Puerto Vallarta Horseback Riding

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Back to Puerto VallartaHorseback Riding

Travel agents and local ranches can arrange guided horseback rides. Rancho Palma Real, Carretera Vallarta, Tepic 4766 (tel. 322/222-0501), has an office 5 minutes north of the airport; the ranch is in Las Palmas, approximately 40 minutes northeast of Vallarta. It is by far the nicest horseback riding tour in the area. The horses are in excellent condition, and you enjoy a tour of local farms on your way to the ranch. The price ($62; American Express only) includes breakfast and lunch.

Another excellent option is Rancho El Charro, Av. Francisco Villa 895 (tel. 322/224-0114; cell 322/294-1689; www.ranchoelcharro.com), which has beautiful well-cared for horses, and a variety of rides for all levels, departing from their ranch at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Rides range in length from 3 hours to 8 hours, and in price from $47 to $100. There's even the $60 Wild Ride, where you gallop along a ridge to a jungle waterfall -- too often, riders are disappointed with only trotting along well-marked trails on these excurions, and this ride allows experienced riders much more freedom. Rancho El Charro also has multiple-day rides, check their web site for details. Rancho Ojo de Agua, Cerrada de Cardenal 227, Fracc. Las Aralias (tel./fax 322/224-0607), also offers high-quality tours, from its ranch located 10 minutes by taxi north of downtown toward the Sierra Madre foothills. The morning and sunset rides last 3 hours and take you up into the mountains overlooking the ocean and town. The cost is $52. Both of the ranches listed above have their own comfortable base camp for serious riders who want to stay out overnight.