As a result of its climatic diversification, Costa Rica has 12 life zones. These exist on account of the million years of evolution and they include several microhabitats. formed by numerous organisms that have had, through millions of years, serious mutations. These have originated the great biological diversity that our country has.

In accordance to Holdridge's life zones, Hotel Rancho Casa Grande is located at the life area known as the very humid Tropical Forest. This forest is higher and more dense than the humid Tropical Forest. This forest, as far as the flora is concerned, is the most complex of the world and the richest life zone in diversity of species.

In 1972, the National Manuel Antonio Park was created to purposely protect the last defense of tropical humid forest near the Central Pacific Coast. This step taken toward preserving the forest, highly contributed to the development of tourism, which plays an important role in the national economy.

The Hotel is situated on a land which was intensely cultivated in the past. This damaged the natural resources, as well as the neighboring land; nevertheless, the neglect of the cultures and the conservation of a small portion of the forest, as well as the preservation of the gallery forest that surrounds the river banks near the property, fostered a recuperation of the original vegetation and of the fauna that inhabited the place.

The location and the Hotel’s resources enable it to have a worthwhile potential tourism, and also becomes an example of recuperation of areas damaged by past cultures.

Bird fauna

Even though Costa Rica measures only 51.000 kilometers. , 840 bird species have been registered here, representing approximately 9.65% of the existing bird species in the world.

Of the 840 bird species in Costa Rica/ approximately 200 of them are latitudinal migratory. Most of them are reproduced in North America and a few of them, especially sea birds, in places so far away as New Guinea, the Artic Coasts and Siberia

After reproducing themselves, they migrate to tropical and subtropical regions to escape from the winter weather, as well as from the lack of food. This usually happens in September and October and they return approximately in April and May.

There is also a small group of birds that migrates to South America. These birds reproduce themselves here in Costa Rica and later they return south. The rest of the birds are considered as permanent residents; however, some of them move within our country, and this group is known as altitudinal migratory birds; among this group we could primarily include birds that eat fruits and suck nectar. They fly above the mountains to take advantage of the blooming and fructification periods that occur at different times and hights during the year. For instance, quetzales, aves campana, tangaras and some saltarines.

Regarding the reproduction in Costa Rica, the time is scheduled around March and April, though some species nest during different times of the year.

The birds found near the farm surrounding the property are distributed in different habitats; those that live in primary and secondary forest and different stratum; others live in weeds or charrales, grass fields, streams, rivers and culture areas.

Butterflies Garden

As a result of the diversity of shape, color and beauty of the butterflies existing in this property and in neighboring places, they become, undoubtedly, an added attraction to tourists staying at the Hotel.

Some species are easy to observe in their own natural habitats, and also to admire its delicate flight and complex behavior in a gallery forest or at neighboring places; this is a wonderful and unforgettable experience. Other species, though common, are difficult to see, due to their strange colors and their aloof behavior. However, if a capable guide is in charge and favorable special habitats are chosen, it will be possible to contemplate marvelous species.

Some of the species easier to observe in our Butterfly Garden are: blue morpho, owl butterfly, little mirrors, paquina, little handkerchief, malaquita, little stars and yellow papilio.