Rancho Humo Estancia

Rancho Humo Estancia, on the wetlands of the Tempisque River

Rancho Humo is a private reserve of more than 1,069 hectares in Nicoya, Guanacaste, beside the Tempisque River and near Palo Verde National Park. A local family turned an old cattle ranch back into wetlands, mangroves and forest, and today the guest villa sits in the middle of it. It suits birders, families and small groups who want nature and quiet more than a beach.

Out here the evenings are wide open skies over the plains and the calls of the water birds.

Why we choose it

• Wetland birding from the balcony. The Junior Suites have balconies over the grass plains and the protected wetlands, so the birding starts before breakfast.
• A villa for your group. The estancia works like a private villa, with a pool and grill, a bar and a terrace, so a family or a group of friends can spread out and spend the evenings together.
• On the Tempisque River. Guided tours of the dikes and wetlands and boat trips on the Tempisque leave from the ranch.

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Rooms and views

The villa has Junior Suites for 2, each with a balcony over the grass plains and the wetlands, and Family Rooms that sleep 4. For a larger group, the estancia can add more Junior Suites and Standard Rooms.

Rooms have a TV, a phone, a safe and a hair dryer.

On the property

There is a swimming pool with a grill, a dining room and a fully equipped kitchen, and a bar with a living room and terrace that suits a group at the end of the day. Meals are catered from set menus.

The reserve is the main attraction. Guided tours follow the dikes and canals of the wetlands, where herons, storks, ibises and cormorants feed, and the Tempisque River boat tours head toward the mangroves and the wetlands of Palo Verde.

Location and getting there

Rancho Humo is in Nicoya, Guanacaste, about 3 hours from San José, near Palo Verde National Park and the Tempisque River. It fits well before or after the beaches of Guanacaste or the Nicoya Peninsula.

We arrange private transfers and plan the tours with the ranch, so your days are on the water and in the wetlands rather than in a car.

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