Mission and History
The Center’s mission is to serve as the official institutional representation of Texas A&M University in Costa Rica and to assist in the internationalization of education, research, and outreach programs in support of the university’s goals. The Center supports the University’s initiatives in Costa Rica and throughout Central America.
The center serves faculty and students from the Texas A&M University System and from other universities and research institutions by:
- Facilitating faculty and staff led student programs
- Assisting researchers to achieve their objectives
- Providing room and board and logistical services
- Creating academic and local partnerships within Costa Rica
- Developing student service-learning programs in the local community
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Soltis Family
The Soltis Research and Education Center is a result of the vision and generosity of Bill & Wanda Soltis.
The Gift
The Soltis Research and Education Center in Costa Rica was established in January 2009 and officially inaugurated in June of 2009.
Architecture
The original design concept was created years earlier by students and faculty from the College of Architecture.
Location and Maps
The Center is located in San Juan de Peñas Blancas, San Ramón, Costa Rica and is approximately 2.5 hours from San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and about 30 minutes from La Fortuna at the base of Volcan Arenal. The area provides a number of exciting educational and recreational opportunities including zip lining, white water rafting, hot springs, volcano tours, caving, jungle hikes and much more.
The Soltis Center property backs onto the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Ninos), the largest private nature reserve in Costa Rica. The Eternal Rainforest covers almost 54,000 acres of primary and secondary forest. Below is a live satellite image of the Soltis Center that can be manipulated to display the location of the Soltis Center in the Costa Rican rainforest. Extensive trail system at the Soltis Center (PDF).
Facilities
The Academic Building
The core facility of the Soltis Center is the Bill and Wanda Soltis Academic Building (7,500 square feet), which includes a cafeteria and multipurpose room, laundry room, wet and dry lab rooms, and two classrooms. The academic building also houses, a meeting/video conference room, four offices, a first aid station, and restrooms. It also has a living room area where guests can relax on couches or rocking chairs on the balcony overlooking the forest.Housing for Visitors
Directly behind the academic building are 8 bungalows (each one is 600 square feet plus a covered deck) to house scientists, students, and other guests. The Soltis Center has a maximum capacity of 56 people. Each bungalow has a bathroom with shower and double sinks, four closets, two desks, and between 2 – 4 beds. They also each have a front and back porch with table and chairs.Internet Access
Wireless internet is available throughout the academic building and bungalows. When guests arrive, they will be provided with a password and login information to access the Wi-Fi. Guests need to bring their own laptops, tablets, and cell phones to access the internet. There is not a computer lab at the center.Trails and Accessibility
The entire facility has been designed to be ADA compliant. In addition to the physical facilities, an extensive trail system has been developed to facilitate access to the forest. You can access a map of the trails by clicking on this link. There is also a map of the region.The Forest
The Center provides access to more than 250 acres of primary and secondary growth. Additionally, the Center’s forests are adjacent to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Monteverde Conservation Area. The Zona Protectora Arenal-Monteverde extends to the Center through a forest corridor that descends in elevation from 1,800 meters at Monteverde to 450 meters above sea level at the Center.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Texas+A%26M+Soltis+Center/@10.3833098,-84.6174309,385m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8fa012bab2f98683:0x1b3f007684ffa000!8m2!3d10.3833498!4d-84.6175595
Contact Us
The Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa RicaTexas A&M University
San Isidro de Peñas Blancas
Apdo 80-4417 Fortuna
San Carlos, Costa Rica
Tel +979.458.5568 (In USA)
Tel +506.2461.9890 (Office)
Email: soltis@tamu.edu