Itinerary for 10 day 9 night workshop/ trek adventure
Pick up from SJO airport and drive for one hour to Santiago de Puriscal nestled in the mountains above the bustling and crowded central valley of San Jose.
Arriving at Barking Horse Farm, let freshly made juices and delicious vegetarian cuisine help you rest, relax and recover from your flight.
On this day you will also meet your horse. We take the time to assure a good match between horse, rider and equipment. This will be the horse that you use for the workshop and the trek so we want to find the perfect match.
Day 2 & 3: Parelli Workshop
The workshop begins in our 20 x 40 meter ring.
We will start bright and early to avoid the mid day heat. Breakfast is served at 6am and the workshop runs from 7-10 am and then again in the afternoon between 2-5 pm for a total of 6 hours per day of direct instruction. This schedule allows for a long relaxing lunch with your instructor to discuss your experiences during the pervious sessions.
There is also time for a siesta in a hammock in the shade or a short hike will take you to a refreshing water fall and swimming hole.
This is also when we can examine detailed maps of the route, discuss the trip and answer any questions that you might have.
Day 4:
We leave the farm and travel through mountainous farm land. Traveling through a private farm we climb to 3600 feet where on a clear day you can see the ocean in the far distance.
From this vantage point we begin to descend through villages stopping for lunch in the small town of Perdonal where we will have lunch with a local family.
Continuing on after lunch to the settlement of Polka where we will spend the night with a rural farming family.
Here you will have the opportunity to experience true Costa Rican hospitality. Our bilingual guides will be present to facilitate a rich cultural exchange.
Day 5:
In the morning we start out early heading towards the rainforest of Mastatal. The terrain is rugged, ascending and descending through the steep mountains, crossing rivers and passing cascades and small waterfalls along the way.
We have lunch with a rural farming family. Everyone loves having lunch with Betty and her family.
She will teach you how to make hand made tortillas while she cooks lunch over the woodstove. Lunch always includes her home made cheeses.
After a long day of riding we arrive at the organic farm of Villas Mastatal. Owned and opperated by a young Costa Rican couple we will be lodged in the rustic setting of the bunk house over looking the pasture where the horses will be spending the next two nights.
Day 6:
A day of rest for the horses and a day of fun for us. Here in the last virgin rainforest of Puriscal County we can discover the beauty of the La Cangreja National Park. Take a walk through 500 acres of unspoiled jungle, along the well groomed trails, past towering trees, lush jungle and rushing rivers.
Next we will visit Iguana Chocolate,
a family run chocolate farm. See how cocoa beans are processed to make rich dark chocolate. 
Take some samples to nibble on during the ride!
Next we will visit Iguana Chocolate, a family run chocolate farm. See how cocoa beans are processed to make rich dark chocolate. Take some samples to nibble on during the ride!
Day 7:
Enjoy a day of riding through rolling hills, along trails through private farms to arrive for the night at the mountain retreat of Cabinas Maldonado. The cabinas are located within walking distance to Sky Mountain one of the most thrilling Canopy Tours in Costa Rica. If we arrive early enough in the day you can try out their zip lines. (price not included in the trek package)
Day 8: Finds us traveling down to the coastal plane where we will ride under the shade of rows of palm trees through a palm plantation. Arriving at Pozza del Pacifico run by Steve and Sherry Pozza. Relax in the plantation style rancho with a twist. If there is time and the tide is right we will ride on the beach before relaxing poolside.
Day 9: Take a ride along the pristine Pacific coat beaches and play with your horses in the surf. Enjoy fresh coconuts and a fresh fish lunch at a beachside hut along the way. To arrive at La Encantada Ocean Cottages by evening.
This is a one of a kind vacation. It includes the 2 day, 3 night Parelli workshop at Barking Horse Farm and Establo San Rafael and a 6 night, 7 day riding adventure through the mountains of rural Costa Rica. Each day of riding is approximately between 4 to 6 hours in the saddle with rest stops every 2 to 3 hours.
The cost which includes the 2 day workshop, the 7 day 6 night ride, airport pick up, all meals (except for those at The Encantada Beach Hotel), horses, tack, guides and 9 nights lodging is:
$2,000
To make a reservation contact us at barkinghorsefarm@gmail.com
* Priority for the trek will be given to those wishing to attend both the trek and workshop. Please contact us for details.
Want to take things a little easier, why not check out our friends at Parelli in Paradise and enjoy some amazing trail riding, the beach, and some of the other adventures Costa Rica has to offer. www.horseridecostarica.com
Want to make a reservation for the January Parelli Workshop/trek asap. Thanks