Children's Eternal Rainforest

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (BEN) is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, with an area of 20,000 hectares of protected tropical rainforest in the northwest of the country. The reserve is surrounded by the Arenal Volcano National Park, the highlands of Monteverde, Miramar, and the Alberto Manuel Brenes Reserve in San Ramon. It also borders many towns in San Carlos including La Tigra, San Isidro de Peñas Blancas, Chachagua and El Castillo.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest was created thanks to the help of children and adults in many countries throughout the world who have formed part of the Children’ Eternal Rainforest Movement. This fundraising campaign began in Sweden and in the United States of America in 1987, and then later extended throughout the world. To date, 44 countries have contributed to the purchase and protection of the Reserve’s lands.

In The Children’s Eternal Rainforest 6 life zones are represented in addition to a large variety of habitats ranging from 450 to 1800 meters above sea level. The Reserve has registered 60 amphibian species, 101 reptile species, 425 bird species, and 121 species of mammals.

The Reserve has 2 areas which regularly receive tourists, one in the Eastern sector of the Reserve, near anta Elena, Monteverde and the other 12 km form San José de la Montaña, in the ranger station known as Pocosol, which has lodging accommodations and a dining area, as well as a complete network of trails, and a beautiful volcanic lagoon, known as Pocosol Laguna.