Sunset & Horses

The best part of Sunset & Horses is the setting: a quiet stretch of Esterillos Beach where you can ride beside the Pacific with very few people around. The horses are described as calm and well trained, and guides such as Gustavo and Diego have helped complete beginners feel at ease.

I like the small maximum of seven riders, which gives the guide room to match horses to riders and take photos along the way. I also like the simple finish with drinks after a sunset ride. The main drawback is location: from Manuel Antonio, the drive can take about 40 minutes, and transportation must be settled clearly before you book.

Key points to know before you book

• A quiet beach ride: Esterillos Beach is wide, secluded, and often nearly empty, especially in the low season.
• Good for beginners: You receive basic instruction, a riding lesson, and a helmet before setting off.
• Small groups: The maximum is seven people, making this more personal than a large trail ride.
• Different morning and sunset formats: Morning departures may include lunch, while sunset rides include drinks but no meal.
• Photos are part of the experience: A guide takes photos, videos, or both, though the exact package should be confirmed.
• Plan transportation carefully: Pickup may be available from designated areas, but extra transportation charges have caused confusion.

A Pacific beach ride with a local feel

This is not a long ranch expedition. It is a roughly 90-minute horseback outing built around one strong idea: get you onto a quiet Costa Rican beach at the best light of day.

You meet at The Riding Adventure ranch in Esterillos Este, near Sunset Del Mar Resort. The stated meeting address is on Sunrise Avenue in the Esterillos Este area, and parking is on the beach. Some directions have been described as confusing, so I would save the exact meeting instructions and confirm them before leaving your hotel.

The setting matters. Esterillos is less crowded than the better-known beaches near Manuel Antonio, and the ride gives you open sand, sea air, and a broad Pacific horizon instead of a busy resort strip. At sunset, the changing light does much of the work. You are there for the pace, the scenery, and the feeling of having a large section of coast to yourself.

The experience is offered as a small group rather than a private ride. Seven people is the maximum, which is a useful limit for horseback riding. The guide can keep the group together, watch inexperienced riders, and stop for pictures without managing a long line of horses.

Starting with a lesson and a suitable horse

Before you ride, the guide explains the basics of handling a horse and gives a short lesson. Helmets are included. This opening is important even if you have ridden before, because every horse responds a little differently and the guide needs to see how comfortable each rider is.

Past accounts identify guides named Gustavo and Diego. Both were described as patient with first-time riders, and one account noted that horses were matched well to a mixed group that included an experienced rider and several beginners. Guide assignments can change, so do not assume one particular guide will lead your departure unless the operator confirms it.

The horses are one of the strongest parts of the experience. They are repeatedly described as calm, gentle, and well trained. That is especially valuable for families and couples with little or no riding experience. A quiet horse lets you look at the water and scenery instead of worrying about every step.

Still, horseback riding is an active experience, not a passive beach excursion. You need to follow the guide’s directions, sit securely, and be comfortable around animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the activity is not recommended for children under eight. The operator also requires each passenger’s age and weight when booking and does not accept people above 100 kilograms.

Wear long pants and tennis shoes or other secure footwear. Add sunscreen and insect repellent. Swimwear and sandals may sound right for a beach outing, but they are poor choices for a saddle and can leave your legs exposed to rubbing.

Riding across quiet Esterillos Beach

Once the group is ready, the ride heads out along Esterillos Beach. The beach is the star of the route. It is described as quiet, clean, broad, and nearly empty in some seasons, giving you space to ride without weaving around sunbathers.

The pace depends on the group. Beginners can expect a relaxed ride, while experienced riders may be allowed to trot or canter if the guide considers conditions and ability suitable. Do not count on a fast ride as part of the standard plan. The most consistent feature is a calm outing with time to enjoy the view.

Some descriptions include riding through shallow water, a stream, forest, and inland trails. The exact route may change with weather, tides, rider ability, and the chosen morning or sunset format. At times, horses may enter the sea, creating the classic beach-riding photographs many people want from Costa Rica.

The beach is also where the activity feels most personal. With a group of no more than seven, the guide can pause to take pictures and help riders adjust. One of the most useful touches is that guides may take photos or videos using a phone. A separate photo package is not clearly defined, so confirm what is included and how you will receive the images.

There is one practical point to watch. One account described crossing a busy highway on the way to the beach and found the crossing exciting, though it was handled safely. This is not a reason to reject the outing, but it is worth knowing if you are traveling with young children or feel nervous around road traffic.

Sunset light, drinks, and the end of the ride

Sunset tours finish with drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not included, so expect nonalcoholic refreshments unless you arrange or purchase something else. The supplied details specifically say that sunset departures do not include a meal.

That distinction matters because some descriptions of the broader horseback program refer to lunch. Morning tours may include lunch, and past accounts describe a Costa Rican meal at a beachfront restaurant. That meal belongs to the morning format, not the sunset departure. If food is important to you, choose the morning option or ask exactly what your selected time includes.

The final drink is a small detail, but it fits the outing well. After riding in the heat, a cold refreshment gives you time to cool down and talk with the guide. The finish is informal rather than elaborate, which suits the local, family-run feel described in past accounts.

Sunset timing also means darkness on the return journey. One account from the Manuel Antonio area described a safe drive back around 7 p.m., but you should still think about transportation before booking. If you plan to arrange your own ride, make sure your driver knows the meeting point and pickup time.

What the $67 price really covers

The listed price is $67 per person. For that amount, you receive a professional local bilingual guide, a riding lesson, helmet use, local taxes, and a photo taken during the outing. The small group and beach location add value, especially compared with a basic riding ring or a crowded trail ride.

The price is less straightforward if you are coming from Manuel Antonio or Quepos. The ride itself takes place in Esterillos Este, not in central Manuel Antonio, and transportation may cost extra. One person was charged $80 for transportation, which made the total price feel poor even though the horseback ride itself was well received.

I would treat transportation as part of the purchase decision. Ask these questions before paying:

• Is hotel pickup available from your exact accommodation?
• What is the total round-trip transportation cost?
• Is the price per person or per vehicle?
• Where exactly will you meet if you drive yourself?
• Is a return ride included after sunset?

A fixed taxi arrangement can make the outing easier, and past bookings included help arranging a taxi. But the written details do not establish one universal transfer price, so get the amount in writing.

For someone already staying near Jaco or Esterillos, $67 is easier to justify. You are paying for a guided beach ride, a quiet setting, a small group, safety equipment, and a local guide rather than simply renting a horse. For someone staying farther south, the transfer can rival or exceed the activity cost.

Family suitability and riding ability

This outing works best for adults, couples, families with older children, and beginners who want a gentle introduction to riding. The operator says most people can participate, and the guide gives instruction before departure.

Families should pay close attention to the age rule. Children under eight are not recommended, and every child must have an adult with them. The age and weight of every rider must be provided at booking, so do not leave those details until arrival.

Experienced riders may enjoy the chance to trot or canter, but the experience is not designed as a technical riding lesson. The guide’s first duty is keeping a mixed group safe and together. If you want a challenging gallop or advanced instruction, this is probably not the right choice.

The small size helps here. An experienced rider and a beginner can share the same outing, as long as everyone accepts a moderate group pace. Guides have been praised for matching riders with suitable horses and building confidence early.

Communication, directions, and what to confirm

Most bookings receive confirmation right away. If you book within five hours of departure, confirmation is sent as soon as possible and depends on availability. I would not leave this experience until the last minute, especially if you are driving from Manuel Antonio.

Communication has not always been perfect. One customer arrived after a long drive and waiting period, then learned the activity had been canceled without timely notice. That is a serious warning, particularly because the meeting point is outside the main tourist centers.

The best protection is simple: confirm the tour the day before, verify the weather, and save the operator’s current phone number. Ask for a map pin or clear directions to the ranch. Some directions point people toward Alma Hotel and a dirt track beside it, while the official meeting point is listed near Sunset Del Mar Resort. Because these references can be easy to mix up, confirm the exact arrival spot.

The cancellation terms are also worth noting. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded. Poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund, and if the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered another option or a refund.

The strongest reasons to choose it

I would choose this ride for the quiet beach, not for a long or demanding horseback route. Esterillos offers the sort of open coastal setting that can be hard to find near heavily visited beach towns.

I would also choose it if I wanted a first riding experience with personal attention. The calm horses, short lesson, bilingual guide, and maximum group size make the activity approachable. The photo stop is another practical plus, since it lets you enjoy the ride without asking someone in your group to document every moment.

Past accounts also describe the guides as friendly and attentive, with particular praise for Gustavo and Diego. The horses are repeatedly described as cared for and well behaved, which is an important point for anyone concerned about animal welfare.

The points that deserve caution

The biggest concern is reliability of communication. A canceled outing without prompt notice can ruin a day, especially after a one-hour drive. Confirm directly and do not assume that a booking confirmation alone settles every detail.

The second concern is unclear inclusions. The supplied information says photos are included, but some accounts describe guides using a rider’s phone rather than providing a separate professional photo and video package. Lunch belongs to morning rides, not sunset rides, and alcoholic drinks are excluded.

Transportation is the third issue. The ride can be worthwhile from Manuel Antonio, but a high transfer charge changes the value. If you have a rental car, driving yourself may make the price more attractive, provided you receive clear directions and allow extra time.

Should you book Sunset & Horses?

Book it if you want a relaxed beach ride, a quiet Pacific setting, and a small group with a guide who can help beginners. It is particularly suitable for couples, families with children eight and older, and riders who care more about scenery and atmosphere than speed.

Think twice if you dislike uncertain transportation costs, need a fully polished booking operation, or want a serious riding workout. Before booking, confirm your guide or group details, transfer price, meeting location, included drinks, and what happens with the photos.

For the best value, stay near Jaco or Esterillos, choose the time that matches your food plans, and arrive prepared with long pants, secure shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent. With those details settled, this can be a memorable and refreshingly simple way to experience Costa Rica from the back of a horse.

FAQ

How long does the horseback ride last?

The activity lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, including the riding experience and the closing refreshments.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at The Riding Adventure horseback ranch in Esterillos Este, on Sunrise Avenue in Puntarenas Province. The listed meeting point is near Sunset Del Mar Resort, with beach parking available.

Is the ride suitable for beginners?

Yes. The guide provides a riding lesson and basic instructions, and the activity is described as suitable for all experience levels. Helmets are included.

Can children participate?

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the activity is not recommended for children under eight years old. The operator must receive each passenger’s age and weight when you book.

Is lunch included on the sunset ride?

No. Sunset tours do not include meals. Drinks are available after the ride, and alcoholic beverages are not included. Morning tours may include lunch.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.