Truth be told, I’m scared of horses. There’s no real reason for it. They’ve never done anything to me. I’ve just never liked them. Maybe because they can read minds? I don’t trust large creatures with superpowers. Anyway, so why do a horse riding tour? Well, I like to do things like this every now and again to remind myself that these little fears are crazy. Riding a horse on the beach in Costa Rica sounded pretty amazing so I figured this would be the perfect location. Now I’m here to help you prepare for your own tour. Here’s my guide on how to book an epic horse riding tour in Puerto Viejo with everything you need to know before you go.
How To Book An Incredible Horse Riding Tour In Puerto Viejo
Disclaimer
This post was written in collaboration with Ride The Rainforest.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
FAQ for booking a horse riding tour in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Where is it located?
Near Playa Chiquita, Puerto Viejo.
How long does it take?
There are a range of tour options which vary in time from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours.
Who is it good for?
Everyone except people allergic to horses!
How to book?
Book online through their website here.
What should you bring with you?
For the best experience, you’ll want to keep your belongings minimal for this adventure. Here’s what I recommend taking with you:
- Small backpack or drybag – I used this 10L one for my whole trip and it was awesome
- Compact camera – either your phone or I am never without this adventure camera with this compact selfie stick
- Wear mosquito repellent and sunscreen
- Flip flops or sandals you can take off easily so you can ride barefoot
Getting to Ride The Rainforest
You’ll meet for your tour at the Ride The Rainforest stables located near Playa Chiquita.
It’s easy to find using ‘Ride The Rainforest Costa Rica‘ on Google Maps. Here are the coordinates in case the name changes: 9°38’23.7″N 82°42’59.1″W.
As you get closer, it’s easy to find where to turn off the main road by looking out for the horse riding tour signs. If in doubt, look for the horses which are pretty easy to spot!
Getting ready for the horse riding tour
After you arrive and check in with your guide, then you’ll just need to get ready for your adventure.
Earlier in the post I recommended packing light and it’s because you’ll be carrying everything with you on the tour. A small backpack, fanny pack, or dry bag will be fine, but a tote bag, handbag, or something like that will impede your horse riding and just be annoying.
The only other thing to keep in mind is that you may want to wear long pants. I wore shorts and was fine, but if you have allergies with plants then longer pants may be better since you’ll be riding through the jungle.
I packed a pair of Patagonia Quandary hiking pants on this trip which are super lightweight and high quality. I loved them for my other hiking tours. Something like those or lightweight leggings would be a good option if you’re sensitive to plants or chafe easily.
The location – riding horses on the beach in Puerto Viejo!
Ok, now to the fun part.
You get to ride horses on the beach and in the jungle!
Your guide will lead you from the stables, through a jungle path, and along the beautiful beach. As the tour continues, you’ll weave back and forth between jungle and beach before returning to the stables.
Location wise it’s just dreamy. Being in the jungle is fun because it feels like the right mode of transport for that setting. And it’s great for animal spotting.
My guide, Annie, pointed out a sleepy sloth and vulture which was really cool.
The beach is a picture perfect backdrop and it feels so freeing to be in the sunshine, riding along the beach as the waves meet the horses hooves.
What to expect on the tour
The tour itself is a fabulously relaxing, nature-filled adventure.
One thing that makes it different to other tours I’ve done is that you have the opportunity to run along the beach. It’s totally up to your comfortability, but if you want to you can do a quick trot or even build up to a nice gallop along the sand.
I recommend doing this tour towards the end of your visit to Puerto Viejo because it’s a wonderful way to relax and wind down before you head home.
I don’t know what it is specifically, but perhaps it’s something to do with slowing down to walk through the beautiful nature and being in the moment since you have to focus on leading your horse.
I am scared of horses and even I was quite relaxed afterward!
Another thing I loved was the casual atmosphere that Annie created in the tour. It wasn’t super formal and rigid, instead it felt like going for a horse ride with a friend.
She also taught me a lot about not only the horses we were riding but horses in general which was interesting.
Where to eat after the tour
You can’t beat the nearby GypSea Cafe for brunch. The ginger lemonade is marvelously refreshing and the acai bowls served in a coconut bowl are just divine.
If you’re looking for a lunch option, I also really like Soda Playa Chiquita. It’s a great local spot where you’ll get big portions of flavorful food for a reasonable price.
Where to stay in Puerto Viejo
I recommend Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel in Puerto Viejo because it is just amazing.
There’s so much to love about staying there. You’ll stay in a jungle setting (I saw sloths every day while I was there!), with a clean and comfortable room, and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Best of all, you’ll be across the road from the beach and the NOA Beach Club for cocktails and a fantastic breakfast.
The location is convenient – just far enough away from town to be quiet but close enough to be accessible on foot, taxi, or by cycling.
You could easily cycle to this horse riding tour from the hotel or it’s about a 20 minute walk.
Whatever you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I used and found a great deal through there.
Overall
It was a fantastic local tour and a real highlight of my trip to Costa Rica.
I definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary so you can also experience the gorgeous jungle and beach through this fun mode of transportation.
Other guides you might enjoy:
So You Can’t Drink Tap Water – Here’s How To Avoid Travelers Diarrhea
Here Are The Top Things To Do In Key Largo For A Memorable Trip
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