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Costa Rica’s Caribbean
The Caribbean coast feels a world apart from the rest of the country. The pace is slower, the food is spicier, the tropical heat is more palpable, and the rhythmic lilt of patois and reggae music fill the air. So remote was the Caribbean coast from Costa Rica's population centers in the Central Valley that it developed a culture all its own. Here we offer a ride full of culture and contrasting landscapes. including indigenous reserves of the Bribri, Cabécar, and Kékoldi tribes. This is a ride full of culture and contrasting landscapes. A ride for those who are looking for a real adventure ride with some difficult riding through the jungle and fast paced canters on wide open beaches
8 days / 7 nights with 7 days of riding. 4-6 hours per day.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Costa Rica...
Upon arrival in San Jose, transfer to Arenal Volcano are and the Arenal Paraiso Hotel. Overnight Arenal Paraiso or similar
Day 2 Fortuna Waterfall / Arenal Volcano...
Morning Riding to Fortuna Waterfall with time to hike and enjoy the pools beneath the falls. Afternoon ride the trails of Arenal Volcano. Here you get a change to see the volcano up close. Relax and enjoy the hot springs of EcoTermales. Dinner at Eco Thermales… overnight Arenal Paraiso or similar. Breakfast and dinner included this day.
Total riding time 6 hours
Day 3: Sugar Cane Plantation / Rainforest...
Imagine cantering through sugar cane plantations, fording thigh-deep rivers, rounding up cattle and trotting through virgin rain forest on top of a fine, well bred Paso Fino steed. That will be the ride today at La Garza. Lunch at La Garza then transfer to Sarapiqui area. Overnight Hotel Sueno Azul or Hacienda Pozo Azul. Breakfast and lunch included this day.
Total riding time 3 plus hours
Day 4: Waterfalls, Butterfly House/ Rio Foresta...
This morning we’ll be riding to the private waterfall of Sueno Azul rainforest. This is a truly unique experience. The waterfall is bursting from ancient volcanic rock into pristine pools; perfect place to relax and refresh after the ride. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle, riding to the Butterfly House with more than 30 different butterflies. We return back to the hotel for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon ride to Rio Foresta This ride goes through pasture and forest with good areas to canter. Overnight Sueno Azul Resort or Hacienda Pozo Azul. Breakfast included this day.
Total riding time 6 hours
Day 5: Bri Bri Indian and Kekoldi Reservation and Beach Ride...
After breakfast at the hacienda, we’ll transfer to Punta Cocles…check in at SeaHorse Stables Lodge, then we select appropriate horse according to riders ability. These horses are chosen for their experience in soft grounds since the ride goes through the Bri-Bri trails inside the Kekoldi reservation. We ride up the Cocles hills until reaching the ranchito. There, (if available) we visit an Indian family. We then enter the semicircular trail which will take us through the hills under the forest canopy. We’ll be dodging branches, ride over logs, cross creeks and rivers. Parts of the trail can be difficult due to the rainfall. The density of the green is so full that it may distort your depth and orientation. The air is pure in oxygen and the feeling is indescribable. Soon we’ll be ready for galloping across Cocles Beach to Playa Chiquita. The open space of the beach and sea gives the rider and horse a great sense of liberation which encourages a good run into the vastness of sunlight and the watery reflection of the turquoise sea. For another hour you will see and experience part of the beach at a fast pace. Lemonade or coffee is served upon return. Dinner tonight is on own at a local restaurant, where you’ll be sure to enjoy the Caribbean flavor. Overnight.SeaHorse Stables. Just a few steps from the Caribbean Sea, with the tropical rainforest in background, the spacious and tastefully decorated bungalows are privately set apart amidst lush gardens full of color and natural beauty. Breakfast and lunch included this day.
Total riding time 4 plus hours
Day 6: Beaches of Punta Uva and Manzanillo...
We begin with a gentle walk along the white sands of Cocles Beach to the point at Punta Uva to Manzanillo Beach. At this point we gallop through a mile long coconut grove until reaching the river where we rest and cool off in the fresh waters that meet the sea. Continue on to the fishing village of Manzanillo, along the magical white sand beach. Lunch in town and unsaddle the horses then swim with them in the calm light blue waters inside the barrier reef. Here you can bond with your horse. The horses really enjoy bathing and so will you. You can even swim out to the deeper waters and have the horses bring you back to shore by holding on to their necks. Continue on to El Mirador at the beginning of the Refuge. The view from here is majestic. You can see the all the way to Puerto Vargas and the vivid jungle of Punta Mono. We’ll be riding back into the sunset along the beach. Overnight SeaHorse Stables. Breakfast and lunch included this day.
Total riding time 5 hours
Day 7: Back Roads and Banana Plantations...
This morning we head off via the back roads to the banana plantations and of course more beach ridding. (IS THERE EVER ENOUGH BEACH RIDDING?) Transfer back to San Jose, stopping in the artisan town of Moravia for a little shopping if desired. Overnight at Hotel Villa Tournon. Breakfast and lunch included this day.
Total riding time 5 hours
Day 8…Transfer out to the San Jose International Airport…
Breakfast included this day.
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Dates for 2009 Jan 10-18…Feb 14-22…Mar 14-22…April 18-26…May 23-31…June 20-28…
July 18-26…Aug 15-23…Sep 12-20…Oct 17-25…Nov 7-15…Dec 5-13
Rates are per person Single $2432.00…Double $2016.00…Triple $1917.00
This ride can be operated at any other time requested with a minimum of 2 riders.
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