Sunbittern Room
Sleeps 3
Turrialba · ★★★
Rancho Naturalista
A Birder's Paradise Awaits in the Central Valley Near Turrialba
BirdingBoutiqueNature
Good to know
- Children: Children under 11 stay free with meals included when sharing a room with their parents.
Rancho Naturalista, a birding lodge in the mountains of Turrialba
Rancho Naturalista is a birding lodge in the mountains of Turrialba, on the Caribbean slopes of the Talamanca range, with its own private forest reserve. Birders come from all over the world for the hummingbirds, and the lodge counts more than 450 species on and around the property. It suits keen birders, nature photographers and families who enjoy the outdoors.
Why we choose it
- Hummingbirds at arm's length. Feeders and forest pools bring the hummingbirds close, including the Snowcap, the lodge's signature bird.
- Guides who know every call. Expert birding guides lead walks into the private reserve, a big help for anyone with a life list.
- Meals at one table. Family-style shared meals are where guests compare the day's sightings.
Rooms and views
Every room is named after a bird. In the lodge, Sunbittern has a private deck with a hummingbird feeder, and Cotinga and Snowcap have balconies over the feeders. Xenops is a garden sunroom downstairs, and Antpitta is up a stone stairway in the forest.
Tanager and Motmot are cabins near the lodge and can be joined for a family. Aracari and Toucan sleep 5 with a porch to the forest, Jacamar and Honeycreeper are secluded forest cabins for 4, and Barbet and Trogon are casitas with wraparound porches. Children under 11 can share their parents' room.
On the property
The private forest reserve has trails through several kinds of habitat, from wooded pastures to mountain streams. Hummingbird feeders and pools give close views without a long walk, and an observation deck above a forest stream shows them bathing in the wild. Butterflies and moths are another reason to come, and evenings are quiet and early.
Location and getting there
The lodge sits in the mountains above Turrialba. From here we can arrange guided birding further afield, rafting on the Pacuare, and a day at Irazú Volcano. It also works well as the birding stop on a longer trip between San José and the Caribbean. Read more about the Turrialba Volcano.
Rooms & suites
Our favourite rooms, and why
Cotinga Room
Sleeps 2
Snowcap Room
Sleeps 2
Xenops Room
Sleeps 2 · Garden sunroom, downstairs view
Tanager Room
Sleeps 3
Motmot Room
Sleeps 2
Aracari Room
Sleeps 5
Toucan Room
Sleeps 5
Jacamar Room
Sleeps 4 · Secluded forest cabin view
Honeycreeper Room
Sleeps 4 · Secluded forest cabin view
Guan Room
Tinamou Room
Sleeps 4 · Forest above the lodge view
Barbet Room
Sleeps 3 · Forest, wraparound porch view
Trogon Room
Sleeps 4 · Forest, wraparound porch view
How it compares
Hotels we book in Turrialba
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Rancho Naturalista | Hotel Casa Turire | Guayabo Lodge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Volcano setting | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Boutique | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Spa | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel |
On the property
What you will find there
Getting there
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
Also in Turrialba
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Facts checked by our team: 1 November 2026
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