Rancho Naturalista is a super place for Hummingbirds, certainly one of the best in all of Costa Rica. An amazing 31 species have been recorded here, although many of these are considered rare. Nevertheless, during the nine days I spent here I saw 17 species. The huge number of hummingbird feeders certainly helped. There were hummingbird feeders right outside the main entrance to the lodge, all along the big upper balcony of the main lodge, in front of the smaller accommodation buildings, and even four feeders set in the forest a short distance up the trail from the lodge. The forest feeders attracted many species of hummingbirds, such as the Snowcap, that never came to the feeders. As well, porterweed hedges (a close relative of verbena) behind the banana bird feeders and at a cottage a short distance down the hill attracted other humminbird species that were seldom, if ever, seen elsewhere.

It was here that I first truly got into hummingbird photography, and I spent considerable time at this pursuit. I hope this gallery gives the viewer a clear idea of what a wonderful hummingbird location Rancho Naturalista is.