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Costa Rica: INBioparque
“The Gateway to Costa Rica’s National Parks”
Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute, INBio, is a non-profit, private, scientific association; all funds that we receive will be used to finance research and bioliteracy of present and future generations. INBioparque is an educational and recreational center where visitors will be exposed to samples of the vast world of biological diversity that can be found in Costa Rica and its National Parks, thus helping people understand the importance or preserving our biodiversity. Schedule: Open every day – From 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The INBioparque experience consists in a tour through its various areas:
Projection room: A 15 minute audiovisual is presented wherein our goal is to inform the public at a general level what we and biodiversity are about. Here we introduce some of the main topics that later will be presented in more detail.
Biodiversity interpretive center: Here we explain biodiversity and its value to humans. We compare some species diversity in Costa Rica with that of the world. We demonstrate some of the efforts of INBio and other institutions towards research in biodiversity. Duration: 30-45 minutes.
Costa Rica–SINAC interpretive center: Here, the geologic history of the earth and formation of Central America landmass. The evolution of life on earth, with a focus on the tropics, threats and solutions by way of sustainable development are briefly explained. Brief introduction to Costa Rica’s protected areas through a sound and light system. Duration: 30-45 minutes.
Trails: INBioparque offers, interpreted trails through areas where we have grouped vegetation, found in three major habitats of the country: the native forest of the Central Valley, tropical wet and tropical dry forest.
Bromelias trail: 400 m long, 30 minutes.
Guarumo trail: 600 m long, 45 minutes.
Guayacán real trail: 1 km long, 2 hours.
Wetland: Bringing together a select group of native wetland plants
Cultivated plants and butterfly garden: Plantings of fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental & medicinal plants, as well as a small butterfly farm where we demonstrate the rearing of butterflies as a potentially sustainable export product of the forest INBioparque also offers the following services:
Heliconias Restaurant: Demonstrating a healthy (and necessary!) use of biodiversity, our restaurant serves typical Costa Rican Cuisine. We offer breakfast, lunch & dinner in buffet style. Comfortable seating for 150 people.
“El Ojoche” Shop: Store with biodiversity-allusive products of INBio and showroom of crafts from different organized groups.
Office of Ecotourism: Here the visitor can ask about other activities and areas of interest to Eco-tourists. Information about facilities near Costa Rica’s many protected areas are also available.
“Otus” Information and documentation center: Here we maintain a small library specialized in biodiversity. Photocopy and Internet services are available.
Coffee Kiosk: This is a small station by the lagoon where snacks, fresh fruit juices, and coffee are offered.
Wheelchair and strollers: In our entire site we offer facilities for wheelchairs and strollers.
Transport (Pick up points): Shuttle service from several locations in San Jose.
Visitors options:
Guided 2 hour and 15 min.: One of our specialist bilingual guides will take you through the different spaces of INBioparque: Projection room, Biodiversity Hall, Costa Rica SINAC Hall and Bromelias trail. Then you can enjoy our complementary services and stay as long as you want inside the park.
Self guided: Includes a pamphlet trail and a map that will guide you through our modules and interpreted trails. Then you can enjoy all our complementary services and stay as long as you want
Along the trails are several stations with permanent live exhibits, including frogs, tarantulas, bees, ants, orchids and butterflies that complement the visit to the exhibit halls.
