Monteverde Horseback Riding Tours | Horseback Riding Monte Verde | Costa Rica Horseback Riding Holidays
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This is one of the best activities to do in Monteverde Costa Rica, and in our opinion should be at the top of the list! Monteverde Desafio uses Horse Trek Monteverde (owner: Marvin Anchia) for its local horseback riding tours in the Monteverde area. Tours vary from 2.5 to 6 hours as well as multiple-day horseback rides around Costa Rica (click here for more information about our 5-8 day horseback riding packages). Horse Trek Monteverde is happy to tailor-make any sort of equestrian tour you might be interested in. English-speaking guides can accompany the larger tours and departure times and tour structures can be flexible. Horseback Riding Tours can be organized for individuals and groups who always have a lot of fun on their horses!
Here are some of the local Monteverde horseback riding tours we are currently offering:
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Mountain and Farm View Horseback Ride (2.5 hours) - click here
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San Luis Waterfall Horseback Ride (4 hours on horse - 5 to 6 hours total tour time-click here
- Within the Farm Horseback Ride- click here
Sometimes people ask us about riding in the one of the Cloud Forest Reserves. This is not possible as these are protected places where a horse would have a negative impact. We can offer rides on trails that consist of secondary forest and pasture with great views of the Pacific Ocean. We often ride well away from the regular tourist areas which gives you a chance to really see Costa Rica!
Do you like Horseback Riding? check out our other Horseback Riding Tours in Costa Rica:
- Horseback Riding from Monteverde to Arenal
- 2 day Costa Rica Horseback Riding Holiday
- 3 day Costa Rica Horseback Riding Holiday
- 8 day Costa Rica Horseback Riding Vacation
Mountain and Farm Views Horseback Ride
This is one of the shorter tours we offer of 2.5 hours but still with plenty of time to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Monteverde area. The horseback ride is along little used back roads passing by farms of coffee, sugar cane and bananas.The scenic route offers open views of the surrounding countryside as well as the Gulf of Nicoya. This ride can be done at Sunset or any other time and is suitable for those with experience or not. Children's saddles and helmets are available. Rain ponchos (if necessary!) are provided. The ride is fully insured and only experienced guides are used.
The ride is 2.5 hours long plus transport time. Price: $35 including transport.

For those looking for a longer ride this tour is perfect. Party along the continental divide the route offers stunning views of the local countryside and farms as well as the pretty Gulf of Nicoya. The horseback ride follows little used back roads and small tracks. The length of the tour allows us to penetrate deep into the farming community with a great opportunity to see the land use of the area, well away from the tourist areas. Get to know your Costa Rican cowboy and practice your Spanish as you try and spot willdife. Toucans and sloths are often seen along the ride.
The ride is 4 hours long plus transport time with plenty of time for photos or a break. Price: $49 including transport.
San Luis Waterfall Horseback Ride
San Luis Waterfall is over 100 feet high!See our video of San Luis Waterfall! Click Here.
A great way to visit the San Luis waterfall is on horse. This ride takes a total of 5.5 hours (3.5 hours on horseback). Not all of the time is spent on a horse as you will need to hike along the river to reach the waterfall. The trip commences with a 1.5 hour ride down into the valley of San Luis adjacent to Monteverde. The journel down the mountain has some breathtaking views and you'll have plenty of time time to take some amazing photos.
At a trailhead in San Luis you will part temporarily with your horse and hike 30 minutes along the pretty San Luis river to reach the spectacular cascade. There you can take some time to relax and enjoy the scenery. You can also take a swim if you
This is quite a hike to do on foot and much more fun on horse than taking a taxi! San Luis is a small community where much of the Monteverde's coffee is grown. Being lower in elevation than Monteverde it offers an opportunity to see different flora and fauna.
Price: $65 per person plus $10 entrance fee to the trails and waterfall (this goes directly to the local farmer). Transport is included from your hotel and back.
If you are a horse lover than you are going to love this tour! It is great value and a wonderful experience.
You'll start off by helping to prepare the horses (if you wish to) and learn how we saddle up in Costa Rica and see the type of equipment we use. After getting the horses ready you''ll set off for an all-day excursion with the owner of Horse Trek Monteverde, Marvin Anchia. Marvin is a great character and a fantastic rider. There is little he does not know about horses (in Costa Rica that is!). He claims to have started riding before he was born as his mother used to ride pregnant and simply carried on from there. By 8 years old he was training many of the horses in the area and the love of horses is evident. The route used to get to the small farm owner by Marvin and his wife, Janet Ellis, is only accessible by horseback for many months of the year.
The journey to the farm passed some amazing scenery and you´'ll definitely need your camera! A picnic is provided by the river side where monkeys are normally hanging around cooling off in the trees and many birds. There is plenty of opportunity to swim in the river and just relax, before setting off again in a different direction to pass through some more farms in the area. As the zone is hilly the views points are simply stunning.
Along the route back there will be another stop a local bar for a quick beer or soft drink and to soak in the local atmosphere as the area is far from the touristy spots. When you return to the stable you will get an opportunity to bath and feed the horses and give them a fond pat on the neck adios!
Price is $79 including all transport, at least 6 hours on horse, picnic lunch and a swim in the river. Plus a lot of fun!
Recommendations
The following are two letters from satisfied riders who did the San Luis Waterfall tour March 2008
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From Scott What a fantastic day of horseback riding! The horses, the views, the people, the guides and the waterfall – everything was excellent! S We met the other riders at the meeting place at 8.30am and fitted with modern riding helmets and from there rode down into the unbelievable scenic San Luis Valley – we could see the Pacific ocean clearly (the Gulf of Nicoya) and we were still very near the continental divide. After an hour and a half or so of comfortable riding (my mount was called La Reina 'the queen' and she was perfect for a less-experienced rider). We dismounted at the entrance to the San Luis Waterfall area. Marvin Anchia, our guide (and owner of the horses), was not only an incredible horseman but a very nice, fun guy, tied the horses in the shade and we set off for the hike along the San Luis river, up to the waterfall. And what a waterfall it was! Maybe as high as 100m in two different drops, it was a magical tropical scene. Two of our group swam in the pool at the bottom of the falls but it looked like the water was very, very cool, some might even say cold! We brought along a few snacks as was recommended and hung out at the falls for a while before heading back up to Monteverde to the drop off point. A few of us walked the short distance to Stella's Bakery and ending an exceptional day with a snack or dessert. For me, Stella's blackberry pie with ice cream was the perfect ending to a perfect day. |
From Serena The extremely scenic horseback ride to the San Luis Waterfall takes you away from the hub-bub of Monteverde on an adventure that you'll long remember. As your horse carries you down the steep but safe winding road down the mountain, you'll be in awe of the panoramic views of the mountainsides and of the expanse of blue of the Gulf of Nicoya. Be sure to have your camera ready! After riding about 1.5 hours, you'll reach a beautiful farm where there are restrooms and drinks available. While the horses rest, you'll enjoy an adventurous 45 minute hike along the San Luis River. Again the stunning views of the forest and the surrounding cliffs are memorable. When at last you turn the bend and see the 300ft waterfall cascading into a crystal pool, a wide smile will certainly come to your face. Put on your swimsuit and take a plunge into the invigorating water. Feel the cascading water beat on your body as you swim under the falls. Wow! It's exhilarating! If you don't want to swim, the sight of the falls and the feeling of the mist on your skin is a great way to relax from the hike. As you walk back along the trail and climb the mountain back to Monteverde on your horse, you'll definitely feel glad you made the trip. |
Within the Farm Horseback Ride
This horseback riding tour is especially suited to people with no experience
The private farm has pasture land and a small secondary forest.
The tour is 2 hours long. Price $35 including transport
We have tours suitable for all levels of riding experience.- just ask! Desafio though HorseTrek Monteverde has horses to suit
every level of experience and we will find the one for you. Our rides are off the main roads (there is too much traffic in Monteverde).
See our horse-related videos in Monteverde Costa Rica. Click Here for:
- Baby Horse in the House!
- Mare and Foal
- San Luis Waterfall
- Training Young Horse, Fantasma (part 1)
- Training Young Horse, Fantasma (part 2)
Return to Horseback Riding Tours in Monteverde Costa Rica Directory

