The 14 Best Costa Rica Horse Riding Tours

1.Arenal Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 127 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $94Our pick

Ride a calm horse for about 3 km through reforested land and private farms, then hike steep steps to La Fortuna Waterfall for photos or a swim. Guides such as Otto, Kevin, Danny, Carlos, and Paz help beginners. The return includes Pino Blanco Waterfall and a Maleku cultural stop.

“We had an amazing time on our horseback riding/waterfall tour with Danny and Pablo. Both Danny and Pablo went above and beyond to make our trip one we won't forget! We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone-make sure to ask for Danny and Pablo as your tour guides!”

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2.Safari & Barigona Beach on horseback

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 86 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79

Ride with Horsejungle from Sámara through Guanacaste forest, jungle, and river crossings to Barrigona Beach. Your three-hour outing includes wildlife watching, a short snack stop, photo breaks, and time to ride along the white sand. Bring your own bottled water.

“We had a wonderful experience! Thank you to our amazing guide for this wonderful memory and honestly being one of the most fun guided tours we have ever experienced.”

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3.Horseback riding through the beaches of Esterillos near Jaco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89Top rated

CR Beach Barn takes you on a 90-minute horseback ride along the beaches of Esterillos near Jaco. Guides Micha and Sylwia work with beginners, families, and experienced riders. Expect gentle horses, ocean views, a short forest stretch, possible wildlife sightings, and a relaxed group of no more than six.

“I had not been on a horse since I was a kid, so I didn't know what to expect. But Sylwia was extremely helpful and the horses were so well trained that everything went very smoothly. Riding on the beach during sunset is a magical experience that I would recommend to anyone traveling in this area. I will definitely come back on my next trip to Costa Rica.”

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4.Arenal Canopy and Horseback Riding Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $162

Pair eight rainforest zip lines with a one-hour horseback ride to Silencio Observation Point. Guides match you with a suitable horse, keep the pace gentle, and help first-time zipliners feel secure. Hotel pickup, fruit, water, and return transport are included.

“Hotel shuttle pickup and drop off was smooth. Our 2 guides were amazing, I forget their names. Very professional. Felt safe the entire time. Would visit again!”

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5.Arenal Volcano River Horseback Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $109

Ride from Go Adventure Arenal Park with guides such as Victor, Carlos, or Jorge through a private farm near Arenal Volcano. Expect volcano views, wildlife, and a choice of routes when clouds hide the peak. Some riders trot or gallop, so wear long pants and closed shoes.

“Crazy great fun! Horses, jungke, waterfall, swimming, fish.... Thank you Victor!!! Best ride of my life!!!”

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6.Ocean View Zip Line + Horseback Riding & Natural Pool Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $119

At Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park near Herradura, you will ride 10 zipline cables, take a 45-minute horseback trip into the hills, and swim at a waterfall pool. Bilingual guides lead small groups of up to 15. Guides Gabriel, Roberto, and Greddy have earned special praise for making first-timers feel safe.

“Staff were so friendly and helpful! They went out of their way to make the experiences enjoyable. If I did it again I would have brought my own camera on the horseback ride”

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7.3-in-1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Waterfalls, Wild Trekking and Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 56 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $116

Spend about five hours hiking 5 kilometers past four waterfalls and hanging bridges, swimming in the river when weather allows, then ride horseback for roughly 35 minutes uphill. Faro Travel provides transport, snacks, lunch, and hotel pickup in Monteverde or Santa Elena.

“I feel a bit conflicted, or maybe confused. The El Tigre waterfalls were gorgeous, the trail well maintained, and the ride back on horseback was great (horses looked healthy and well taken care of). We did the hike with our 6 year old, and she did it without any issues. They provided walking staffs and I highly recommend you take those. The confusion part is on the price. You can book directly at the place, for $66 (transportation not included). We also received a voucher from the driver that said $12 for transportation. so is the cost $12+$66 = $78? If so, the tour they are selling is a huge…”

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8.Rainforest Magic Horseback Riding Waterfall Tour Private Park Setting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Ride a Costa Rican stepping horse from Ocean Ranch Park through jungle and river country to El Encanto waterfall. Guides help first-time riders, and the small group may spot monkeys, toucans, macaws, butterflies, iguanas, and frogs. Pineapple and a cool drink are included, though transport and refreshments can vary.

“I wouldn’t recommend this tour. We enjoyed ourselves but it’s not worth the cost. Our tour guide was far ahead of our horses and we didn’t get a lot of information. We didn’t see many animals and it was more of a forest. We also didn’t receive fruit or drinks at the end.”

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9.Monteverde Cloud Forest Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $120

Ride calm horses through Monteverde’s private reserve and countryside with guides such as Marvin, Miguel, Carlos, or Seven. Choose an 8:00 am birding ride, an 11:00 am view-focused outing, or a 3:00 pm sunset ride. Expect forest trails, plantations, Gulf of Nicoya views, snacks, and homemade sugarcane treats.

“I would reccomend to use Viator only to research the tour you are interested in. Don’t ever book through Viator as they charge 100% commision. I was charged 95$ -pp by Viator for this service and the actual tour company charges 50$/pp. when I called Viator they made me send them 3 emails to see if they would so called price match and eventually refused to pay me back the difference. Viator is a complete scam and worth only to be used as a research for your travel but you are better off buying from the tour company directly”

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10.Horseback our Hacienda – 4 hours Coffee Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $65Best value

Spend four hours at Aquiares, 7 km north of Turrialba, riding with guides such as Andrew and Cristian to a waterfall and Ceibo Lookout. Visit the coffee mill, church, hacienda, and shop in a group capped at five, with farm and church admission included.

“This tour was worth every penny! It's based in a small town of approximately 1,800 residents. The horseback riding lasted between 3 and 4 hours, with stops along the way to swim in a waterfall (bring a swimsuit, we forgot!), to visit a viewpoint above the village, and to tour the coffee mill downtown. At the coffee mill, we really got to see the process up close. They process coffee beans in 3 ways there, and we were guided through the greenhouses and machineries of each. We ended the horseback ride at the house of the owners of the farm, where they gave us coffee and snacks (sandwiches and fresh…”

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11.Horseback + Natural Pool Adventure in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 41 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Ride a calm horse through the forested hills near Jaco and Herradura, guided by a bilingual team, then cool off at a waterfall and natural pool. Ronny, Jackson, David, and Alejandro have all been praised by name. The ride suits beginners, but nervous riders should speak up before departure.

“This was an amazing time! The tour guide was great! I can’t wait to visit again!! Anyone visiting this area I would highly recommend this tour!”

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12.ZipLine, Horseback Riding, Tubing, Hot Springs & Lunch @ Volcano National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $230

Leave Playa Flamingo at 6:00 am for Rincón de la Vieja with a bilingual guide such as Ronny. Ride horses through the forest, tackle rapid-water tubing, enjoy a Costa Rican buffet, zip across eight canopy lines, then finish with hot springs and mud masks.

“Great day long adventure. The day will proceed as follows: 1. Horse back riding 2. Tubing in the rapids 3. Lunch 4. Zip lining the canopy 5. Hot springs and mud Some hints. You don't need your phone to capture images because they provide photographers for $45. If you deem it truly necessary, bring a waterproof case to carry your phone. Also, try carrying some extra cash with you to give tips into the tip box at the end of each portion. Fun, long day. But, well worth the day away from the beach.”

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13.Queveri Horseback Riding Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $65

At Finca Agropecuaria Queveri near Orosí, you ride calm, well-trained horses to help move cattle from the paddocks to an old dairy. Weather permitting, you continue to a viewpoint of four volcanoes and Tapantí National Park, then enjoy a four-course Costa Rican lunch at the family-run La Fonda del Alto.

“Best horseback riding tour in Costa Rica. Amazing views and tasty and fresh food! It was perfect !!!”

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14.Vandara Hot Springs & Horses+ Zipline+ sugarmill+ waterslide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $170

Spend 8 to 9 hours at Vandara Hot Springs near Liberia with guide Wilmar Retana. Combine ziplining, horseback riding, a waterslide, sugar mill visit, hot springs, volcanic mud bath, and a Costa Rican buffet lunch in one small-group outing.

“Great experience with zip lining, horse back riding, cultural information and hot springs. I would recommend it”

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