Horseback riding in Bolivia may not be as organized as it is in neighboring countries such as Argentina, but there are plenty of opportunities to take to the saddle and enjoy Bolivia’s spectacular scenery.
It’s possible to ride through canyons, lagoons, sand dunes, grasslands, cloud forests and deep gorges. You can also ride around unique settings like Lake Titicaca and pre-Inca ruins with snow-capped peaks on the horizon.
There are a number of tour agencies around the country that can organize horseback riding – anything from an hour up to multiple-day tours. It’s quite common for companies to offer trips with riding combined with other activities, such as mountain biking, fishing or 4x4 jeep treks. In smaller towns there will often be a local with horses who is able to take tourists out on rides, ask around for recommendations.
Horseback Riding Hotspots
The huge red rock formations and deep canyons around Tupiza provide the perfect ‘wild west’ landscape to fulfill your dreams of being a cowboy. This, or course, is the place where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid allegedly met their deaths, and is probably the most popular place for visitors to go riding in Bolivia. On multiple-day trips you can spend the night in local villages huddled around a campfire. The guides are normally local boys who probably learnt how to ride horses before they knew how to walk. Western saddles are normally used in this area of the country.
You can also go riding in Entre Ríos, which is about 150 kilometers from Tarija. The landscape here is notably different, with grasslands and sub-tropical valleys. This is also Bolivian horse country – the nearby Chaco region is dominated by cattle ranching.
Elsewhere in the lowlands, there are a number of hotels in and around Santa Cruz that offer horseback riding. There are some sand dunes close to the city that you can enjoy on horseback and, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can explore the unique wetlands of the Bolivian Pantanal or the swamps around Rurrenabaque.
A number of tour agencies offer cabalgatas along the Inca Trails around the town of Samaipata. Here you can ride through ravines and rivers in the valleys surrounding the town, and also see archaeological ruins. If you choose to go riding for a couple of days you can camp out in the beautiful scenery.
The spectacular valleys in the southern parts of the city of La Paz provide ideal terrain to explore by horseback. There are also a number of private clubs where you can hire horses - for a price. Some agencies in La Paz and Copacabana will take you for day rides around Lake Titicaca. It’s also possible to see the sights at Tiahuanaco from the comfort of a saddle.
In the semi-tropical valleys near La Paz, horses are also available for hire. In Coroico you can ride along dirt tracks through local settlements and plantations, and in Sorata, get a spectacular view from trails clinging to the cliff edge.
Precautions
Always be sure to check the condition of the horse and look out for signs that they have been mistreated – if you are unsure don’t ride. It’s also a good idea to check the state of the tack (both western and English saddles are used in Bolivia). If you feel at all uncomfortable on your mount, be sure to ask to change horses or get off. Take note – safety helmets are not generally provided in Bolivia.