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Description
More than 500 bird species were recorded in 140 ac / 60 ha of Rancho Naturalista's private premontane forest reserve, at 3,000 ft / 900 m above sea level and belonging to the Caribbean (Talamanca’s) foothills biome: Sunbittern , hummingbirds such as Snowcap and Purple-crowned Fairy ; Broad-billed Motmot and Rufous Motmot , Spotted Antbird , Lovely Cotinga ...
You can start your morning in a relaxed manner, with a coffee and sweets among the hummingbird feeders at the communal balcony of the lodge, observing Violet Sabrewing , White-necked Jacobin , Green Hermit , Green-breasted Mango , Crowned Woodnymph , Rufous-tailed Hummingbird , etc.
Or, you can hike and bird the four ranch trails (ranging from 0.3 mi / 400 m to 1.6 mi / 2.5 km, and totalling 4 mi / 7 km) on your own, or with Rancho's in-house guides, Mercedes and Harry. On a guided walk, it is possible to observe 120 to 140 species in a single morning, including Snowcap , Tawny-chested Flycatcher , Purplish-backed Quail-Dove ; White-collared Manakin (lek), White-crowned Manakin and White-ruffed Manakin ; Dull-mantled Antbird , Thicket Antpitta , Black-throated Wren-Babbler , Black-crested Coquette , Tawny-throated Leaftosser and the Gray-headed Piprites . Also a chance of Paint-billed Crake .
Nearby lies the Irazu Volcano National Park, reaching 11,000 ft / 3,400 m a.s.l. and offering a new set of birds, e.g. endemic Volcano Hummingbird and Flame-throated Warbler , Costa Rican Ground Sparrow, a chance of Resplendent Quetzal and Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge , and up near the crater, Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren .
Details
Access
From San Jose to Turrialba by bus, the rest by taxi. Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign in the map by the main lodge building for driving directions.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Mountain , Scattered trees and bushes , RiverConditions
HillyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring migration , Autumn migrationRoute
Wide path , Unpaved roadDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
YesExtra info
The weather in the Turrialba valley is moderate year-round: not too hot and not too cold.
Links
- The main eBird hotspot
- Rancho Naturalista Lodge website
- Birding Rancho Naturalista Lodge and their private reserve
- Birding lakes and rivers near Rancho Naturalista