La Ensenada is a National Wildlife Wildlife Refuge on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Here, you can rest and enjoy the peacefulness of the surrounding nature. The Lodge is situated on an extensive property which is home to countless flowers and birds. This makes La Ensenada a perfect place for birdwatchers and nature lovers. The farm has a size of 800 acre and is home to many horses and cattle. About 30 percent of the property is covered in forest and you have the opportunity to explore it on the nature trails. It is one of the last primary and secondary forests in the region.
La Ensenada has 22 bungalows with beautiful views on the nearby Gulf of Nicoya. They include a bathroom with hot water and a spacious terrace with hammocks. You should definitely consider this accommodation if you are planning a birding trip to Costa Rica. Furthermore, the lodge has a swimming pool and a restaurant which serves tasty local meals. La Ensenada has a bar and wireless internet in the common areas.
You can participate in many daily activities of the lodge. La Ensenada is known for its horseback riding tours which take you through the dry forest, salinas, fresh water lakes and pastures. Along the way you will be able to see howler monkeys, crocodiles and many different species of birds. This is a great activity no matter if you are an expert or a beginner.
You can also experience a lot on the property of La Ensenada itself. There are four hiking trails through the different habitats of the reserve. This is especially interesting for you if you are a birder! There are pelicans, herons, parrots, Montezuma oropendulas and bellbirds which live on the property or visit it regularly. The ranch even has another option if you just want to relax. They offer a tractor ride around the ranch to give you show you as much as possible. La Ensenada is a great choice if you are looking for a birding lodge in Costa Rica away from the crowds.
La Ensenada offers two boat tours. The first takes you to the mangroves in the canals of Abangares River. If you are lucky you will see crocodiles, raccoons and iguanas. Moreover, the ranch offers a boat tour to Palo Verde, the closest National Park. The tour takes you to the Bebedero River where you can observe many varieties of birds such us: Crested Caracara, Osprey, Laughing Falcon, Mangrove Swallow and many others. Similar to the first tour, you will also see monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas and raccoons. This is a fantastic way to experience the wildlife of Costa Rica!
This tour is a must-do for birdwatchers and nature lovers in general as Palo Verde National Park hosts a great variety of bird species. But not only bird species like the Jabiru, Ospreys, the White Ibis, Tiger Herons, and Scarlet Macaws can be seen on this tour, be prepared for monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and many more! This tour offers you the opportunity to get close to nature and wildlife and enjoy the Costa Rican rainforest from a river!
Whats Included: Transportation, guide, entrance fee, water and lunch
Recommended Ages: All ages
Tour Duration (approximately): 9 hours.
What to bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant, walking shoes, binoculars, camera, hat, some money for extras.
Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is among the most famous reserves in the world for its biodiversity, conservation, contributions, and scientific researches. This 3,500 hectare of land holds 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves in Costa Rica. Including 4 different ecosystems, this forest offers a home to hundreds of different wildlife species.
Whats Included: A/C round trip transfer from and to your hotel in Monteverde; entrance to the reserve; experienced bilingual guide accompanied by telescope; binoculars; informative guides.
Recommended Ages: 8 – 65 years
Tour Duration (approximately): 4 hours
What to bring: Comfortable clothes; tennis or hiking shoes; camera; binoculars; mosquito repellent.
Horseback riding in Costa Rica carries a very strong tradition. Horses have always been a part of Costa Rican culture, especially in Guanacaste where you can still see the occasional cowboy riding through the city of Liberia.
In that sense, going on a horseback riding tour will offer you a cultural experience as well as an enjoyable one. You can ride through an untouched rainforest trail and spot howler monkeys, sloths and scarlet macaws, or you can trot along the sandy shorelines while enjoying a stunning sunset view. Discover all the ways you can enjoy Costa Rica on horseback!
The province of Guanacaste holds a very strong tradition in cattle farming as part of Costa Rica’s ‘Wild West’. Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one the absolute top locations for horseback tours in light of this tradition as well as the wide range of flora and fauna to be found in the park. You can ride along the diverse trails and discover waterfalls and mineral pools. You will get a chance to spot birds and monkeys as well as the national flower of Costa Rica, the Guaria Morada. You can even delve deeper into Costa Rican culture and combine some of the park’s most popular attractions with a visit to a real cattle ranch.
The Monteverde Cloud forest is one of the most iconic sites in Costa Rica. Exploring this national park on horseback will take you through the thick jungle as well as wide open coffee plantations. Tours can last from a couple of hours to eight days.
Speaking of iconic, what about Costa Rica’s famous conical beauty as the backdrop of your horseback tour? Explore the rainforest, La Fortuna Waterfall and Lake Arenal!
Whether you favor the Pacific or Atlantic coasts, pretty much all of Costa Rica’s beaches become even more magical when explored on horseback. Especially when you take a sunset tour! Some of the best places have to be the beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula, famous as one of the Blue Zone areas in the world. Playa Samara is similar to a hippie commune where the tour horses trot the far edges of the beaches freely after tours. Or perhaps you would like to test your horsemanship on the Caribbean coastlines and visit Cahuita or Puerto Viejo where you can explore the beaches as well as the tropical forest surrounding it. Whichever beach you choose, your riding experience will be enriched by the fresh sea air and stunning sunsets.
Don’t forget that the safety should also extend to the wellbeing of your horse. Although most Costa Rican companies will be pretty good about the care of their horses, make sure you check up front if they are well-treated and well fed as well as rotated regularly so they don’t work too much!
When riding, make sure to wear sun protection, closed shoes and long pants. For the jungle tours, add some bug repellent to the list. And don’t forget to bring your camera for the best of wildlife and nature shots!
Horse riding tours are culturally significant as well as relaxing and are a great way to discover the beautiful Costa Rica. Contact us for more information and let us help you make your next horseback riding vacation a reality!
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