Rancho Naturalista

Rancho Naturalista

Rancho Naturalista is a warm, inviting and sprawling birding lodge that sprawls across 125-acres of a rich ecological landscape that comprises the primary pre-montane rainforest reserve. This lush natural paradise houses over 430 species of birds, out of which several can be spotted at Rancho’s famous upstairs terrace. Rancho Naturalista radiates a comfortable, relaxed and unpretentious family friendly ambiance that is accentuates the wilderness experience for guests. The unassuming nature retreat combines the rugged appeal of a ‘thoroughbred’ eco-lodge with the comfort of a world class holiday retreat. There’s little wonder that Rancho Naturlista is the preferred destination for several genuine experiences craving bird watchers, hiking buffs, photographers and naturalists. The lodge’s almost perfect tropical weather coupled with its scrumptious home cooked food and homey service makes it the ideal place to achieve a sense of union with nature.

Tours and Amenities

Activities at Rancho Naturalista are categorized (and rightly so considering birding is so popular here) into birding and non birding activities. Custom created guided bird watching tours are one of the unique selling points of this specialty bird watching lodge. This birding paradise houses more than 400 bird species together with a huge variety of moths and vibrant butterflies. There are self-guided and guided birding tours (with an expert naturalist) to help guests discover the magnificence of jungle’s untamed floral and faunal wonders. Rancho Naturalista has a resident ornithologist who assists guests and bird-watching aficionados with tons of information about the huge variety of birds in the region. Non-birding pursuits offered by Rancho include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canoeing, Spanish lessons, dancing lessons, Turrialbs shopping ‘expeditions’ and a tour of Lake Angostura and the Guayabo National Monument.

In-house amenities at Rancho Naturalista include an extensive collection boasting reference area (housed inside the Rancho’s main building) that offers visitors access to bird related literature and internet access.

Service and Accommodation

Rancho Naturalista’s service can be best described as intimate, warm and personalized. The staff here is always on their toes to ensure guests are having a good stay. They are all friendly and impressively knowledgeable about their surroundings and enthusiastically offer expert information about Rancho’s surroundings and ecology. The lodge has on-duty night guards along with proficient guides (who help patrons decode the mystery of their abundant natural surroundings).

Rancho Naturalista offers 15 comfortable, quaint and nicely decorated rooms. The options available vary from balcony view rooms to the plusher casitas that offer a private veranda. Rancho’s main building is a charming Spanish-style colonial structure that with a comfy seating room, sprawling dining areas and the popular birding balcony that has seen more than 250 species of birds.

Most rooms are housed on the upper level of the expansive two story structure and are placed adjacent to the huge birding balcony to allow guests to catch glimpses of the aerials in all their glory. Each room has a private, attached bathroom. Racho’s rooms sport a classy, modern and clean décor, topped with traces of rustic elegance that is in sync with an innate back-to-nature feel.

Rates

The high season lodging prices for a night’s stay at Rancho (with meals) costs $ 145 USD. Rates are inclusive of 3 meals per day, coffee, tea, maid services and juice. Prices are excluding the standard 13% tax. The fees for bird watching guides are $ 50 USD for a group of up to 5 persons for a whole morning of touring. For bigger than 5 people groups, guiding fees can be determined by negotiating with the in-house guide. All guiding fees are to be paid directly to the birding guides.