Services Offered
Off-site Venues

El Portal at Night

Welcome to the El Portal Rain Forest Center: Your Gateway to the Tropical Rain Forest! The Center’s world-class facilities are now available for rental to the general public for evening events. You can rent El Portal’s fa-cilities any day of the week from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM. El Portal offers the superb nighttime ambiance of the rain forest which makes it an ideal location for an exciting off-site activity. The 102 seat theater is also available for evening lectures, meetings or other types of events.

As you approach the Center complex you will see El Portalito, a small open building with the forest’s Parrot symbol on it. It has a map of the forest on the inner wall for your convenience, and is the entrance to the elevated walkway which transports you across the forest canopy at treetop level, sixty feet above the ground to El Portal, the Rain Forest Center. Along the walkway you will discover signs which describe what you are view-ing.

You will experience the sights and sounds of birds and other forest animals as you stroll toward the Center. Below the walkway at ground level there is a short interpretive nature trail where your guests can explore the under story of the canopy and get some spectacular views of the lower forest and the coastal plain. The Rain Forest Center’s building complex was designed to blend into the surrounding forest. The soaring tree canopy and winding rivers of the forest are constantly repeated in the overall architectural theme. Construction of the Center was begun in 1994 and it was opened to the public in June 1996. On the main level of the Center you can view displays describing the Caribbean National Forest’s history, topography and its flora and fauna. Rest-rooms and public telephones are located at the rear of this level.

The Theater
An air-conditioned 102 seat theater is located at the rear of the main level between the stairways to the upper level. You can watch a short film about the wonders of the Caribbean National Forest. The film also describes some of our ongoing archeological, wildlife conservation and recreation projects and programs. It is shown every 15 minutes alternating between Spanish and English narration.

Exhibits
Two stairways and an accessible ramp for the physically impaired lead you to the upper or “Pavilion” level of the Center. You can stroll through three separate theme pavilions: “Understanding the Forest”, “Connections” and “Managing for the Future” that are arranged around a central plaza.
The “Understanding the Forest” pavilion has a large selection of “hands-on” displays that will help you under-stand the flora and fauna of the rain forest. It will prepare you for your visit to the many trails and interpretive sites in the forest, and if you have any students in your family who are studying tropical forest ecosystems, they can take notes and photos to help with their reports!
The “Connections” pavilion contains fascinating displays which describe connections between our everyday lives and the world’s rain forests. You can view interesting displays that show connections such as how raw materials from the forest are used to produce commonly used household items and how ongoing research is performed on tropical plants to find and develop new medicines and commercial products.
The “Managing for the Future” pavilion includes displays that show how rain forests worldwide are currently being destroyed, but more importantly you can observe how modern methods of conservation management must be implemented to save these irreplaceable resources.

For your enchanted evening in the Rainforest:
• Interpreters can be provided to talk to guests about the wonders of the Rain Forest
• Offers use of the full Center, Theatre, and the parking lot for your activity.
• Can coordinate for Souvenir shop to be opened for a couple of hours

Authorized clients can view current rate and availability information by accessing their online accounts.