Horseback Riding: A Family Affair

By Don

One of the best parts of staying in Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coastal region is the bounty of eco-tourism activities a traveler can find. Hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, sports fishing—the list goes on and on.  

But for the adventurous soul, there may be no better way to see the countryside than via horseback (and it certainly makes getting to the top of a mountain a lot easier). Although there are many tour guides offering scenic outings on horseback, perhaps the best of these outfitters is Don Lulo’s Adventure Trip to Nauyaca Falls, one of the main natural attractions of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coastal region. Most of the tours offered Lulo are appropriate for riders of any level and experience and include a full day of riding, swimming, meals and two guides to ensure a safe trip.

Don Lulo’s Horseback Ride to Nauyaca Falls is a family-owned and operated enterprise from start to finish. The family home acts as the start of the journey, where riders pick up their horses, buy souvenirs, and chat with the man and lady of the house. Don Lulo’s two sons then lead small groups up a mountainside and across two rivers, stopping halfway up the mountain for a homemade Tico-style breakfast at Don Julio’s house—another family establishment.

Following breakfast, the tour continues to the top of the mountain, wrapping up at two gorgeous waterfalls that drop 150 ft. and 65 ft. respectively into a refreshing and crisp pool. Upon arrival to the falls, tourists can swim, sunbathe, and the more daring can dive from the falls. Lucky riders may persuade one of the tour guides to put on a very exciting show and dive from a rock that is at least thirty feet up.

After drying off, travelers get back on their horses and make the hour and a half descent back down the mountain, again stopping at Don Julio’s house, this time for a delicious lunch (both meals are included in the tour fee). Don Julio’s house also features a makeshift zoo, with toucans, iguanas, and other exotic creatures that people can photograph and interact with. At the bottom of the mountain, riders return their horses to the family home and have one last chance to buy souvenirs before making their way back to their hotels with memories, photos, and very sore bottoms to remind them of the day’s adventure.