We begin and end the ride at our barn located in Garza. We ride through our private finca where we have the opportunity to see lots of nature and animals such as monkeys, birds, coaties and our cows! There are also lots of beautiful hill tops with gorgeous views of the land and the ocean! The finca has private access to south Guiones, where there is not a lot of people, we ride along this beach and enjoy the sun or sunset (depending on the time), before heading back to the barn through a different jungle trail. Our horses are very well trained and calm, we can accommodate small children on our ponies and beginners on our easy horses while we also have more fun horses for any experienced riders. Our only restriction is we cannot accommodate people over 200-215 pounds due to the size of the horses here in the country.

Horseback riding Nosara is unlike any other trail ride in Costa Rica. You are not simply crossing a beach — you are moving through one of the most ecologically rich stretches of the Nicoya Peninsula, where thick mangrove wetlands give way to a protected wildlife reserve, river crossings lead to hidden coves, and the jungle opens suddenly onto long, uncrowded Pacific shores. This is the kind of ride that slows everything down in the best possible way.

Your tour begins at the Boca, the dramatic convergence point where the Rio Nosara and Rio Montana merge and spill into the sea. From here, your local guide leads the group into the nature reserve along shaded trails that follow the river’s edge. The canopy overhead is alive with sound — howler monkeys calling across the treetops, mot-mots and Violaceous Trogons cutting through the air, and the occasional rustle of something moving deeper in the undergrowth. Your guide will point out the grand Guanacaste tree, Costa Rica’s national tree, and share knowledge about the plants, birds, and wildlife that define this landscape.

Crossing into the reserve, the trail climbs to a ridge with a sweeping lookout over the cove below. The view here consistently catches riders off guard — a wide Pacific horizon framed by jungle, with Playa Pelada’s white sand visible at the base of the cliffs. This is one of the quiet rewards of horseback riding Nosara rather than arriving by car or foot: the approach builds the reveal.

The descent brings you down to Playa Pelada itself, where the horses walk along the shoreline as waves roll in from the open Pacific. From here the route continues north along the coast to Playa Guiones, the area’s famous surf beach, before looping back through more jungle trail. The full circuit covers mangroves, river crossings, forest reserve, clifftop lookout, and two of Nosara’s most beautiful beaches — all in a single two-hour experience.

• Guided jungle and river trail through the Nosara wildlife reserve
• Clifftop panoramic lookout over the Pacific cove
• Beach riding on Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones
• Wildlife spotting: howler monkeys, tropical birds, crocodile river crossing
• Local guide with deep knowledge of Nosara’s ecology and traditions
• Suitable for all experience levels including first-time riders
• Children’s helmets and saddles available
• Morning and late afternoon departure times

The horses are calm, well-cared-for animals matched to each rider’s experience level. First-time riders receive clear instruction before the group sets off, and guides ride alongside to ensure everyone is comfortable throughout. Families with young children, couples, solo travelers, and small groups all find the pace accessible and deeply enjoyable.

Nosara has earned its reputation as one of Costa Rica’s most sought-after destinations precisely because it has resisted the kind of overdevelopment that crowds out authentic experience. Horseback riding Nosara reflects everything that draws travelers here in the first place: raw coastline, dense jungle, abundant wildlife, and a way of moving through the landscape that feels genuinely connected to the place rather than packaged for tourism. Tours depart in the morning and around 3:30 in the afternoon, with the late-afternoon ride offering extraordinary light over the Pacific as the sky shifts toward sunset. Whether you are a seasoned rider or sitting in a saddle for the very first time, this is Nosara at its most memorable. Reserve your spot today.