Horseback Riding

Horseback riding in Costa Rica can take you along beaches, at the edge of the country roads, through pastures and along forest trails. Riding is great fun- once you get used the different saddle, stirrups and neck-rein steering. Although not strictly necessary, a little equestrian experience will stand you in good stead since ranch horses are usually rounded up for trail duty. Lesson on how to control your mount and special assistance should be requested before setting out on any trail ride.

This is the habitat of blue-winged teal, black bellied tree-duck, white ibis, cattle egret, great blue heron and miscopy duck.

The watery world of the mangrove swamp also provide shelter for termites common raccoons, caimans, pacas, agouties, gray squirrels and howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys.

Brown pelicans, magnificent birds, sandpipers and laughing gulls swoop and dive along the sea shore, while the fine ands of the beach is home to hoards of ghost, mouthless and hermit crabs. Just beyond where the waves brake, numerous spiral mollusk shells and be found.

The beach at Playa Grande

Is where the leather back turtles comes to lay its eggs. This sea turtles and measure up to 2.5 meters (8.5 ft) and weigh around 700 kg (1500pds) . And like other turtles, this species has no hard shell, but rather a black, leathery skin with ridges running leghwise. It is the epitome of a nomad and its favorite food is the poisonous jellyfish. Like all other sea turtles, the leather back spends its life in the warm, tropical seas, coming ashore only when the females nest. The leatherback take over the beach from November to April. They dig their nests one meter deep, left their eggs and cover the pit with sand, turning once again to the sea. After 60 and sometimes 90 days, the hatchling emerge and immediately make their way to the water. Along this treacherous path they are easy prey for crabs, seabirds and various mammals, which means only a few of them are able to survive.

Ostional

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect important nesting sites of turtles, especially the Pacific riddle and leatherback, and occasionally green turtles. At the world Conference for the conservation of the Sea Turtles, which met in Washington in 1979, the Ostional - Nancite Beach (Santa Rosa National Park) was designated the second most important hatchery of the sea turtles in the world.

A large part of the world population of the Pacific turtles arrives at Ostional to nest.

The beaches of Guanacaste

They are exceptionally beautiful. They lie at the foot of coastal range of volcanic rock that dates from the Tertiary era (80-60 million years ago). The rocky headland separates the beaches, but a low tide one can walk along the entire coastline and admire the marine life. The beaches are drenched in sunshine, this being one of their most valued attractions. The sunshine's between 11-12 hours a day during the dry season (December- April), heating the coastal system with an average maximum temperature of 36C during March- April, and an average annual temperature of 27.7 C.

Rainfall is around 1800 mm, but it lasts only a short time. Rainy season starts in June and except for a small summer in July, it rains until November. Normally the mornings are sunny and clouds roll in late in the afternoon. Heaviest rains in September and October.

Tours

Day 0: Arrival and get-acquainted reception.

Day 1: One trek begins! On beaches and country roads we ride to Pirates Bay where there is and Island with a man make staggers cave, used for hiding weapons during the Nicaraguan war. The typical "Sangre de Toro" trees hanging out from the cliffs by the ocean with their magnolia looking lossoms. There are two types, red and white. There of the name that means "Blood of Bull'. Then, through cattle farms next to Robert Vescos old Hacienda "Cabo Velas". Robert Vesco is a famous embezzler that stole $400000 from the US Government.

Playa Grande is famous for it's visitants: The biggest turtle in the world, the Leatherbacks. It is definitely an unique experience to see them come ashore and lay their eggs. That is why after lunch we strongly suggest the clients to relax and take the A/C transportation to the hotel so they an relax in the hotel pool or stroll on the beach picking shells, and get ready for the nights adventure which is watching the turtles come ashore. At Playa Grande we have lunch at the Turtle Hotel (Hotel Las Tortugas). This hotel and Restaurant has specially made windows so that the turtles will not get confused by the lights in the night.

Swim in the turtle shaped pool or get a neck massage in the jacuzzi, or just test in one of the hammocks under a thatched roof. If you want to ride your horse after lunch, we will ride through local villages and past the Tamarindo Estuary, the biggest in the country and famous for it's variety of birds. Dinner served in one of the local restaurants.

Day 2: After breakfast we will cross the Langosta Estuary. This has to be done at low tide. We will now ride along the coast from beach, on corral rock and small trails to another estuary called Havallanas Estuary. This is a surfers spot and we can watch them surf while having a picnic lunch. Swimming is good all along the coast and we can practically get off our horses whenever we fell like it and just jump into the ocean. Local fisherman castings their fishing lines that they reel in around a piece of  pope catch small fish. We will ride past playa Negra, another surfers spot, and up on a plateau above the ocean. Green and red cactus will lime the shore line Estuary with large pieces of drift wood are perfect for jumping with your horse.

Late afternoon we arrive at Hotel Tumalalas cabins in front of the ocean set the shade of old large trees. Each cabin has a porch with a hammock. There is also a hotel pool. Dinner will be fresh whole snapper served under a large thatched roof. The horses have a corral on the beach!

Day 3: Breakfast. Say good byes and transfers to airport.