HOME

Rancho Primavera

A Bird-watcher’s Paradise in the tourist-friendly Central Pacific Coast of Mexico just south of Puerto Vallarta

ABOUT THE RANCH

Rancho Primavera is a quiet retreat just 1 hour south of Puerto Vallarta, but feels world’s away from the city life. Here, you’ll be treated like family by the owners -mother and daughter team, Pat and Bonnie – who are full time residents of the ranch and enjoy entertaining and cooking for their guests. They are bilingual Americans who’ve lived in Mexico for decades and who’ve raised their children here.

mangos-in-bloom.jpg

Mango trees in bloom

In 1996, Owners Pat and Bonnie purchased this former mango and cattle ranch and proceeded to heal its overgrazed lands by planting over 5000 native trees on the 200 acres and were quickly rewarded by a return of the native birds and wildlife. Nowadays, it’s a top destination for bird-watching groups and nature lovers.

See more about the ranch on Facebook:  Rancho Primavera Mexico

Learn more about THE RANCH

mapa google

LOCATION

Rancho Primavera is located on the central coast of Pacific Mexico, just 1 hour south of Puerto Vallarta, and 3 km from the small and charismatic Mexican town of El Tuito, which is at the center of the large peninsula known as Cabo Corrientes.

Non-stop flights are available from most major U.S. airports while one-stop connections are available from most major European cities. Rental cars are easily available and the mostly 2-lane roads are in good condition. Taxis, Ubers and busses are also available and we can arrange to pick you up in the village of El Tuito.

Learn more about our LOCATION

cropped-p7210065_1.jpg

LODGING

We offer a choice of three different rental houses.

Adobe, Villa Carpintero and Casa Colibri.

Children and pets welcome!

RENTAL HOMES

estudio and maguays
We have three adjacent rental homes which overlook our pond where you can sit outside and watch the wildlife or take the rowboat or paddle boards out for a spin on the water.

Adobe Home has one bedroom with a king size bed, one full and one half bath, a fully equipped kitchen and a laundry room. The living room has two sofas which can also be used for sleeping.

Villa Carpintero Home has one bedroom with two full beds, two full baths, a fully equipped kitchen and the breakfast room that with its two extra-wide benches can be used as a sleeping area. The living room also has two sofas which can also be used for sleeping.

Casa Colibri is a smaller house with a queen-size bed, one full bath, a small kitchen and a wonderful porch for dining and bird-watching. It has a nice terrace for sun-bathing.

DSC_7234

ACTIVITIES

Here at Rancho Primavera, there are many activities to entertain you including:

  • Relax at our bird feeders where up to 70 species can be seen including hummingbirds and parrots
  • Hike our trails through meadows and forest.
  • Enjoy our pond where you can take a row boat out or try our paddle board

You may want to explore the many activities available within the state of Jalisco:

    • * Visit Galería Coppelia in El Tuito for some local art.
  • Explore the local villages and their regional cuisines
  • Wander the acclaimed Vallarta Botanical Gardens
  • Swimming / Snorkling / Scuba diving / Surfing on the coast at Tehuamixtle, Maito, Chimo, Las Playitas beach areas
  • Sample raicilla, the local tequila, at a distillery
  • Ride a zip line through the forest canopy
  • Get a taste of city culture in Puerto Vallarta

Learn more about local and regional ACTIVITIES

 cropped-hum_broad_billed_fem.jpg

BIRDING

Rancho Primavera is a bird-watcher’s paradise, with its restored woodlands, meadows, creeks and riparian areas supporting over 265 species of birds, including parrots, trogans, cuckoos and 16 types of hummingbirds! Birding tour groups regularly visit and cherish Rancho Primavera for its birdlife and solitude.

Over 300 species of birds can be found in this region of Mexico including over 19 regional endemics such as the Citreoline Trogan, Orange-breasted Bunting, Lilac-crowned Parrot and the Mexican Woodnymph.

Venturing farther afield, you can explore the greater Jalisco region which supports a wide array of birds in its many habitats including mountainous pine and oak forests, tropical deciduous dry forests, coastal thorn scrub, beaches, islands and mangrove estuaries.

Learn more about our fantastic BIRDING

Orange-breasted Bunting

Yellow grosbeak 

SEASONS TO VISIT

November through March are the best months to visit when the days are warm and sunny and migrating birds are here. April and May are hot and dry; this is the breeding season for resident birds like the sought-after and easily viewed Trogan and Mot-mot.  June through October can be hot, humid and rainy with only resident birds seen.

PRAISE FROM OUR GUESTS

“A Hidden Gem”

“A Most Welcome Retreat”

“Recipe for Amazing”

“A Slice Of Paradise”

Learn more about our guest’s PRAISE


trip-advisor-review-logo

68 Responses to HOME

  1. Julie Hall says:

    Greetings. I’m looking to explore the El Tuito area next October/November. I love nature and wildlife, and your place looks lovely. What would you charge a single woman for 3 to 5 days?

    • cataj says:

      Hi Julie, Welcome to Rancho Primavera! For any number of guests under 6, the only option is a house. I would recommend for you Casa Colibri, which is the smallest house, but has a fully equipped kitchen for you to prepare your own meals. It is priced at $60 USD per night. Please let me know if you have any other questions, Bonnie

  2. Julie Hall says:

    Greetings. I’m looking to explore the El Tuito area next October/November. I love nature and wildlife, and your place looks lovely. What would you charge a single woman for 3 to 5 days?

  3. Michelle Dent says:

    Hello, I’m a avian ecologist vacationing in Puerto Vallarta and was to do some birding. I understand you have a wonderful place for that activity even though it is the off season. I know it’s short notice but do you have any availability for my husband and I for 1-2 nights between sept. 28 and Oct. 3? If so how much would it be for the smallest house or the house with the king?

    • cataj says:

      Hi Michelle, yes, the small house, Casa Colibri is available Oct 1 till the 4th. The Adobe house with the king is completely available, but I am traveling and will not be back until Oct 1 and the water filter needs a new UV light in that house. If you can come starting Oct 1 it is better so I can be there to put food out on feeders. Hope you can make it, Bonnie

    • cataj says:

      Sorry, did not answer your question about price. The small house has an off season cost of $800 pesos, the Adobe house costs $1200 pesos in low season.

  4. Michelle Dent says:

    Or if there is no availability would it be possible to gain access to your property to view the local birds? Thanks.

    • cataj says:

      Yes, if you choose not to stay you are welcome to come onto the property and bird all you want. There is no fee, just a donation box for those who wish to help with our conservation efforts.

      • Michelle Dent says:

        Sounds good, you can sign us for Tues night and possibly Wed night if I feel I need to stay longer to get more birding in. We plan to arrive early morning on Tues.

  5. cataj says:

    Wonderful! Casa Colibri has been reserved for you for Oct. 2 and possibly Oct 3. I am very much looking forward to meeting you, Bonnie

  6. cataj says:

    I forgot to mention that I am unable to take credit cards. Please plan on paying cash, thanks!

  7. Barry Bender says:

    Any availability Jan 28 to 31? 2 people?

  8. Judie Gumm says:

    Dear Bonnie, my friends and I stayed with you about 5yrs ago. We were a group of gals from Alaska participating in the bird watching festival from Porta Varata. I just heard about the passing of your dear mother Pat and wanted to convey my condolences. She will always remain in my memory as a charming and ‘with it’ lady with a great smile and an obvious love of place. Best, Judie Gumm (Fairbanks, Alaska)

    • cataj says:

      Thank you so much Judie for reaching out,. I am still having a hard time adjusting, but time will help. Please come and visit us again, Bonnie

  9. Andree Desjardins says:

    Hi Bonnie, I must cancel my reservation for March 12 to 26, 2020 at Villa Carpintero, because of medical problems.
    Thank you,

    • cataj says:

      So sorry to hear that you are having medical problems Andree. I truly hope that it is nothing serious and that you will be well again soon. Thank you for notifying me about the cancellation. Hopefully we will see you the following year. My best wishes, Bonnie

  10. Joseph McGill says:

    Me and my brother are looking to come for a day trip Tuesday March 3,2020. Are you available to host us and what is the expense for a day trip? I’ve been to the ranch before and met Bonnie a few years back while picking up a day guest with Alejandro a bird guide. I didn’t have nearly enough time there and have been looking forward to coming back. Thanks Joe

    • cataj says:

      Hi Joe, Day birders are welcome to visit the ranch. There is no entrance fee, but we do have a donation box for those that wish to help with our conservation efforts. On Tuesday I might need to make a trip to Vallarta, but I will not leave until around noon, so I should see you when you arrive. Do you have an approximate arrival time? You can reach me by email. bonniejauregui@gmail.com or my cellphone 322-172-4841.

  11. Marcel Paradis says:

    Holà es que la habitatione es libre magniana 16 de o tobre?
    Et cuanto cuesta. Mucho gracias
    Marcel

  12. Jodi Digiacomo says:

    Hi there! My husband who’s an avid birder and I are interested in a cabin for 2 nights in Jan. We are looking at Jan 12 and 13th of Jan 8th and 9th. Do u have any availability for those dates? How much is a cabin? Looking forward to a visit, thanks jodi

    • cataj says:

      Good day Jodi, yes I have two different houses available for Jan 8 and 9 and for Jan 12 and 13 all three are available, but I have some people coming into Casa Colibri Jan 14th, so that one would mean I need to get into it in the morning to prepare for the next guests.
      Villa Carpintero is available for both dates and costs $95 USD a night wit a minimum stay of two nights.
      Casa Adobe is available for Jan 12 and 13 and also costs $95 USD a night with a 2 night minimum
      Casa Colibri is available for both dates, but will have other guests coming in on the 14th , it is a smaller house and costs $60 USD a night.
      Please let me know if you have any questions,
      You can write to me at bonniejauregui@gmail.com
      Looking forward to hearing from you,
      Bonnie

  13. This is a very good website designed to get birders to visit. Because it is so good, I want to take a few minutes to suggest two corrections. In many text locations TROGON is misspelled as TROGAN. It is usually correct in the bird lists.

    As an Emeritus professor of Biological Sciences, I also want to point out that the binomial scientific names should be in Italics. The average person reading your website has no idea this is the correct way to do it. When writing freehand, we are not able to write in Italics, so the rule for that situation is to underline the binomial.

    After I stop leading tours for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, I am tempted to come for a visit.

  14. Marianne says:

    Was wondering what the price for the rental homes are? And is anything available for next week?

    • cataj says:

      Hello Marianne, Casa Colibri rents for $60 USD a night and d is available next week from the 22nd on.
      Adobe rents for $95 USD a night and is available all next week.
      Villa Carpintero rents for $95 usd and is available up to the 23rd.
      You can contact me at bonniejauregui@gmail.com or 322-172-4841
      Please let me know if you have any other questions, Bonnie

  15. Jerome D Brockway says:

    Hello, We are a group of 4 or 5 birders hoping to stay at one of your rentals from January 21st and the 22nd in 2023. What cabins would you recommend if available and what would it cost.

    Thank you!

    Jerome

    • cataj says:

      Hi Jerome,
      I would love to have you and your friends come to bird the ranch. Unfortunately for Jan 21 and 22 we are completely booked. If you could do Jan 22 and 23 I have a new 2 bedroom house that will become available on the 22nd, it has a two night minimum. The other house that I would recommend for a group is Villa Carpintero, but it is booked until Jan 30.
      If your dates are not flexible, you can stay in El Tuito and just come out as a day birder.
      Please let me know if you have any questions,
      Bonnie

  16. cataj says:

    The new house is much larger than the other houses. It rents for $140 USD a night. It only has 4 beds, so if the fifth birder also comes I can give him/her a guest room for no extra charge.
    So would you like to book for Jan 23 and 24?
    Bonnie

    • jerry brockway says:

      Thank you Bonnie. I checked with our group, unfortunately those date will not work out. We may come for the day on January 19th if that is okay but don’t know for sure.

      Thank you,

      Jerry

      Sent from my iPhone

  17. cataj says:

    Yes, please come on the 19th just as a day birder. Try to get here early to catch the activity at the feeders. Hope to meet you in January, Bonnie
    If you need to get a hold of me quickly, the best way is through WhatsApp, 52-322-172-4841

  18. Emeric Fiegen says:

    Hello Bonnie
    We would like To speed 2 nights tomorrow 20th and 21st.
    We are Christine and Emeric with our 19′ Roadtreck.
    Would you have some space for us ?
    Thank you

  19. Kimberly Marr says:

    Hi Bonnie
    We are the retired Canadian couple that messaged you on another site, Bonnie. We are very interested in renting one of your homes for April and May 2024. Could you quote us the cost of two month in the Casa Colibri. Could you also quote us two months cost for the Adobe home.
    Thank you.

    • cataj says:

      Hi Kimberly,
      Thank you for contacting me here. You can also write to me at bonniejauregui@gmail.com
      A monthly rental for Casa Colibri would be $800 USD per month. It is quite small, but does have a complete kitchen. No laundry facility. The ranchhand’s wife can do laundry for a small price.
      The monthly rental for Adobe is $1200 USD a month. It is larger and does have a washing machine.
      I also have a new house that has been built for a long term rental, but is available for monthly rental. It is the MotMot house and is not on the website. It is a very comfortable 2 bedroom ,2 bathroom house with beautiful kitchen and a washing machine. I can send you pictures if you provide me your email. It rents for $1400 a month.
      Please let me know if you have any questions,
      Bonnie

  20. Patrice Flesch says:

    I’m a single woman in PV looking to stay 1 or 2 nights with my cocker spaniel. Can you please give me an idea about the price and availability? Also, I will be there without a car and am wondering about where I would eat. Thank you and please keep me on your mailing list.

    • cataj says:

      Good evening Patrice, The smallest house is Casa Colibri and it costs $1200 pesos a night. It comes with a complete kitchen so you can prepare your meals. Also you can take a taxi into El Tuito to eat at one of the several family restaurants. Dogs must be on a leash on the property due to the fact the other birders will be watching birds and do not want them frightened. Casa Colibri will not be available until March 21. Let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Bonnie

  21. Jerome D Brockway says:

    I keep getting emails from you responding to people inquiring about your ranch. For example I just received one from a Patricia Fresch:

    I’m a single woman in PV looking to stay 1 or 2 nights with my cocker spaniel. Can you please give me an idea about the price and availability? Also, I will be there without a car and am wondering about where I would eat. Thank you and please keep me on your mailing list.
    Good evening Patrice, The smallest house is Casa Colibri and it costs $1200 pesos a night. It comes with a complete kitchen so you can prepare your meals. Also you can take a taxi into El Tuito to eat at one of the several family restaurants. Dogs must be on a leash on the property due to the fact the other birders will be watching birds and do not want them frightened. Casa Colibri will not be available until March 21. Let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Bonnie
    Reply

  22. Laura Jackson says:

    Please let us know if you would have a reservation for birding for Meg Cooper for Tuesday, February 28? Also we need to know the time. We made the reservation on a website that we can’t seem to locate again and have not received a response from them. Wondering if you may know what company it would be and a phone number if so? Thank you, Laura and Meg

    • cataj says:

      Hi Laura and Meg, I don’t know who you made reservations with. Is it for a bird watching tour around Vallarta or here to Rancho Primavera?
      The guides that bring birders up here are
      Alfonso Langle with PV birders
      Antonio Robles 311-120-9287
      Alex Martinez with Birding in Mexico
      Or Cynthia with Ecotours
      Do any of those sound familiar?
      Let me know how else I might be able to help you,
      Bonnie

  23. Laura Jackson says:

    Thank you, Bonnie for your quick reply. Yes it is Rancho Primavera and thank you for the phone number for Antonio, we will call him.

  24. Eileen Yeker says:

    Hi Bonnie
    Hoping you are well. I have emailed you and will leave a message here as well. I am very keen to rent Casa Colibri March 1-31, 2024. It sounds so idyllic! Please let me know if this is possible and how to proceed. All the best, Eileen Yeker

  25. Judi Giberson-Smith says:

    Your Rancho sounds like a lovely place for bird watching and relaxing. What would your rates be for a single woman?

    • cataj says:

      Good morning Judi, the rate depends on your dates and which accommodations. I would recommend Casa Colibri for a single woman, it is currently booked for the whole month of March. For this season it rents for $1200 pesos a night. I also have guest rooms with a kitchenette, which are available next week. If you write me at bonniejauregui@gmail.com or WhatsApp at 322-172-4841, I will respond quicker.

      • jerry brockway says:

        This email is coming to me. I am not associated with the lodge. I just inquired about staying there once. Thank you,

        Jerome

        Sent from my iPhone

  26. Eagle-Eye says:

    Looks like an amazing place for birding!

  27. Marlene Walde says:

    I am interested in a spring visit with accommodation. I couldn’t find prices in your lodging section. Would you send me prices for all 3 houses for March and April?

    • cataj says:

      Hi Marlene, sorry that the prices are not clear. We would love to have you come visit. The two larger houses, Adobe and Villa Carpintero, each rent for $2000 pesos a night or $12,000 pesos a week. The smaller house, Casa Colibri, rents for $1500 pesos a night or $9000 pesos a week. Please let me know if you have any other questions, Bonnie

  28. Tim says:

    Hi! I am interested in visiting your ranch and
    Wondering about transportation? Is it possible
    to do it without renting a car? And what is the best
    way to obtain groceries if one doesn’t rent a car?
    Thanks!😊

    • cataj says:

      Hi Tim, yes, folks sometimes come up here either by taxi, Uber, bus or with a bird guide. (I have a couple living on the ranch that will do airport/Vallarta pick up to bring to the ranch for a fee). You can have the taxi stop by the grocery store on your way to the ranch or for refills catch a ride with me when I go into El Tuito, which is only 3 km from the ranch. Please let me know if you have any other questions, Bonnie

  29. Tanya Schubert says:

    Hello Bonnie, I tried to book the house you have on the airbnb site for Feb 15 to 20, and you wrote back that his house is not available for those dates, but that you have a small house that would be available. Would that be the Colibri with a queen bed? Or the Adobe Home with the king size bed? My husband and I usually prefer to sleep on two beds so as not to disturb each other, but we could manage a king size bed for a few nights. Please let me know what exactly you have available for the time from Feb 15 to 20.
    Thanks.
    Tanya Schubert

    • cataj says:

      Hi Tanya, so glad you were able to open my website. If you prefer 2 beds I have a different option. I also have guest rooms, (not on my website) one has a queen and a twin. The catch is that it does not have a complete kitchen. The porch of the guest room has a kitchenette including a small frig, microwave, a hot plate, drip coffee pot.
      Or if you are really into cooking and need a complete kitchen, above the guestrooms I have an apartment with a complete kitchen. It has 3 twin beds.
      My email is Bonniejauregui@gmail.com, send me a mail and I will send you some photos. Also feel free to call me at. 322-172-4841.
      I hope I can find something that fits your needs,
      Bonnie

  30. Naomi says:

    Hi, Bonnie. What availability do you have around May 7th-14th approximately? Very interested in staying on your property for some (or all) of those days. I’m a female solo traveler from the USA that also is an avid birder. What do you recommend/what your rates these days? Thanks 🙂

  31. Gary Wheeler says:

    A birder’s paradise
    Bonnie and family have cultivated an exceptional reserve with gorgeous living quarters.
    Her work rehabilitating debilitated birds adds to the aura of the reserve
    5 stars

Leave a comment