Rancho Naturalista

Cabanas

Rancho Lodge Room

Slightly rustic but clean and with superb views (see adjoining pictures).

Rancho Room Porch

Looking back outside from the same location as the previous picture. Terrific views of the hummingbird feeders and the fruit feeding stations below.

Rancho Porch Room

Feeders Everywhere. A little digital camera goes a long way from this vantage point.

Breakfast at Rancho

Sharing toast with the birds.

Rancho Porch #2

Two rooms within the lodge are the ones overlooking the feeding stations. Prime territory if you can reserve these rooms.

Rancho Lodge Main Building

Facing the lodge is nice but nothing special. The kicker is the bird show on the back porch.

Rancho Fruit Feeders

Seen from the downstairs.

Rancho yard with feeders

Every morning Chachalacas, 3-5 species of tanagers, 2 species of oropendolas, and assorted aracaris, woodpeckers, saltators, grassquits and sparrows made the rounds here.

A Field Trip to the Tuis Valley

Habitat of the Tuis Valley - an inexpensive field trip with a different variety of birds if you're staying for at least three nights.

Accommodations at Villa Lapas near Carara NP

Nice accommodations although rooms can be a bit musty smelling. You're not far from the coast, but this is not a coastal experience. You're here for the birding.

Outside Villa Lapas

The grounds outside the cabanas at Villa Lapas. Nestled in a valley with a river close by.

Selva Verde Bungalows

These bungalows are a little nicer than portrayed here. However, I think a room at the lodge is nicer and more accessible than the bungalows. Air conditioning is generally only relevant as a drying agent. Air temperature is generally nice.

Selva Verde Bungalow

Porch area surrounded by rain forest

Selva Verde Dining Hall

Eating with researchers, students, and birders

Tulemar

At Manuel Antonio National Park. Looking at the Bunglaow

Tulemar Bedroom Looking Out

At Manuel Antonio National Park. Great views of the ocean from every angle.

Tulemar

At Manuel Antonio National Park. From the bedroom looking out

Tulemar

Living area from the kitchen

Makanda by the Sea

At Manuel Antonio National Park. From our room porch

Makanda by the Sea

At Manuel Antonio National Park .... View from the bed

Makanda by the Sea

At Manuel Antonio National Park. Looking into the bedroom from the porch balcony

Makanda by the Sea

Scoping from the balcony. Even an old scope like this one probably isn't worth dragging along. Very few places in Costa Rica will make it worth the added effort.

Makanda by the Sea

Swimming Pool

Guanamar - Central Nicoya hotel

From the room. Average accommodations, but nice place and nice view.

Guanamar Hotel

Interior shot of room.

Guanamar from the porch.

Play Hermosa - Northern Guancaste

Reasonable access to several Guanacaste parks and only about 70 feet from the Ocean.

Playa Hermosa - Northern Guancaste

Looking down on the grounds.

Room Interior at Playa Hermosa

Arenal Lodge Room

They had no room in the "good" rooms. So we got the low-end rooms. They were in the perfect spot for us. I wouldn't have upgraded even if they had asked.

Arenal Lodge Deck

Arenal Deck at Night

Incredibly scenic loaction at the Observatory Lodge. Looking down at Lake Arenal on one side and looking up at the volcano on the other side.

Arenal Restaurant

Arenal Volcano from Hanging Bridges

Hanging Bridges

Solid bridges, but there may be a good crowd during the dry season.

Heliconias Lodge

Food was only average, but great habitat for the determined birder.

Heliconias Accomodations

Heliconias Porch

Heliconias Span Bridge

Not designed for large crowds. You'll be more timid on these bridges than you will Hanging Bridges, but the leisurely pace will allow for better birding.

Oxygen Jungle Lodge Villa - near Uvita on southern coast. Based on Indonesian Styling. Owned and Operated by a Dutch Couple. Impeccable Service.

Bedroom at Oxygen - made entirely of glass but entirely private.

Bathroom at Oxygen - Uniquely Styled

Views from the Pool.

Oxygen Dining Area - Great for Birding

Oxygen Ocean Views

Monte Azul Dining Area - In the Mountains near San Isidro. Small, Beautiful Boutique Hotel. Excellent Mountain Birding

Monte Azul - Bedroom, Beautifully Furnished

Monte Azul Villa from the Outside. Great Landscaping For Birding

Looking out a Monte Azul Room Window