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4.8 · Over 1,700 reviews on Google & Tripadvisor
Starting from — per person
Original price was: MX$3,000.MX$2,000Current price is: MX$2,000.
✓ Free cancellation up to 24h before
There is a place outside Puerto Escondido where a river, a lagoon, and the Pacific Ocean meet — and if you time it right, the sun sets directly over the point where they converge. The light at that moment is something photographers travel specifically to capture.
This ride is timed to arrive there at exactly that moment.
Four hours on horseback through jungle trails, ancient trees, and working cattle land. A river crossing by canoe. And then that sunset — the kind that makes you stop talking and just watch.
No riding experience required. The horses are tamed, the guides are local cowboys who have ridden this trail their entire lives, and the only thing you need to bring is the willingness to slow down.
Horseback riding tours exist all over Mexico. Most follow a beach, turn around, and come back. This one goes somewhere specific — through terrain that changes completely every twenty minutes, toward a destination that justifies every minute of the ride.
The trail passes beneath La Parota and La Ceiba trees — some of the largest native trees in Oaxaca, with canopies wide enough to shade an entire field. It crosses working cattle land where local ranchers have farmed the same ground for generations. It moves through river vegetation that smells nothing like the coast — humid, green, alive in a completely different way.
And then the trail opens onto the coast, where the river empties into the lagoon and the lagoon meets the Pacific, and the sun is going down, and you are on a horse, and there is genuinely nowhere better to be at that exact moment.
We pick you up from your accommodation in Puerto Escondido at 3:30 PM for the 30-minute drive to the starting point. The timing is precise — departure at 3:30 PM puts you on the trail during the golden afternoon light and delivers you to the coast exactly as the sun begins to set. Your local cowboy guides meet you at the horses.
The ride begins in the shade of the jungle canopy. Your guide leads you through trails used by local ranchers for generations — past La Parota and La Ceiba trees whose trunks are wider than most rooms, through cattle land where friendly animals graze alongside the path, and along river vegetation that creates a green corridor unlike anything on the coast.
The horses are tamed, calm, and matched to your experience level. First-time riders are paired with the most relaxed animals and guided closely by the cowboys throughout. Experienced riders get more freedom. Either way, the trail does the work — you just have to be present for it.
Midway through the trail, the river is too wide to ford on horseback. You dismount, board a canoe, and cross — horses swimming or wading alongside, the jungle rising on both banks, the water moving slowly toward the coast. It is one of those moments that sounds strange in description and feels completely natural when you’re in it.
The trail ends at the point where the river meets the lagoon and the lagoon opens into the Pacific. At 3:30 PM departure, you arrive here as the sun is dropping toward the horizon. The light turns gold, then orange, then the particular deep red that only happens on clear evenings on the Oaxacan coast.
To your left, the river. To your right, the lagoon. In front of you, the open Pacific and a sunset that has no equivalent in any resort pool bar or rooftop restaurant on the coast. This is the view. This is why the tour exists.
After the sunset, you ride back to the starting point and return by vehicle to Puerto Escondido. Total time from pickup to drop-off is approximately 4 hours. You arrive back in the evening with the particular quiet that comes from having spent several hours entirely outside, entirely present, entirely away from screens.
The most common question we receive is whether this tour is suitable for people who have never ridden a horse. The answer is yes — unequivocally. The horses used on this trail are specifically selected and trained for rider confidence and calm behavior. They are accustomed to beginner riders, responsive to guide commands, and completely comfortable with the terrain.
Your local cowboy guides have been riding these horses and this trail their entire lives. They will spend as much time as needed making sure you are comfortable before the ride begins, and they remain alongside inexperienced riders throughout. There is no minimum experience level for this tour. The minimum age is 5 years.
The tour runs at 3:30 PM year-round, timed specifically for the sunset at the coast. The dry season (November through April) produces the most dramatic sunsets — clear skies, vivid colors, and calm Pacific. The rainy season turns the trail intensely green and fills the river, making the canoe crossing more dramatic and the jungle more alive. Both seasons are extraordinary.
The tour operates in light rain. Heavy weather cancellations receive a full refund or free reschedule.
Private tours are available for groups of up to 20 people — couples celebrating special occasions, families, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and corporate experiences. A private tour means the trail, the horses, and the guides are exclusively yours. Contact us via WhatsApp for pricing and availability.
The tour runs year-round at 3:30 PM, timed specifically for the sunset at the coast. Dry season produces the most vivid sunsets with clear skies and calm Pacific. Rainy season turns the trail intensely green and fills the river — the canoe crossing is more dramatic and the jungle is at its most alive. Both seasons are spectacular.
The tour includes round-trip hotel pickup within Puerto Escondido, a professional local cowboy guide, a tamed horse matched to your experience level, a 4-hour guided ride through jungle trails and cattle land, a river crossing by canoe, the sunset at the convergence of river, lagoon, and Pacific Ocean, and water, mezcal, and beer on the trail. Gratuities for the guide are not included but appreciated.
Absolutely. No riding experience is needed for this tour. The horses are specifically selected and trained for calm, beginner-friendly behavior and are completely accustomed to inexperienced riders. Your local cowboy guides will spend time making you comfortable before the ride begins and remain closely alongside first-time riders throughout the trail. The minimum age is 5 years. If you have never been on a horse in your life, you are in the right place.
The trail ends at the point where the river empties into the lagoon and the lagoon opens into the Pacific Ocean — a natural convergence that creates one of the most spectacular coastal viewpoints in the Puerto Escondido area. The 3:30 PM departure is timed precisely to arrive at this point as the sun is descending toward the horizon. On clear evenings the colors are extraordinary — gold, orange, and deep red over the open Pacific. It is the kind of sunset that justifies the entire ride.
Midway through the trail, the river is too wide for the horses to ford easily. You dismount, board a small canoe, and cross while the horses swim or wade alongside. The crossing takes a few minutes and is completely safe — the river is calm and your guide manages the transition smoothly. It is one of the most memorable moments of the ride, and one that guests consistently describe as unexpectedly magical. No canoe experience is required.
Wear long pants or jeans if possible — the saddle can chafe bare legs on a long ride. If you only have shorts, bring a towel to protect your thighs. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and a personal water bottle. Water, mezcal, and beer are provided on the trail, but having your own water is always a good idea on a 4-hour outdoor activity in the Oaxacan heat.
Pickup from your accommodation begins at 3:30 PM. The timing is intentional and precise — departing at 3:30 PM means you arrive at the coastal sunset viewpoint exactly as the sun is dropping toward the Pacific. The drive to the starting point takes approximately 30 minutes, and the total experience from pickup to drop-off is approximately 4 hours. Be ready at your accommodation at your confirmed pickup time — the tour is timed around the sunset and delays affect the experience.
Yes. The minimum age is 5 years and the tour is genuinely excellent for families. The horses are calm and tamed, the guides are experienced with young riders, and the trail — jungle, cattle, river crossing, sunset — is the kind of experience children remember for years. Younger children ride with a guide walking alongside. The canoe river crossing is a particular highlight for kids. If your child is nervous around horses, contact us before booking and we will discuss the best approach.
The trail passes beneath La Parota and La Ceiba trees — two of the largest native tree species in Oaxaca, with trunks and canopies that dwarf most forest trees. You ride through working cattle land where local ranchers' herds graze alongside the path. The river vegetation corridor hosts birds, insects, and plant species typical of coastal Oaxacan ecosystems. Your cowboy guides can identify and explain the species you encounter throughout the ride.
Yes. Private tours are available for groups of up to 20 people and are perfect for couples celebrating special occasions, families, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and corporate experiences. A private tour means the trail, horses, and guides are exclusively yours — your own pace, your own dynamic, and the sunset all to yourselves. Contact us via WhatsApp for availability and pricing for private group bookings.
The tour runs year-round at 3:30 PM and is excellent in every season. The dry season (November through April) delivers the clearest skies and most vivid sunsets at the coast — ideal for photography. The rainy season (June through October) turns the jungle trail intensely green, fills the river to its most dramatic level for the canoe crossing, and makes the vegetation corridor come alive with color and sound. Many riders who have done both say the rainy season trail is the more beautiful of the two.
Original price was: MX$3,000.MX$2,000Current price is: MX$2,000.
Original price was: MX$3,000.MX$2,000Current price is: MX$2,000.
