Centaura is way more than great Horseback Riding. This is a chance to see the real Costa Rica. Riding across rivers, big pastures to gallop with the horses, trails in the middle of the rain forest, rolling hills with breathtaking views. Private-Customized rides with a bilingual-naturalist guide.
Posted By : Autumnwinds
We had a really fun and memorable ride. Our guide, Dani, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the local birdlife and the horses. He knew bird names and songs and where they were likely to hang out. We saw two types of toucan among many other birds. He also found us a sloth. The horses were well fed, well trained, and well cared for with no saddle sores, shod all around, and the tack was in good shape. The helmets were well fitting. We rode through old fields and forests and along old dirt roads with great views. We crossed small streams where the horses could drink. It was hot, and Dani brought cold water bottles along in his insulated saddle bags. Nice touch! The horses were willing and responsive and we galloped several times. I would recommend Centaura for a great experience!
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Posted On : 2024-04-22 11:38:25 
Posted By : Timothy_P
This tour was our favorite horseback riding experience EVER! We were greeted by friendly staff at a brand-new facility. The horses are very clearly taken care of here. The attention to detail by these folks is unprecedented. The equipment fit great and the horses, though full of personality, were very well behaved and loving. The private tour is highly recommended. It was the two of us plus our guide.
The ride itself was a blast. Our guide is very knowledgeable and lives in the same town. He took us out into the raw countryside along sugar cane fields. A gorgeous river ran alongside of it. We had an opportunity to gallop and canter along its banks. We spotted a few different sloths along our journey and were treated to amazing landscape panoramic views.
We took a few breaks to chat and allow the horses to drink water from fresh streams we crossed. Toward the end of the ride we spotted a giant Macaw and received a tour of the city nearby, providing a real view into Costa Rican life.
We simply cannot recommend this tour enough!!! If I could give it 10 stars I would. The value, views, treatment, and experience are all top notch.
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Posted On : 2024-02-10 09:12:47 
Posted By : Mikaela_P
This was a fantastic trip and we would go back to do multiple days of riding in a heartbeat! While they have a wide range of horses to accommodate all guests if you are an equestrian this is the trip to book! Horses are well cared for, talented and athletic. Our guide Andres was wonderful and we truly rode through the country side walk trip canter gallop. As it was private just us and our guide by the end it felt like a hack with close friends! If you ride book this and ask for Andres!
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Posted On : 2024-01-19 21:28:11
Posted By : Amisha_Z
This was such a lovely experience!. My partner and I went on a 3.5 hour ride with our guide, Andreas. He was so kind and knowledgeable, and even shared his contact in case we had general questions about Costa Rica and the rest of our time here. The horses were very clearly well cared for. He told us that the horses work on a week-on, week-off basis, and only go out once a day during their work weeks, which I so respect, being a horsewoman and someone who has had a fair amount of experience with working horses in tourism settings. I HIGHLY recommend this place!
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Posted On : 2024-01-19 13:14:49
Posted By : michelley810
We booked this because it said “private, customized tours” and TripAdvisor views were excellent and said horses were very well cared for.
We all own horses at home and i let them know we were all excellent riders. When we got there, the guide didn’t seem to be aware and asked if we’d ever gone on a horseback ride. Then when we were onto part of the trail where we could canter & gallop, he told my friend Guada that her horse doesn’t trot fast or canter so she should just stay back with the other guide while the rest of us cantered ahead. She was really disappointed as she wanted to be with the rest of us. I explained this to the guide and asked if she could switch horses with them or something but he said no, she should just stay back. So she basically got a walking trail ride which is not what I booked. Additionally, her horse started crow hopping multiple times and at several points had to be led by the back guide. Bucking in itself would’ve been fine but doing it at the side of a cliff definitely concerned her.
More importantly some of the horses have major saddle sores. My sons pony (Cacao) had major sores where the pad was rubbing with every step. The pony didn’t want to move and I could see why. I finally asked the guide if we could pull up the pad. At first he told me “oh, he’s just an old horse. It’s always like that but it’s not bleeding, he’s fine.” Saddle sores don’t need to be actively bleeding to be extremely painful. I’ve owned horses my entire life and we’d never ride a horse with a saddle sore. He finally saw how unhappy I was and did pull the pad forward (pony moved much better after that) but I’m concerned that pony is still in use.
Secondly, the guide’s horse (the palomino) had a major sore at the girth which appears to have abscessed. There is no way that horse should be ridden either until that clears up. It probably explains a lot of the behavior issues from the horse (and the guide seemed completely unaware of how to handle those issues).
I did let the owners know prior to writing this review but didn’t receive any response from them or show of concern for the horses.
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Posted On : 2024-01-18 17:13:17
Posted By : brendamp2
This was a truly magical and incredible experience. It was just my boyfriend and I and we were on the most amazing private horseback riding tour. Our guide was excellent. He knew a lot about the area. Everything was absolutely perfect.
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Posted On : 2024-01-16 15:45:23
Posted By : jeanine r
The one thing that sets this horse riding excursion apart from other riding adventures in the area is that these horses are well cared for and loved like pets. Our guide, Carlos, obviously knew the horse personalities and the horses look young and happy, yet well trained. Most other riding excursions that we have done the horses have not whinnied to each other and looked happy and well cared for. Our 3.5 hour horseback ride, guided by Carlos , was one of the top highlights of our family adventure in La Arenal region even though it rained the whole time! Our daughter LOVES horses and 2 of us have some experience with riding but our 13 year son and my husband have minimal experience and EVERYONE LOVED IT, and everyone felt safe. We rode through sugar cane fields and through a wonderful river, up and down hills, spotted sloths and toucans and other birds and wildlife, and Carlos was extremely knowledgeable! My only comment as a horse person is that we should not have cantered on the pavement on the way home as this is not great for the horses’ joints but far more dangerous for any riders who may fall - otherwise fabulous and would 100% recommend to any other travellers! Carlos made our horse excursion a memory that no one in the family will ever forget, THANK YOU CARLOS!
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Posted On : 2023-12-29 19:17:02
Posted By : Michelle M
We LOVED this horseback riding experience. Danny was an awesome guide/host! We were a group of 8, everyone had a horse with a personality. Although it rained on us (Danny gave us ponchos) we had a great time. The horses were fun, we were able to trot, gallop and even canter. Crossing the river was fun as the horses were splashing each other which we had never experienced. This was absolutely perfect and we would love to do it again.
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Posted On : 2023-07-07 07:07:49
Posted By : gmckenna2023
This was an amazing experience and Danny was such a great guide! The surrounding landscape was beautiful and it was just us and him, felt very peaceful and off the beaten path, you really get to appreciate the nature. Both of us had limited experience with horses and it was completely fine, Danny walked us through everything and we ended up being able to trot/canter a bit which was great. Danny was also just a great person to speak with and went above and beyond - he pointed out lots of cool wildlife, we ended up seeing multiple sloths, monkeys, and toucans. Can’t recommend enough if you’re in the La Fortuna area!
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Posted On : 2023-05-21 18:27:39
Posted By : B99GDchristinan
It was a fantastic trip
The guide and the horses super!!!
We highly recommend this place
Galloping in beautyful nature
A real feel of freedom
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Posted On : 2023-04-15 12:21:04
