Hacienda La Norma is a bohemian boutique hotel and adventure retreat set within a beautifully preserved, 170-year-old Costa Rican hacienda in El Guapote, Guanacaste. Surrounded by mountains, farms, rivers, and fruit gardens, it of...
Hacienda La Norma is a bohemian boutique hotel and adventure retreat set within a beautifully preserved, 170-year-old Costa Rican hacienda in El Guapote, Guanacaste. Surrounded by mountains, farms, rivers, and fruit gardens, it of...
We did the horseback waterfall tour and loved it! It was an easy drive from Tamarindo on paved roads. We met a the hotel which had gated parking and nice bathrooms. The horses were large and well-cared for. The guides were nice, pointed out wildlife, and shared interesting information about the plants, animals, and local history. The pace was relaxed as they fitted us with our helmets, adjusted our stirrups, explained how to handle the horses, and set off through the forest. They checked in often to make sure everyone was okay, paid special care to two young girls on our tour, and most of the guides were fluent in English. We saw two families of howler monkeys, lizards, 5 or so species of birds, cows, and dogs. The trees and jungle vegetation were beautiful. The horseback ride was pleasant and mainly shaded, other than crossing the valley between forests. Definitely wear sunscreen, a baseball cap, sunglasses, long pants, and closed toed shoes. It was bumpy at times, especially as the horses liked to trot at times going up or downhill. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with back or neck problems. We wound on trails through the trees, along a dirt road, and up through the hills to the waterfall. The waterfall was a short climb from where we left the horses and was a peaceful rest spot to enjoy the provided fruit cup and bottled water before we started our descent. From check-in to finishing the ride took about 3.5 hours. All-in-all, a good value for the money and a fun way to spend part of the day.
Rebecca James
July 15, 2026
We did the horseback waterfall tour and loved it! It was an easy drive from Tamarindo on paved roads. We met a the hotel which had gated parking and nice bathrooms. The horses were large and well-cared for. The guides were nice, pointed out wildlife, and shared interesting information about the plants, animals, and local history. The pace was relaxed as they fitted us with our helmets, adjusted our stirrups, explained how to handle the horses, and set off through the forest. They checked in often to make sure everyone was okay, paid special care to two young girls on our tour, and most of the guides were fluent in English. We saw two families of howler monkeys, lizards, 5 or so species of birds, cows, and dogs. The trees and jungle vegetation were beautiful. The horseback ride was pleasant and mainly shaded, other than crossing the valley between forests. Definitely wear sunscreen, a baseball cap, sunglasses, long pants, and closed toed shoes. It was bumpy at times, especially as the horses liked to trot at times going up or downhill. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with back or neck problems. We wound on trails through the trees, along a dirt road, and up through the hills to the waterfall. The waterfall was a short climb from where we left the horses and was a peaceful rest spot to enjoy the provided fruit cup and bottled water before we started our descent. From check-in to finishing the ride took about 3.5 hours. All-in-all, a good value for the money and a fun way to spend part of the day.
Rebecca James
July 15, 2026