Jaco: Horseback Riding Tour Through Jungle & Wildlife Sighting

4.88

(131 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell—kind of sweet and green, like wet leaves after rain. We were at this ranch just outside Jaco, horses flicking their tails in the morning light. My guide, Diego, handed me a helmet and grinned when I admitted I’d never really ridden before. “No worries,” he said, matching me up with a gentle mare named Luna. She nudged my arm while Diego ran through the basics—how to hold the reins, what to do if she got spooked (she didn’t). The saddle felt stiff at first but loosened up as we started moving. You can hear birds everywhere out here, not just see them.

We followed Diego down a narrow trail that cut through thick jungle. The air was heavy—like walking into a greenhouse—and every few minutes he’d point out something hidden: scarlet macaws streaking red overhead, or a sloth curled up so still it looked fake. At one point we stopped because white-faced monkeys were arguing in the trees above us. One dropped something (fruit?) that nearly hit my boot; Diego just laughed. He knew every twist of this place. The main keyword for this tour is horseback riding Jaco Costa Rica but honestly it felt more like wandering into someone else’s secret world.

I kept thinking how slow everything moved—except for Luna’s ears twitching at every sound—and how different that pace felt from town. My legs were sore by the end (should’ve worn thicker pants), but I kind of liked it. There was bottled water waiting back at the ranch and Diego asked if I’d seen enough monkeys yet—I hadn’t, not really. It’s funny what sticks with you: the way sunlight came through those giant leaves or how quiet it got when everyone stopped talking for a minute.