Discover Panama on horseback

In this article we are going to discover the trails and routes of Panama. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of its landscapes and its rich culture during your horseback riding routes.

When it comes to natural beauty, biodiversity and stunning landscapes, Panama will amaze you when you visit. Its beauty is incomparable.

Near the capital you will find diverse types of habitats, such as the Metropolitan Natural Park, Camino de Cruces, Cerro Ancón and the Chagres, Soberanía and Gamboa National Parks.

Due to its geographical position, Panama is a resting point on the route of numerous species of birds that migrate from north to south and vice versa. The number of bird species that you will be able to observe is spectacular.

Another setting for your next equestrian vacation is the beaches.

Enjoy the tranquility of the agrotourism farms in Ocú.

You will discover how pigs, chickens and their by-products are raised, as well as dairy farming, the cultivation of guava, bananas, citrus fruits, water apples, soursops, corn and livestock farming.

They also produce rice and seedlings for reforestation, and if you visit their lakes you will learn the local secrets of tilapia fishing.

Which destinations do we recommend?

If you are looking for horseback adventures, Panama is a paradise that you will adopt as your own. The equestrian activities in this country will get your pulse racing.

The Ampascachi content team has searched for and selected equestrian tourism providers and offers information to help you consider and choose from the following alternatives.

Panama Horseback Adventures

They are based and operate from their ranch on San Cristóbal Island, in the beautiful Bocas del Toro archipelago.

They offer an authentic adventure in the Panamanian jungle.

Dave Hopper, owner and host of Panama Horseback Adventures, has extensive knowledge and experience of horse riding routes and organizes horse rides on the island for a maximum of 10 people. They also employ local guides and all their tours can be conducted in English and Spanish. Their story

Dave and his wife Molly moved to Panama in 2009 and bought a beautiful house on San Cristóbal Island. Soon after, they began working on the property, turning it into the home and base for the business they had always dreamed of having.

In early 2010 they began to search for and develop some trails through the jungle and bought their first horses.

https://ampascachi-bucket.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media/blogs/imagenes/america-central/panama/panama-horseback-dave.jpg"/> The island was practically unexplored in terms of horse riding routes. With a team of local Indians who knew the way, they worked very hard to improve the hidden trails around San Cristóbal Island and at the same time made sure not to damage any of the delicate ecosystems that make it up. Since then they have marked several kilometers of trails and added more horses to their stables.

They are currently working on a night trail designed for more experienced riders who can handle a variety of terrain and some small jumps in the moonlight.

What are their horse riding routes like?

All their tours are one day long. They don't offer accommodation, but they will offer you several alternatives on the island.

In total, they have 4 trips to different parts of the island to which you can add others personalized according to your equestrian skills in carrying out this type of activity:

Horse riding routes on the beautiful island of San Cristóbal
Full day tour for beginner riders
Half day excursion
Long distance tour for experts

Horse riding on the beautiful island of San Cristóbal

Dave and his team will take you horseback riding through the beautiful countryside of the island, surrounded by jungle and breathtaking views.

It's a great option for groups and starts with a short boat trip from the village of Bocas. Transportation from Bocas is included in the price.

A new multi-day tour has recently been scheduled for expert riders, which goes from the front of San Cristóbal to Dolphin Bay.

Full-day tour for beginner riders This circular trail is approximately 15 km long, a very appropriate length for beginner and intermediate riders.

The tour starts at 10:00 am at the pier in the village of Bocas.

As we travel by boat, we will pass by coral reefs where you can sometimes see dolphins that live in Bocas all year round.

Upon arrival at San Cristóbal Island, the guides will assess your level of experience and discuss general safety aspects. They will assign you a horse according to the best fit for your level of rider and adjust your saddle.

Now your horseback route begins!

You will enter the jungle through the vegetation and wildlife. It won't be long before you can enjoy views of the ocean and other islands in the archipelago.

At the top of one of the highest slopes in the area, you will cross meadows of flowers and butterflies.

Finally, you will begin your descent back into the jungle, before finally arriving at the baseball field of the local indigenous village.

The local children will greet you with curiosity and you will have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the people while taking incredible photos.

A short walk will take you to the village restaurant, very pleasant and authentic, where you will have a lunch of genuine local food, with service provided by island women wearing the traditional Ngobe dress as a uniform.

Lunch is followed by a walk to the craft center where you will discover how the locals make their products from items found in the jungle.

Then we will return to the forest via cocoa tree-lined paths. You will see the meadows of a beautiful ranch before starting to climb up the mountainside to the top, with views across to the other side of the archipelago.

The return journey has many more interesting sights, sounds and smells with mixed terrain and varied vegetation before returning to the ranch.

Finally, you will start the return trip to the city in the boat.

Half-day excursion

The half-day excursion covers a shorter version of the full day, but does not go as far as the Indian village and does not include lunch. This hike is ideal for children and very novice riders.

Long-distance route for experts

This route is part of the front part of the island of San Cristóbal and goes to the picturesque Bahía de los Delfines, where you will have lunch at the waterside restaurant, Valle de las Ranas, very famous in these parts of the world.

You will experience the inner heart of the San Cristóbal jungle and the indigenous farms. You will be able to observe the famous poisonous frogs up close and hear the screams of the howler monkeys.

This is a tour of more than 6 hours of walking and you will not return to the town of Bocas before nightfall. It is also offered for intermediate riders, but only as an overnight trip.

There is a minimum of four people per group and the price includes accommodation.

Boquete Outdoor Adventures

Located in Boquete, this company offers a range of adventure tourism options, including all-inclusive horse riding tours lasting from 1 to 5 days.

Boquete is a cozy mountain village in a fertile valley and a mecca for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, bird watchers, backpackers and people looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you are traveling with a non-rider companion, the adventure tourism on offer is so appealing that on more than one occasion you will also want to participate.

Where will you stay?

Whichever horseback route you choose, they will recommend that you stay at Buena Vista Boquete.

They offer a variety of accommodations to suit the needs of their visitors.

Each room has a beautiful view, free Wi-Fi, Smart TV and access to the rooftop patio. There is also a shared kitchen so you can have a quick breakfast in the morning before setting off on your adventure tours.

Horseback trail Caldera Valley, Baru Volcano

On this trail you can spend your days riding through rolling green hills, wading through pristine streams and enjoying panoramic views of the valley.

Trail features:

For intermediate riders and up.
Weight limit of 95 kg with full equipment.
Minimum age of riders: 12 years old (younger children can travel with an experienced adult).
The guide will select the riding area according to your experience and comfort on the horses.
A good level of fitness is required for this trip. You must be able to mount and dismount unaided.
Available all year round except from October 1st to 31st.
We recommend the morning routes during the rainy season months of July to November.
It is essential to bring a camera, hat, long trousers, raincoat or waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes and sunglasses.
The details and trails of this trip may change due to bad weather.

After an orientation talk on safety and horse riding technique, you will have a couple of hours of guided horseback riding through the small local village of Caldera.

Then you will travel through the mountains and the lowlands of the valley, an area with beautiful landscapes and picturesque views for taking incredible photos.

The tour will take you to the lowest elevation in the Caldera Volcano region, which is generally warmer and sunnier than the town throughout the year.

Junglecat Panama

This adventure tourism company, located in the beautiful city of Santa Fe, offers a complete list of horseback riding tours in the area.

They do not have their own accommodation, but they will offer you different alternatives to consider.

The Junglecat Panama team

Martin Zipprich and Elizabeth Wilkinson are the owners and founders of Junglecat Panama.

Martin Zipprich was born and raised in South Africa and attended an agricultural boarding school. It was in these African lands that his passion for animals, especially reptiles, was born.

After more than ten years of experience managing hotels, resorts and lodges in Zambia, South America and the United States, Martin found himself in the beautiful Santa Fe mountains.

Elizabeth Wilkinson grew up in Botswana. She has been riding and competing since a young age. While at university in New Zealand, she taught children and adults at the Auckland Equestrian Center part-time.

After moving to Panama, her dream of having a trail running company has become a reality.

Horse riding in the Highlands of Panama

Their exclusive private horse riding adventures will take you through the valleys and slopes of the continental divide of Panama.

On the routes you will find opportunities to gallop, cross clear rivers and cross suspension bridges.

General aspects to take into account

Groups of a maximum of 10 people.
Tours with 4 or more people have two bilingual guides.
Routes suitable for all levels of riding ability.
Maximum weight limit of 95 kg with full equipment.
Children under 5 years old can travel with a guide or a parent, from 5 years old they will have their own pony.
On the route I should bring a water bottle, swimsuit, raincoat, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Wear long pants such as jeans, leggings, hiking pants, closed-toe shoes.

Horseback riding with Jungelcat Panama

There are a variety of options and if you organize in advance you can arrange private tours with personalized itineraries. Below we are going to show you two of their programs.

Rio Bermejo Waterfall

The ride to the Bermejo waterfall winds along a jungle trail to a beautiful waterfall and a swimming hole.

There is much to see and learn along the way from our naturalist guides, who will point out local flora and fauna, including edible and medicinal plants.

If you are interested, the tour can include a stop at a historic site of pre-Columbian petroglyphs located in a cave on the riverbank. The route is ideal for intermediate level riders and above.

Local Farm and Coffee Plantations.

Horseback riding, coffee package and Maria & Chong farm.

This is a great custom-made combination tour that lets you experience Santa Fe on horseback, riding right up to the entrance of the farm. Here you will unsaddle your horse and have the opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy an interesting tour of an organic coffee farm before returning and continuing your journey through the mountains.

Accommodation: Villas at Casa Mariposa

These “Boutique Villas” are located on a beautiful property with spectacular views of the valley.

This hotel is the perfect retreat for plant enthusiasts, animal lovers, bird watchers, hikers and entomologists and, of course, people who want to see the beauty of Panama at its most genuine.

In this paradise, wildlife is flourishing and the gardens provide a safe home while you stay in one of the 3 private villas they offer.

They include full kitchens, hot water, fans and windows with mosquito nets. A full breakfast is delivered to your room the evening before, so you can prepare it to your liking in the morning.

Find out more about this great Adventure Tourism team in Panama on their website: https://www.junglecatpanama.com/ or on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/junglecatpanama/photos/.