Rancho Humo Estancia

This is a lovely environment in terms of ecology, guides, trips, room, amenities, superb food that was beautifully presented, helpful staff with wildlife, starting outside the front door. We particularly enjoyed the river trip, the wetlands and the birdlife.

We knew this was a little out of the way but it certainly wasnt what we had expected. We found it quite easily and the 'road' to the area was a little better than some of the other tracks we had been on. However there is nothing else in this area apart from small villages. It is a perfect spot if you want an out of the way break. The patio/pool area is lovely, we sat out when we arrived and a troop of howler monkeys came right upto the tree in front of us. There were iguanas on the roof and Mot Mot birds on the bush. It was amazing. We used the pool a few times and it was great. Towels were provided. Our rooms were spectacular , huge, well air conditioned, comfy with super bathrooms. We could have done with a kettle in the room, but the staff were happy to give you coffee at any time The whole hotel is very well equipped. Kenneth looked after us and really couldnt have done more. He organised our trips which were great fun. We managed to fit in a great boat trip on the river, a sunset viewing trip (where we got soaked by the first rains of the year!) and a morning bird watching walk. He even showed us his village and local lake. He was always on hand. Things we werent aware of : firstly , as its so far out, you really have to eat here. We loved all the food and they did very well with our dietary needs (milk allergy) , but the choice seemed to be limited to one item. Secondly, there werent many guests, in fact on the last night we were the only guests and we were in the hotel on our own. (we had to switch the lights and aircon off) Other things to watch out for are the mosquitos. (the early morning bird spotting walk in particular) This hotel is a little out of the ordinary but we absolutely loved it .

Perfect hotel to stay in the Nicoya dry forests and wet areas near the Palo Verde National Park in Guanacaste (Costa Rica). Staff expertised in nature (Kenneth, a perfect guide), cuisine very good, high quality of products, owner very friendly with the guests… Many possible nature activities in the property, great views… A perfect place. We hope go there again.

This place could be 5 star but it needs some work. We were the only guests here, the *********** website shows the hotel to be full! Our rooms were fantastic, lovely bathrooms. We were greeted by Kenneth, lovely pleasant young man, in fact he made our short stay enjoyable. He's very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and couldn't be more helpful. The vehicle used for trips out is on its last legs and incredibly smelly and noisy. But we did see a lot of things. We did the boat trip and that was well worth it, Danilo the captain spotted so many animals and birds, oh and some very large crocodiles! Now to the food, there is no menu so make sure when you arrive you clearly specify what foods you don't like. There also was no wine when we stayed so you might want to stock up on drinks and snacks before you get here. The food is limited and once or twice it wasn't great but generally it's ok. The staff are very friendly but they nor the "manager" (who we only saw at checkout) speak English so a little Spanish would be helpful. So for us 2 nights was enough mainly because there was no atmosphere and I didn't really want to go to bed at 8.30!

If you are planning a trip to Palo Verde National Park & Tempisque River region of Costa Rica then Estancia Rancho Humo is the best place to stay. You will love it here!! My husband and I spent three wonderful days here in March where we had hot weather in the day and rain storms at night. Kenneth will greet you when you arrive and will be your guide through river trips and Palo Verde tours and he is incredible. He speaks English very well so you will find each tour very informative and engaging. Kenneth will also be your waiter during meal times and will act as your concierge. He does it all with kindness, enthusiasm, patience and a warm, friendly smile. Ask for Rooms C-1, C-2 or C-3 as they have amazing views of the valley and tree canopy and offer a wonderful balcony to sit and enjoy the wildlife. One day we sat on our balcony and watched a large family of 10-12 Howler monkeys climb on the trees outside our room - it was heaven. As many people have noted on their reviews, the food is incredible! It is created by their wonderful chef named Kenya who works tirelessly to prepare these delicious Costa Rican meals filled with fresh fruits, breads, steak, vegetables and more. We loved every meal! You will get a great appreciation and understanding of Costa Rican food at each meal. Do not worry about being hungry, every meal is large and plentiful. Do not plan to get your own meals in town because there is not one near by so take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to experience the meals here. The water at Rancho Humo is from a well on the property so we did not experience any issues with parasites or sickness while we were there, but we were still cautious. Rancho Humo is not an easy place to get to so please plan to stay 2-3 nights because once you are there, it is worth it. Don't be alarmed when you are driving for many miles on a dirt road through neighborhoods - you are going the right way. Please do not plan to arrive in the dark as it can be hard to find. Tip: be sure to let the staff know when to expect you because no one sits all day at a Check In desk since it a small boutique hotel, so they will plan to be there when you tell them to expect you. Please take advantage of the onsite tours that include horseback riding to see the surrounding cattle ranch, the Tempisque River cruise to see tons of birds and crocodiles, the Palo Verde park tour to see monkeys, coatis, many bird species, ant eaters and more. I am not sure this is a good location for a family with little children because there is a lot of walking on the tours and the pool is not huge. Older kids should be fine. Kenneth will be your guide on all these tours and will get you there in the Rancho jeep or by boat so you will not need your car. You will adore Kenneth and all the staff as they are attentive, kind and knowledgeable. I would give Rancho Humo 10 stars!

The rooms are immaculate and spacious. We looked out from our balcony to a garden filled with bird song. The food was delicious. The highlight was our birding guide Kenneth who took us on two trips on the Tempisque river and the Palo Verde national park where we saw over 50 bird species. Kenneth makes everything enjoyable and run smoothly. Muchas gratias