Rancho is home to a vast plethora of non-avian gems, from the Blue Morpho butterfly to the Green Basilisk, to the Jaguarundi (for the fortunate few…), to the lines of Leaf-cutter Ants!

It is inevitable when walking quietly in such a diverse habitat that you will stumble across something simply breathtaking. The forest and surrounding areas are fantastic for frogs for example, with over 15 species being recorded; due to this we have positioned ponds in a variety of habitats enabling great viewing opportunities for all.

Rancho Naturalista is situated in one of the best area in the country for Butterflies and the highly under-studied Moths. We have a good knowledge of the butterflies present in the area, including some rarities and we are logging the moths too, a very long process as it seems that a large percentage of the estimated 12,000 moths of Costa Rica can be found here! Our two moth lights attracts in a huge number of moths and other insects, sometimes including the Harlequin Beetle, Lichen Katydid or Dobson’s Fly. This is often the non-avian highlight of many peoples stay here.

From the balcony at different times of the day or night it is possible to see Variegated and Red-tailed Squirrels, Dusky Rice Rat, Brazilian Rabbit and a variety of Bats.

The open areas around the lodge and within the forest itself are home to many interesting reptiles, it is possible to see Lizards and Anoles quite easily and the more careful observer may come across a stealth-like snake, which may be the Fer-de-Lance, Eyelash Viper to the less troublesome Mussurana.

Keep an eye and ear open for marauding swarms of Army Ants as they move across the forest floor. As interesting as it is watching the ants go about their hunting also lookout for all of the other creatures fleeing the ants, from grasshoppers, spiders, frogs, lizards the list could go on! Then also look for the Antbirds in their midst as they feed on the above fleeing creatures.

For further details email: birding@ranchonaturalista.net