Horseback Riding Vacations in Costa Rica (8 Days)

Wonderful Horseback riding adventure for those wanting to spend 8 days exploring the beautiful areas of Costa Rica! The ride is in Monteverde, Guanacaste and the Arenal Volcano zones where you will visit lush cloud forests, amazing waterfalls, various nature reserves, local farms, wildlife, live volcanoes, hot springs and lakes.  We can also arrange a "beach extension" (but is not included)!

Itinerary: 8 Days / 7 nights (includes 6 Day’s Horseback Riding)
(Itinerary) - (details and pricing) - ("What to bring")
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Day 1 - Transportation From Costa Rica Airport to San Luis

We will pick you up at your hotel or the airport in San Jose by private transport
(or we can arrange to pick you up by shuttle from one of the major beaches).

Traveling from San Jose you will have a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery as we ascend the mountains to the beautiful San Luis valley. The first night will be at the San Luis Ecolodge & Biological, station. The Lodge, recognized as a model of sustainable tropical ecotourism, is located on a working tropical farm at the head of the valley, which borders the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and the Children's International Rainforest. The Ecolodge has rustic but spacious, well-appointed accommodations nestled among the trees, with private baths, balconies and covered terraces.

Depending on your pick-up time from San Jose we aim to arrive in time for an evening meal which is included on the tour. After your meal you can relax in your cabin and recover from all your travelling or you can go on a night hike in the Ecolodge’s forest and discover the tropical nature and Costa Rican rural culture in the company of one of the expert resident naturalists. The guides are active researchers and always eager to share their knowledge.

Day 2 - Morning Hike in the Forest - Afternoon Horse Ride up the Mountains

AM: The morning is free to use the services of the Ecolodge and take a free guided hike to do a spot of tropical bird-watching or you might want to hike to the magnificent 100m San Luis Waterfall.

After lunch you will be introduced you to your horses by Marvin Anchia. He is owner of the horses, and guides the tours and will explain about Costa Rican horses and riding techniques and answer any questions you might have. Once mounted we’ll set off and wind our way up from the Valley, through rolling hills covered by lush coffee plantations with spectacular views of the Pacific and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Once up the mountain we’ll ride through a private forest where hopefully a monkey or two will be hanging around! The ride will take about 3-4 hour ride and end up at the Hotel Miramontes which is locate about twenty minutes outside the village of Santa Elena.

You will spend three nights at this hotel, located in a quiet area surrounded by a garden full of flowers. You can also enjoy the orchid garden with over 350 species. The hotel has a restaurant and bar with an International menu.

Day 3 - Horseback Riding in Forest and Back Roads in Monteverde Area

In the morning the ride will be in the local farming areas of Monteverde and will be about 4-5 hours stopping for a picnic on the way. The route will be on little used dirt roads and through some farms, crossing small streams and valleys. There will be a chance to swim in the river on our private farm where monkeys often stop to watch us. On the way back there will be a chance to sample on beer or two (or soft drinks) at the local bar with its beautiful views of the zone.

	Day 4 - Horseback riding -or Monteverde Reserve Hike and Zip Lines Today can be a riding day or an activity day. The choice is yours!  The options are: 1. Horseback Riding: 4-5 hours riding to the highest point in the area, crossing the continental divide. We will ride along on little used back roads and tracks. Lunch will be at a local “soda” (the name for a small café in Costa Rica). OR 2.  Activites in Monteverde: Monteverde is famous for its activities and tours and therefore we have included this option (included in the price) for those who would just like to participate. AM: 7.00am. 3 Hour Guided hike in the Monteverde Reserve. The guide will explain all the there is to know about the fauna and flora of the area, as well as the history of the park and Monteverde. Although it is hard to spot animals, the ecology of a cloud forest is fascinating and the guides make the forest alive with their knowledge. After the tour we will stop at the well-known Stella’s bakery for lunch. PM: 1.30pm From Stella’s Bakery we will travel to the Selvatura Canopy Tour. Here you can enjoy the thrills of the ‘canopy tour’ which involves zipping from tree to tree, using cables and harnesses high in the canopies of the cloud forest. This is followed by a two or three hour hike at your own pace along suspended bridges. For those who want a gentler time you can opt just the bridges followed by a butterfly tour.

	Day 5 - Horseback ride down the Mountains with a stop at Local Coffee roaster AM: Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!  Today we will travel about 30 minutes in a private taxi to reach the start of the next ride.  This horse ride will take us to the rarely visited area of Solania. There will be time to stop at a local coffee roaster for a coffee tour (to discover the secrets and process hiding in each sip of coffee!) and a taste of coffee (or course!).  Then, we will thread through Campos de Oro, an area famous for its coffee plantations. There will be plenty of photo opportunities as we slowly climb the steep route... The sceneries, the views are just Gorgeous!  We’ll be horseback riding into the heart of the mountains, passing other riders, locals who often solely rely on horses for mobility: The local people of the rural communities (known as campesinos) always seem happy to stop and say hello to visitors with that same gleam of curiosity in their eyes you might find in your own. Lunch will be at a typical Costa Rican family house, a real chance to taste some good home cooking while the horses will have a good rest before continuing down to Solania. The horseback ride today will be 5-6 hours in total. In Solania our comfortable ‘villas’ will be waiting for us. The villas are comforabllw tih cable tv, a/c, fans, a pool and jacuzzi. Solania villas are located on a small family working ranch and there is a good opportunity to visit the cattle and other animals. Solania being at a lower elevation than Monteverde, is much hotter and you’ll be glad of the lovely swimming pool to cool off in. In the evening there will be a chance to taste Janet’s famous vegetarian chille.

Day 6  - Horse Ride through Villages, heading towards Arenal Lake

AM: After breakfast we’ll set off, horseback riding, to an area called Quebrada Grande (a few miles outside of Tilaran). The scenery is ever changing, we’ll ride through small villages, alongside rivers and off through an amazing windy. There will be a chance to swim in the river at our picnic spot. Very often we spot lots of monkeys and other wildlife on this day. The ride today will be about 4 hours.

PM: A microbus will be waiting at the end of the ride to take us the short distance to Hotel Puerto San Luis (not to be confused with the San Luis we stay in on the first day). The horses will go by truck and stay nearby. Puerto San Luis is a tiny village alongside Lake Arenal. The hotel is comfortable hotel with nicely appointed rooms, views of the Lake and a swimming pool and jacuzzi. There is a marina restaurant alongside the Lake with an International menu.

	Day 7 - Horse back ride on the Arenal Lake's path towards Arenal Volcano AM: Today’s route will take us from Puerto San Luis to Rio Chiquito (4-5 hours). The first part will be through small villages until we reach Arenal Lake, we will ride along the lake- side, stopping along the way for a packed lunch. Monkeys and many birds are often spotted amongst the trees at the edge of the Lake. PM: Our horseback ride will continue until we reach our boat which will be waiting to take us to Arenal dam at the foot of Arenal Volcano. Our horses will travel by truck, back to their farm for a well-earned rest.  The boat ride will be about 30 minutes, followed by a car ride to Arenal Volcano Inn.
	Volcano Inn, near the small town of La Fortuna, has lovely rooms, cable tv and a/c.  It also has spa services, restaurant/bar, a small pool and one stunning view of the Arenal volcano and that, directly fro the comfort of your private terrace. Evening: In the early evening a taxi will take you to the world famous Hot Springs of Tabacon at the foot of Arenal Volcano. Or if there is no room at Tabacon we will take you to one of the other hot springs, such as Baldi Hot Springs. The transport back to the hotel will depart the hotsprings around 9.00pm.
	Arenal Volcano (1,633 meters) is a picture-perfect cone and one the world's most active volcanoes. Its lava flows and eruptions are continuous, you can even hear it "growling".  When it is not cloudy (volcano and cloud seem to have a natural attraction for each other) you can see huge smoking boulders tumbling down the steep slope. At night time, these glow red and are much easier to see... While not all travelers can claim to have seen it....many have.. and even the tiniest of glimpse of it...is something you will remember for a life time.
	At the hot springs you can soak any aches away from the last few days of riding. Relax and pamper yourself! The hot springs have a series of pools and rivers, are set amid glorious tropical gardens, complete with a waterfall that you can swim under. The pools vary in temperature, from the temperature of a swimming pool to the warmest, at around 39C (102F). There is a swim up bar where, on a clear night, you can sip a the cocktail while watching the fireworks as Arenal volcano erupts. Evening meal is included. There are also spa services (this is optional and nor included in the price). You can opt for one of the many body treatments that are available such as massage, reflexology, body polish, volcanic mud wraps and facials.

Day 8 - Optional Actvities in Lafortuna, Costa Rica

In the morning you will be free to do optional activities such as canyoning -or- safari float -or- explore the volcano.

The tours end around 1.30pm with shuttle transport to San Jose or to some of the main beaches in Costa Rica. 

Unless you pick a "beach extension" (see below), your "Costa Rica 8-Day Horseback Riding Vacations" with Horse Trek Monteverde will end here as we drop you off your hotel in San Jose, or at your hotel on one of the the beaches of Costa Rica... 

For details and pricing, please scroll down a little.

Horseback riding Vacation - Beach Extension*

3 nights, 2 days... one day horseback riding on the beach!
$380 (double accupancy). 2 people minimum. Single supplement $150 includes all transport and horse ride.

*Esterillos Este beach. Unspoilt, white-sanded beach of your dreams! On the Pacific side 45 minutes from Manuel Antonio (excursions available). Small, friendly and very comfortable beach side hotel with pool and restaurant.

What to Bring on this horseback riding holiday:

T-shirts, shorts, long pants for riding (you might want to bring half-chaps but remember it is warm), sweater or light jacket for the evenings in Monteverde, light hiking or riding boots or running shoes, rain jacket, water-proof pants, sunscreen, insect repellant, anti-histamine cream for insect bites, any personal medication, shorts, swimming gear, sports sandals, riding hats can be provided (note they are not compulsory in Costa Rica), traveler's insurance (to include horse riding), full passport and a credit card (VISA and MC only - other cards are difficult to use in Monteverde).

Insurance: You must have your own insurance that includes horse riding (the policy number and details needs to be send to us).

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