Caribe Horse
ETHICAL HORSEBACK RIDING TOURS IN PUERTO VIEJO, COSTA RICA – BEACH & RAINFOREST
Professional and ethical horseback riding tours in Costa Rica, through Caribbean beaches and tropical rainforest, with rescued horses and local professional guides.
Clinics, natural horsemanship, equine behavior, riding lessons, hippotherapy, and more.
One of the most complete and ethical horseback riding experiences in Costa Rica.
Our Mission: Ethical Horse Welfare, meaningful experiences, and active support to horse rescue through education and responsible tourism.
A True Ethical Horse Project:
All our horses are rescued from neglect, mistreatment, or mismanagement and are part of our family.
Their physical and psychological well-being is the foundation of everything we do.
Every activity is designed around their needs, not tourism demands.
Participating in our experiences directly supports their care, rehabilitation, and long-term welfare.
Our work is based on love, trust, and passion, developed through natural horsemanship and grounded in solid scientific knowledge, including biomechanics, veterinary principles, behavioral science, psychology, and effective horse–human communication. This approach ensures correct training, physical balance, and long-term psychological well-being, while providing safe, ethical, and professional horseback riding experiences in Costa Rica.
Horseback Riding Tours in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Our horseback riding tours take place along the most beautiful areas of the South Caribbean, including Cocles, Punta Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Playa Arrecife, Playa Grande, and Manzanillo.
Riding through beaches and rainforest allows you to explore this environment in a natural, respectful, and low-impact way.
Each experience is adapted to the rider’s level, from beginners to experienced riders, always prioritizing safety, balance, and correct communication with the horse.
A unique combination of beach and rainforest horseback riding in Costa Rica.
Consistently highly rated on TripAdvisor since 2008, including Travelers’ Choice recognition, and recognized by Zicasso as a Top Travel Specialist, Caribe Horse is ranked among the top nature activities in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
Things to Do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo, in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica, offers a wide range of nature-based activities, including beaches, rainforest exploration, wildlife observation, and cultural experiences.
Among these, horseback riding is one of the most complete ways to explore both the coastline and the jungle in a single experience, allowing a deeper and more natural connection with the environment.
Our ethical horseback riding tours are designed to offer this type of experience, combining nature, animal welfare, and professional knowledge
Clinics, Natural Horsemanship and Lessons
Our clinics and riding lessons in Costa Rica combine practical experience with a fully integrated approach: scientific understanding, equine biomechanics, veterinary principles, psychology, and natural horsemanship.
Our program is based on structured, academic-level knowledge, promoting ethical horse welfare, correct communication, and technically sound riding practices.
We offer activities for all levels, allowing riders to develop real skills and work directly with rescued horses in a controlled and professional environment.
Local Guides & Real Knowledge
All our horseback riding tours in Puerto Viejo are guided by local professionals with extensive experience and deep knowledge of the territory, wildlife, and environment.
We combine local expertise with international equestrian education, offering an authentic, informed, and ethical experience.
⚠️ Volunteering – Temporarily Suspended for Renovation
Volunteering programs are temporarily suspended due to renovation of the facilities. New dates will be announced once the area is ready.
Even during this period, participating in tours, donations, or virtual adoption directly supports the care, rehabilitation, and long-term welfare of the horses.
Welcome to Caribe Horse!
Caribe Horse is a family-run equestrian project based in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, dedicated to ethical horseback riding, horse rescue, and natural horsemanship.
Since 2008, Caribe Horse has been consistently highly rated on TripAdvisor, including recognition such as the Travelers’ Choice Award 2024. Caribe Horse has also received the Zicasso Top Travel Specialist Choice Award.
Our experiences are designed for travelers seeking a deeper connection with horses, nature, and local culture.
With over 40 years of experience, European academic training, and a strong technical background, our approach combines classical horsemanship, equine behavior science, and structured education.
Our rescued horses guide you through Caribbean beaches and rainforest in a natural and respectful way, ensuring a safe, ethical, and meaningful experience.
WHY CHOOSE CARIBE HORSE
Ethical Horseback Riding
Every experience is designed around horse welfare, respecting physical and psychological balance.
Rescued Horses – Real Impact
Your participation directly supports rescued horses and contributes to ongoing rescue efforts.
Local Expert Guides
Deep knowledge of wildlife, nature, and local culture.
Professional and Academic Expertise
Over 40 years of experience with a strong technical and scientific foundation.
Dedicated Facilities and Lifetime Care
Professional infrastructure and protected retirement areas.
More Than a Tour
Lessons, clinics, communication programs, and ethical horse experiences.
Help Rescue Horses- Support Our Ethical Horse Project
Participating in our tours means actively supporting horse rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term welfare in Costa Rica.
Caribe Horse is not a mass tourism business.
It is an ethical project built around the rescue and long-term care of horses
At Caribe Horse, our mission is clear: to rescue horses, give them a better life, and offer ethical, meaningful horseback riding experiences in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica.
Every tour, clinic, or activity you join directly supports the welfare of our rescued horses and the sustainability of our project.
Maintaining rescued horses in this region is complex. The tropical climate, humidity, and seasonal conditions require constant care, daily management, and continuous maintenance of infrastructure, paddocks, and trails.
To guarantee the highest standards, all essential supplies – including hay, feed, vitamins, minerals, veterinary products, and riding equipment – are carefully selected and often imported from the Central Valley, Guanacaste, or from abroad.
Veterinary care is a top priority. While we provide daily monitoring and first aid on-site, specialized treatments are carried out by our trusted veterinarian from the Central Valley, ensuring professional, ethical, and consistent care for each horse.
These standards, together with the quality of nutrition, equipment, and management, explain the level of our services and distinguish our work from other horseback riding experiences.
All our activities – from beach and jungle horseback riding tours to lessons, clinics, and therapeutic programs – are designed with horse welfare as the priority.
Every booking and every visit directly contributes to:
• daily care
• veterinary assistance
• rehabilitation
• infrastructure
• long-term welfare
Everything is fully reinvested into the horses, their environment, and the continuous development of an ethical and professional project.
Our commitment goes beyond our own horses.
We actively support the local community by offering guidance, assistance, and, when possible, veterinary support, feed, and resources to horses in need outside our structure.
Our long-term goal is to expand our facilities, rescue more horses, and provide a safe, respectful, and stable environment for each of them.
You can support this project by joining our experiences, making a donation, or participating in our virtual adoption program.
Every contribution helps maintain high standards of care and allows us to continue rescuing and supporting horses in Costa Rica.
We invite you to meet each of our horses in the “Our Horses” section and discover their individual stories.
Together, we can build a more ethical, conscious, and sustainable future for these extraordinary animals.
Our Horses – Ethical Horse Care in Costa Rica
Each horse has a unique history, personality, and level of rehabilitation
At Caribe Horse, we dedicate our lives to providing rescued horses with the care, knowledge, and respect they truly need.
All our horses come from situations of neglect, mistreatment, or misunderstanding. Each one has a unique story, background, and personality. Our horses range from 4 to 25 years old, and not all of them are able, or meant, to participate in activities. Some are fully rehabilitated and can be part of our experiences, while others, due to age, physical condition, or past trauma, live exclusively as part of our family without working.
The oldest horses, or those with more complex pasts, are retired in our 79-acre private reserve on the mountainside, within a protected biological corridor in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica. There, they live in freedom, with individualized care and a peaceful environment for the rest of their lives.
At Caribe Horse, horse welfare goes far beyond basic care.
Correct nutrition, veterinary assistance, and love are essential, but they are not enough on their own.
Providing an adequate environment is fundamental. In tropical climates like the South Caribbean, horses require proper infrastructure, including safe, dry shelters and well-designed spaces that protect them from constant humidity and heavy rains. The absence of appropriate structures is, in itself, a form of neglect.
Equally important is technical knowledge.
Working with horses without understanding biomechanics, posture, and correct riding practices can cause serious physical damage, including muscular and skeletal issues. For this reason, every activity is based on professional knowledge, correct training methods, and a deep understanding of the horse’s body.
The psychological aspect is just as important as the physical one.
Many forms of mistreatment are not visible. Fear, confusion, pressure, and lack of communication can deeply affect a horse’s well-being, just as happens in human relationships.
Our approach is based on natural horsemanship, communication, trust, and respect for each horse as an individual. Every horse has its own personality, sensitivity, and history, and must be approached accordingly.
Beyond our own horses, we are actively committed to supporting the local community by promoting ethical horse care. We provide guidance, assistance, and, when possible, support for horses outside our structure, helping improve their living conditions and raising awareness about correct management and respect.
Our goal is not performance, but long-term physical and psychological well-being, ensuring that every horse can live a life that respects its nature, its needs, and its individuality.
We are committed to animal welfare, ethical horseback riding, and environmental responsibility, and we continue to develop our project through education, clinics, volunteering programs, and therapeutic activities for those who want to truly understand and respect horses.
Ethical Horseback Riding Tours in Puerto Viejo – Costa Rica
Make your time in Costa Rica unforgettable with an ethical horseback riding experience through Caribbean beaches and rainforest.
Suitable for beginners, families, and experienced riders.
Private tours are available for a more personalized experience.
Advance booking is required.
Private & Custom Horseback Riding Experiences
We offer private and tailor-made experiences for those looking for something more exclusive.
Perfect for couples, experienced and professional riders, or guests who want a personalized and deeper experience with horses and nature.
Volunteering – Horse Rescue & Natural Horsemanship
Come and learn about natural horsemanship with our rescued horses in a unique tropical environment in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica.
We offer volunteering programs starting from a minimum of 2 weeks, designed for people who want to deeply understand horses, their behavior, and their needs, while actively contributing to an ethical rescue project.
Our daily work is entirely centered around the horses and their well-being.
Volunteers become part of this process, supporting activities that require consistency, responsibility, and attention to detail.
Caribe Horse is a family-run project where tours, lessons, clinics, and donations are essential to sustain the rescue and long-term care of the horses. These are demanding activities that require continuous effort, and the contribution of volunteers plays an important role in maintaining high standards of care for both horses and guests.
During their experience, volunteers can learn about:
• natural horsemanship and communication
• behavior and psychological consequences of mistreatment
• horse welfare, care, and daily management
• natural riding principles
• health challenges and treatments in tropical environments
Our approach is based on the study of equine behavior, communication, psychology, and biomechanics, developed over centuries of knowledge and continuously deepened through experience and education.
Each horse is an individual, with a unique history, personality, and sensitivity.
For this reason, working with horses requires not only technical knowledge, but also the ability to observe, understand, and respect their nature and their past experiences.
Many horses that come from difficult situations carry not only physical, but also psychological trauma. Understanding and respecting this aspect is essential to building trust and supporting their rehabilitation.
This experience is designed for people who want to go beyond a simple activity and truly understand what it means to work with horses in an ethical, conscious, and responsible way.
