Monteverde Cloud Forest Horseback Riding

Amazing! Also for beginners!

It was Truly amazing! A very lovely family, very nice Tour, amazing Guides and views! We loved it. The Highlight of our Trip so far.

Best excursion of our trip

We loved our experience with Justin. It was the final day of our time in CR and definitely topped our list of most favorite experiences!

Viator sucks and scams you

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

Scam... overpriced and not as adverised

This is a scam. Our group of 7 were charged for hiking the waterfalls, guide and horse back riding and instead did the trails ourselves.. had no opportunity for bathing suits/swimming and then found out Faro booked us in a 5 min truck ride back to the main center instead of horseback riding. It was a total waste of money. Completely over priced and not worth it.

Misty Morning Ride

Despite the misty morning, the ride felt truly enchanting. In just two hours, we fell in love with both the stunning surroundings and our magnificent horses. At the end of the tour, we were treated to delicious homemade banana bread and delightful fried cornbread dumplings filled with cheese—hands down the best I’ve tasted in the region. Looking forward to visit again to the café they plan to open, which will feature these delightful treats. Highly recommended!

Lots of fun, but we barely went in the forest

This was overall a really good activity! We went on a very rainy day (so we didn’t get to see much in the way of scenic views), but still had lots of fun. The horses were well-behaved and beginner friendly. The guide was kind and spoke excellent English. At the end of our horseback riding tour, we got to make caramel out of sugar cane and ate homemade empanadas and banana bread. It felt like a very immersive, authentic experience. The only downside that we can recall was that there was only a very brief period of time in which we were actually in a forested section of trail. We were under the impression that we would be riding mostly through a forested area—this was not the case. We were primarily riding through farmland, rural roads, and neighborhoods. Despite this, we would still recommend it to other travelers!

Felt like an authentic experience!

It was a long beautiful ride! It was a little intense because we were trudging through mud on a steep incline, but the horses know what they’re doing and no one fell. We were riding through cattle and a baby cow followed us, so cute! The ride felt like it was personally tailored for us, and felt very authentic. Not like other horseback tours, very personal!

Amazing

My wife and I had an amazing ride around the trails of the ranch! The views were incredible, our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable and funny, and we even took a dip in the small stream on the property. We can’t wait to come back and ride with him again.

Very Fun

Very fun!! The staff were kind and good instructional-wise. Would definitely recommend for those who love horses and are also a little too lazy to want to walk too much :)

Beautiful horseback riding excursion

The views were amazing. Our guide Memo was very great, informative accommodating, great English! The food they served us was delicious . We also really enjoyed seeing how well they treat the animals. Horses were able to freely roam along with the sheep and cows! I can easily say this was one of our best experiences here! Absolutely recommend this excursion!

A highlight of our time in Monteverde

The horses are surefooted and well trained to navigate the un-manicured, narrow trails. They use rope harnesses rather than metal bits, which seems kinder to the animals.The ride goes through a variety of landscapes including forest, hilly terrain, and occasional flat areas. It's well-organized with several guides keeping an eye out. Was good for my 9-year old. Special treat at the end of the ride was a demonstration of sugar-cane processing and a chance to eat the results. Very nice people, who gave us treats of cheese and homemade cake for no additional charge...... very unusual in this part of the country where everything has a price. Only complaint was they seemed to have forgotten to pick us up at the specified time from our hotel. We called and they sent a driver to get us. It was about a half-hour drive from the hotel in Monteverde to the ranch.

Best of best!

Excellent evening ride views were outstanding. Horses were well trained with pack horse mentality so " follow the leader". Host was great with sugar cane treat at end. Don't miss it!

Excellent

The view is awesome. The farm family is so nice. The horses are nice too. I will come again! Love here!

Lifetime memory

Wonderful experience! Carlos and Seven from the farm are extremely thoughtful and kept us (including a senior and a little boy) safe and sound during the trip. We went through the woods and climbed to the mountain top, where the view is splendid. The trip took two hours and everyone of us enjoyed it!

Must Do!

Marvin was a fabulous tour guide and did a wonderful job teaching and playing with the children. Best experience of our trip to Costa Rica. Thank you Marvin!

Magical experience!

This was the most authentic and magical experience we booked. The listing doesn't even compare to what you see. After our hotel pickup, we arrived on seemingly private ranch deep into the mountains. As soon as we got out of the truck, animals from all over came to greet us as if we came home. There were horses, goats, hogs, chickens, and 7 farm dogs. I didn't know goats and hogs loved cuddles so much. If we stopped petting the goat, he would follow us and nudge his head or give us a light kick to get more pets. Some of the dogs even joined us on our horseback tour and herded cows along the way. The scenery was so unexpected and absolutely beautiful. They take us in the forest through the streams and up the mountains where you see (wild?) goats and cattle roaming the valleys in the sunset. One of the farm dogs seemed to struggle to keep up with his younger friends but still looked like he was having the time of his life. As we got back to the ranch, they had us go up in the barn for some homemade snack and freshly brewed coffee. All of which was a pleasant surprise that they should include in the listing! Just as they started brewing the coffee and we ate our snack, there was a rainstorm. It was absolutely the cliche scene of being caught in a barn during a storm. It truly felt like a disney movie and will be an experience we will never forget.

Waiting for Shuttles to See Depressed Horses & Happy Dogs

Two main things should have you rethinking this excursion: transportation & horse welfare. We have seen horses all over the country during our visit & none looked as in poor shape as these horses did. The guide was on a horse that would be equivalent to one being saved at auction by a rescue in the states before it went to slaughter - she was old, in poor shape & way too thin to be carrying someone on her back much less navigating the terrain of this farm & forest (rocky, muddy & steep). The cows & dogs all looked well cared for but with the exception of one horse on our tour, all were noticably underweight & their manes & tails were matted. The horses were shoed and generally clean but otherwise lacking in basic care. The terrain definitely required a sure footed horse (which they were) but considering their condition, they all still struggled despite knowing the path & terrain well. They were never allowed an opportunity to rest either, just a brief water break.They were all very sad & worn out & gave us no positive feedback with scratches or praise. The guide seemed less than enthused to have to take us on the tour. He spoke few words, never engaged in conversation & appeared totally bored & disonnected (even from the horse). I suspect this was his least favorite thing to do & the horses weren't a fan of him either. As for the transportation, we stayed closeby in town but what we assumed would be about a 3 hour tour (30 minutes of driving each way & the 2 hrs on the ride) ending up being almost a full 5 hours, much of it waiting for shuttles. You are picked up, taken to the Extremo headquarters (bathrooms, gift shop, etc), then wait for a shuttle, then travel to the farm. After the ride, we waited, then back to the headquarters, waited again for another shuttle and then back to the hotel. Most of the driving was very rough (gravel, steep) in vans that have lost their suspension long ago. We had already been on 5 tours since arriving in Costa Rica & this was our only poor experience. We would have definitely gone with another horse riding outfit as this was just a sad and wasteful experience. I suspect Trip Advisor and/or Extremo will need to rethink their relationship with this farm/tour.

To be avoided, both dangerous and very poorly organised with horses in poor condition.

This should avoided at all costs, this is poorly organised and unsafe. The guide spent the first 10 minutes trying to get us to cancel due to rain, if you do cancel there is no refund. The horses were in a poor state and one of our group was forced to dismount and walk due to her horse. The terrain was horrendous and made up of single track gradients making it difficult for the horses. It is sold as a family business but it was clearly a commercial operation located at a remote stable block with little regard for the clients and horses, you would do well to avoid this at any cost.

Fun day

The views while riding were amazing. Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. My 9 yr old was easily able to ride with us and the waterfall was beautiful. The staff was extremely helpful. I made a mistake with booking and they worked very hard to correct it. They were extremely professional.

Wouldn’t do it again.

To get there from our hotel in Monte Verde took an hour in hot van. The horses were poor pathetic creatures. Painfully slow ride for almost two hours. I was so afraid the horses would slip on all the rocks. The only good things was the magnificent views and the adorable brahman cattle.

A fun add-on.

There were 8 who rode on 1/16. We were all picked up at our respective lodging locations and taken to a private ranch where we saddled up, were given instructions, and started riding. Daja was our guide and part of the family that owned the ranch. Horses were well broken. Trail was a mixture of up and down, pasture and forest, mountains and valleys, and stream crossings. Saw a great waterfall and a fantastic sunset from a mountain peak, listening to a troop of Howler Monkeys. Great experience. Delivered back to our lodging sites safely.

Amazing scenery

Amazing activity with a great guide beautiful scenery for to see the sunset before we headed back to the ranch

Great views, but unchallenging and eventfult tour

The horseride itself was fun, but slow moving because some horses were misbehaving and we were in a straight line for the whole tour. Views were gorgeous and the little sugar cane/candy demonstrate at the end was a nice bonus.

Amazing ride

Great riding with waterfalls and amazing paths. Saw a great tree that was hollowed by another tree killing it. The land is beautiful.

Highly Recommend!

My husband did this on our honeymoon, and it was one of our favorite things that we did in Costa Rica! The guides were super kind and great with the horses, the scenery was beautiful, and the horses were well trained and fun to ride - our horses even ran for part of the trail! We did start a little late due to a thunderstorm so be prepared for that, we still got the full two hours of riding though. If it’s wet out make sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting splashed with mud! And try to not bounce on the saddle too much or you might have a sore butt the next day. But seriously, so fun, worth every penny and then some. Highly, highly recommend!!

Had a blast

Excellent staff made sure we had fun and were very knowledgeable about the forest. Would recommend especially for new riders

Challenging but rewarding

Highly recommended activity . We had an amazing and knowledgeable tour guide, his name is Charlie. Horseback riding can be difficult at first but we alittle help and tips from the tour guide we were able to enjoy the ride and scenery.

Don't do it! Very inexperienced/unprofessional/unsafe

We did a sunset tour for our honeymoon as we thought it would be romantic. We had done a different horseback riding tour that morning with no issues but we wanted to see the views at sunset on our last day. We went off the small number of reviews and the price tag and assumed it would be safe - WRONG. The driver showed up late, then we stopped to switch drivers so overall tour started 30 minutes late. There was no bathroom, I ended up having to use their very dirty farm bathroom - only dirty bathroom I had to use our entire trip. The horses didn't want to go, my husband's horse tried to sit down to get him off. Then I had to ask for a helmet after I was already on the horse. They wouldn't tell us the horses name. The scenery was beautiful. But horses very old and didn't want to go so very slow and painful and felt guilty, unlike my morning experience. My horse kept walking into branches and eventually I fell off. I wasnt seriously injured but the guide didn't even apologize or ask if I was ok. I didn't fall off on my morning ride. And I was a bit scraped up and ripped my pants and he didn't check me over or offer me any antiseptic. It got rainy and windy but insisted we stop for the world's worst cold soggy cheese empanadas and sugary fruit punch. When we got back and off horses, the horses got ina fight and nearly trampled us so we had to run behind a gate, not sure why we weren't put behind the gate from the start. Drive home, he couldn't figure out where our hotel was, which again all the other tours we went on we didn't have this issue. We give him directions and we go up a hill. It turns out van doesn't have 4 wheel drive so he's screaming at everyone to move back in the car. Didn't work, I thought we'd just go another way but he tried 2 more times which was very scary. I seriously thought I might die on my last day in Costa Rica, not relaxing or romantic at all. I would recommend a sunset tour as beautiful but do it with another provider.

beautiful mountain horseback ride

Amazing weather, and guides. Overall awesome experience and the sugar cane at the end was so good and we recommend it.

Beautiful

Beautiful landscape! Sadly it was quite rainy (be prepared) but the horses were well mannered and the guides were helpful. I am not one for galloping but you are able to and I did a tiny bit. Overall still gorgeous views and a different way to see it.

lack of experience not a problem

good instructor, very well behaved mounts, lovely scenery. good for singles and families. very much worth doing.

wonderful!

3pm time was so so beautiful for sunset. the horses were calm and great to ride! the people were very nice and showed us their farmland very well through the ride. definitely recommend this for great views and a unique experience!!

A wonderful way to experience Costa Rica

My favorite part was the 2 1/2hour horseback ride at 3pm, gorgeous views, well trained horses and guide, Pablo. Andres, the person who took the reservation and Leo who provided roundtrip transport from Hotel to activity and back (plus a surprise demonstration about sugar cane, we made candy & were given cheese empanadas) were professional and friendly. It is a family owned business. A must experience!!

Horse back in the forest

Guide was knowledgeable, horses were nice and well taken care off. Wonderful visas. He took pictures for us

Great tour!

Great tour. Despite a little rain which can’t be controlled. Guides were helpful and felt safe the whole time even when we were galloping at times. Sugar cane tour at end was a bonus. Plenty of time to enjoy ride and scenic views.

Absolutely beautiful!

Beautiful landscapes and very friendly tour guide! We ended up being late (add at least an extra 30 min to the estimated drive time!) and others in our group left before us. However, this company left someone behind so we could still enjoy this experience. That was truly special, and we were so happy to get to enjoy the tour!

Best views, exciting ride!

Highly recommend! This was one of the best parts of our trip. The views were stunning. The guides were friendly. We enjoyed being able to go at full gallop at times. It made it more exciting than the Extreme Zipline parks we had done earlier in the day. We were treated to a bonus sugar cane tour with a hands on experience at the end.

Stop looking at other tours - book this one!!

This was by far the most memorable and our favorite part of the trip. Everything about this was amazing!!! Leo, Daniel and Druda were so kind and welcoming, we felt like a part of their family as they shared their culture and passion with us. The sunset tour lasted just over 2.5 hours. Everyone was matched with horses based on their variability. Horses were healthy and loved - also knew the trail like the back of their hoof. Beautiful views and especially at sunset! The guides took pictures of all of us at the top of the mountain. After, the family taught us about sugar cane and traditions of their farm, offering fresh aguadulce and teaching us how to make traditional sugar cane candy, along with homemade empanadas and banana bread by their mother (totally unexpected and so kind). This is the type of experience that fills you with so much joy.

REAL horseback riding - highly recommend for all skill levels

This is a great experience and we cannot recommend it more highly! My partner has limited horse back riding experience and I had none. We were both a little nervous about riding, and probably would have been more nervous if we had known how intense the trail was. But we would have had no reason to worry. Our guide was really knowledgable, and the horses knew the trail were very responsive to their riders. We had an incredible time. We did a 3pm tour and the clouds were pretty thick, so we did not get to see the sunset. But that didn't matter - the views were incredible and we got to see some amazing sites. While you do not actually go into the cloud forrest, you get some amazing views and will get a REAL ride on horseback. Final note - we felt very COVID safe the entire time. Masks on everyone and we were outside the entire time.

Wonderful Experience

This was an awesome experience and the guides are extremely helpful! It is worth your money too! I have been on other tours that was the same price or more expensive and I just got to ride for 20 minutes, stop for a bit then ride 20 minutes back. This tour is a true horseback riding tour, we rode for almost an hour and a half. I will do this tour again when I visit.

Truly an experience worth having~

I had never been on a horse before, and both of my adult daughters were very experienced riders and they accommodated us all. Do know, though, that while almost anyone can do it, you'll feel it! and it was pretty steep at times. We rode for about 2.5 hrs and as wonderful as it was, I was honestly ready for it to be over at 2 hrs, even though it was spectacular (and granted, I wasn't in the best of shape). The guys who run it are great - I would add two caveats/comments where they could improve: 1) there were way too many people in our group (we went New year's week, and I know it is crowded during that time.) The horses were pretty backed up and had to stop a lot as you move in the line. 2) their helmets could stand improvement. If you fell off, I honestly don't think they'd do anything much to protect your head! Riding to the top to see the sunset was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica. I highly recommend this trip...experienced or inexperienced riders.

Fantastic experience!

Fantastic and beutiful tour. Both my girlfriend and I are novice horse riders. However, are guide was a great teacher and we even galloped. Well worth your time and well worth its price.

Expérience mémorable

Paysagés magnifiques Nous avons été accueillie avec des breuvages et un goûté des produits entièrement de la ferme

Excelente experiencia

Excelente experiencia es un negocio familiar los caballos muy bien atendidos los guías amables y conocedores de la zona el camino de dos horas a través de las montañas muy entretenido. El tour termina con un plus de trapiche jugo de caña y un refrigerio casero. Muy recomendado

Magique !!!!

Incroyable !! Je recommande à 1000%. Définitivement la meilleure chose que j'ai faite à Monteverde ! Des paysages incroyables, des guides très gentils. Avec même une découverte d extraction de canne à sucre et 1 ou 2 ateliers en plus à la fin. Merciiiii Ps: j'avais réservé le tour de 3 pm.

Varias actividades

Nuestro tour preferido fue la cabalgata en colaboración con Equus farm, don Rafael fue por nosotros y nos hizo sentir como de la familia. La cabalgata es un nivel intermedio a avanzado pero con la ayuda de Pablo nuestro guía lo logramos! La finca es hermosa! Sin duda alguna fue el highlight de nuestro viaje! Algunas cosas qué tal vez sean buenas para mejorar, ayudarnos con más información del tour de avistamiento de aves: no sabíamos el nombre de nuestro guía ni que él tenía nuestros tiquetes para entrar a la reserva, por lo que pagamos 2 veces, por lo demás don Erick hizo todo su esfuerzo, logramos ver un hermoso quetzal macho en el bosque... el resto de aves se nos perdió 😓 porque al parecer el tiempo no fue el mejor para ellas, pero esto es algo que está fuera del control de todos!

Inoubliable

Accueil chaleureux, avec une visite hors du commun dans un cadre extraordinaire. Un incontournable au Costa Rica. Les chevaux sont très gentils ainsi que les encadrants. Nous nous sommes sentis toujours en sécurité. Pura Vida

Magique

Cette ballade à cheval est tout simplement merveilleuse. Les paysages sont vraiment magnifiques, les Chevaux sont adorables et le guide est très attentif au bien être de chacun. Nous recommandons vraiment ce moment unique et privilégié, il s agit de notre meilleure excursion au Costa Rica. Merci pour cette aventure!