Top Dominican Republic Horseback Riding

I rounded up to give this a 5 star because overall the experience was wonderful but it’s probably more of a 4.5 star. I’m glad I read other reviews so I was prepared. The pick up was a a little clunky. When I booked the excursion there was only 1 option for pick up in Bavaro which was Hard Rock Hotel. We were staying in a resort down the road so we got a taxi and went to the Hard Rock for pick up. Since we weren’t staying on the property the security guard wouldn’t let us drive in to the Lobby which was fine but then we got a call from the excursion operator asking which Lobby we were at. There’s more than one entrance so after a few calls back and forth they found us and off we went to the Ranch. We did a private daytime ride that started at 10am. We are a family of 4. Mom, Dad, two boys ages 11 & 13. We thought the horses looked healthy and well cared for. We enjoyed our ride through the Ranch, in some city streets , the trail and down to the river and beach. There were times it felt more like getting into the right position for pictures than enjoying the moment but I loved the pictures and videos at the end. The guides did a good job, we have ridden horses some before so we felt comfortable on our horses. The guides did want us to trot a little more than I was wanting but it was so fun overall. I read some of the reviews on here prior to our trip so I knew we would be quoted a price for the pictures/videos at the end. We were quoted $150 and my husband didn’t feel like haggling so we paid it plus tip of $20 each for the guides. Gallagaraga (sp?) takes the pictures and he is a fun guy. He let my boys go around the ranch and look at the animals. They had 4 new puppies, chickens, turkeys etc and my boys liked that. The Ranch family was very nice. I would recommend wearing jeans or pants for the ride. After our ride, the driver took us back to our resort instead of Hard Rock which was nice as well. Overall we really enjoyed the excursion and would recommend it!

The excursion was seamless. They picked us up from the cruise port, brought us to our horses, and then took us back to port. The horses were gentle and the guides were great! I would recommend pants so the stirrups don’t rub and bring some money for a snack at the beach. The trail was mostly shaded then ends up at a beach. I would highly recommend! The price was very affordable to boot!

This excursion was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. The meeting point is a bit remote if you’re not in the designated pickup zone (we were staying in Sosúa), but it ended up being manageable. Our taxi driver found it by asking some locals, and the staff even helped arrange a ride back for us afterward, which was super helpful. The horseback ride starts with about 15 minutes through a lightly wooded area on a very clear, easy-to-follow path. Then you open up onto the beach—and that’s where it really becomes something special. The scenery was stunning. It genuinely felt like being in a movie. There’s a stop along the beach where you can grab food or drinks. My friends and I opted for drinks and got to hang out, take in the views, and even go into the water with the horses, which was such a cool experience. One of the best parts was the photographer (Lolo) who comes along for the entire ride. You do have to pay extra for the photos, but they came out amazing and were 100% worth it in my opinion. The crew was incredible—so attentive and thoughtful, especially when it came to people’s comfort levels. I had no horseback riding experience and was a little nervous, but they paired me with a very calm, well-trained horse that knew exactly what to do. Honestly, I barely had to guide it—it knew where to go, when to stop, and even how to pose for photos. It made the whole experience feel really safe and enjoyable. One thing to note: we went in March, which is part of the rainy season, so there were some muddy patches along the trail. It actually added to the fun, but just be prepared—you’ll probably get a little dirty by the end. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone. It’s beautiful, beginner-friendly, and just such a fun, memorable experience—even if you’re a little nervous like we were.