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A ride for the experienced rider
and featuring extensive ground explorations on
horseback covering the top riding destinations in
Costa Rica. A mounted adventure packed with 8 days
of intensive riding and discovery of Costa Rica's
most scenic regions, including hugely contrasting
and awesome habitats with abundant wildlife. You
will be riding dramatic river canyons towards the
arid Pacific Coast with its beautiful beaches, then
on toward the Template Mountain slopes, passing
through the mystical Cloud Forest Valleys and
descending onto the majestic Arenal Volcano. As you
ride, you will be in close contact with one of
nature's finest panoramic displays, a truly awesome
and unforgettable experience. You’ll feel as though you are the star in a true adventure
film entitled "Hidden Jewel…Costa Rica"
 IT-CR-HRO10
Rates include
accommodations, meals as per itinerary, 7 riding
days (average 5 hrs)
10 days/ 9 nights $ 2,295
Single: + $
325
$300 OFF for dates in
ORANGE
$100+ for dates on BLUE
$200+ for dates on
GREEN
Dates 2008:
01/24-02/02
02/19-02/28 02/23-03/03
03/07-03/16 03/14-0323 03/27-04/05
04/24-05/03
05/22-05/31 06/19-06/28
07/24-08/02
08/21-08/30
09/11-09/20
10/23-11/01 11/20-11/29
11/27-12/06
12/18-12/27 12/27-01/05
Airport: San Jose
Transfer: Included from airport or hotel
Horses: Criollos, Pasos
Tack: Central American (Western Style)
Pace: Moderate with trots, canters,
and some gallops
Level:
Intermediate
Min/Max:
2 to 8
Note:
Christmas Holidays trips
- check for Single supplement
ITINERARY INCLUDES:
Airport Transfers, all transportation within Costa Rica,
9 nights lodging,
meals as indicated, all equipment needed for horse trekking, services of
professional equestrian naturalist guides
NOT INCLUDED:
International Airfare, all items of a personal nature, meals
in San Jose, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, Costa Rica departure tax
KEYS:
(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner, (TG) Transfer
Guide, (EG) Equestrian Guide, (LG) Local Horse
Master/Guide.
Itinerary
Day 1: You will be met upon arrival at
the San Jose International airport. Overnight at a
San Jose hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 2:
Presentation & Build-up ride
Morning transfer to Cien Fuegos Eco-Ranch &
Stables, located along the Trinidad river in the
Dry Central Pacific Region, the starting point of
your riding adventure. After horse assignment and
our presentation, you will head towards Hacienda La
Maravilla, riding along rolling hills and meadows
into the Gallery Forest alongside the Cuarros river
– an excellent spot for wildlife encounters! We
meander across the river following a country lane
passing en route farmland, rural homes and finally
arriving at the hacienda grounds. This
afternoon, there will be an exploratory ride
following the private trails. The next three nights
will be at Maravilla House lodge (shared bathrooms)
which remote location and attractive scenery will no
doubt gives a
better
feel of typical Costa Rican life and living than
anywhere else on the locations you will be visiting.
Meals
Included: B, L & D (EG & LG)
Approx.
3 hours in the saddle
Day 3: Coastal Ride
Today’s ride will take you to the Pacific coast
following country lanes and an old ranch trail which
lead to Tivives Crag. The Spaniards first started
their conquest of the Central Pacific around 1561
right from this very spot! Ride across the
Cascajalillo Mangrove Swamps and along the coast.
Depending on tide times, lunch will be served at a
local café or as a picnic on the beach or back at
Maravilla. Again, depending on the tide you climb on
horseback towards Cuevas Crag, enjoying unique views
of the Pacific Ocean or alternatively, ride
along the shoreline towards Guacalillo beach. Follow
a country lane back to hacienda Maravilla.
Meals included: B, L &
D. (BG) (LG) Approx. 5-6 hours in the
saddle
Day 4: La Mariana Estate & Countryside
This morning you have an exploratory ride of the
hacienda’s 1000 acres and its private reserve,
riding through rolling hills and savannah’s towards
the Transitional-Dry Forest and the lush Gallery
Forest. Here, the terrain is picturesque,
predominantly flat with gentle slopes and forested
valleys. As you ride over the higher areas you will
be able to gain excellent views of the Pacific Ocean
and perhaps spot some of the local area’s wildlife
too. Back at the hacienda in time for lunch and
relax. This afternoon there will be an optional ride
in the Southern part of La Maravilla Hacienda. After
a few gentle hill climbs you may experience an Ocean
view sunset – the Pacific coast has the reputation
for being amongst the world’s top best places to
experience this beautiful event.
Meals: B, L, D. (BG)
(LG) Approx. 3-6 hours in the saddle
Day 5: Machuca River Canyon Ride
Your final ride in the Central Pacific will take you
to the Machuca River basin, passing Cascajal
village, you will ride into the area where this
river canyon broadens onto the plains. Heading
towards the Jesús María River basin, allowing
exploration of the plains and forested valleys along
the Machuca River Canyon, where the land is
very fertile and most commonly used to cultivate
melons. Afternoon you will take a 3 1/2-hour
transfer to the Northern Region home to Arenal
Volcano which last erupted in 1968 and remains one
of the most active volcanoes in the world. Overnight
in Arenal.
Meals Included: B, PL,
D. (BG) Approx. 4-5 hours in the saddle
Day 6: Thermo-mineral Hot-water springs & Transfer
to Monteverde across Arenal Lake
Today is a relaxing day to explore Arenal. If the
weather is clear, you may wish to join a walk to the
summit of the volcano. Enjoy free time at the
beautiful Arenal hot water springs and gardens - an
excellent complementation to your riding adventure!
These thermo-mineral waters ,which people some claim
to have healing powers, will help you to leave
feeling relaxed! In the afternoon you have a boat
ride across Arenal lake and transfer by vehicle to
Monteverde, enjoying a scenic drive up
on the Tilaran
Mountain Range following an old road originally used
by farmers and passing
the Continental
Division line - a location where the arid
Pacific area greets the humid Cloud Forests.
Monteverde area encompasses six differing
ecological life zones and is situated where moist
air blown in from the warm Pacific coast
precipitates as a perpetual mist. These vastly
contrasting locations are easily observed through
the differing types of vegetation that will be
visible as you start ascending.
Meals Included: B, L & D.
(EG & LG)
Day 7: Cloud Forest Hanging Bridges & Exploratory
Ride at Ensenada
Although Monteverde is not one of our favorite
riding areas because the terrain can be a steep,
muddy and the weather unpredictable, the area is
home to one of the most amazing forests. This
morning you will visit the hanging bridges at Selvatura
Park which is an amazing structures that will take
you take you to new heights following a trail of 3
kilometers that crosses the cloud forest.
Walking through 8 different bridges from 50 to 170
meters long, and between 12 and 60 meters high.
Every bridge is 1.5 meter wide, which makes them the
widest hanging bridges in Costa Rica! This afternoon
we will transfer to Abangaritos. We will stay the
next two nights at La Ensenada Lodge which is
a his family run lodge located on a 1000-acre
hacienda which offers guests the opportunity to
participate in the typical farm activities such as
cattle raising, horses and the production of salt
and fruit. |
Costa Rican saddles
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After lunch and a
rest, we will do an exploratory ride of La Ensenada
which will help us learn more about our horses and
the terrain we will be discovering over the next few
days. During today’s horseback adventure you will
explore inner grounds at Hacienda Ensenada where the
majority of the area is used for grazing beef and
dairy cattle and it also includes a protected
wetland area which has been declared a "national
refuge for fauna" including mangrove swamps,
wetlands at the Abangares river delta. La Ensenda
Wildlife refuge protects some of the
remaining primary and secondary forests of the
northern Puntarenas province - all this makes this
place an ideal location for horse explorations and
bird-watching! Overnight at La Ensenada Lodge.
Meals Included: B, L &
D. (EG & LG) Approx. 3 hours in the
saddle
Day 8: Ensenada Lodge (Salinas & Miradores Rides)
This morning we will head to towards the
Eastern side of Ensenada where the Salinas and
various lagoons are located including Laguna Augusta
and Laguna Jacana-during high tide and with some
luck, this could be a fantastic ride to do some
bird-watch on horseback as these wetlands and
lagoons are frequented by water-birds. Part of this
ride develops over area neighbouring the Tropical
Mangrove Swamps - The gulf of Nicoya, the mangroves
and the Salinas (Salt Lagoons) offer bird lovers and
photography enthusiasts alike the opportunity to see
many different species of birds such as pelicans,
herons, parrots, Montezuma oropendula, bellbird,
white iris and great egret amongst others. Later
this afternoon, you will follow "La Pizota" trail
which develops over varied terrain including
plaints, grassland, slopes and rolling hills which
are natural lookout points that provide excellent
opportunities to enjoy a full Ocean view and Golf of
Nicoya. Depending on the time we leave it could be a
great Sunset ride with Panoramic views of the
Pacific ocean! Overnight at La Ensenada Lodge.
Meals Included: B, L &
D. (EG & LG) Approx. 5 hours in the
saddle
Day 9: Ensenada Lodge (Farms and Rural land trail)
This morning you take a further exploration of
area, following a completely different route
covering a wide range of terrain and countryside
scenes - It starts bordering the coast line on the
trails that skirt the mountain slopes that meet the
Pacific Ocean towards the Eastern side of the
Hacienda. Then continues on a rural road visiting
the rural community of Manzanillo where life is
rustic and simple and will give us get a better feel
about the real rural Costa Rica. Then we will enter
a sister property of Ensenada crossing the Cañamazo
river and continuing on farm trails through
reforestation plantations of Teakwood and Melina
trees. Later on, you will cross Congo River and head
back to the lodge crossing Abangares river and
stopping at a local town for a drink. The ride back
to Ensenda will provide a great opportunity to do
some cantering! You will get back in time for lunch.
Afternoon transfer to your San Jose Hotel (2 1/2
hours) for your last night stay in Costa Rica.
Depending on the time you leave to San Jose, your
guide could arrange a visit to the Artisan's Town of
Sarchi which is en route. This picturesque village
is considered the cradle of wood crafting and
decorating in Costa Rica, particularly known for its
production of colorful ox-carts. The custom of
painting decorations on the carts was begun in
Sarchí around the turn of the century.
Meals Included: B & L.
(EG & LG) Approx. 4-5 hours in the
saddle
Day 10: Departure
/ Flight Home
Morning at your leisure and then transferred into
the Airport in time for your flight and we say our
farewells. Meals
included: B (TG)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is a sample ride dossier, planned several
months in advance. The ride can be operated in
different order other than as described above.
Arrangements (routes or facilities) are subject to
variation by the outfitter depending on local
conditions. All riding times contained in our itineraries are based upon riding at a
slow/moderate pace throughout.
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