tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post114558364478265509..comments2023-10-25T11:03:28.386-04:00Comments on The Hawk Owl's Nest: Can this be MY backyard? - A Review of Rancho Naturalista, Costa RicaPatrick B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09080082715363887351noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-58877623608004694612008-03-20T08:45:00.000-04:002008-03-20T08:45:00.000-04:00Since this blog is linked to a variety of other si...Since this blog is linked to a variety of other sites, I thought I'd post my impressions of Rancho Naturalista from my visit in February 2008. I absolutely loved it. We were there for a full week and did most all of the day trips offered and hiked most of the on-site trails. Excellent food, interesting people from all over the world, great birds, wonderful scenery, and a distant smoking volcano visible from the balcony! Our room was very clean, the guides were wonderful, and I wish I could go back, oh, say, once every three months or so. If you are a birder, have a bit of a sense of adventure, and don't need 3 golf courses and 6 swimming pools at your vacation hotel, you'll love this place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-11526779464021538792007-10-24T13:15:00.000-04:002007-10-24T13:15:00.000-04:00Ginnee,Thanks for the update on Rancho. Glad to he...Ginnee,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the update on Rancho. Glad to hear it's as great as it was when I lived there. I can't wait to go back someday. It's been almost exactly 2 years since I was there last.Patrick B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09080082715363887351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-49029263266145401742007-10-24T12:57:00.000-04:002007-10-24T12:57:00.000-04:00We were just at Rancho Naturalista for a return vi...We were just at Rancho Naturalista for a return visit this week. As always Rancho is perfect, the food is always a fantastic gourmet adventure, the staff is there to please us. It does not get any better than this in Costa Rica. As for a previous posted complaint by a previous guest, perhaps you can not please all of the people all of the time and some you can never please. Sour grapes I think, and not true at all. What the posters "real" problem.<BR/><BR/>Yes there are bugs in the mountain jungles. We live in Costa Rica full time, this is how it is. Some bugs look like they came from the movie Men in Black, but this is there country and they will share it with us.<BR/><BR/>We love the birds at Rancho, but I love the food at Rancho and we go there for mini vacations in country to relax and enjoy this wonderful birding resort while we eat the best gourmet food in Costa Rica.<BR/><BR/>It does not get any better than Rancho Naturalista, Birds, Great Food, Service, perfect temperatures, nice people, love it!!!Ginnee Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05752851452589626434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1168396758615652312007-01-09T21:39:00.000-05:002007-01-09T21:39:00.000-05:00Wow, thanks Jeff. That sounds a lot more like my e...Wow, thanks Jeff. That sounds a lot more like my experience with the lodge although we missed a lot of the birds that they saw. <BR/>:) Kevin is also associated with the tour company I went with.Patrick B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09080082715363887351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1168382467210476532007-01-09T17:41:00.000-05:002007-01-09T17:41:00.000-05:00And on the other hand, a new favorable review, reb...And on the other hand, a new favorable review, rebutting the first, is now available at the same site: (http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=1070). I guess those wanting to go here should try to really research it for themselves to see what's going on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1166830205990179732006-12-22T18:30:00.000-05:002006-12-22T18:30:00.000-05:00Here's the link to the report: http://www.surfbird...Here's the link to the report: <A HREF="http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=1054" REL="nofollow">http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=1054</A>Patrick B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09080082715363887351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1166830150372610292006-12-22T18:29:00.000-05:002006-12-22T18:29:00.000-05:00Wow, thanks for bringing this to my attention, Jef...Wow, thanks for bringing this to my attention, Jeffrey. This is horrible news. The guy who wrote that report, Andy Walker, is actually associated with the tour company I went with. I will admit that the rooms weren't the cleanest things on earth, but I thought the beds and bathroom were clean which usually keeps me happy. I had a much different experience with the food. I thought it was great and had a lot of variety. Keep in mind that I was there during 2005 when everything was better.<BR/><BR/>I didn't have much interaction with Kathy, the manager, so I can't say anything about that. This is just mindboggling and a REAL shame.<BR/>I'm going back to CR in January, but we're not staying there. We'll be at other lodges and I'll report on those when I return.Patrick B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09080082715363887351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1166825435359383322006-12-22T17:10:00.000-05:002006-12-22T17:10:00.000-05:00There is a new, UNfavorable review of this place a...There is a new, UNfavorable review of this place at www.surfbirds.com available 12-22-06. <BR/><BR/>This clearly doesn't match your experience; I wonder if that author is just picky, or if his complaints about a declining situation there merits another consideration. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts once you read his review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1146162065029757582006-04-27T14:21:00.000-04:002006-04-27T14:21:00.000-04:00Great thorough review. Sounds wonderful. When can ...Great thorough review. Sounds wonderful. When can I go...wolf21mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07699017294641611884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10864708.post-1146148911880040422006-04-27T10:41:00.000-04:002006-04-27T10:41:00.000-04:00I love this review. Sounds like a phenomenal place...I love this review. Sounds like a phenomenal place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com