Mountains and Beach Ride, Costa Rica
Overview
Horses
Type of horses:
Criollo and Ibero Americanos, some are mixed with Andalucian.
Nature of horses:
Well schooled, but lively and fun to ride, all with their their individual personalities.
Number of horses:
14
Height of horses:
From ponies to 16hh horses.
Weight limit:
80 kgs
Tack type:
The local saddle is used, which is a light-weight western style, all fairly new, in good condition and comfortable to use.
Ride Description
This holiday is ideal for those who long to combine a vacation with their skills and passion for horseback riding, Establo San Rafael is the ideal destination. Located in the tropical mountains of Puriscal, Costa Rica, this farm based venue offers a variety of horses for different levels of riders. Your vacation can be customised to meet your specific needs and expectations.
Spend your days in a lush valley surrounded by majestic mountain views, where you may choose to spend time improving your skills and techniques with riding lessons, or trail ride through the beautiful rural countryside or combine your time between the two.
These riding vacations are not only tailored to the experienced rider, but are also a good way for the beginner to achieve a solid foundation in the sport of horseback riding in a relatively short period of time.
More adventurous riders are invited to join the longer rides which take you from the mountain farm base through incredible countryside. You may choose from a variety of different destinations including a three day journey to the beach.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
This ranges from their retreat centre at a working farm with dairy goats and chickens, ducks and geese as well as horses, to Costa Rican family homes, to the jungle lodge and local motel style rooms and to the luxury hotel by the beach.
The retreat centre is perfect for those who want to experience the relaxed atmosphere of the farm, with the opportunity to get stuck in and involved in its day-to-day running.
The hotel resort offers the luxury of a beach front resort and is very popular with a friendly, relaxing and laid back atmosphere.This venue is a tropical paradise and offers something for anyone wanting to experience riding abroad, but who wished to stay in a luxury resort! The complex offers a pool with a sports bar for cold refreshing drinks or lunch, or the opportunity to sit in the hot tub. The hotel is a lively place and fun-filled: you can party in the very popular beach front bar, or by the famous pool side bar in the evenings or after hours.
The hotel has newly renovated studios which are beautifully designed. Each sleeps two with Queen or twin beds available, plus a hot water shower/bathroom. All rooms are air conditioned, with cable tv, a coffee maker, hairdryer, microwave and mini bar/fridge.
One-bedroom ocean front suites are also available, with a full bathroom including a hairdryer and hot water shower/tub. Each has a spacious bedroom with ample closet space, comfortable queen or twin sized beds and a safe is available.
Double doors separate the bedroom from the combination living room and kitchen. These units come fully equipped with a full size refrigerator, 4 burner stove/oven, microwave, coffee maker, dishes, and flatware for your cooking convenience. The sofa opens up into a double bed. Cable TV is available and each unit has central air-conditioning. Sliding glass doors open onto a private balcony overlooking the beach and ocean.
You can watch the surfers from your private balcony whilst enjoying your morning coffee or afternoon cocktail.
Meals can be adjusted for vegetarians. Vegetarian food is served at the retreat centre, whilst meals in the Costa Rican homes are mostly beans and rice with a piece of meat or fish and a salad or cooked vegetables of some kind with a natural fruit juice. Breakfast is beans and rice with an egg and some fruit. Meals at the Jungle Lodge are more traditional and similar to what is served at the retreat centre, perhaps lasagna or a curry or something similar. Breakfast might be pancakes. or granola and yogurt with fruit or an omelette and toast.
Activities
Apart from activities on and around the Farm other activities include:
Visiting gourmet restaurants, fishing, parasailing, night clubs, a day at the gym and spa, a night out at the Casino, flying boat tours, bars, jet skiing, surfing, a golf course and tours of the jungle.
Further Details
Languages: English and Spanish
Health requirements: Fit and healthy
Age limit: 12 years and above, needs to be an experienced rider, with a good seat and accompanied by an adult.
Tuition: No
Included: Transfers from and to the farm
Not included: Transfers to and from the Hotel
Travel Information
Various flights go from the UK to Costa Rica. The nearest airport to the farm is Juan Santa Maria SJO which is about an hour away. Transfers are included in the cost.
Airport: Juan Santa Maria SJO
Programme
Mountains and Beach Ride
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This six day programme progresses through spectacular Costa Rican scenery from steep mountain terrain into tropical valleys with rivers and waterfalls, culminating on the coastal plains until finally arriving at the ocean. Riders spend about 6 hours in the saddle every day with breaks about every 2 to 3 hours. Day one: Pick up from SJO airport and drive for one hour to the farm. Get settled in, rest, relax, meet your horse, try out tack, assuring a good match with horse, rider and equipment. Practice in the ring and/or take a short trail ride. If there is more time, there are rivers and waterfalls nearby to explore. This is also when riders can look at detailed maps and discuss the trip and ask any questions they might have. Day two: Leave the farm at 2400 feet altitude and travel through mountainous farm land. You ride through fields of sugar cane and visit a traditional "trapiche" which is where sugar is made. Travelling through a private farm you climb to 3600 feet where on a clear day you can see the ocean in the far distance. From this vantage point you begin to descend through villages where you have lunch in the quaint village of Pedrenal at about 2800ft. Continuing on after lunch you take the old oxcart road passing waterfalls and small rivers to arrive at a secluded village called Bocanas, where you spend the night with a local Costa Rican family. Here riders can experience the lifestyle and hospitality of the Costa Rican people. There is always a bilingual guide to facilitate communication and cultural exchange. Day three: Heading out in the morning you follow dirt roads that lead you up and down but stay approximately at the same altitude. Lunch is served by the family of your guide while you look over the magnificent view of the Scarlet Macaw Ecological Corridor. After lunch you descend through private farms through a corridor located between the National Parks of Carara and La Cangreja. The views are incredible and Scarlet Macaws are always seen. You descend to 1200 feet and explore an 100 foot untouched waterfall in the Tulin River following the river down through the valley. The terrain varies between tropical rain forest and farmlands. You visit another waterfall before arriving at a jungle lodge owned by a group of North Americans who are raising a type of tree that is used in the production of biodeisel. Riders will enjoy the comfortable accommodation and great food. Day four: The ride takes you onward through rolling hills and tropical rain forest. There are beautiful views and you cross many small rivers where the horses enjoy a refreshing drink. Along the way macaws are always spotted, and tropical flowers and butterflies are in abundance. The climate is warmer and more humid here. You spend the night in a locally owned guest house in the village Bijagual. Dinner and breakfast is eaten at a restaurant owned and operated by a women's cooperative. Day five: You begin the day climbing out of the Bijagual valley to a lunch at a local restaurant with a 360 degree view and where the delicious food is cooked over a wood stove. Rounding a corner you see the ocean, your final destination. You descend from 800 feet to the coastal plain, passing through teak plantations where you see even more scarlet macaws and finally arrive at the beach where you check in to the beach side Copacabana Hotel. Day six: A day at the beach: relax and enjoy. From here riders can continue their Costa Rican adventure or take a shuttle to the airport which is about 2 hours away. This is a great and varied trip. A wonderful way to see Costa Rica. You get to see parts of Costa Rica that almost no tourist ever sees. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Riders need to be at an intermediate level because the terrain is steep and mountainous, especially on the first 2 days of the journey. There is not much trotting or galloping. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | As per itinerary - i.e. 6 hours per day. |
| Departure dates: | To suit, as from mid January 2009. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |