About Rancho La Merced
Rancho La Merced is a working cattle ranch and national wildlife refuge on the Pacific coast at Km 159 of the Costanera Sur in Uvita, occupying a rare stretch of land that runs from the beach up into protected forest near Punta Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park. The refuge blends genuine ranch heritage with conservation, giving visitors a chance to experience both the cowboy culture of the region and its abundant coastal wildlife on the same property.
Horseback riding is the ranch's signature activity, with guided rides suited to both experienced and first-time riders along beach and river routes and through the refuge's trails. Beyond the saddle, Rancho La Merced offers guided hikes through primary and secondary forest, birdwatching and wildlife observation among the refuge's varied habitats, and an authentic "cowboy for a day" experience in which guests join working cowboys for cattle herding, roping and hands-on ranch tasks. The mix of open pasture, mangrove edges and forest supports a wide range of birds and animals within easy reach of the coast.
What makes Rancho La Merced special is its dual identity as both a private wildlife refuge and a real, operating ranch. Rather than a staged attraction, visitors ride and hike across genuinely worked and protected land, guided by locals with deep ties to the property, making it one of Uvita's most distinctive and immersive nature experiences.
