Sandy

I am writing to warn others of the dangerous tour being sold in Fortuna, Costa Rica–-the horseback ride from Fortuna to Monteverde. During the dry season, this probably is not a dangerous trip but it is treacherous during the rainy season. In fact, we were urged to write to the Tico Times by two different tour operators who run this same tour (but not during the rainy season). They both said the TT would take action to close this operator down. <BR> <BR>Before booking this trip, I checked with several tour operators in Fortuna and all said the trip was easy and safe. I specifically asked about the horses and was assured they were well trained and gentle and that the trails were easy. We figured we'd have sore bottoms for a day or two but memories for a lifetime. Little did we know that we almost didn't have a future "lifetime." <BR> <BR>Our group consisted of we two and our guide who spoke very little English. I speak Spanish so that was not a problem. The first 30 minutes of the ride was just what we expected . . . beautiful scenery, easy trails. We crossed a few small streams, still no problems. Then, we started the "mud/stone" trek. For the next 3 ½ hours, we were on steep, narrow, and rocky trails in 2'-3' deep sticky mud. We were either going straight up a steep hill or straight down. And, the horses were very small, more like little ponies. My horse (Maya) began panting and laboring going up the very first hill and never stopped. We also went across several raging rivers, with water halfway up our horses. My horse stumbled repeatedly during one crossing but I still thought this was just a very short piece of the trail. <BR> <BR>The stone, mud, and muddy-water trail continued to get worse. My friend fell off her horse when he began to trot unexpectedly. She was not seriously hurt but she did take a heavy hit on her right hip and her head. (After the ride, she could hardly walk for a day or two because of her hip/back, spending one entire day in bed.) After this, she was fearful and did not want to continue the ride on horseback. She wanted to walk but we were only about halfway and the mud and hills were too steep for her to walk. We traded horses. <BR> <BR>A few yards farther, my horse stumbled and went down. I was paying attention and managed to jump off as he fell (I have more riding experience than my friend, as I grew up with horses). She's really frightening now but I assured her I was OK and got back on. About 30 minutes later, my horse became mired in the sticky/slick mud and again goes down. This time, I could not get off (we were in a narrow ditch) and I was lucky that he fell forward on his right shoulder and not on his side. Trying to get back on his feet, he started to pitch and buck and slip in this mud and I thought that I might fall under him and be trampled or that he might rear back and go over with me on his back. I just hung on and after a few harrowing minutes he managed to work himself out. Needless to say, my friend is really upset now. After about four, long hours, we finally come to end. This was not a safe or easy ride! <BR> <BR>We were both lucky that we were not hurt or killed on this ride. The two reputable tour operators told us that the father of the guy who runs this trip was killed last year when his horse slipped in the mud and fell on him while he was leading a ride. <BR> <BR>Besides this harrowing and dangerous experience, we had a great time in Costa Rica and can't wait to return. We just won't be riding any horses! <BR>

JoAnn

Sandy, what a horrible story! Please write anyone you can to get these people out of business. Post this on a Costa Rica BBS so others can hear about it too. www.causualforums.com/globe/CR_Forum/ <BR>There are some people there who live and/or work in CR and might be able to help you direct your story to the right place. Glad to hear the rest of your trip was worth it though. Beautiful country, isn't it?

Sandy

Thanks JoAnn, I just went to that site and posted it. Looked like a good site, I'll have to check it out. Yes, I had a wonderful time in CR, even though it did rain more than usual ('fallout from the recent hurricanes). The flowers were incredible and the people so friendly. A great country!

Pierre Jolicoeur

I did almost the same trip, and is was great! But I went FROM Monteverde to La Fortuna. I say almost because the Pension Santa Elena explained us that the normal route thru Canyon Negro was very muddy, and we took an other trail to Rio Chiquito. We had to pay an extra $5 for the detour, and it was a good investment. There is also alternatives to the horseback to La Fortuna. Check the site of Monteverde for more info: MONTEVERDEinfo.com. Have a nice trip, Pierre.

don't do it

ttt

Tia

I have also heard similar stories to what Sandy is speaking of. Lots of mud--horses up to their bellies in mud! That was during the dry season, too. What an awful thing to do to a living creature just to transport people, not to mention tons of luggage! It's terrible. I would never put a horse through such an experience!!!!!!

ALF

I have no first-hand experience of the Fortuna-Monteverde horse trek, but I have heard several accounts of malnourished, mistreated, and broken-down horses literally being worked to death on these trips. Many responsible eco-tour travel agents are beginning to reconsider booking these trips.

Scott Gauvin

Sounds like Sandy had an unusually bad experience do to the irresponsibility of the tour operator. If the conditions are dangerous, as in Sandy's case, usually the tour operator will cancel the trip or change the route for safety reasons.<BR><BR>It has been almost 3 years now that I have been living, guiding, working and organizing trips to Costa Rica for people and I continue to see situations like this from tour operators all over the country who set up shop one day and are out of business the next. Finding a responsible and established operator will save you a lot of headaches in the end.<BR><BR>This warning should go not only for the horseback riding, but all the activities (rafting, mountain biking, hiking, canyoning) in Costa Rica and not just in the rainy season. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are safer during the “dry season” if you go along with an irresponsible tour operator. There have been times in the dry season where it has rained to flood levels. Costa Rica is in the Rain Forest - It rains all the time even if it is less in the “dry season”.<BR><BR> Don’t let posts like this scare you away from exploring the country and doing activities like this either in the dry or rainy (green) season. A blanket statement like “don’t do it in the rainy season” doesn’t help the people in Costa Rica who depend on your business and run responsible trips in the dry or rainy season. It also doesn’t address the issue that you as the consumer (tourist) need to take some responsibility and do your homework before hand to hire people or operators who do take your safety and welfare into consideration. A responsible operator will take the necessary precautions, adjust for the conditions and make sure their equipment is up to par. <BR>

Robbie

My suggestion is to also just send your story as is to [email protected]<BR>This is becoming the biggest on-line English langauge newspaper in Costa Rica with 11,000 or more daily subscribers.<BR>I have just been in a tourist exhibition in San Jose myself and Monteverde seems a place full of really conscous and concerned human beings. am sure a few operators there read the newspaper and might be able to apply some pressure.<BR>So sad you had a bad experience. But glad you had a great tme here!<BR>Robbie