Packages and Options

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. 
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.

Costa Rica clothing and dressing-wise is quite casual, with this in mind, we recommend you to bring:

A) Riding gloves
B) For your safety we strongly recommend you to bring a riding helmet with a shade-rim to give you extra protection by blocking the sun from your face and neck.
C) Riding boots or hard-soled shoes and boots
D) Rain gear (e.g. raincoat or a poncho)
E) Long riding trousers or jeans
F) Chaps
G) Comfortable clothes of a light material, preferably cotton. T-shirts and shorts are acceptable in San José (during the day, if planning to go out in the evening trousers are highly recommended as some restaurants will not admit you in shorts or sandals).
H) Loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts and trousers are recommended during forest explorations or if you take any day trips out to smaller towns, where immodest attire is frowned upon. (Jeans tend to be more uncomfortable during long walk although better for horse riding)
I) Pack a light sweater or jacket for San José's cool nights and early mornings and for trips up volcanoes, Monteverde, etc
J) Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are essential if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and hiking.
K) Waterproof hiking sandals or other footwear that lets your feet breathe are good for strolling about town, and also for beach walking, fording streams, and navigating the myriad mud holes you'll find on rain forest and cloud forest trails. We also advice you to bring:
L) Insect Repellent
M) Sun screen lotion (spf-15 or higher)
N) A small notebook and pen
O) Binocular & camera
P) Any medication you may require, please consult with your G.P. for health advise.
Q) And but overall a great adventurous spirit! IMPORTANT: *** Please double-check the expiry date of your passport. ***

The tone here is casual wear - it is not necessary to dress up to go to dinner. Comfortable lightweight is best. In the higher elevations, San Jose, the volcanoes, or Monteverde, temperatures are cool and sweaters or light jackets are suggested

We recommend for women to ride in leggings with a big shirt over them. The legging is not too hot, and they dry out quickly if they get wet.

SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS.... Almost all encounters with noxious insects & plants can be avoided by watching where you walk or sit, by not touching non-recognizable insects, plants, etc;...by tucking pants in your socks, by using an insect repellent, by spraying shoes and ankles to avoid bites and by always following tour guide's instructions to the letter, and finally, leave valuables at home and avoid using perfumes, after-shave, or other scents that will attract insects.