I’ve always been a big fan of horseback riding, but despite taking numerous trail rides in my day, I never got the iconic experience of riding a horse along the beach–that is, until I went to Puerto Rico! As I researched approachable adventures around the island, I saw horseback riding tours pop up again and again, including in Isabela. It was a big enough pull that I centered an entire day around exploring the northwest coast of the island, so that I could have an epic ride along the beach with Tropical Trail Rides.
In this post, I’ll break down the experience, including pricing, what to bring, and what the ride was like, so you can decide whether it’s a good fit for you, too!
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About Tropical Trail Rides
I originally discovered Tropical Trail Rides on my favorite experience-booking app, Viator. This is my go-to app for booking experiences, because it brings thousands of local tours onto one platform, keeps my tickets organized, and usually offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience. Plus, the reward system is pretty great.
Several other companies were offering beachfront horseback riding tours in the Rincon area, but Tropical Trail Rides had 4.7 stars out of over 700 reviews, and the rides lasted 2 hours, which was longer than the others. They also offered a late afternoon option that perfectly paired with my plan to swim and snorkel along the coast all day prior.
Upon arriving, I found knowledgeable, friendly staff and an organized system that paired riders with horses that matched their experience. They also broke everyone into small groups to ensure each guide could keep an eye on everyone and allow more flexibility for trotting, taking photos, etc., without being stuck in a long continuous line.
Important Notes:
- They accommodate all levels of experience.
- Children 6 & up can ride their own horse.
- There is a 250 lb weight limit
- If you or someone in your group has a disability (physical or mental) or injury, they will do their best to accommodate, but you have to let them know at least 24 hours in advance.
Booking with Tropical Trail Rides
Now, I said originally discovered because for some reason I did end up booking directly through their site (I believe that had extra savings directly vs Viator, which is rare, but I always check). After booking, I received a confirmation email with a note to call about cash discounts (so, of course I did). The lady told me I could save nearly $40 by paying in cash ($188 for two riders with taxes and fees online vs $150 total cash), and they would refund my card purchase. I can confirm it was not a scam; they immediately refunded my original card purchase when I checked in and paid cash instead.
So if you’d like to save a little bit extra, be sure to call and ask about the cash discounts!
What to Expect with Tropical Trail Rides
Your tour starts at the sprawling Tropical Trail Rides property at ISABELA – 400 Bo. Bajuras, Isabela, PR 00662.
Arrive 30 minutes before the tour is supposed to start to check in (there might be a line), listen to the safety briefing, and get paired with a horse and guide. Bathrooms are right next to check-in, and there’s a vending machine for water. If you want to use your own water bottle, fill it up before you get there, because they don’t have potable water on tap.
During check-in, the staff will ask about your experience with horseback riding and create groups based on general skill level. So if you’re a complete beginner, don’t worry! They’ll make sure you feel comfortable and place you in a group with a similar experience level. They’ll also pair you up with a horse based on that skill, making sure children and beginners get the gentlest horses.
The staff pairs riders up one by one, bringing out a few horses at a time and sending groups off as they fill up.
Since I had previous riding experience, I got a slightly fiestier horse, but we got along just fine. And by “fiesty” I mean he wanted to snack a lot and loved to trot. The first I had to keep an eye on, and the second I was all for!
Proper Riding Attire
Now I want to note right here that they will not allow you to ride without the proper riding attire. Seriously, if you show up in flip-flops, you will not be allowed to ride, and I’m pretty sure you don’t get a refund, either. They make their attire policy very clear, because it can affect your safety. So here’s what to wear:
Required:
- Closed-toed shoes, like sneakers, boots, or tennis shoes. Absolutely no sandals.
- Long pants (or shorts with a long towel to go over your saddle and prevent chafing)
Highly recommended (by me):
- Moisture-wicking shirt
- Packable rain jacket
What Else to Bring
In addition to proper riding attire, I also recommend:
- A non-glass water bottle (your guide will have a saddle bag to hold onto it for you)
- A small belt bag or backpack for any personal items that you don’t want the guide to hold.
- Insect repellent
- Sunblock
- Action camera on a mount, not a selfie-stick. I used a chest mount, but you could definitely use a head mount or clip it onto your small bag strap if that works, too. But selfie sticks are prohibited.
Enjoying the Ride
After your group is properly saddled up and situated, your guide will officially start your tour. It begins with a leisurely walk through the grounds, which are really beautiful, before following the trail into the forest. This particular ride was so fascinating because it had a mix of tropical greenery and evergreens, which I’ve never seen side by side!
Our ride followed the woodland trail for several minutes before we popped out onto the beach, and it was so beautiful! It was early enough in the afternoon that the sun wasn’t quite setting, but was low enough to put a beautiful sparkle on the water. The beach had some pretty cool rock formations along the shoreline, too, and we got to follow the coast for several beautiful minutes, including a short trot and a stop for photos. This was definitely the highlight of the ride!
Eventually, we veered back off into the forest for the final chunk of our trip. This was by far the longest segment, and we meandered down many dirt trails, enjoying the peace and quiet. It had stormed quite a bit earlier in the day, so some of the trails were pretty muddy, but it didn’t splash too badly. Our guide also let us alternate between walking and trotting, which I really enjoyed.
Overall, this was a super-easy ride. Although we trotted, it was still very chill, and there were no big obstacles to go around or duck under on the trail. Honestly, the only issue our group had was two people who kept letting their horses stop and eat the trees, and our guide had to keep reminding them to use the reins, haha.
Who This Tour is Good For
Overall, I was genuinely impressed with this tour, and I think it would be a great fit for any family, friend, or couple group looking for a horseback riding tour in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
The staff is so organized, and they have enough horses to match every rider to a compatible steed. I also loved the small group size, which let the guides keep an eye on the whole group rather than wrangling 20 people at once. Finally, I was a big fan of the pricing. For $75 per person, the tour was a fantastic price, especially compared to other tours I found that were more expensive and shorter.
The only thing I didn’t like was that our guide was on his phone a lot. He was very friendly, and he did a good job helping our group of 4. But it threw me off that he was texting about 70% of the time. Maybe I’m being nitpicky, but I do try to mention the good and bad for each tour.
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Closing Thoughts on Tropical Trail Rides
This horseback riding tour was such a great addition to my Puerto Rico trip, and I’m so glad I chose to do it in Isabela instead of over in El Yunque. I’m sure that would’ve been great, but I loved the chance to finally ride along the beach and have the space to trot, too.
I also loved that they had multiple tour options, so it’s easier to fit one of their trail rides in around the rest of your trip schedule.
So if you’re looking for a horseback riding tour in Puerto Rico and you’ll be in the Rincon area, I highly recommend you check them out! You’ll have a beautiful tour for a great price.
I hope you enjoyed this post and that it answered all your important questions. If you have additional questions, feel free to send me a message, and I will be happy to answer! If you enjoyed this, please take a second to save the post, share it with someone who needs to go on this tour with you, and give it a like. Every little interaction goes a long way!
I also have tons of other information about Puerto Rico, so if you’re planning a trip, be sure to dive into my adventures all over the island with real reviews and helpful information. You can also subscribe to the blog to get notified whenever new posts go live, so you don’t miss the rest of my Puerto Rico series and all the new fun coming in the future.
Thanks again for stopping by, and I wish you many happy travels!
