Natikari - Rancho Verde in Sayulita

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Natikari - Rancho Verde in Sayulita

Name: Natikari - Rancho Verde
Address: Meeting point for pick up, Smoke Paradise, Av. Revolución, 63728 Sayulita, Nay., Other, Sayulita
Telephone: +523223012473
Price range: $ - $$$
Rating: 5

Verified Since 2021

Meeting point for pick up, Smoke Paradise, Av. Revolución, 63728 Sayulita, Nay. 596 Visitors

Hours of Operation

Hours

Monday

8AM - 6PM

Tuesday

8AM - 6PM

Wednesday

8AM - 6PM

Thursday

8AM - 6PM

Friday

8AM - 6PM

Saturday

8AM - 6PM

Sunday

8AM - 6PM

Notes: 7 Days a Week!

Highlights

Biologist-Led Tours — Every outing is personally guided by Katja, a PhD ecologist
For Every Age & Ability — Birding, hiking, night walks, or a family donkey adventure
Active Conservation — Camera-trap and bioacoustic research protect the reserve's wildlife
Meet the Donkeys — A family-friendly adventure lets young kids explore without long hikes
Multilingual Guiding — Tours run fluently in English, Spanish, or German
Safety First — A first aid kit and hiking poles come standard on every tour.

Description

Natikari - Rancho Verde in Sayulita is a privately owned nature preserve tucked into a hidden pocket of jungle just outside town, where the canopy hums with birdsong and the trails wind through some of the last untouched semi-deciduous forest left on this stretch of coast. This isn't a standard jungle tour. Every outing is biologist-led, giving you a hands-on eco-experience shaped by real scientific insight rather than a rehearsed script.

All tours are personally guided by Katja, a PhD ecologist, and kept to small groups by design, both to protect the reserve and to keep every visit genuinely personal. That intimacy is part of the draw: you're not one of fifty people on a trail; you're exploring a private reserve with a scientist who knows it intimately.

There's a tour suited to every age and ability. Birding tours run from beginner-friendly, with all equipment and an introduction to using it included, to advanced outings built for seasoned birders chasing lifers. Hiking tours explore different corners of the jungle, night walks introduce the reserve's nocturnal life to the brave, and the Donkey Family Adventure was designed specifically for families with young kids who aren't up for the full trail, letting them explore alongside Natikari's own donkeys at an easy pace.

Every visit also feeds directly back into the reserve's conservation work, from wildlife monitoring with camera traps to an ongoing bioacoustic project tracking the preserve's bird life. Guides lead comfortably in English, Spanish, or German, and a first aid kit and hiking poles come standard on every tour, so the only thing you need to focus on is the jungle.

Choose a no-frills outing or one with pickup and snacks included. Either way, you're spending your time with some of the best guiding in the area, in a jungle few visitors ever get to see. Spots fill quickly around Christmas and spring break, so it's worth booking ahead for those weeks.

For inquiries or reservations, please use the contact form or WhatsApp number.

Amenities

Group/Private Classes
Reserve Online/Phone

Transportation
Language
- English
- Spanish

Locations View Business Map

Reviews

5.0

44 reviews

Write a Review

Value for Money

5.0

Service

5.0

Staff

5.0

Karma Points

5.0

Good Vibes

5.0

Total Score:

Gilles D

(San Francisco, California)

5.0

Great introduction to birding in the jungle outside Sayulita

We had a wonderful introduction to birding with Katja. Her tour is perfect for a peaceful and educational journey into the jungle right outside Sayulita, and how to spot its many beautiful birds. Our groups were interested both in being immerse in the reality of the jungle and also being introduced in the practice of birding so this was a perfect tour for us...

Experienced: August, 2026

Lois

(Victoria, Canada)

5.0

A day in the jungle

My sister and I booked the shorter all inclusive jungle tour. So when we got back we were greeted by a spread of local fruits, guacamole, nachos and a jug of Aguas Frescas.....all beautifully prepared by Dani...who was also the driver who picked us up from the designated meeting spot and drove us up a pretty challenging road into Natikari where Katja awaited us.
The reserve itself is remote and very beautiful abounding with the sounds and sights of the many birds that make the jungle their home.
During our hike we saw a snake,a few lizards and insects...but mostly enjoyed the many different flora that included orchids, air plants, trees and the sometimes massive vines that either climbed up to the light in the canopy or down from the canopy to find the earth.
The jungle trails were often challenging with steep and narrow climbs and you really need to watch your footing but Katja was always there to offer a helpful hand if you needed it. There are also sections where you are navigating dry river beds on the way back to the palapa where your refreshments and a trio of donkeys await.
The guide, Katja, was knowledgeable and shared her love of the nature that abounds here.
Our tour was nearing the end of the dry season and I eagerly look forward to coming back after the rains when the jungle will have exploded with life.

Experienced: April, 2026

Lisa T

(Vail, Colorado)

5.0

Beginning Bird Tour a wonderful way to commune with nature

What a wonderful experience. We saw or heard more than 40 birds. I felt like a jungle explorer. Katja was the perfect guide. She know her birds! As an amateur bird watcher (and lover) this was the right tour for me. Just a few tips. Bring your own water and there is minimal walking so everyone can enjoy it.

Experienced: March, 2026

Gilles R

(Omaha, Nebraska)

5.0

Walk in the jungle

Very nice experience with a passionate biologist. We were able to observe several species of birds whose song she mastered well to attract them. Beautiful explanation of the local flora and fauna.

Experienced: February, 2026

Sylvie Michel

(Edmonton, Canada)

5.0

Morning walk under the trees

Lovely moment, Katia is knowledgeable and generous. We saw many birds. The location is a well preserved forest.

Experienced: February, 2026

Susie

(Watertown, Massachusetts)

5.0

Katja shared her enthusiasm for a place she loves.

Katja shared her enthusiasm for a place she loves. She is very knowledgable about bird calls and bird identification. I saw army ants -- I have always wondered about them, and met her three donkeys. I appreciated that Katja was sensitvtive to safety and able to tailor the hike to the participants' interests and physical ability.

Experienced: January, 2026

Carolina

(Newark, Delaware)

5.0

Small town near Puerto Vallarta

Sayulita is a wonderful small village away from the tourists crowds with very nice beaches and a charming downtown. We had a fabulous meal at a restaurant called Xotchil in the town square and witnessed the release of baby turtles from a conservation center by the beach.

Experienced: January, 2026

Paul H

(Oakhurst, California)

5.0

Donkey tour for the win

We did the donkey tour, which just means you have a donkey companion along for the walk which was fun! It was interesting to learn about the local flora and ecosystem. Katja even made us limeade from a lime tree on our walk.
We had our 6 and 8 year old kids, and it was just enough physical exertion for them.

Experienced: January, 2026

Shankar S

(New York, New York)

5.0

Amazing hike!!!

Our family (with kids aged 11 and 7) thoroughly enjoyed this hike. Katja is an absolute gem and is super knowledgeable about the forest and taught us so many amazing things about the plants and animals over there. She was also very patient with both the kids throughout the hike and gave them a memorable experience by showing so many cool birds. The kids also had the fortune to interact with her pet donkey! Fully recommend this hike if you're in the area.

Experienced: December, 2025

MJK

(Denver, Colorado)

5.0

Abundant bird watching led by a accomplished nature guide near Sayulita

Rancho Verde is only a mile or two down an unpaved but readily passable road near the Sayulita turn off, but it is truly a tranquil rural nature reserve. Katja took us on a morning bird walk that was remarkable for the diversity of birds and fauna. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about bird watching and participates in regional bird surveys with other naturalists. My wife cannot walk far due a medical condition but there were plenty of birds to observe without venturing down the well-maintained trails. Highly recommended.

Experienced: April, 2025

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