study areas may remain at the station when this has been agreed with Tamandua.

Yes. Field courses and workshops from universities or NGOs are welcome. Contact the station with the group’s objectives, dates and practical requirements.

Collaboration with universities, NGOs and independent researchers is welcome. Discuss your interests and skills with the station; participation depends on current fieldwork, methods and supervision.

Precise camera-trap locations are not public. Discuss any spatial information needed for research directly with Tamandua so sensitive information can be handled appropriately within the agreed research and data workflow.

It is a visual catalogue of wildlife around Tamandua Biological Station, bringing together photographic records, confirmed observations and identification information associated with the station and its monitoring work.

The current catalogue includes birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and other Lepidoptera, orchids, arachnids and other invertebrates.

Yes. Visitors are invited to contribute useful photographs to the catalogue. Contact Tamandua to discuss your contribution; the site does not currently provide a direct upload form.

Yes. Researchers can collaborate with photographs and records that support proper identification, scientific documentation and the station’s biodiversity database. Discuss the material with Tamandua.

Yes. Photographer credit is retained for contributions to the catalogue.

Contact Tamandua to agree which information should accompany your contribution and how the photographer should be credited. Discuss sensitive location information directly with the station.

No. The catalogue uses confirmed observations and reviewed photographs. Identification can remain uncertain; discuss the record and its suitability with the station.

Photographs and properly identified records support scientific documentation, the biodiversity database, future research and conservation. Records gathered over time help document the life around the station.

Discuss sensitive locations privately with Tamandua before sharing them. Precise camera-trap locations are not published; agree with the station which record details are appropriate to make public.

The minimum stay is two weeks. Longer stays depend on mutual agreement and volunteer performance; there is no fixed maximum duration.

The fee is USD 100 per week. It includes accommodation, basic food supplies and programme-related transportation for arrival and departure. Personal trips and optional external activities are not included unless specifically agreed.

Volunteers work 4 hours per day, 5 days per week, with 2 free days. For stays of one month or longer, free days may be organised according to project and station needs.

Tasks include cleaning, maintenance, guest support, trail upkeep and support for monitoring and conservation work, including butterfly monitoring during relevant periods. When guests are present, guest-related station needs have priority.

Volunteers are free to use their time off, but the station should not be left unattended without prior coordination with Tamandua staff. Visitors may only enter the station with prior authorisation.

Priority is given to applicants with biological or environmental science backgrounds or relevant field experience. Other useful practical skills may also be considered.

A maximum of two volunteers can stay at the same time.

Volunteers normally stay in a room or bungalow with a shared bathroom. During high guest occupancy, tent accommodation may be used.

Yes. A tent may be used when guest occupancy is high.

Yes. Volunteers bring their own bed sheets and towels.

Basic food supplies are included. Volunteers normally prepare their own meals. When guests are present, volunteers may sometimes share prepared guest meals where appropriate.

No. Programme-related arrival and departure transport is included, but personal trips to town and other personal travel are not.

Yes. Accepted volunteers must provide active medical insurance covering emergencies. Medical details are not requested in the public pre-application.

Accepted volunteers must provide a passport copy, completed personal information form, signed Volunteer Agreement and active medical insurance. These documents are requested after selection, not through the initial public application.

Use Complete enquiry → Volunteer application to share your availability, background and motivation. This is a pre-application. Tamandua reviews candidates and contacts suitable applicants with the next steps and final documentation.

No. Read the Volunteer Agreement before applying. Signing and the remaining documentation are required after acceptance.

Volunteers need to be comfortable living in an isolated rainforest environment with insects, wildlife, humidity, rain and forest sounds. Consider these conditions carefully and discuss any concerns with Tamandua before applying.

Tamandua Biological Station is a family-run biological station combining forest conservation, research and simple rainforest lodging. Ecotourism helps sustain its monitoring and education work.

Ananias and Rebeca lead the station. Ananias brings deep local forest knowledge; Rebeca is a tropical biologist and experienced Corcovado naturalist guide who now leads research and client logistics. Their children Valeria and Braulio grew up at the station, and naturalist guide Allan has collaborated for more than a decade.

The project has grown over approximately 17 years. Its conservation work has helped reduce illegal hunting and logging locally.

Lodging, meals and tours help fund monitoring, conservation, education and the maintenance of facilities and trails. Visitors directly help sustain the station and the continuity of its research work.

The station currently receives no government support. Income from lodging, meals and tours helps keep it active.

Include your name, contact details and what you would like to ask or arrange. Dates, group size and relevant requirements help when planning a stay or tour. Research and volunteer applications benefit from a short explanation of your project or background.

Yes. Quick message is selected by default. It asks for your name, email, interest and message; WhatsApp or phone is optional. Dates and detailed planning fields are not needed.

Select the Complete enquiry button, then choose a stay, tours, research project or volunteer placement. The form shows only the fields relevant to that topic. For a simple question, Quick message is enough.

Book your stay opens Quick message with Stay selected, so you can ask a first question without entering dates. For a detailed request, choose Complete enquiry → Stay at Tamandua and include dates, group size, accommodation preference and any meal or transport requirements.

Choose Complete enquiry → Tours & experiences, select the tours that interest you and include your preferred date and number of people.

Choose Complete enquiry → Research project. Describe the project, research area, team, expected dates, permit status and support requested from the station.

No. Tamandua must confirm availability, dates, total price, payment arrangements, included services and cancellation conditions before a booking is final. A message reference confirms receipt of the enquiry, not a reservation.

Yes. You can write in Spanish and indicate your preferred reply language in your message.