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Horseback Riding - Arenal to / from Monteverde

An incredible taxi / boat / horseback / 4x4 Costa Rica adventure!

This spectacular old mountain trail was used before the Spanish conquest of Costa Rica. There is quite a distance between the Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. La Fortuna (the village near the volcano) altitude is 350 meters above sea level, Monteverde is straddling the Continental Divide at 1,500 meters (4,500 feet, that's why it's called a cloud forest). Because of the mountain range, there is no direct road, it makes a detour by Tilaran.  The volcano, viewed from Monteverde Mirador, #4 on the map below -> monteverde costa rica hotels

Generations of locals have been using the Cano Negro trail pass to go from Arenal to Monteverde, saving time, and using the only mean of transportation they had: horseback. We invite you to re-live this exciting journey with us.

136 kilometers by road between Arenal and Monteverde Cloud Forest, making a detour via Tilaran. Our horseback adventure climbs the Continental Divide, offering spectacular views.

Our exciting horseback adventure

  1. #1 - Pick up in La Fortuna, or from your hotel in the Arenal area at 8h30 am.
  2. #2 - Dam: after a 30 minutes ride by mini bus, we reach the dam of lake Arenal, boarding our covered 22 passenger boat, for a fun 30 minutes cruise with great views of the active volcano. We go to #3, or #A, depending on trail conditions. Your luggage will be sent safely by mini bus to your hotel in Monteverde.
  3. #3 - Castillo to Monteverde by an exciting horseback ride, climbing 1,200 meters (3,600 feet) from the lake to the Continental Divide, at the Monteverde Mirador. 3 river crossings, part lush forest, part magnificent open views of the volcano, the lake, and the surrounding mountain range. OR from #A to #4, no river crossing. In rainy season, we use the alternative Chiquito trail. It's a 3.5 hour ride, plus a 30 minute pick-nick break.
  4. #4 to Monteverde - a 30 minute ride by 4x4 brings you directly to your hotel in the Monteverde Cloud Forest area (5), or at our office in the center of the village of Santa Elena (Monteverde Tree House Tourist Center) if you don't have an hotel reservation. There is several budget lodging possibilities within a few minutes walk of our office.

Feedback letters and Photos we received about this adventure. We also do this tour from Monteverde. 

Show me some photos!  or see some horseback photos by our guests the Carlson & Baum families horseback arenal monteverdeNo experience necessary, our smiling horses are very easy to handle!

We either use an alternative trail (from #A to #4), or simply suspend this tour if the trail is in bad condition, or if the river is too high between #3 and #4, because of persistent rainy weather. Our taxi / boat / taxi alternative, runs all year long. No operators in La Fortuna can use the alternative trail that goes from #a to #4, simply because their horse are based in #3. Our horses are based in Monteverde (#4). If you make a last minute decision, and want to go from Arenal to Monteverde, please call us at 645-7070 for a trail update. For the sake of the horses, don't use the Castillo trail (#3 to #4) from June till the end of December.

This adventure tour cost $65 US per person. It includes transfers door to door, light lunch, tax, and luggage transfer by mini bus & boat. Our horses are strong, well kept and fed.

If you have a car, and would like to do the horseback trip Arenal - Monteverde, we can drive your car around the lake, and meet you at the destination. We take written full responsibility for your vehicle, and ask $35 for the driver. Or you can always drive around the lake, and do a local 2 hour local tour in the Monteverde area instead of the Arenal - Monteverde adventure, for $30 per person.

Read the journal of a guest

This trip is through a mountain trail, so it's at a slow pace. Since it's demanding for the horse to go down 1,500 meters, we don't gallop. Only at the end, if you feel like it. Beside, enjoying the great views is a major point of this adventure. We also stop along the way for a picnic, or to observe birds and animals.

You don't have to worry, the majority of our guest have never ridden a horse before. Also our groups are never bigger than 6 persons, and our guide is a local farmer that spent his life working with horses (often there are no other ways to reach the pasture). He is there to assist you, all the time. If you check our site, you will find a few feedback letters that we received.

horseback from arenal costa rica to monteverde rain forest

    For reservations, write to info@arenal.net

Warning If you shop around La Fortuna, beware of cut-rate prices, sold on the street by flight-by-night operations. To meet the cost for these "bargains", they use poor old horses, underfeed them, under pay their guides, and often the equipment is dangerously old. Check the state and quality of the saddle, and straps. A weak horse can fall under the effort, and if you are sitting on it, it's not a good thing. Beside, you don't want to feel sorry for the animal during 4 hours. Never ride a horse with a missing horseshoe, it hurts them. Make sure your horse is fresh, and had at least a 4 day rest before doing this trip again. The only trail the La Fortuna operators use (Castillo) is too muddy from June till end of December. Feel free to write us for updated trail conditions, or phone at 645-7070. We are one of the rare operators who use an alternative trail (via Rio Chiquito) during wet season. Because our horses are based in Monteverde, we have a choice of trail. If you meet fellow travelers recommending this trip, ask for the name of the tour operator and they will probably mention us.

Our other great shortcut: taxi / boat / taxi from Arenal to Monteverde

San Jose: Hotel Santo Tomas    San Jose Airport Hotel     Quepos Manuel Antonio Hotel
Pure Trek Canyoning near the Volcano

ICRA