Pacos Horseback Ride Through Arenal’s Forest and Cross Rivers
Description
Enjoy a safe and family-friendly horseback riding tour through the beautiful landscapes of Arenal. Ride calm, well-cared-for horses along rainforest trails, open fields, and across the Arenal River. Small groups allow for a relaxed pace and personal attention, making this tour perfect for both beginners and experienced riders, including children. Along the way, enjoy nature, possible wildlife sightings, and views of Arenal Volcano on clear days. The tour includes a fun photo shoot to capture memories and share on social media, a visit to a small farm with cute animals like pigs and sheep, and a relaxing riverside stop with fresh tropical fruits.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We wil pass over the Lake Arenal Dam. Arenal Lake is a breathtaking man-made lake located in northern Costa Rica, at the base of the iconic Arenal Volcano. Spanning approximately 85 square kilometers (33 square miles), it is the largest lake in the country and a crucial source of hydroelectric power, supplying nearly 70% of Costa Rica’s renewable energy. Beyond its ecological and economic importance, Arenal Lake is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The lake’s calm yet expansive waters are perfect for activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, jet skiing, and boat tours. Its strong winds from December to April also make it one of the best spots in the country for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Surrounded by lush rainforest, rolling hills, and stunning volcano views, the lake is home to an abundance of wildlife, including howler monkeys, toucans, and various species of freshwater fish. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or a chance to connect with nature,
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If your hotel is not on the list, contact us for more information about prices and pickup times
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Kids under 5 years old can't participate
Reviews(41)
Aquí tienes la traducción al inglés: "Paco Horse was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Costa Rica. None of us had any experience with horses, but the horses are very well-trained and very docile. Before starting the tour, they offered us basic but very necessary training that helped us learn how to guide the horse. Our guides, Kenneth and Giovanny, were very attentive to us and even took one of our phones to take photos and videos of our family. We are very grateful because we are bringing back beautiful memories and an unforgettable experience. I would definitely do it again!!!"
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that your horseback ride was one of the most memorable parts of your trip. It’s great to know you felt comfortable, even as first-time riders. Kenneth and Giovanny will be happy to hear your kind words. We hope to welcome you and your family back for another ride someday!
Pacos horses was an amazing experience. First, the horses are well taken care of and treated with respect! That means so much to me. I was a walk in and was able to join a tour within two hours. The tour and trail far exceeding my expectations with a river trot, and multiple views of the volcano. Great tour!
Hello! 😊 Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the care we give our horses. It means a lot to our team. We're glad the trail, river crossing, and volcano views exceeded your expectations. Thank you for choosing Paco's Horses, and we hope to see you again soon! 🐴🌋🤎 The Paco's Horses Team
Great Experience! Horses are well taken care of and the views were amazing! Easy Transportation highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic experience and enjoyed the beautiful views along the way. It is also wonderful to know that our transportation service made your visit even more convenient. 🚐✨ Your recommendation means a lot to us and motivates our team to continue providing memorable experiences for our guests. We hope to welcome you back again on your next visit to La Fortuna!
Pacos horses was an incredible experience! The guide was amazing and offered to take photos for everyone while we were riding which was great. The horses were absolutely beautiful and the views were also gorgeous! Towards the end , we stopped and they gave us some water and fresh pineapple and watermelon while having a view of the volcano! Definitely recommended this experience!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are truly happy to hear that you had such an incredible experience at Pacos Horses. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed the horseback ride, the beautiful views, and the time spent near the volcano. We are also very glad to know that our guide helped make the experience even more special by taking photos and ensuring everyone had a great time. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing Pacos Horses. We hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Highly recommend this tour - riding on a horse amidst nature was amazing. The staff is extremely accommodating, patient and attentive to our needs. The tour guide is always with the group, making you feel safe.
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation. We are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the horseback riding experience and the beautiful nature around us. Our team always strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and memorable experience for every guest, so it means a lot to know you felt well taken care of throughout the tour. We sincerely appreciate your visit and hope to welcome you again in the future! 🤠🌿
Had such a great time, everyone was so helpful. I was really scared since it was my first time but they tell you what to do and how to slow down the horse.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience 😊 We are very happy to hear that you felt comfortable and supported during your first horseback riding experience. Our team always does their best to help guests feel safe and confident throughout the tour 🐴 Thank you for riding with us, we hope to see you again in the future 🙌
Did this experience 3rd week of May 2026. There was suppose to be a couple during my time slot, but it turns out I was the only one who showed up so I unexpectedly got the vip solo treatment! Which was very much welcomed because I did NOT know how to handle a horse at all! The horse I was originally riding on at the start got a little bit agitated due to a fly that wouldn't leave us alone. The guide then switched my horse with his so that I can have a chill horse again, which was much appreciated. I had to watch a intro video on how to ride the horse - pretty straight forward. But that really goes out the window when you're riding the horse in real life for the first time. The guide took me on a trail that went through jungle-like environment, through a stream/river, and through plains with a fantastic view of the volcano. In the middle of all that was a fruit break with delicious pineapple, watermelon and water. It was a wonderful experience. Highly recommend you wear shoes that secure to your feet so it doesn't slip off stirrup.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! 😊🐎 We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your solo horseback riding adventure and that our team was able to make you feel comfortable, especially being your first time riding a horse. We truly appreciate your understanding regarding the horse change, and we’re glad our guide could quickly make the experience more relaxing and enjoyable for you. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the different landscapes along the trail, the volcano views, and the fresh fruit break 🍍🌋✨ Thank you as well for your helpful recommendation about proper shoes future riders will definitely appreciate that tip! It was a pleasure having you with us at Pacos Horses, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to Costa Rica 🌿
My husband and I have never ridden horses but this seemed like such a fun way to see the rainforest. We lucked out with weather and had beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano. We were picked up at our resort and brought to Pacos. We watched a quick video and put on our helmets and climbed up on the horses! We were a little nervous but the horses were so tame and they were good listeners. The ride was fun, we didn’t see any wildlife but we had already seen wildlife on other activities so we didn’t really care about that. The view was beautiful, staff took photos of us with our cameras while we rode and they got a great shot of us on our horses with the volcano behind us. We had fresh fruit and waters at a picnic table and then headed back down to the stables. Then they drove us back to our resort. It was a great experience! Our guide Kenneth was friendly and fun!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! 😊🐎 We are truly happy to hear that you both enjoyed your horseback riding adventure, especially being your first time riding horses! It means a lot to know that you felt comfortable and safe with our horses and team. We’re also glad you were able to enjoy the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano and that our staff could capture such special memories for you 📸🌋 Thank you as well for your kind words about Kenneth we will be sure to share your comments with him, he’ll be very happy to hear them! It was a pleasure having you at Pacos Horses, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future for another Costa Rican adventure 🌿✨
Not happu with pick up time and how long was the process it took till we actially start riding and suppose to take us to Arena Lake and never did
We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. Our team always strives to provide clear information regarding pickup times, tour logistics, and route details to all guests before the activity begins. The horseback ride includes different scenic areas depending on weather, trail conditions, and operational factors to ensure everyone’s safety. We truly value all feedback and would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your experience. Please feel free to contact us directly so we can better assist you.
One of the other riders spooked my horse, and they also put me and my daughter on really wild horses and thought it was funny, There was no help from the guides on the trail.
We’re very sorry to hear about your experience. Safety is always our top priority, especially for families and riders of all experience levels. Our guides are trained to match horses according to each guest’s experience and to assist throughout the tour. We take comments like yours seriously and will review this situation with our team. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
