Las Cruces Research Station (OTS)

Las Cruces Research Station, nestled in Coto Brus County, Southern Costa Rica, safeguards one of the largest remaining portions of tropical wet premontane forest.  It boasts the renowned Wilson Botanical Garden, housing an extensive collection of palms, tropical plants, and endangered species from across the globe.  The station’s ecological significance lies in its rugged terrain, fostering a rich biodiversity including over 2,000 plant species, 113 mammal species, 400 bird species, and numerous reptiles and insects.  The mosaic landscape provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of forest fragmentation and biological corridors.  Las Cruces can accommodate up to 100 people and provides amenities like dining, trails, and a broader range of research and educational infrastructure.  Research at Las Cruces focuses on global change, landscape restoration, agroecology, and human-nature dynamics.  Las Cruces serves as a vital site for pioneering research on forest fragmentation, corridors, and restoration in tropical landscapes.  It actively engages with local communities, striving for sustainable livelihoods and landscape preservation.

• Logo:
• UN Geographic Region: Latin America
• Street: 5 Km South of San Vito
• City: Coto Brus
• Zip Code: 60801
• Country: Costa Rica
• State/Province: puntarenas
• Latitude: 8
• Longitude: 82
• FSML E-mail Address: lascruces@tropicalstudies.org
• FSML Web Address: https://tropicalstudies.org/portfolio/las-cruces-research-station/
• FSML Year Founded: 1973
• Year Join OBFS: 2025
• University affiliation(s)?: Yes
• Names of Universities affiliated / Parent Organization: Organization for Tropical Studies
• Address Line 1: Ciudad de la Investigación, UCR
• City: San Pedro de Montes de Oca
• Zip Code: 11501
• Country: Costa Rica
• State: sanjose
• Contact Name: Sofia Rodriguez
• Contact Email: sofia.rodriguez@tropicalstudies.org
• Contact Position: Education Director
• Contact Address: Apartado 676-2050 San José Costa Rica
• Contact Phone Number: +50625116238
• Station Director Name: Emilce Ramirez
• Station Director Email: emilce.ramirez@tropicalstudies.org
• Education Director Name: Sofia Rodriguez
• Education Director Email: sofia.rodriguez@tropicalstudies.org
• Billing Contact Name: Emilce Ramirez
• Billing Contact Email: emilce.ramirez@tropicalstudies.org
• Voting Delegate Email: sofia.rodriguez@tropicalstudies.org
• Additional Contact: Sofia Rodriguez
• Additional Contact Email: sofia.rodriguez@tropicalstudies.org
• Additional Contact Position: Education Director
• Operating Budget: $200,001 - $500,000
• Size of Field Station: 101-500
• Private nonprofit organization?: Yes
• Federal, state, or local governmental partners?: Other
• Other: UCONN, SINAC COSTA RICA, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL, UNIVERSIDAD DE COSTA RICA, MUSEO NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA
• International partner/s?: Yes
• Name of International partner/s: OTS
• Minority Serving Institution/Historically Black Colleges and Universities users?: Yes
• Community College users: Yes
• Member of the Virtual Field?: Yes
• Open to the Public?: Yes
• Onsite staff?: Yes
• Year Round Staff: 21+
• Seasonal Staff: 6-10
• Overnight housing facilities: 50+
• Conference space: 51-100
• Food service or catering available?: Yes
• ADA accessibility: Yes
• Electricity: On Grid
• Distance to emergency services?: 0-20 minutes
• Internet Access?: Yes
• Library?: Yes
• Classes: Onsite public programs
• Hiking trails?: Yes
• Access to public transportation?: Yes
• Artists in Residence Program?: Yes
• Internships?: Yes
• Biome Type: Terrestrial
• Terrestrial Biomes: Tropical Rain Forest
• Minimum Elevation: 751-1500 meters
• Maximum Elevation: 751-1500 meters
• Köppen climate classification: A (tropical)
• Freshwater habitats: Yes
• Urban/Rural: Rural
• REU host station?: Yes
• Dry lab space?: Yes
• On site herbarium or voucher species?: Yes
• Outdoor manipulative experiments: Yes
• Research and/or graduate student training: 20
• Formal education: 30
• Outreach: 50