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Guanacaste Getaway Ride
Experience a taste of
Guanacaste's traditional horse culture, learn about Natural
Horsemanship, and enjoy riding comfortable Criollo horses. |
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Join us for
an exceptional riding getaway at a horse ranch located minutes
from the famous white sand beaches of Guanacaste. Known for their
beautiful, well cared for and trained Criollo horses, Kay and Esteban
will treat you to a real down home hospitality and great riding.
Surrounded by the giant Guanacaste dry forest trees and colorful
tropical flowers, the ranch is an oasis for wildlife, especially howler
monkeys and tropical birds. In addition to riding, take a refreshing
dip in the splash pool, lounge in a hammock in the shade, or take an
early morning bird walk on the surrounding trails. We will design a
horse back riding vacation for both riders and non riders.
 IT-CRIT14
Rates include accommodations, most meals,
land transportation, 3.5
riding days
5 days/ 4 nights $ 895
Single: + $ 200
4 days/
3 nights $ 695
Single: + $ 200
also: see longer
Old Spanish Trail
2008 Dates: any time from
November 15 to Aug 15
Meeting: Santa Cruz
Airport: Liberia or Tamarindo Airport
Transfer: Included from airport
Horses:
Spanish Criollos, Paso
and Quarter mix
Tack:
Western, English, McClellan
Pace: Moderate with trots, canters,
and some gallops
Level:
All
levels
Min/Max: 1-8 riders
Non Rider: $695 / $595
ITINERARY INCLUDES:
Airport Transfers, 7 nights lodging,
meals local horse
guides
NOT INCLUDED:
International Airfare, all items of a personal nature, meals other than
breakfast, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, Costa Rica departure tax
Accommodations
-
Stay at
the ranch in the cozy Spanish style ranch house or private casita
surrounded by tropical flowers and shady trees. Cool off in the splash
pool after your ride or sip a cold drink while you watch the horses from
the porch rockers. Ranch breakfast, lunch and most dinners provided.
Extensions to beautiful beach B&Bs or one of the many hotels or condos,
can be arranged before or after your stay. Visitors may want to
enjoy the many other vacation attractions or just lounge on the beach
watching colorful Pacific sunsets. Transportation provided from
Liberia, Tamarindo and area hotels.
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Liberia Airport to
the finca and equestrian center located just minutes from the
beautiful Pacific beaches of Guanacaste. After lunch, riders will be
give an orientation to the ranch, a Horse Show featuring some of our
beautiful Criollo horses and, after selecting your horse, take a
short ride through the Guanacaste hills at sunset. Dinner or late
supper at the ranch. (may vary depending on arrival times)
Day 2: After breakfast, you will have an introductory lesson
riding the beautiful Spanish Criollo horses of Costa Rica, known for
their noble temperament and comfortable ride. You will then ride the
old Spanish oxcart trails, passing through beautiful wooded
countryside and small typical villages. Along the way you may see
Howler Monkeys, iguanas, colorful tropical birds or other wildlife,
while getting a glimpse of the traditional sabanero, cowboy culture,
of the Guanacaste people. We will stop for lunch along the way at a
typical restaurant, and then continue our ride through the ranch
country and dry tropical forest. In the afternoon, take a dip in the
splash pool before dinner at the ranch.
Day 3: After breakfast, you will do an early morning ride
through beautiful old ranch trails and cattle country to the quaint
town of Tempate on the Old Spanish Trail for lunch. Then return to
the ranch along rustic, giant tree lined trails. Free Afternoon –
you will be taken to Tamarindo Beach famous for its white sand
beach, shopping and great surfing. Watch a spectacular Pacific
sunset, then choose one of the many fine restaurants for dinner on
your own. Transport back to the ranch. (Afternoon option: ½ day
Sunset Sailing and Snorkeling Tour $75)
Day 4: After breakfast, start your day with a demonstration
of Natural Horsemanship training working with young horses or
another lesson riding the beautiful Tope horses used in local
weekend fiestas and parades. After lunch, you will be taken to
Hacienda Pinilla for a ride with local sabaneros through a working
cattle ranch, ending with a spectacular ride along some of
Guanacaste’s Pacific coast beaches, mangroves and estuaries. Enjoy
cantering your horse along one of Guanacaste’s most famous white
sand beaches. Farewell dinner at a typical beach restaurant
included.
Day 5: After Breakfast, you will have time for ring work with
your horse, depending on flight times, then transfer to the airport
with an optional stop at a gift shop or market.
Optional Alternative Day during Fiesta Season - Ride with
us in a Tope, the traditional Sunday Horse Parades, then sample the
food and watch the colorful bull riding after at one of Costa Rica’s
famous fiestas. A real taste of Guanacaste Horse Culture.
Note: the order of the days may be changed to take advantage of
seasonal, local fiestas and horse events, or weather. Tips and
alcoholic drinks not included.
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History
 Kay and Esteban, have been providing
quality horseback riding tours for over 12 years, as well as
breeding and training the wonderful Spanish Criollo horses.
Kay is a
wildlife artist with a Ph.D. in Biology and Ecology originally from
Michigan, and Esteban, her husband, is a
Zotecnista ( farm vet)
born and raised in Guanacaste. Life on the ranch is a
comfortable blend of their two cultures. Kay first came to Costa
Rica as an ecology professor and later director of an international
conservation organization working on tropical forest preservation
and protection. A life long avid rider, she soon fell in love with,
not only the noble criollo horses of Guanacaste, but also her farm
vet, Esteban. Esteban’s family has been part of the horse and
cattle culture of Guanacaste for over five generations. Kay and
Esteban have developed Finca Casagua into one of the finest horse
ranches in the area breeding and training their own stock. Located
in an oasis of large Guanacaste trees, surrounded by green pastures,
just minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica,
the ranch is centrally located to take advantage of Guanacaste’s
famous tourists attractions.
About Guanacaste – Costa Rica’s north Pacific
province of Guancaste is one of the hot vacation spots in the
world. Famous for its vast white sand beaches, surfing breaks,
world class sport fishing, dry tropical forest flora and fauna, and
of course, colorful cowboy or Sabanero culture, Guanacaste offers
endless options to the rider and non rider alike. Once a remote
vacation spot, Guanacaste is now served by all the major airlines
through the new international airport in Liberia, just 45 minutes
from the ranch and Pacific Beaches.
About
the Horses
– “Our horses are special, they are why we are
here.” Chosen for their noble temperament and comfortable gate, the
Spanish criollo horses of Guanacaste are used for cattle ranching,
rodeo, pleasure riding, fiestas and even lower level dressage. A
combination of blood lines from the Andalusian, Barb, Jennet and
later the Peruvian Paso, the criollo horses are also the foundation
for the Paso Costarricence. Casagua staff will match rider to horse
to give the best riding experience available in the area. Most of
our horses were born on the ranch and trained with Natural
Horsemanship, Imprinting and other non- violent methods. In
addition to tours and trail rides, boarding and training, Casagua
most recently began a “Paint and Paso” breeding program with a goal
of breeding criollo horses with “color and comfort” using their
handsome paint stallion and criollo mares.
Traditional Fiestas & Tope Horse Parades -
From the end of
November to the end of July is Fiesta time Costa Rica. Every weekend
traditional small town fiestas feature bull riding, traditional
foods and dance. Horses abound, from Guanacaste cowboys to residents
and visitors riding a variety of Costa Rica horse breeds. Costa
Rican pasos horses offer a smooth high stepping ride. Sundays from
50-1000 horse enthusiasts meet for the colorful Topes or horse
parades and fiestas. Anyone can join in the festivities as a band
leads the high stepping horses through town to the fiesta and bull
ring. After the parade, riders and their guests are treated to a
reception with traditional food, drinks and music. Later riders join
the fiesta to watch the bull riding or even go to a dance.
Natural Horsemanship & Equine Education -
During your visit
learn more about basic horsemanship, Natural Horsemanship training
or take lessons either traditional Cowboy style or the high stepping
Spanish style on our beautiful Costa Rican pasos. Casagua
staff continually improve their Natural Horsemanship training skills
with clinicians in the US and Costa Rica. Casagua hosts a variety
of clinics on all aspects of horse training and health.
Weddings & Private Parties -
We offer private
parties and wedding packages including weddings on horseback, ranch
weddings, pre wedding parties and receptions for large or small
groups. Even non riders enjoy our Sabanero Show featuring beautiful
Spanish horses and Guanacaste cowboys. Let us help you design your
perfect day and a honeymoon on the beach.
Side
Trips and Attractions
Deep
Sea Sport Fishing
Canopy Tours
Kayaking
Sunset Sailboat Tours
Day Spas
Surfing
Arenal Volcano day tour
Golfing
Bird watching
Monkey
Rescue Center
Day Trips to the Arenal Volcano
Rental Cars to explore on your own
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