Tirimbina Rainforest Center
Tirimbina Rainforest Center is a tropical science resource and ecotourism destination located in Costa Rica. The rich rainforest environment provides a prime setting for exciting science education, outdoor adventure, and service activities. Come hike the lush rainforest trails, discover wildlife, walk over swinging suspension bridges, meet the local people, or discover the secrets of cacao on the popular chocolate tour. Let us design an experience that is just right for you!
The Center protects 346 hectares (865 acres) of pristine forest and contains great biodiversity. The reserve’s habitats include riverside, island, forest edge, gardens, and others; all having their own characteristic species. The reserve has eight kilometers of trails adapted for all ages.
NATURAL HISTORY TOURS AT TIRIMBINA
NATURAL HISTORY WALKS
With the company of a local guide, you will discover the wonders of a tropical rainforest. Several suspension bridges carry visitors through breathtaking river and forest canopy environments. The 860–foot Joan Spector Bridge crosses the Sarapiqui River and Tirimbina Island, and a 370-foot Canopy Walkway allows access to where 90% of the rain forest life thrives: home to thousands of species of plants and animals. The tour takes three and a half hours. The Tirimbina Island abounds with wildlife and secondary forest vegetation. Natural tropical pools invite a swim or wildlife watching.
BIRDING AT TIRIMBINA
Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope is best known for its great diversity of birds. About half of the species in Costa Rica dwell in this area. Migratory birds, including warblers and orioles, are found here, as well as the spectacular hawk and vulture migration.
Tirimbina Rainforest Center contains 420 species of birds. The reserve’s habitats include riverside, island, forest edge, gardens, and others; all having their own characteristic bird species. During a bird walk, visitors explore these different habitats and learn about bird identification, bird behavior, basic and alternate plumage of migratory birds, and conservation.
The walk begins at 6 a.m. with birding in the gardens of Tirimbina. Common species that may be seen in this habitat are warblers, orioles, flycatchers, and pigeons. As we continue toward the forest, we cross the longest suspension bridge in Costa Rica which overlooks the Sarapiqui River. This is a great opportunity to see herons, cormorans, kingfishers and sunbitterns. Once in the forest, we will learn about bird sounds and look for species such as trogons, toucans, wrens and tinamous. The tour will finish by 10 a.m..
NOCTURNAL WALKING TOUR
With the company of a local guide, you have the opportunity to discover the wonder of the rainforest at night. Sounds, lights and aromas will capture your imagination. In a two and a half hour walk, we investigate nocturnal species such as insects, frogs, toads, and mammals providing a different perspective of the rainforest. We also include mist-netting to observe bats. (See programs below.)
NIGHT BAT PROGRAM
Because bats represent 50% of Costa Rican mammals and the 110 Costa Rican species represent 12% of the total bat biodiversity worldwide, we provide the opportunity for our visitors to discover the wonders of this group of mammals. The activity includes a multimedia presentation about the natural history of bats (classification, diversity, adaptations, reproduction, threats, and environmental education) with lots of pictures and information (45 min). Later we apply what we learned by observing live specimens that were previously captured using mist-nets. On average we view between 3 to 6 different species of bats per night. A trained guide provides the opportunity to touch the bats, in total security, as we will feed them. Finally, we release the bats into the wild again. We also take a short walk (15-30 min) to observe the mist-nets in the field, investigate how to use bat detectors, and describe the process of capturing the bats. The total activity takes approximately two hours.
Examples of Educational Programs Available
At Tirimbina Rainforest Center at Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
Bats (Elementary/HS – 2 hours – Night)
Through mist net capture, students will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of bats as seed dispersers and pollinators for the rainforest, and to recognize the diversity and different adaptations among this group.
Bird Walks: Students will learn to locate birds using sounds and spotting. The natural history of each species will be given by a specialist. (Up to four hours)
Walk in the Rainforest: A naturalist leads the students through the trails at Tirimbina Rainforest, showing the most important components of this ecosystem, its diversity and importance.
Aquatic Ecosystem: Students will learn the importance of the fragile stream and river ecosystems in the forest. Students will study physical, chemical and biological indicators.
Sustainable Development in the Rainforest: Using real case studies, students will analyze situations facing the forest will propose solutions to protect the forest.
Chocolate Adventure: Participants will walk to the cacao plantation and learn about history, production process and importance of chocolate. The activity finishes by making chocolate bars.
Night Creatures: Students will learn how the rainforest changes in the dark, and how different groups (plants, frogs, mammals, birds, etc) adapt to that condition. The activity starts with a short presentation indoors (20 minutes), followed by a walk in the garden, bridges and forest. The whole activity last approximately 2 hours. A black light will be used to attract insects for their identification; mist nets are open for bat catching, and visits to key places allow the visitor to see some night creatures such as tarantulas, frogs, kinkajous, and others.
Forest Composition (High School/University – ½ Day)
The purpose of this activity is to identify several elements related to forest structure and ecological relationships, such as parasitism, mutualism, and dispersion.
Water Quality (High School/University – 1 Day)
Students identify and describe the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of water; comparing different sites, they discover how the forest has influence over water quality.
Discover the Rainforest (Elementary/HS – ½ Day)
This program has students compare the structure of plants, soils and diversity in two different habitats. This information enables the student to recognize the role of secondary forests and the importance of such pristine ecosystems.
Ecology and Biodiversity (High School/University – 1 Day)
The objective of this activity is to understand how species are adapted to survive. Students measure the rainforest biodiversity through the use of various instruments and equipment, and compare two different habitats.
Birds at Tirimbina (High School – 1 Day)
This activity emphasizes the varied adaptations of birds for survival in different habitats, such as bills, feet, or colors. Capturing birds in mist nets helps the student to explore close up the fascinating lives of birds and their roles in forest ecology.
Leaf Cutter Ants: their impact on vegetation (High School – 2 hours)
The purpose of this activity is to observe different morphological adaptations of leaf cutter ants, and to measure the ants’ impact on the seedling composition of the rainforest.
Management Plan for Non-Woody Products of the Rainforest
(High School/University – ½ Day)
The objective of this program is to show the rainforest as a place that contains many different resources besides lumber. Using observed resources like wicker vine or ornamental plants, the students create an economic plan for a source of revenue based on conservation.
Cells and Plant Tissues (All – ½ Day)
Using microscopes the students will recognize the differences between animal and plant cells and tissues.
Outdoor Adventures Available:
Boat or Rafting trip in the Sarapiquí River (Class 1, 2 and 3),
Horseback riding
Hot Springs
Canopy Ziplining
Trip to Arenal Volcano
Changes to this program can be done to fit the needs of specific classes.
Other options include:
Coffee Tour
Serpentarium
Indigenous Museum
Banana Plantation
Pineapple Plantation
Women’s Butterfly Project
