Kekoldi Scientific Center - Home in the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve

Kéköldi is a great place to study nature. The special relationship that the Bri Bri people have with their environment has inspired the development of many different types of field studies opportunities. The immense biodiversity of the area in addition to the added richness of the migratory wildlife makes the Kéköldi Reserve and Talamanca in general so incredibly valuable to conservation ecology and scientific research.

It is extremely important to remember that you are coming to the tropics. You will be living and working in dense forested areas. It is often extremely hot and humid which is why this area is defined as the humid tropics. It may rain the entire time you are here or it may be beautiful and sunny. You will find that both of these extremes have their pros and cons. Please bring breathable and quick drying clothes.

The terrain is full of slopes and often unstable.  It is a 30-45 minute hike just to arrive from the main road up to the Scientific Center.  You will start the trek at 11 meters above sea level and climb to 167 meters above sea level in a matter of 2.5 kilometers.  In times of rain, this can be a muddy and slippery hike.  Please be prepared with rubber boots.

There are numerous insects and other pesky ‘bugs’ that sometimes make tropical paradise seem not so much like paradise.  The common tropcial disease Malaria is not common at all however few cases have been reported.  Dengue Fever is another insect born disease that is more common, but also very rare. 

A more  notable insect related illness is Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.  Cases of the latter have been reported at Kekoldi and it is important to know that the insect that carries this disease is present at the Reserve.  We have had hundreds of people stay at the Center that have not been affected.  However, some people suggest that we should make it clear that it does exist.  It is required that long sleeves are used at night and early morning when the insect is most active.  This is our way of helping your protect yourselves.  Please do not let this scare you, rather help you prepare adequately for your visit.  

All of these can be prevented by the proper use of insect repellent and long sleeve breathable clothing and mosquito nets.  Also, all of the above mentioned illnesses can be treated locally as well as internationally and are not fatal when treated properly.

If you are coming to participate in the Raptor Migration Monitoring project, you should be aware that you will spend long hours at the observation tower.  This can mean lots of time in the direct sunlight or rainfall.  Please be prepared for these conditions with proper eye care, hats, and raingear.

If you are coming to participate in the Bird Banding Program, please understand that you will be waking up very early and walking to the field sites in the dark.  There is an inherent danger in doing this and you must be prepared for this.  This is serious field work and if you are not prepared mentally, please consider a different type of project to gain this experience.

Don’t forget that you will need to drink lots of water!  The water at Kekoldi is potable, it comes directly from a spring (don’t tell the water bottler companies!) Bottled water is not provided.

Please be aware that there ARE thieves in tourist countries such as Costa Rica.  Please be conscious at all times of your belongings.  Don’t let anyone help you with your luggage unless you are at a hotel or they are part of a paid service.  Do not flaunt your electrical devices, money, or anything valuable.  Be hyper-aware of where your things are at all times.  Once you arrive to Kekoldi, you will not need to worry about security so much. 

From researchers and student groups to the average tourist, people are discovering the awesome array of opportunities to explore tropical ecology and participate in conservation programs of global importance at the Scientific Center. The lodge, or "albergue", has turned into the Kéköldi Scientific Center and is a base camp for avian ecology research and countless other potential ecological studies. The vision that this community has maintained for sustainable community development is realizing itself with this Center.  International as well as local collaborations and alliances are key to the success of this amazing initative.  Asociación Wak Ka Koneke invites people from all over the world to visit and enjoy. You won't find fancy laboratories, but nature at it's finest in a rustic community lodge setting.