Rancho McAllen

The farm wakes before the sun

The day begins when the sky is barely starting to brighten.

While the morning breeze moves across the pastures, the dairy is already alive with the movement of the cattle. It is milking time, one of those simple and essential tasks that keep the tradition of the countryside alive.

Visitors can take part in this process, learn how the animals are handled and understand where some of the food that reaches the table comes from. They can also discover the artisanal process behind fresh cheese, made with the flavor and simplicity that define Costa Rican rural cooking.

Here the countryside is not a backdrop. It is a way of life shared with those who wish to know it with respect and curiosity.

Rancho McAllen works as a closed-loop production farm. The whey left over from making cheese feeds the pigs; the by-products of their care return to the cattle system; and the manure from sheep, cows and horses is used to fertilize the land where the crops grow. Dairy, cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and agriculture thus form a single chain of work and use.

The equestrian heart of Rancho Nuevo

Horses hold a special place in the identity of the ranch.

At the Rancho Nuevo Equestrian Breeding Center, tradition, breeding and respect for these animals come together in every stable, every foal and every working day. The Ibero-American and Costa Rican Paso horses reflect years of dedication, knowledge and passion for the equestrian world.

The experience begins long before riding. Approaching a horse, brushing it, helping to get it ready and learning to read its behavior make it possible to build a relationship based on trust.

In the arena you can appreciate their movement, energy and elegance. On the farm trails, the horse becomes a companion for discovering the landscape at another pace: calmly, listening to the sounds of the countryside and watching the land stretch toward the horizon.

When night falls, the experience changes. A ride under the moon and the stars lets you travel the trails while the ranch fills with different sounds. It is a serene and exciting way to discover the countryside once the day is over.

Equestrian breeding is also one of the ranch's main businesses, with foals for sale year-round and established clients in Guadalajara, Sonora, California, Houston, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Flavors born between the countryside and the sea

The Rancho McAllen experience is also told around the table.

The kitchen brings together food and flavors linked to the farm and to the nearby Gulf of Nicoya. Traditional breakfasts, fresh cheese, typical dishes, fish and seafood are part of a simple and generous offering.

In the property's lagoons, fishing can become an activity to share. The experience continues when the fish reaches the kitchen and is prepared to be enjoyed together.

Every meal means more than eating. It is a chance to talk, rest and discover the relationship between the land, the daily work and the flavors of the region.

The water that sustains part of this production comes from a concession on the Río Lagarto, distributed through sprinkler irrigation and buried pipe. It is a resource separate from Roca Llorona, the spring of pure water that is also part of the farm's natural heritage.

From the green of the farm to the blue of the sea

A few kilometers from Rancho McAllen lies Playa Blanca, a coastal spot valued for its natural beauty, its serene atmosphere and the landscape that characterizes this part of the Costa Rican Pacific.

In a short trip, the surroundings transform. The pastures and country roads of the farm give way to the sea, the sand and the Pacific breeze. This closeness makes it possible to combine the calm of the countryside with an afternoon by the sea and enjoy two different landscapes within a single experience.

The Gulf of Nicoya also opens the possibility of exploring mangroves, watching seabirds and visiting small islands where fishing communities keep a deep relationship with the sea. Their boats, customs and ways of working reflect a history built between the tides and the natural richness of the region.

Here, the countryside and the sea are not separate experiences. They are part of one territory, one identity and one story that is discovered little by little.

The land that also bears fruit

The life of Rancho McAllen is not understood through its animals, trails and landscapes alone. An essential part of its identity is born directly from the land and the farm work done on it.

Among the fields of plantain, watermelon, onion and sweet potato, which change with the seasons and fill the landscape with different colors, aromas and shapes. Each stage —from preparing the ground and planting to caring for the plants and harvesting— reflects a process that demands knowledge, persistence and a close relationship with nature.

Walking through these crops reveals another dimension of the farm. It is watching how a plant begins to grow, understanding the care it needs and discovering the work behind the products that later reach homes and markets.

The agricultural activity of Rancho McAllen goes beyond the boundaries of the property. Part of its production is destined for export, taking fruit grown on this Costa Rican land to destinations such as Japan. This work is a source of pride and also a commitment to maintaining quality through every stage of the process.

The crops are part of a farm that never stands still. While the animals move across the pastures and the birds find shelter near the lagoon, the land keeps growing, producing and sustaining new stories.

Here, agriculture is not only a productive activity. It is a way to understand the cycles of nature, to value the effort of the countryside and to recognize that behind every harvest there is time, dedication and human work.

The organic bananas are nourished with horse manure produced on the ranch itself and are sold in both the domestic and international markets. Irrigation combines sprinkler equipment and buried pipe fed by the Río Lagarto concession; Roca Llorona, meanwhile, keeps a spring of pure water independent of the irrigation system.