Duration:
10 Days
Price:
$ 2950.00
Availability:
6
Ride Overview
This is the perfect mix of education, adventure & luxury! After the horsemanship clinic your journey begins with your Trek leader, Jorge Sauma, a local farmer and horse enthusiast whose extensive knowledge and connections will get you deep inside the real culture of Costa Rica for a truly authentic experience. Unbelievable meals, well cared for and reliable horses with exceptionally smooth gaits, incredible scenery and secluded beaches to gallop along are just a few of the highlights.
The trip will feature a variety of accommodations, including a Mountain Eco Lodge, 5 Star Resorts and beatiful beach houses. Your luggage will be waiting to meet you at each destination. Ride through jungles, swim in estuaries, see howler monkeys, dive into lagoons & waterfalls, enjoy fresh Pina Coladas and soak up the sun & surf at the beaches. This Trek takes you on a spectacular journey through exclusive parts of Costa Rica not seen by many tourists, and is full of the natural beauty unique to the Nicoya Peninsula.
What includes:
2 Day Clinic with Michael Sparling
Horse & tack
All lodging and meals (except last 2 dinners at the beach)
Drinks & Snacks
Transport to and from Liberia Int. Airport (LIR)
Bilingual local guide
Itinerary
We will pick you up at the Liberia International Airport, (or at your hotel) and take you to La Grama Ranch located in the cowboy country of the peninsula of Nicoya. When you arrive you will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our fabulous cook Zeidy. You will meet the horses and we will take the time this afternoon to fit you to the saddle that works both for you and the horse. You will have the chance to ride in the ring to make sure that we match you to a horse that is perfect for your riding ability. We have horses for all riding abilities so whether you are a beginner or an expert rider we can assure you a ride that you will enjoy. You can then spend the rest of the afternoon resting and enjoying the ranch. Recover from the jet lag by enjoying the warm tropical breezes as you rest in a hammock spotting tucans in the nearby trees. Dont be surprised if you also see and hear howler monkeys making their way through their days as well, as this is their natural habitat.
You’ll be paired with your Trek horse and equipment today and given plenty of time to make sure everything is ready to enjoy the clinic and trek ahead.
Horsemanship Clinic at the Ranch – Exact times will de defined by the instructor.
We will depart from the ranch in the morning and head into the hills towards the indigenous reserve of Matambu. This sleepy little mountain village is home to the Chorotega indigenous tribe. Continuing on we will ride right through the town of Hojancha, called the “greenest town in Costa Rica” for it’s cutting edge programs in reforestation and water protection. Tonight we will sleep at a very comfortable lodge in the Monte Alto Nature Reserve, a lush jungle in the mountains with moderate temperatures and a fascinating display of trees, plants and wildlife.
Explore Guanacaste’s unique dry forest and fauna while we climb even higher into the hills. We will visit a “trapiche”, a traditional sugar mill where fresh sugar cane is pressed to produce a delicious drink to energize us for the ride ahead. Onward to Salto del Calvo we will ride down a steep switchback to the tallest waterfall in Central America. Take a swim in the cool pools flowing from this beautiful waterfall then follow the Ora River as we ride through the forest along it’s banks until we arrive to the little town of San Pedro. After taking care of our mounts and have a refreshing drink, we will take our private and check in to Hote Punta Islita, recognized among the best eco-luxury beach resorts in Costa Rica. Dinner will be served at our private Villa by Miguel, the best chef in town.
Breakfast served at the Hotel Restaurant until 10:30 am. Free morning to enjoy this beautiful spot and all the activities available, like the twilight zip lining (included, kayaking, spa, surfing, visit the red macaw rescue center, or bring a good book and soak up some rays. Your local cook will prepare your meals right at the house. After lunch, we will go for a beautiful sunset ride (optional). Tonight we will go out to Boqueria don Ramiro for dinner, the food is amazing and is always fun to meet the locals
Exact departure time will depend on the tide, but we will make and afternoon ride for about 1,5 hours before arriving at Playa Corozalito. We will continue along the coast and into Playa Bejuco, a secluded paradise far off the beaten track, where riders who wish to can gallop in the sand and surf for more great photos. We then have to cross an estuary at the end of the beach to reach a privately owned beach house in Playa San Miguel, where we’ll spend the next two nights. Enjoy the cool ocean breeze and a delicious meal served at the house terrace. The horses will stay in a pasture right in front of our house.
After a good night sleep hearing the ocean, we will spend the day riding down the beach of Playa San Miguel, that strechtes for approximately 6 miles along the Pacific Ocean, a beatiful spot where we can get to enjoy the beach and our horses in relative solitude, almost feels like you were on our own private plot of seaside land. Ride across the estuary and arrive to Costa de Oro beach, and check out the sea turtle conservation project operation. All meals will be served at the house, right by the ocean.Try authentic Costa Rican cuisine served by dona Dominga, a local and native to this little town who has been cooking for visitors for over 30 years.
After another great breakfast by the ocean, we will go on our last ride on the beach. The horses will be loaded at noon to return to the farm. We will take our private van and visit Playa Samara for lunch. This is a more developed and touristic town, where you can find some souvenirs to take home. There are many good restaurants and bars alongside the beach. After lunch, we will head back to the ranch where you can rest and prepare for going back home or for continuing your costa rican vacation
Waking up at the ranch again feels like coming home. Say good bye to the horses and enjoy a good cup of coffee before heading to the airport or any other destination of your choice. Departure of van to airport will depende on earliest guest flight, but you can leave at any time you want. Transport at a different time can be coordinated. We can also help you arrange transportation to any other destination if you have decided to stick around Costa Rica a few more days.
Thanks for riding with us!