Nosara has loads of adrenalin-pumping adventure activities from touring the mountains in a military-grade TOMCAR to flying through the rainforest on one of the world’s longest zip-lines. But, remember, part of visiting Costa Rica is enjoying la pura vida (the pure life), slowing down and taking in the beautiful natural surrounds. Below we share one of the best ways to do just that—horseback riding.
We started our morning at the Boca, the mouth of the river where the Rio Nosara and the Rio Montana converge and spill into the Pacific. Our guide was Manuel, a Tico who has been caring for the horses at Boca Nosara Tours for over ten years. Matt and I were both horseback-riding amateurs, having done it only once before, but Manuel and the team put us at ease, giving us instructions and making sure we were comfortable handling our horses before we left.
Atop our beautiful horses, Palomo and Zafiro, we first headed into the nature reserve not far from the property. Thick mangroves filled the wetlands beside the trail. Howler monkeys groaned from high up in the canopy. Colorful birds like Motmots, Violaceous Trogans, and Long-tailed Manakins darted past. Manuel taught us all about the wildlife and some of the native trees too, like the grand Guanacaste tree, which drops pods with beautiful brown seeds. We passed a point on the river which was said to often have crocodiles but didn’t spot any.
A dirt road led us back into the thick jungle, this time closer to the beach. The rainy season had just begun and the plants were turning from dry and brown to vibrant green. The horses, used to eating hay, were grabbing for the tender greens like a kid grabs for candy. We continued on, Manuel blazing through the jungle with his machete, cutting back any overgrown plants that might be in our way.
Soon we were on the beach. Playa Pelada was all but deserted. It was a calm day and the ocean was a picturesque aquamarine. We passed by the famous blowhole on the rocks just as a wave came thundering in, a little girl and her parents getting sprayed by the mist. As we started rounding the corner, Manuel asked if we would like to gallop. We said we would and the horses were off, bounding through the fluffy white sand.
We soon entered the jungle again and climbed the hill to a lookout. In front of us was a stunning view of the cove below. Just when we thought Costa Rica couldn’t amaze us anymore with its natural beauty, it proved us wrong once again.
Horseback riding was of our favorite activities while living in Nosara. The ride was relaxing and exciting at the same time, and we were able to see so much in just a couple of hours. There are lots of tour companies in the area but we loved our ride with Boca Nosara Tours.
So if you’re looking to take a break from the heart-pumping activities that Costa Rica is famous for, be sure to add a horseback tour to your list. Whether it’s in Nosara or one of the many other towns offering tours, we’re sure you’ll love the laid-back pace, connection with nature, and most of all, chance to experience la pura vida.
Post by: Jennifer Turnbull-Houde & Matthew Houde
