How much fun would it be to gallop along a deserted beach in time to see a glorious sunset, or slowly make your way through sleepy villages while sitting atop a beautiful steed? You can go on a horseback riding tour in Costa Rica in any part of the country, even in San Jose if you really wanted to! Tours vary from half-day excursions to multi-day, multi-terrain adventures. Tell us what you want and we’ll make sure you get it! There a huge ton of things to do in Costa Rica!
Best Areas for Horseback Riding in Costa Rica
Guanacaste Area
Join the Sabanero (cowboy) culture and explore the vast open plains. In the Rincon de la Vieja area, horseback trips will take you to hot springs, waterfalls, and bubbling mud pits along with the Sabanero ranches.
Northern Pacific and Nicoya Peninsula
All the beach towns have horseback trips available. Hop on a horse in Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Montezuma or at any other beach. Tours will take you through surrounding hills and waterfalls and get you to the beach just in time to see a great sunset.
Central Pacific
Along with fun beach trips through Manuel Antonio and Jaco, you can take many off-the-beaten-track paths through rainforests and surrounding hills discovering hidden waterfalls and natural springs. These adventure tours in Costa Rica are for everyone and every level.
South Caribbean
Mix it up a bit and combine a rain forest tour with a beach.
Monterverde and Arenal
Mountainous trips of Monteverde include crossing rivers, swooping down into valleys, and making it in time to a scenic overlook to catch the sun going down over the Gulf of Nicoya.
In La Fortuna take a trip to La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Arenal.
How about doing something totally different? Instead of hopping on a shuttle bus to Monteverde from La Fortuna (Arenal) or vice versa, get on the back of a horse for a full-day excursion. Your bags will be waiting for you on the other side at your destination.
Probably one of the best things to do in Monteverde, you should try it some time. I have a post with tons activities in Monteverde, read it here.
Insider Facts
– Be prepared: If you are coming for a family vacation in Costa Rica and plan on going horseback riding have long pants and boots or sneakers just in case it rains. Wear a hat for the extra sunny days and bring plenty of water.
– Watch out for tour operators offering rock-bottom prices: they often use horses that are old, overworked, and underfed.
