Costa Rica horseback riding adventures
We have just finished a fantastic week with Serendipity. Since we have three active teenage boys we wanted something other than a hum-drum vacation. We got a super week together with Serendipity. When I saw the high level of action involved, I had three concerns about the trip.
Was Serendipity a respectable company? I found it to be of the highest quality - with excellent support personnel, top quality equipment, and unquestionable quality.
Would we be safe? Our Serendipity guide Juan Carlos (JC) made the entire trip an adventure. He was our interpreter, navigator, encourager, an expert historian, biologist and botanist. He made sure we were safe at all times. You could tell that he was intent on giving us every opportunity without exposing us to any undue risk. At every activity, Serendipity provided wonderful support guides to make sure we were safe.
—Dr. John D., Prattville, AL, November, 2005
Horseback is still primary transportation in Costa Rica, so everyone rides, not just the elite. One favorite activity is the cabalgata, where whole villages ride through the countryside from farm to farm. We like to join the locals on these Sunday rides.
The Best of Horses
People have called us crazy on horseback. But with our horses, you feel the unity of man and horse that legends are born from. Have you ever felt a horse quiver with excitement, just because he feels you on his back, and now he can perform for you? Wait until you meet Caramelo, or Zorro.
Serendipity has a specialty horseback riding vacation division called Centaura, which explains why we are so well prepared to provide a horseback experience unequalled in Costa Rica, and probably in all of Latin America. Serendipity's (Centaura's) horses are some of the best trained, healthiest horses you'll ever meet.
Horseback in Serendipity's extraordinary places
Serendipity's horses can take you places as mysterious as the first explorers of Costa Rica were privileged to discover.
Running horses brings broad smiles even to novice horsemen.
Ride full gallop through pastures and sugar cane fields. Race on farm lanes. Swim across jungle rivers. Sit atop your steady mount and quietly penetrate primary forest. Climb mountain trails where only two- or four-legged creatures can go.
Even total novices will believe in centaurs — those wondrous mythical creatures, half man, half horse.
Getting on a Serendipity Horse
Our horses are well trained, yet spirited. The scenery is lush. The thrill of running on the back of a fine animal can easily become addictive. Welcome to our world!
Since the style of horseback with Serendipity is radically different from trail riding, we really need to speak directly with you about your expectations and your skills. We offer horseback experiences as part of a greater adventure vacation, combined with rafting, or climbing, or hiking, etc. We do not cater to people who are looking for just the ride.
Prices
As a guide, the cost for a full day with Serendipity is from $500 to $900, depending on location, for one to five people. Pricey? Yes. However, this is not a trail ride where inexperienced riders "share the trail" with indifferent horses and plodding leaders. Even expert horsemen will thoroughly enjoy the Serendipity horse experience.
Riding near our stable, about 30 minutes east of Fortuna (Arenal volcano area), we have beautiful trails, going through small villages, to a waterfall, through steep pastureland, to swimming holes — it' s easy to spend the day meandering the countryside, away from tour buses and crowds, enjoying choice nuggets of nature and country life. And while we're out riding, your kids can hang around the stables, watch the horses being trained, help with feeding and exercising the mares and foals.
Serendipity designs superb trips for self-formed groups. Our horseback trips can involve camping (see the Costa Rica Indigenous land on horseback: the Cabecar Trail), or climbing one of the volcanoes, or a coastal trek for three or four days, or long treks in the mountains near — nowhere.
For examples of how horseback riding can be incorporated into an active Costa Rican vacation, have a look at our sample itineraries of private Costa Rica vacations or at our Costa Rica Challenge tour.
The first step to enjoying horseback riding with Serendipity is to contact us.
