My husband and I stayed at Rancho Naturalista for two nights on February 14th and 15th before joining a Caravan tour for a ten day trip around the country. These two days at Rancho Naturalista were the best two days of our trip. We are birders and immediately upon arrival got about 20 life birds, even though we had not yet gone on any walks. These were birds we saw from their lovely balcony. The two expert bird guides we used in the two days were the best bird guides we have ever had. We got over 100 life birds in two morning walks. Our guides were personable, exceedingly knowledgeable about the birds in the area. They could identify every single bird, not just by sight, but more importantly by sound. The lodging itself was nicely situated and beautifully appointed. The rooms were super clean, the staff was just amazingly friendly, and helpful. We LOVE Lisa and Mario, the owners of the place. Very attentive to the needs of their guests, but really relaxed, and warm and responsive to our requests. The food at Rancho was fine dining caliber food. In the ten days we were in the country, travelling to four separate locations with high end lodging, nothing compared to the amazing food provided by the chef at Rancho Naturalista. I will never ever forget the pork ribs they served, and only regret that I didn’t scarf up more than I did. The food was fresh, locally grown and cooked so deliciously. Very, very yummy. I think I would return to Rancho for the food alone. But, then, I would also return to Rancho for the birding alone, too. Come to think of it, I would return to Rancho for the staff alone, and for the lodging alone! Very, very nice. My husband and I are also whitewater kayakers. Rancho is very close to Turrialba, which as any whitewater boater will tell you is the launch point for many rivers in the area, including the Pacuara. Word needs to get out that Rancho Naturalista would be a fantastic base of operations for boaters who wish to boat in the area. Why not relax with a beer on the deck of their lodge after an exciting day rafting, kayaking or open boating the rivers! Thanks Lisa, Mario, and all the staff. We truly loved our visit with you and expect to return just as soon as we can.

We stayed at this delightful Lodge as part of a group tour and it was my favourite of the trip We were met on arrival by everyone at the property which was nice. Our room opened directly onto the balcony and the feeders there are wonderful to watch especially early morning and evening. The room was furnished with a beautiful rustic theme. The food during our stay was excellent home made and fresh.The birding there was great with trails etc to discover.
This is a relaxed and extremely friendly lodging, although we had our own excellent guide and tour leader Harry accompanied us and helped with information and advice on spotting the birds.
A wonderful oasis which we would certainly visit again without hesitation.

We spent three days here and it was one of our favorites of the trip. They have a very nice setup with hummingbird and platform feeders which attract a good variety of very nice birds, including some of the more uncommon hummingbirds. We found everything as noted by others, and have a hard time time saying anything bad about the managers, guides and staff -and as noted by others, the food is excellent. Several small items may be important to some visitors, though - like the fact that the trails are steep and can be muddy - of course, that is the price to pay for birding in this setting. The one thing that did bother us was that when we were settling our bill upon departure, we were told that they do not take credit cards. We would have preferred to know that ahead of time when deciding on whether to purchase extra drinks and tours.

I made an excellent choice in Rancho Naturalista for our first trip to Costa Rica. I'm heavily into birding, but my husband is less so, and is a very fussy traveler. So when he accompanies me, I look for a place that will keep him happy while I indulge my passion for watching the birds. Rancho Naturalista is a warm and comfortable family-run establishment that caters to birders, but the accomodations, food and hospitality are a treat for anyone looking for an authetic travel experience.

I splurged on a private car to pick us up and transport us from the San Jose airport to Rancho, knowing that this would alleviate any anxiety over road travel, and I'm glad I did. Travel by car is slow and bit hair-raising in Costa Rica, so leaving the driving to someone else was key. Rancho is on a fairly well-travleled road, but not foolproof to find, and the drive is quite long, steep and a bit rough in spots. However, on arrival just in time for dinner, we were greeted warmly, settled in, and fed the first of our excellent meals. The food at Rancho is prepared fresh and served family style, with a great selection of fruit, vegetables and juices to go with the meat dish served at every meal. We loved every meal we ate at Rancho, and the service is prompt and friendly at every turn.

Rancho is owned and managed by an American expat family, with a mostly local staff, many with long experience at the facility. English and Spanish are the main languages, but we also met Swiss and German guests, on whom I practiced my very limited German. Because meals are served family style, it's a great place to meet other travlelers, almost all of whom share an interest in birds.

We stayed in Room 2 in the main building. Room 2 opens directly onto the balcony above the feeders (and where 3 of the hummingbird feeders hang), so it's not the quietest spot, but the lodge was not full while we were there, so we found the traffic manageable. I loved being able to just step out the door to the feeders and the fresh coffee placed out at daybreak, but if you aren't sociable first thing in the morning, this may not be the room for you. People are coming and going, and sounds from other rooms and the kitchen are clearly heard. Didn't bother us, but we sleep with a fan going, so that white noise helped.

Many reviews don't mention the spectacular view of the valley and the two volcanoes (Irazu and Turrialba) from the upper balcony, but it is not to be missed. My husband spent many hours on the balcony enjoying the views and the feeders. The weather can be changeable, and it's lovely to watch the clouds and sun move over the terrain, and the smoking volcano is always a fascination.

Of course, the birds were my mission, and Rancho does not disappoint. Our first morning birding the feeders was an embarassment of riches, with hummingbirds, tanagers, warblers, sparrows, robins, and dozens of other birds coming and going in a constant stream. The oropendolas, chacalacas, aracaris and tanagers are showstoppers, but we also saw parrot flocks and Keel-billed Toucans flying by regularly. We were guided by Harry on numerous occasions, but were also able to spend some time with Cali picking out birds from the balcony and at meals. Both are top-notch guides, and a pleasure with which to spend time. Harry stays at the lodge and functions also as sort of an on-site concierge when Lisa and Mario (the managers and part of the founding family) are not there.

We walked some of the trails, visited the pools, and one morning Harry took us to see the spot where moths and insects gather to a lighted screen which attracts birds that eat insects. Each trip yielded more and more birds, way more than I expected to be able to see.

As part of our week-long stay, we were entitled to a day trip, and Lisa created one for us that accommodated our interests and mobility perfectly. We went to Tapanti and then stopped at some hostorical sites and a few other spots to bird and check out the local countryside. It was a fabulous day and again, we saw many more new birds than we could have hoped.

I would recommend Racho to anyone traveling to Costa Rica who has an interest in a warm, comfortable lodge with excellent food and service. The birding is absolutely phenomenal, but it's such a treat to have it all in one package. We were treated like family members, and can't wait to go back.