Longo Mai is a special “campesino” (farmer) community located in the southwestern part of Costa Rica. Located approximately four hours outside of San José, Longo Mai houses around 700 residents and sits on 850 hectares of land. 450 of those 850 hectares are primary and secondary tropical rainforest that the community protects. Longo Mai welcomes visitors and groups from around the world looking to learn about and engage with an authentic, sustainable, and eco-friendly way of life.

This area is known as the “Refugio de Vida Silvestre Longo Mai,” and is officially registered as a Costa Rican national conservation area. Tourist visits can range from a few days to a year and have different goals, depending on their reasons for coming. They can learn language and culture, conduct their own research, volunteer, or receive a hands-on education about the daily lives  of those who live here.  Longo Mai offers nontraditional tourism where visitors can get a unique and authentic experience inside a distinctive, environment-first community. 

A map of Costa Rica showing San Jose, San Isidro de El General (the closest city to Longo Mai), and Longo Mai.