Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall
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La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience Costa Rica’s wild and beautiful rain forest the historic way on a scenic horseback ride to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Travel on private, forested trails away from any roads, at a pace that allows for close observation of jungle life. Dismount for a short hike to the famous waterfall, where you can cool off with an optional swim.
- Connect with nature and animals on a guided horseback ride
- Traveling by horse is a peaceful, less strenuous way to explore the jungle
- Cross a hanging bridge and take a short hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall
- Horses are specially trained from a young age for rider safety
What's Included
- Private transportation
- All Fees and Taxes
- Trained Horses
- Security Eqipment
- Tips for driver or guides
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotels far from La Fortuna have a extra charge, if your hotel is between "Hotel Las Cabañitas" and "Hotel Tabacon" we can pick up you.
Itinerary
1
La Fortuna Waterfall
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Vincent_G
This was a pretty awesome experience. It was awesome for me because I have never been on a horse before but you also still get to see a very stunning waterfall. When you get to the start of the steps down to the waterfall, you leave the horses and have the option of doing the steps down to the waterfall or going to an observation point which is nice for a broader group of people. I did the steps down because you get to swim near the waterfall. The steps down and up were not extremely difficult. It gets a bit tiring on the way up but id say its still doable for most. The waterfall swimming area is very crowded since its open to the public which is unfortunate but you can still find your way to get your own pictures with enough effort. You do get about 45 mins to swim and hang out though so thats nice. And then a simple ride back on the horse. Would definitely recommend this tour
Reviews
4.6
based on 53 reviews
Sarah_M, Mar 2026
Guide was constantly looking to find things for us to see. He was very knowledgeable. Horses were also very calm and knew their way.
Tough walking back up from the waterfall but well worth it.
Jeff_M, Mar 2026
Make sure your ready for 400 steps up and down but it was an amazing experience nonetheless would do again
CHRISTOPHER_C, Mar 2026
Nice experience but felt it was too short of a horse ride. We only had about an hour total riding time. While the waterfall was a nice experience we were looking for more a horse riding experience.
Vincent_G, Mar 2026
This was a pretty awesome experience. It was awesome for me because I have never been on a horse before but you also still get to see a very stunning waterfall. When you get to the start of the steps down to the waterfall, you leave the horses and have the option of doing the steps down to the waterfall or going to an observation point which is nice for a broader group of people. I did the steps down because you get to swim near the waterfall. The steps down and up were not extremely difficult. It gets a bit tiring on the way up but id say its still doable for most. The waterfall swimming area is very crowded since its open to the public which is unfortunate but you can still find your way to get your own pictures with enough effort. You do get about 45 mins to swim and hang out though so thats nice. And then a simple ride back on the horse. Would definitely recommend this tour
Sarah_K, Feb 2026
I was slightly disappointed with the tour. I thought that it was going to be more of a guided experience with an explanation of the different birds, wildlife, flora and fauna but sadly that wasn’t the case. We just rode straight to the entrance to the waterfall and back again. Our guide stayed at the rear of the group and didn’t utter a word the whole time. When we got to the falls he left us to descend on our own joining us towards the end. I did enjoy the experience overall but I had expected a little bit more from the guide.
Barbara_L, Feb 2026
Very fun. You don’t have to have experience with horses, they are gentle and know the routine. Our guide, Cell was professional and very flexible to make most of our experience . Lots of steps to waterfall, but easily doable if in decent shape. Recommend. Good value
Corrie_K, Feb 2026
Really enjoyed this trip. The horseback riding was lots of fun. The stairs down to the waterfall could be difficult in places - 2 of our group have bad knees but they both made it - we went really slow. The waterfall and swimming was an amazing experience.
Would definitely recommend this adventure
Savinia_K, Jan 2026
Amazing!!! Horses very calm!
Very beautiful place and instructor Celle was very helpful and showd us a lot of animals during the trail! Totally reccomended!
Damon_C, Jan 2026
We had a fantastic time riding the horses. Our guide was great and spoke good English. The hike to the water was a legit set of steps and the waterfall was beautiful.
Lori_W, Dec 2025
It was just okay. The guides were nice and pointed out wildlife which was nice. But there were too many people in the group for the narrow trail we were on. We had about 16 total which should’ve been ok, but the trail was so narrow and the horses basically did whatever they wanted to do. Horses kept competing for the front of the line and bumping into each other and mashing riders’ legs. It was a bit comical.
The pictures are deceiving. You don’t ride through a field, river, or go to the top of a hill. You ride mostly on two 36” concrete tracks with a little grass, dirt, and stones between them through a jungle. I did not expect to be on a concrete trail. The horses kept slipping on the concrete tracks on the way back because it was slightly wet and downhill. It was a bit unnerving seeing horses in front of you slip and then try to catch their footing with a rider on top.
The waterfall was amazing though. Once we dismounted the horses, it was a lot of work to get there and back on foot. Unless you are in pretty good cardio shape (or young), you may need a lot of stops on the way back up. Also it was odd that the guide split us into two groups - those planning on getting in the water and those who were not. He took the ones getting in the water on a different path, leaving a small group to navigate the rest of the trail to the waterfall (and back) by ourselves. If someone had an accident, there would’ve been no way to let him know. The waterfall was amazing. The scenery was beautiful. But the horse ride was not what I thought I was paying for.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Lori,
Thanks for the review. We sure appreciate all the feedback provided in order to improve our experience.
Cheers,
Daniel
Pamela_D, Dec 2025
The guide was friendly, flexible pick up location, horses are well trained. This takes you to the steps to hike down to the waterfall. When I booked it, I thought you rode ‘down’ to the waterfall. We did this so our mom could go. She’s 80 and couldn’t do the steps down. Still a good experience, but we would’ve done something different for the day had we known this detail.
Brittany_H, Nov 2025
Such a fun experience! Our guide, Cell, was great and assisted with taking really nice pictures. The horses were calm and knew exactly what to do. The waterfall was beautiful.
Erin_P, Nov 2025
The horses were well trained and the tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. The views were beautiful.
Emily_S, Oct 2025
This is a great experience! I loved riding the horses up to the waterfall.
I will say that the horses go at their own speed and occasionally they break out into a trot, so beware if you are a first time rider. Overall a great time!
Ronald_S, Aug 2025
Great horses, right in La Fortuna. You ride up to the the Waterfall, leave the horses, go hike to the Falls and return on horseback. We did some trotting, the horses were very lively and fun. The guides were outstanding, and of course the Falls are magnificent.
Latoya_P, Aug 2025
I would not recommend for someone with no riding experience. Tame horses were given to kids thankfully. My friend and I expressed that we were not comfortable riding the horse back after reaching the area for hiking. I had become so anxious we decided to sit out the hike. I was shaking so badly I refused the water offered by the guide. He made me feel bad for not taking it saying “I need to help him”. I asked if we could end our tour requesting to go back without having to ride the horse. He shook his head no and we were told to stay in the waiting area until the group returned. While waiting another guide with a different tour came near my area. I pleaded with him to help my friend and I end our tour because we were afraid. He said he couldn’t help us. I contemplated walking back, but realized how far out we actually were and was afraid to be caught in the jungle after dark. Not to mention the trail was full of horse poop. When my guide returned from the hiking portion I begged for a car to come and take us back to the reception desk. After being told there was no other way back other than the horse several more times the guide finally agreed to call a car for us after I expressed to him that I was holding back tears the whole time and was so afraid I thought I was going to urinate on myself. He replied for me not to feel bad because grown men have cried. After being brought to the reception desk, I asked the woman how many people come back from that experience in tears. She laughed and said “A few. Why? Was it your horse”. We scheduled a zip lining tour that we cancelled because of anxiety caused from this experience. We were under suspicion that it was run by the same people. We were also denied our money back. It’s ok though. I’m just thankful my friend and I were able to hold on and didn’t get hurt and ruin the duration of our trip or worse.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Latoya and Fredareka,
The horses are completely trained and safe for our two daily tours. All of them are used to the private safe trails that we use. We get riders from little kids with people with no prior to experience during our visits. We are very sorry that your anxiety made you uncomfortable during the ride but safety from our end is always guaranteed.
I wish we could address your concern but unfortunately you and your friend Fredareka have now submitted different stories and versions I guess just to get a free tour. Unfortunately we cant refund a tour that was operated. We also think you wanted to cancel last minute since you guys were so late to the meeting point we had to wait longer and delayed the tour for the other clients.
We checked with our guides, with our front desk and with everyone involved since your friend Fredareka requested a refund with a different version, and all of our staff have not reported or remember this incident. We understand we would get a bad review because you are not getting a free tour, but buyers beware: safety and trained horses are always a must.
Cheers,
Daniel
Roderick_H, Jul 2025
The horses were amazing--they knew the way. No need for the guide, but he was great too. The stop at the Arenal waterfall was a treat and required a fairly lengthy and treacherous hike down the other side of the mountain--not recommended for those with a weak legs. The hike back up the mountain to the horses and changing station was a challenge even for me, and I run 15 miles a week. Wear your hiking tennis shoes for the hike to protect your feet. The waterfall was amazing, powefull, and a lot bigger than it appears in the photos. My wife enjoyed this tour more than ziplining or the ATV tour. It was her first time in a horse.
Pamela_M, Jul 2025
My family really enjoyed this! The guides were great and we had a nice steady paced journey on the horses. The waterfall views were amazing, and although we couldn’t go into the waterfall due to water conditions it didn’t put a damper on our experience. The walk up from the waterfall is pretty strenuous, but well worth the view.
Yanique_C, May 2025
If you're traveling to Costa Rica please book this trip , from start to beginning it is very beautiful. The tour guys are amazing the horses are amazing the waterfall is beautiful and the entire thing was just wonderful . The horses are well trained so please don't be scared as I was but it was great . Take water shoes and rain coat as it gets rainy and rocks in waterfall is slippery .
Craig_R, May 2025
Great outing with Cell. He was professional, informative and patient. The riding was just long enough with very well trained horses. The waterfall and river beautiful and a refreshing place to swim
Helene_B, May 2025
Our guide was great and Very friendly! My particular horse was gentle and calm, as I am VERY new. Absolutely beautiful scenery. Mother Nature did its thing so we got hit with a lot of rain, so we chose not to partake in the hike part. However, please be advised the actual hike itself is quite a bit longer than advertised. More like 40 min give take each way. BUT you’ll see such beautiful waterfalls.
hannah_t, May 2025
Christian was our tour guide and he was great! The horses were well trained. Amazing adventure, we loved every second of it!
Jennifer_W, Apr 2025
Our guide was very kind and helpful but we did not end up getting any fruits and we also had to wait an extra 30 minutes for the other guests at the rendezvous point. Also the horse riding portion is short for the cost.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the feedback, we appreciate your input and your visit. We are sorry that we were delayed in the pick up of other clients.
Our tour rides for approximately 2 hours total through private property and never public street. We are sorry to hear that this amount of time or the amount of the rate would be out of your preference.
We hope you have a great rest of your trip.
Daniel
Maria_R, Apr 2025
We had two guides, Christian age 17, and Santiago age 15, these young men were fantastic. Took us all over the place and we even chased some deer we found. Two guard dogs accompanied us as well. I highly recommend this place and would request these men as well. Terrific time for my wife, 11 yrs old daughter and myself. I’d have been happy just to hang out with my new friends all day!!!
Suzannah_K, Apr 2025
Fun ride, bring a bathing suit. Saw lots of wildlife! Saw toucan, monkey-like creatures, beautiful birds
Jennifer_P, Apr 2025
Cell gave an amazing tour with fun, kindness, knowledge and a zest for tourism! We loved this tour and felt it was top of our Costa Rican experiences. Breathtaking views, amazing animal sitings, and entertaining horses!
Nancy_A, Mar 2025
No BRAINER...amazing experience to book! The amount of time spent on the horses, the fact that the horses are lively and will trot/canter, as well as the time at the stunning Fortuna Waterfall make this a must book experience. Oh, and the price is incredibly reasonable for the experience and location. The guide was so nice, even grabbing a few things my husband dropped out of his bag while riding without knowing. One of the best horse riding experiences I've ever had, and I have had my fair share of them to be honest.
Mia_L, Mar 2025
The tour guide exhibited a friendly demeanour and granted us the freedom to trot at our preferred pace. He ensured our comfort with the horses.
The ascent to the waterfall was not overly taxing, and the walk from the suspension bridge was beautiful. The ascent over the boulders to the waterfall was enjoyable. I highly recommend wearing water shoes. I opted for my Keen hiking/water shoes, which provided some traction, but still slightly slippery. However, this enhanced my confidence in navigating the rocky terrain. The return journey to the horses (by walking all the steps) was physically demanding but manageable. Restrooms were conveniently located before descending to the waterfall for changing. The only thing that I would’ve wished was a longer duration for the horseback riding.
Jamie_T, Mar 2025
Our experience was spectacular! Our guide, Cell, made the experience what it was! I cannot even describe how great he was. The horse he picked for everyone was a perfect match, and riding was amazing. Getting to the waterfall was not easy, but worth it when you see how amazing it is! Getting back is not for the weak! I just can’t say enough good things about this experience!
Heather_W, Mar 2025
Really great experience! The guide Sell was so gracious and kind. We managed to see howler monkeys and a sloth during the ride back from the falls. The waterfall is beautiful.
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per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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