La Fortuna Waterfall Maleku Horseback Ride

This beautiful horseback riding tour starts just half a mile (2 km) south of La Fortuna de San Carlos, where one of our guides or Don Adrian, the owner, will welcome you and escort you to the stable. Once there, the guide will provide safety equipment and instructions of the tour in general.

The guide will pick horses depending on the experience of each of the riders. The ride takes about 45 minutes, and you'll be accompanied by the sounds of the rainforest birds and the La Fortuna River. It is also possible (with a bit of luck) to spot toucans, monkeys, peccaries, coatis and more.

Once you arrive at the entrance of the waterfall, the horses are left behind so you can enjoy the great views from the lookout, this waterfall is 262 feet (80 m) tall. After a short rest and some water, you will walk down 200+ steps to the river. You'll cross over a suspension bridge of 65 feet (20 m) and then reach the bottom of the canyon. Here you can relax and swim in the cool waters of the river for about 30 minutes.

After enjoying the refreshing waters, the walk back to the top begins. Once everyone ready, another 25-minute horseback ride will start, and head toward the Maleku Reserve. At the reserve, participants will have the chance to learn more about the lives and habits of the indigenous people. Next, you'll return to the stable. The tour does not properly involve an indigenous Maleku territory, but a parallel process of its inhabitants, seeking to incorporate within the project all the particularities that this culture has, to generate specific initiatives to encourage sustainable tourism as a source of employment for this population.

This is a great tour recommended for children, families, couples, and young people. Please keep in mind that the hike up and down is moderately strenuous, and not recommended for people with limited mobility, a heart condition or physical ailment.