Horseback Riding at Arenal Volcano Foothills

Family fun!

This was an absolutely excellent experience. The horses were so sweet and well-mannered, the guides were incredibly knowledgeable, and our entire group had a great time. Ages 8-45, all Had a great time!

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Horse Riding Tour With Miguel

Miguel was great being our horse riding guide. He was very informative and was great with taking pictures and videos of us. Highly recommend him for your tour.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Horseback Riding Tour at the Arenal Volcano Foothills and that Miguel helped make your experience so memorable. His knowledge, attention to detail, and willingness to capture special moments through photos and videos are all part of what makes this adventure so enjoyable. We will be sure to share your kind words with Miguel. He will be very happy to know that his guidance and hospitality were appreciated. Thank you for recommending Jacamar Naturalist Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience surrounded by the beauty of Costa Rica! Warm regards, The Jacamar Naturalist Tours Team

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Horseback Tour: Not Just a Nose to Tail Trail Ride

We did the horseback riding tour through El Silencio Reserve with guides Chris and Carlos. We were a family of 5, with 3 of us having more extensive riding experience, one having a bit of experience, and one who had never been on a horse in his life. We all had a phenomenal time! We had this tour arranged through out hotel (Nayara) and are so glad we did. The weather was awful - rainy, cool, cloudy. We wore appropriate gear and the outfitter provided good rain ponchos, so we stayed relatively dry (not clean though - was muddy!). Helmets were provided as well. We met our horses (Cherokee, Marlboro, India, Julio, and Chuki) who were all rock solid, well behaved, and looked healthy and well cared for. We didn't see much of the volcano at all, but we did get to see monkeys, birds, and incredible landscape. The area is lush and green with rolling hills, lovely to ride across even in the rain. The true highlight of this ride is that it is a real RIDE! We did a mix of walking, trotting, cantering, and even galloping around the area. The horses knew what to do and where to go, but were responsive to rider instruction. The naturalist guides were very informative and spoke excellent English. They helped our non-experienced rider feel comfortable and safe (man, did he experience a trial by fire here haha). We probably rode for 1.5 hours all together, up to a nice lookout point and back. We stopped a couple times for pictures and to rest our legs. The horses were eager to get back home, and that's when we practically flew down the mountain - it was incredible. When we got back, we were provided with fresh fruit and water. Transportation to and from Nayara was quick and seamless. Will definitely ride with Jacama Tours again when we return!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your family had a phenomenal experience on the horseback riding tour at El Silencio Reserve, and that Chris and Carlos were able to guide riders of all experience levels with care, professionalism, and enthusiasm. It’s great to know that even with challenging weather conditions, the proper gear, well-trained horses, and the lush landscape helped make the ride enjoyable and memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words about our horses and safety equipment, as their well-being and our guests’ comfort are always a top priority. It’s especially rewarding to hear that the mix of walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping made this a true riding experience, and that everyone including your first-time rider felt supported and confident throughout the tour. Thank you as well for highlighting the smooth transportation and the post-ride refreshments. We’re honored that you chose to ride with us and would be delighted to welcome you back when you return to Costa Rica for another unforgettable adventure!

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For horseback, look elsewhere

My family of four took the horseback tour around Arenal on our recent vacation and overall it was a mixed and just ok experience. Luckily, nothing bad happened like with other reviewers, but if looking for a horseback tour you can probably do better than this one. You start the tour after filling out wavers and getting helmets at the entrance then walking up the hill to the barn where the horses are. It would have been nice to have the horses brought down for us, but that’s not a big deal. The family was all loaded on horses and when it was my turn they asked “Are you experienced at riding horses?” And I answered “no, I haven’t ridden a horse in years”. I’m not sure why they asked this and what bearing this had on the horse they chose for me, but I ended up on a smaller horse named “Neno”. From there you ride up a road that pedestrians and vehicles both use for touring the Arenal foothills, go off road into the foothills for a little while, then back down the road and back to the barn. Overall the path is pretty, you get great views of the volcano, and get a little thrill from navigating the hilly and muddy foothills on horseback. However, there’s not much of a tour to it. We were moving the whole time, stopped once to get a picture, then got going again. The biggest detractor for me was the horses. Luckily, I was the one that had the worst experience and my family was safe. My son, the smallest, got an excellent horse that was calm and safe. My daughter got a horse that wouldn’t listen and just kept stopping to eat grass. My wife got a horse that was incredibly slow. And then there was my horse… at the beginning of the ride, I was informed that he had to go first on everything. He not only had to be first, but had no interest in following any instruction or slowing down when I pulled on the reins or talked to him. I spent the whole ride trying to get him to slow down so the others can catch up, but he would just shake his head and keep going. At the end of the ride, it got so bad that the guide galloped up from the back and had to ride next to my horse holding the rope and guiding him down the hill. It was a little scary coming down the really steep hill at the end because this horse seemed like it just wanted to run. Finally, as another reviewer posted, you have to cross a main road at the beginning and end of the trip. The horses all bolt across the street and you have to work hard to stop them On the other side. It seems like there would be a safer way to do this. In the end it was fine, everyone was safe, but it wasn’t really fun.

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Lackluster

The tour was too short and didn’t feel worth the price. The horse also went really interested in the tour which made it slightly frustrating having to coerce it to move when they stopped

Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We sincerely appreciate your honesty, as it helps us improve our tours. We’re sorry to hear that your horseback riding experience near Arenal Volcano didn’t fully meet your expectations—especially regarding the duration and the horse’s behavior. Our tours are designed to balance safety, comfort, and immersion in nature, which sometimes means a gentler pace to accommodate all riders. However, we understand your frustration when the horse paused during the ride. These animals have their own personalities, and while we train them to be responsive, they can occasionally get distracted by the lush surroundings. Regarding the tour length, we’ve found that most guests enjoy the current duration as part of a multi-activity day, but we’ll certainly review your feedback to see where adjustments can be made. Pura Vida, and we hope to welcome you back for a more seamless experience.

via Viator