General Info

With magical rainforests teeming with wildlife, pristine natural areas, active volcanoes, engaging local culture and a variety of adventure activities of interest to riders and their non-riding companions, this Costa Rica riding vacation encompasses the best that Costa Rica on your own private tour. The tour operator, Centaura, combines fine horses, magnificent places to ride, and Costa Rica’s warm and welcoming people to make guests feel more like travelers than tourists. The vision of Centaura is to share the deep satisfaction of the relationship between horse and rider and Costa Rica’s still wild countryside.  Much of the terrain you’ll ride can only be crossed by horse, oxcart, or foot. The various places you’ll discover will take you back to a simpler time with fine horses to destinations you can’t visit on your own or with any other tour company.

Depending on the time of year, you may be invited to ride in a special local festival called a Cablagata, where neighboring farmers invite whole communities to a big, wild trail ride and party. At the famously furious, still very active Arenal Volcano, you’ll get up close, riding through a private farm, where cows graze beneath steaming lava flows. Riding through cloud forests and rivers, you may spot a variety of wlidlife like the elusive red-eyed tree frog, macaws, howler monkeys and crocodiles.

Consider adding a private hot air balloon ride that takes you within arms reach of the jungle canopy.  Choose from a variety of other Costa Rican adventures to compliment your riding, like white water rafting, canyoneering or hiking. There are the wonderful options for travel in Costa Rica, a country so rich in beautiful natural scenery and adventure, that one trip certainly won’t be enough to see it all. Esteban, Centaura’s owner and your guide, says, “You’ll try some things which you never thought even in your wildest dreams you would ever attempt, and you’ll appreciate the one-on-one relationship with a knowledgeable guide who takes you through the steps on our amazing horses.”

The Best of Costa Rica- 8 days/7 nights
* all departures are private for this trip meaning you or your self-formed group or family will not be paired with other riders.

Awards & Accolades
Featured in Equitrekking’s Costa Rica episode, as a part of Equitrekking’s award winning third season. You may meet Monica and Esteban, the owners of Centaura, the outfitter for this trip, in this episode.




 

Packing

Please see Equitrekking Travel's Packing List for suggestions.

For this trip to Costa Rica, consider packing lightweight long sleeve loose fitting shorts, comfortable long lightweight pants. You may not want to bring your traditional leather riding boots, as often you will be in and out of water, so you want shoes that can dry quickly. All terrain riding boots and an extra pair of tennis shoes or shoes you want to wear when you’re not riding, but maybe walking or hiking are best. Riding gloves and riding helmet and hat preferably wide brim for sun. Definitely bring a swimsuit, as there is a pool by the stables and you'll want to take a dip in the hot springs.

About the Horses

You’ll have your choice of 30 Paso Finos, Iberos, Criollos, Pintos and Cross breeds for your Costa Rica adventures.

Esteban, the owner of Centaura writes that, Centaura’s horses are vaccinated, re-shoed every 5 weeks. Each day they spend several hours in the pasture and nights in the stables -- with grain and mineral supplements.  Our horses are trained regularly, and a professional rider keeps them in top responsive behavior.  Our horses are not nervous around trucks and highways or barking dogs or other strange horses.  They respond to commands quickly, so it is pure pleasure to ride out on challenging terrain.  Our horses trust our riders will treat them with respect, and they respond with sweet dispositions. Our stable is immaculately clean…. so clean that we have a bedroom in the middle of the stable, where one of Centaura’s owners sleeps, with the door open -- no smells, no flies, only the gentle sound of horses eating or walking in their stalls. 

The stables are a social gathering area, with hammocks and rocking chairs and a pool table.  A short walk up the hill and you have Centaura’s very private swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a great place to spend your evenings under the stars. The contrast between Centaura horses and the numerous riding farms in Costa Rica is most striking.  The standard riding horse in Costa Rica is extremely thin, receives no grain or supplements, and rarely receives vaccinations.

Activities/Events

Area Activities & Events
Nature watching, active volcanoes, hot springs, white water rivers, tree climbing, mountain biking, 4x4 vehicles, ballooning, beaches, rainforests, cloud forests.

When you visit there might be topes, parades of show horses in small towns. During these parades, there are from 200 to 4000 horses walking and dancing to music.  

Almost every Sunday somewhere in Costa Rica there is a Cabalgata, a country festival on horseback. This is a full day party where from 100 to 3000 horses and riders gather together to have trail rides and local rodeos.  

March and May brings big cattle shows which attract dancing horses, called Trotadores.

Accommodations/Food

Accommodations
Guests may stay in area hotels, which are from 5 star to very basic, and also a stay at Centaura’s farm. Centaura is 25 minutes from one of Costa Rica’s major tourist centers (Arenal volcano).

Food
All meals are included in the price of this trip.

Drinks
Alcohol is not included, but is available at area restaurants.

 

The Ideal Traveler

Esteban, the owner of this outfitting company in Costa Rica, writes, Our preferred guest loves the freedom of riding a fine horse, enjoys spirited riding, likes to ride in sometimes difficult terrain. We like guests who want to travel while conversing, mix with the local people, eat local food and trust their horse and their companions. Costa Rica has world famous scenery and adventures, and we integrate the horse riding in marvelous places. Our guests like to share the beauty of Costa Rica with us and our horses.

8 Days- The Best of Costa Rica on Horseback

8 Days/ 7 Night- The Best of Costa Rica on Horseback
Trips run Monday to Monday.

$3012.50 based on 4 people, double occupancy*

All departures for this trip are private, meaning you or your group will not be paired with other people or groups. You will have your own horses for the week and your own private guide. Groups usually range in size from 1 to 6 people. (better prices for larger groups)

Please contact Julie, Equitrekking Travel's Preferred Provider of Travel Services, for more information.


*This itinerary includes all hotels and accommodations, airport transfers, a bilingual guide, all meals and snacks, normal service tipping, dreaded Costa Rican taxes (about 16% on everything), all transportation and all adventures as listed (plus a few not mentioned). NOT INCLUDED: alcoholic beverages, exit visa for Costa Rica ($26 per person), tip for the principal guide, international airfare. There is a 4% extra charge for trips purchased with credit cards.

The Best of Costa Rica on Horseback

Day 1 Arrival
We’re assuming you’ll be arriving early during the day, Your Centaura transfer will be right outside the terminal to meet you, and you can fall asleep in the 4x4 as we drive, or you get to know your Centaura leader, who can tell you about life in Costa Rica. It will be an easy day, driving across the mountains. If you choose the evening arrival, you’ll stay in the San José area tonight, and drive in the morning across the mountains. This day depends on your flight decisions.

Staying at Centaura Farm or Tilajari

Day 2 Plantation Ride
Today you’ll pick out the horses you want to ride on your trip, trying out different saddles. You’ll have plenty of time to test out each horse and swap saddles, horses, and other gear until you have your favorites picked out. The majority of the horses are a special South American breed, the Paso Fino (meaning "fine gait" referring to their genetic "step" sequence that is like sitting on a gentle rocking chair). They are bred for difficult mountain terrain. The horses are well trained, and even inexperienced riders may be able to quickly gain control of their mounts, and learn to love the view from their backs. The fields and pastures of sugar cane and rain forests near the stables give lots of variety for your first ride. You can swim on horseback in a river or two to add to the challenge. These are NOT commercial riding stables style of horses. They love to run. They love to lift their hooves high and arch their necks. Many are just born show-offs.

Tonight you’ll stay at the nice, warm accommodations at Centaura’s Farm or a local hotel, the Tilijari. The choice is yours.

Day 3- Arenal Volcano
Today you'll take a boat across the Arenal Lake to meet the horses at Tilaran side at the far end of the lake. You'll ride around the lake on the old trail. Picnic lunch by the water with a superb view of the Arenal Volcano. After the ride you'll spend the night at an organic farm.

Day 4- Hot Springs on Horseback
Your morning is free to walk around and enjoy the farm. Then in the afternoon you’ll ride to the hot springs. Your guide especially likes these springs because it is a favorite of the local people. They are not crowded, and the sounds of the jungle compete with the waterfall noises, something so tranquil that you might feel like melting chocolate. This ride is a trip back in time.

Night at Centaura Farm or Hotel Tilijari

Day 5- Adventure Activities
Today the horses get a day of rest and you may try another type of adventure. Here are some adventures from which you may choose.

Caño Negro
This is a developed a "new" route to see some extraordinary nature -- using Centaura’s recently invented "boat". Not quite true… The "route" is one of the most common nature boat trips in Costa Rica, and has become a haven for big tour boats. But the "boat" you’ll have is quite different. The secret is that you’ll use inflated Duckies instead of a metal boat, propelled by an electric trolling motor that American fishermen have used for years. You're literally sitting at water level, and sitting very comfortably, using umbrellas to block the sun or rain, if that's the option. It looks a little like something out of “Around the World in 80 Days”, very.... well, quaint. But it has stealth capabilities. You can silently approach everything from Jesus Christ Lizards, known as such for its ability to walk on water, and Caymans, a type of crocodile, to monkeys, and glide silently right next to giant herons and under nesting ducks. Because you're so close to the water, and so quiet, you can fit up close to the shore, and see things without binoculars. You’ll also enter the river in a completely different direction/end, so the powerboats do not crowd you. When you do encounter the big boats, you can see the green with envy look on the faces of the tourists.

Rio Celeste Hike
You’ll use the 4x4 to get to one of the more interesting hiking areas of Costa Rica near the Tenorio volcano. The main river descends the slopes of the volcano, meeting up with other streams as it goes. You will be hiking along the stream's banks towards the source, and see occasional fumaroles en route. The monkeys and tree frogs and noises of the wild punctuate the lush vegetation, the silence-- away from the tourist centers. You'll reach the Tenideros (where the river changes color) first, then continue to jungle hot springs (don't forget your bathing suit!) and giant waterfall. All this in a remote and pristine jungle -- and it is likely you’ll have the whole place to yourself -- and a few Ticos. Celeste, by the way, means "light blue" in Spanish, and the coloration is dramatic. The hike total distance is 4.6 miles. The altitude is gentle up and down, 2100 feet to 2600 feet. There are no steep hills, but also the trail is not improved -- no handrails or paved passageways. You can spend 3 hours to 8 hours enjoying this place, swimming in the lake, finding nature all around you.

Canyoneering
Canyoning is a new sport in the USA, but in Europe it is well loved for the pure adrenaline it produces. Harnesses and ropes and rock climbing all in waterfalls and deep crevasses, soaking wet and steaming jungle bodies -- enough to convince you “Romancing the Stone” was someone else’s bridge party. This real adventure trip makes the ‘canopy tour’ over rated. The choice of canyons will be made almost at the last minute, depending on rains and what bridges are out on the way up to the start. The adrenaline rush is high and the natural jungle setting is breathtaking. After this adventure, you’ll need a hot shower and some good dinner.

Canopy and White Water Rafting
You’re stopping en route to enjoy one of the most famous Costa Rican specialties. Think about moving about with sets of steel cables connecting trees in a rainforest, where you’ll zip across in harnesses on pulleys (wheeee!). Canopy tours are about climbing up, harnessing and trusting yourself to zip lines and cables as you move from tree to tree, platform to platform. Most people never look anywhere except at the oncoming tree that is rushing towards you as you literally zip along the cable. The time spent on the zip lines goes from 30 seconds to few minutes per line "airborne". But it feels much as you would imagine a bird must feel, darting between branches in the forest. This is an experience you don't want to miss, and which you'll brag about for years -- unless a (very sensible) fear of heights gets in the way.

Lunch and then White Water Rafting

About one hour away from the farm is one of your guide’s favorite rivers. The Sarapiquí is a jewel of clear water, and a gentle but rewarding Class III whitewater river. In the raft, it is totally secure when you have a safety kayaker right next to you the whole way. This is a private trip, and you have an entire crew dedicated to your enjoyment.

Night at Centaura Farm or Hotel Tilijari

Day 6- Cloud Forest Ride
Your guide has access to a private cloud forest. The high lands of Costa Rica where the Cloud Forest lies is not like anyplace you’ll see in North America. The misty mountains as timeless as an endless expanse of mountain jungle can evoke.The views from the back of a horse are so different than from on foot. Your eyes are drawn always upward, where the bird sounds and the flora create a cathedral above. It is often raining, or at least misting, in both the rainforest and the cloud forest. The temperatures are chilly to comfortable.

Tonight you’ll stay at Vista del Valle - 20 minutes from airport, however, you will feel light years away in your private hut in the mountains.

Day 7- Cabalgata
The San Carlos area is full of local horseback harvest festivals, call Cabalgatas. Centaura doesn't know where one will be yet, or how many horses, but they do know it will be the memory of a horseman's lifetime. At least several hundred, and possibly several thousand people gather together on horseback, with live music (from horseback). There are rivers to cross and hills to climb and fields to run through, and horses strutting and horsemen boasting and whole families atop one horse, and the raw energy of country people enjoying an old-fashioned hoedown kind of celebration. This is a truly unique Costa Rican experience.

Night at Centaura Farm or Hotel Tilijari

Day 8- Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
 
* Please note that this itinerary is a flexible, sample itinerary and subject to changes and revisions based on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Changes are at the discretion of your trip guide.

Related Blog Posts

Costa Rica- Arenal Volcano & Beaches

by: Equitrekking host Darley Newman   Monica, our local Costa Rica horseback riding vacation guide, and her brother Sebastian and I rode at the base of the very active Arenal volcano. We rode through rolling farmland dotted with cattle, which would feel the heat if Arenal were to have a… Read more »

Julie’s Costa Rica Horse Riding Adventure

By Equitrekking Travel's Preferred Travel Agent Julie Snyder Having been an adventure travel agent for many years, it is amazing that I hadn't been to Costa Rica before now, but I hadn't. Now that I have experienced this adventurer's paradise, I really can't believe it took me this long. We had… Read more »

Costa Rica Cabalgata

As an elderly woman whizzed by me, galloping at an alarming pace in her black dress pants and high-heeled patent leather shoes, I gripped by reins and giggled. She was delicately balancing a purse on her forearm, not exactly riding attire. My horse Perla, the perfect “bomb proof” mount, was… Read more »

Costa Rica- Arenal Volcano

Today Monica and Sebastian, my guides for my Costa Rica adventure and I rode at the base of the very active Arenal volcano. We rode through rolling farmland dotted with cattle, who would feel the heat if Arenal were to have a major eruption. The area is pretty developed as… Read more »

Costa Rica- Farm Ride

Today was my first riding day in Costa Rica. We started at the farm and Esteban helped me pick out the horse that I would be riding. The horses here are different breed mixes. Some have more Paso Fino in them then others, meaning that they are gaited and very… Read more »

Costa Rica- Frog Sanctuary

Today, we went to a frog farm that is not open to the public with Esteban. The owner raises rare frogs, but the neat thing is that the frogs are left to hop along in the rainforest, so if you walk quietly through, you can spot many of these neon… Read more »

Costa Rica- Hot Air Balloon

Today, Esteban, who besides being a great rider and guide for his riding company, also is a balloon pilot, took us out for a hot air balloon ride. I have never been up in a hot air balloon and it was really cool. I felt like we were floating as… Read more »

Costa Rica- Tree Climbing

Today, Catalina, Esteban’s sister, and a guide took me out tree climbing as a part of my horse tour of Costa Rica. We hiked into the rainforest to this giant Fichus tree named Abraham, so named because he watches over the entire forest. I would be climbing up 120 feet… Read more »

Costa Rica- Day One

We’re riding throughout Costa Rica with Centaura, a horseback riding adventure travel company run by Monica and Esteban, a Costa Rican husband and wife team. Centaura’s horses are very nice. They are well trained, responsive and riders can have their pick based on what they want to experience on their… Read more »

Traveler Reviews

Top 10 Reasons We Love Riding Horses in Costa Rica with Centaura
by Mary T. from Illinois

10.  Beautiful birds, wildlife and flowers everywhere. – It is so pretty.   Not many bugs either!

9.   Easy to get to from the U.S. – We usually can find a flight that gets us to San Jose by noon and a couple hours drive into the country gets us to the farm late afternoon.   

8.  Accommodations – a variety to choose from but if you let Centaura recommend, you won’t be disappointed.  We enjoy staying at the farm or in small Costa Rican hotels. 

7.  The weather – It is always warm.  It is tropical and rains occasionally but we ride and do other activities anyway and thoroughly enjoy it.  

6.  Variety of things to do – Opportunity to combine excellent riding with other activities like canopy, 4X4s, special treat of riding in a hot air balloon over the forests, magnificent river trips (slow and fast) and you are always with your Centaura guide. Enough variety that you can do a repeat trip and see and do all new things. 

5.  The scenery – It is just beautiful.  Whether it is riding through a rain forest, near the volcano and Arenal Lake (our favorite ride), a cloud forest, or up the hill to beautiful hot springs, the country is amazing and there’s no better way to see it than on the back of a beautiful horse.  Great fun to ride the horses to a local restaurant or to stop at a local store for a snack.

4. Tack/equipment – All the equipment is well maintained.  The tack room is as clean as our kitchen.  Horse blankets are clean and they have a variety of saddles that are extremely comfortable. 

3. The horses –  They are amazingly trained, extremely well cared for and seem to enjoy what they do.  They walk with their heads high and you can ride side by side rather than in a row.  Makes riding so much more fun.

2. It is private – You are not part of a group so you can be flexible about your activities, schedule.  So, if you want to go for a longer ride, or spend more time at the pool, or take a drive for some souvenirs, it is not a problem.

1. The Centaura team – Truly wonderful people.  They are focused on your having a wonderful, safe time and so much fun to be with.  They take the time to know you and match riders and horses.  You get to try out the horses too, until you find one with whom you connect. 




 

Reading List

General Guidebooks

Frommer's Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete Guides) (Paperback) by Eliot Greenspan
Completely updated every year, Frommer's Costa Rica features gorgeous color photos of the lush rain forest, the amazing array of wildlife, and the spectacular beaches that await you. Personally researched by a longtime resident, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-changing country, with recommended accommodations in every price category. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a steaming volcano. There are adventures here to suit all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, windsurfing on Lake Arenal, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach.

Travellers' Wildlife Guides Costa Rica (Paperback) by les Beletsky
The Travellers' Wildlife Guides are aimed at environmentally conscious travellers for whom some of the best parts of any trip are glimpses of wildlife in natural settings. The purpose of this series is to enhance enjoyment of a trip and enrich wildlife sightings by providing identifying information on the most frequently encountered animals in each of the represented countries. With stunning color illustrations and photographs of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds, this series is unique in that it aims to aid the visitor in identifying all types of vertebrate land animals while providing current information on the conservation statuses of the animals.

Anthology

Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Paperback) edited by Barbara Ras and written by Oscar Arias
Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion has been compiled in an attempt to provide tourists with a different perspective on the country. Each of the twenty-six remarkable stories in this collection has been selected to reflect the geographical area in which it is set. (Though Costa Rica is only about half the size of Ireland, it is wonderfully diverse.) Story settings range from the high valleys of the central plateau to the flatlands of the Caribbean coast to the plains of Guanacaste. A typical guidebook will instruct visitors on the politics, history, culture, economy, and ethnicity of a country, but only fiction can portray its soul. After reading the stories contained in this literary companion, travelers to Costa Rica will no doubt view this Central American nation with whole new eyes.

Coffee Table Companion Book
Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at ShopDarley.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe, including a stunning Costa Rica chapter. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.   

DVD’s
Equitrekking: Season Two DVD featuring Emmy winning PBS episode from Costa Rica. Available at ShopDarley.com

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman on the second season of Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on Public Television. This seven episode two disc set includes half hour episodes from Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.