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Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Dominican Republic
Intro to Dominican Republic
 Puerto Plata
Mexico
Belize
Costa Rica
Honduras
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Dominican North Coast Ride
Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
Get into that saddle and discover the new world - the real island of the Dominican!
On horseback you can enjoy the fantastic tropical views while discovering a different lifestyle and culture of a kindly and vivacious people. Get to know the authentic Dominican; taste delicious local cuisine, learn about island heritage and make new friends - here's our chance for an unforgettable experience!
The Dominican North Coast Ride begins with a jaunt to the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua: a fairtytale-like labyrinth of tunnels and caves against a backdrops of tropical mountain scenery. Here, we explore the first seven magical falls and glide down the natural rock slides into deep pools. Refreshed, we will carry on riding through fields of sugar cane and a plethora of mango groves, coconut trees and lush tropical vegetation. Then we will see the scenery change dramatically and the ride will take us to a region where we can find the odd cacti on the left and the deep turquoise of the Caribbean on our right. We continue on through tiny villages - where locals greets us with their friendly smiles and welcome us to eat in their local restaurants, grill fresh lobster on the beach, and stay with friends in small beach houses along the breathtaking Caribbean coastline. Along these Hidden Trails we find a Dominican strikingly similar to that which Columbus first encountered in 1493.
The overall journey travels from Puerto Plata into the interior and includes the Damajagua waterfalls, coastal villages of Luperon and Punta Rucia, and a visit to Paradise Island just off the coast. The first and last two nights are spent in Puerto Plata, where the ride ends with a celebratory party complete with music and dancing.
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Progressive Ride (no camping)
Suitable for riders over 210 lbs
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Meeting:
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Puerto Plata
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Airport:
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Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
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Transfer:
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Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata
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Riders:
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Min
6 riders
Max
16 riders
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Trip Brochure (PDF) 
Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2013
Rates include:
Accommodations - 6 nights in small country hotels and 2 nights private houses on the beach, all meals with beer and rum, all excursions, English speaking guide, 6 riding days.
| A | 2013 | 9 day trip, AP | 9d / 8n | $1995 |
| Single supplement (requested) when available | $135 |
| Small group supplement (2-3 riders) pp | $135 |
| Group discount (6+) | ($195) |
| Non Rider Discount | ($400) |
Transfer and Other Options:
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2013
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Transfer is included from Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata airport at set times
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Tour Dates for 2013
Additional trips dates are available for 3+ riders on request
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Rates do not include:
Drinks outside of meal times, gratuities.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Day
A group transfer is available from Santo Domingo at set times (3
hour trip), or we can pick you up from the Puerto Plata airport any
time (20 minute trip). You will meet your bilingual guide, enjoy dinner and spent the night at a local hotel in Puerto Plata.
Day 2: Puerto Plata to Damajagua (5 hours riding)
In the morning after a good
breakfast, we travel by 4×4 jeep to Ranch Bulula in the
countryside (20 minute trip). Take only what you need for the day
- our support vehicle brings all luggage and supplies to each
location during our ride. Our riding adventure begins with a
presentation and orientation of our horses. Meet your Dominican guide
who will accompany you while you are riding. Immediately you experience
the reality of the countryside,:sugar cane fields as far as the eye
can see, mangoes, coconut trees, and tropical vegetation. See sprawling plant life throughout this rural area. For our midday meal
we stop at the home of a Dominican family. During the afternoon
you discover the famous Brahman Bulls in the Brugal Ranch. Young
Joselito, our local farm hand, gives a demonstration with a
lasso, which you can try first hand! The overnight is at a typical
Dominican house with a local family (shared bathroom facilities).
Day 3: Damajagua to Luperon (5 hours of riding)
After breakfast we mount up and
start our journey to the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua: a fairytale-like
labyrinth of tunnels and caves set against a backdrop of rural mountain
scenery. Wading through crystal clear water with smooth natural stone
under foot and 30 ft jungle foliage growing up walls on either
side, you get the feeling that this is the water park for the gods. We
scramble up and down the first seven falls; hiking through jungle and scaling rock mounds as high as 40 ft before cascading into crystal-clear natural swimming pools via natural rock slides. It’s
a fantastic place. After a midday meal in a
small family restaurant we make our way to Luperon, traveling along
side the ocean and enjoy a long canter on the beach. Overnight lodging
in a nice hotel.
Day 4: Luperon to La Isabela (3 hours of riding)
We’ll leave Luperon, a little
port where sailors anchor after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. We take
the scenic route to La Isabela. Landscapes change and it's possible to see cacti spread throughout the area, though the tells us continuously that the ocean
is never far. We ride to and from the oceanfront during the
course of this itinerary. Lunch is served at Olivio’s, a
seafood restaurant where the owner serves us his catch of the day (grilled fish, octopus in vinaigrette, and mouth watering shrimp). In
the afternoon we arrive at La Isabela, a place rich in history and well documented in the
beginning of the New World. Today, La Isabelle, which lies along the seaside, is a national park that houses a tiny fisherman's village. Founded by Christopher Columbus and his men in 1493, it
carries the name of the former Queen of Spain, Isabel. Check
into the hotel, rest a bit and then we meet for a visit to the temple
of the Americas. Here we see the relics of the first city of the New World and the graveyard of last native Tainos.
Tonight we dine on the beach and are introduced to typical local
dances at a place where local people love to dance salsa and
meringue rhythms. Lodging at small beach hotel.
Day 5: La Isabela to Punta Rucia (4 hours of riding)
Morning departure to Punta Rucia.
On the way we discover a lot of culture; it's an important
agricultural zone of the country containing rice fields, bananas, cocoa, and
coffee. After lunch aboard motor boats you visit the mangroves and their winding roots where birds nest. In this unique eco-system is where manatees find refuge. At the end
of the day everyone meet the host family and the home where we stay for the night and for dinner. We sample local fruit and home made coffee. Lodging in a Dominican family home (shared
bathrooms).
Day 6: Punta Rusia to La Isabela (4 hours of riding)
Before leaving Punta Rucia we
take a boat to Paradise Island. Paradise Island is the only coral
island of the Dominican Republic, a perfect circle-round reef in the
middle of the ocean with an inner sand-bank. With its
amazing untouched coral reef, Paradise Island is the best place in the Dominican
Republic for snorkeling. Enjoy turquoise waters and white sand while thousands of
tropical fish come to eat right out of your hand. We then start
our return ride to La Isabela via a different route, that crosses through several
villages. For lunch we stop at a small local restaurant. Dinner is
served in La Isabela in a very special restaurant: a pirates' boat with
an incredible view. The ambiance is warmhearted and the food is
delicious! Lodging in a hotel.
Day 7: La Isabela to El Mamey (5 hours)
Morning departure to El Mamey
where we have lunch and visit a school. We then say good bye to our
horses and return to Puerto Plata (1 hour) by vehicle. Lodging in hotel
in Puerto Plata.
Day 8: Puerto Plata (no riding)
A day to relax and go shopping.
We end our trip with a dance party with Bachata and Merengue rhythms -
good times in a typical way with special local drinks. Lodging in hotel
in Puerto Plata.
Day 9: Departure Day
Transfer to Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata airport for your flight out.
Meeting:
Puerto Plata
Airport:
Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
Transfer:
Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata
Distance:
10, 160 miles
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Tack:
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Western, Dominican
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Horses:
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Criollos
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Pace:
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All paces with trot, canter and gallop - 4 to 6 hrs per riding day. Less experienced riders go in a separate group - so also suitable for good novice riders.
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
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Level:
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(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate
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Age:
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Min
7
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Weight:
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Max
240 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
6 riders
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Max
16 riders
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Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passport valid for twice as long as intended stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above. VisasNot required by all nationals referred to in the chart for touristic purposes except:(a. more
The weather in
Dominican Republic is tropical year round, with slight variations
dividing it into basically two seasons, summer and winter. The average
annual temperature is around 25° (77°F).
Average Daily Temperature
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oC
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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High
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26
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28
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27
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28
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28
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29
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29
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29
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29
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28
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28
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26
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Low
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18
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18
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19
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19
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20
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22
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22
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23
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22
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22
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20
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18
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These temperatures are in Celsius (Average High is 87o F, Average Low is 73oF )
Cool season
The
so-called "cool" season is from November to April. You will experience
pleasantly warm weather, relatively low humidity and low precipitation.
On the coast, i.e. near the beaches, the temperature hovers fairly
constantly around 29°C (84°F) during the day and drops to around a
comfortable 20°C (68°F) at night.
Hot season
The
"hot" season is roughly from May to October. Then, the average
temperature rises to 31°C (87°F) during the daytime and drops to about
22°C (72°F) at night. However, with the accompanying high humidity that
is more common during this season, it usually feels much hotter. It
does rain a bit more often during this season, especially from May to
August, but usually this turns out to be no more than a 30 minute
tropical (sometimes heavy) shower.
Note - Mosquitos
are really not a problem at this location due to the breeze from the
river and natural setting. In the city, the mosquitoes are much worse!
The bedrooms all have screens in the windows, and if you keep the door
closed you will have no problems. If you wish we can provide a
mosquito net. There is only about one hour in the evening, when the
sun goes down and there is less breeze, that mosquitoes become more
abundant, especially if it has recently rained.
This list is only a guideline for
you...
- Travel documents and Voucher
- Flight tickets
- Passport
- Visa (check with your consulate)
RIDING GEAR
- Comfortable, light weight riding pants
- Comfortable riding boots or suitable
footwear
- Riding helmet (recommended for all
trips)
- Riding gloves
- Hat (with chin strip) for sun
protection
- Lightweight rain coat
- Light clothing, not too warm – long
sleeves
PERSONAL
CLOTHING
- Jacket or sweater for cool evenings
- Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts
- Jeans
- Shorts
- Underwear and socks
- Pyjama
- Bag for dirty clothes
- Light summer jacket
- Warm jacket
- Camp shoes
- Swimsuit/ towel
- Bandana
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING
- Personal Toiletries
- Insect protection (mosquitos usually
only at dusk)
- Personal medications
- Sore cream (for the emergency)
- Sewing kit
- Handkerchiefs
- Camera and enough extra films
- Sun glasses with strap
- Sun tan lotion and lip balm
Long pants are required for
riding. Please, no sandals.
Don’t forget toiletries, any medicines you usually take, eye drops, Aspirin,
anti-inflammatory ointments for insect bites; medicines for fever and stomach
illnesses.
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
..view other reports for different trips
Overnights are in simple, but charming and authentic inns, lodges and beach vacation homes.
Meals are included as per itinerary.
Clients comments:
"My sister Maggie and I just got back from the North Coast trip and let me tell you what an amazing guide (and ride) you have found with Judith Pendaries - it is truly spectacular and Judith could not have been more professional, hospitable, warm and caring. Her horses are spirited, yet calm and well behaved and Judy takes meticulous care of them.
Highlights were swimming the horses in a hidden crystal blue cove, climbing up seven of 27 waterfalls and sliding back down and riding through some beautiful, remote villages and countryside always being welcomed by the lovely Dominican people.
It should be noted that the accommodations, while clean and comfortable, are very basic. It's all part of the experience of traveling off the grid a bit -- most of the time we were the only tourists for miles. If you are looking for down pillows, you might be in for a surprise. For us in the end the trade off was completely worth it for such a unique and well organized adventure.
We enthusiastically recommend this trip!!"
This trip includes
some wine with dinner
and can accommodate special dietary requests.
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Tack:
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Western, Dominican
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Horses:
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Criollos
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Pace:
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All paces with trot, canter and gallop - 4 to 6 hrs per riding day. Less experienced riders go in a separate group - so also suitable for good novice riders.
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
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Level:
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(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate
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Age:
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Min
7
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Weight:
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Max
240 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
6 riders
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Max
16 riders
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Passports
Passport valid for twice as long as intended stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart for touristic purposes except:
(a) 1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Malta and Romania.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
2. Nationals referred to in the chart above (except nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Malta and Romania who do require a tourist visa) will need to apply for a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic. Tourist cards are valid for up to 30 days from date of entry; applications cost £10 and take up to two weeks to process.
3. All nationals referred to in the chart above will require a visa for business purposes; passport must be valid for four months from the date of application.
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist (single-entry): £70. Business (single-entry): £170; (multiple-entry) £215.
Validity
Tourist visas and single-entry business visas are valid for 60 days. Multiple-entry business visas are valid for up to one year.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses. Multiple-entry visas can only be applied for once in the Dominican Republic.
Working Days Required Two weeks.
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
Yes |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
2/3 |
| Australian |
2/3 |
| Canadian |
2/3 |
| USA |
2/3 |
| Other EU |
1/2/3 |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
Yes |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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Dominican North Coast Ride
Tour Code:
IT-DR-RT01
9 days /
8 nights
~$1,995.00
Dates :
Jan-April & Nov- Dec
Trip Rating :
Difficulty :
Riding Level Explained | A | Beginner
 | Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter. | | B | Novice
 | Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of
applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting
trots, and short canters. | | C | Intermediate
 | Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces
(including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly. |
| D | Strong Intermediate
 | Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day. | | E | Advanced
 | All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country. |
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