Saddle & Paddle: El Chorro Rafting & Horseback Combo
Costa Rica's narrowest, most intense whitewater gorge in the morning, jungle horseback riding in the afternoon. Dry season only. Min age 16.
Available January through April only. Minimum age 16 strictly enforced (El Chorro requirement). Must be in good physical condition. Max weight for horseback: 265 lbs (120 kg). Minimum group size: 2. Price shown at checkout via Rezdy.
The combo: extreme water, then saddle
This is not the mild version. El Chorro is the most demanding river run Tucanes Tours operates, a Class IV-V gorge on the upper Naranjo River that squeezes through a canyon so narrow rafts can barely fit side to side. You run it in the morning when you're fresh. Then you drive to the Londres farm, get on a horse, and ride jungle trails for the afternoon. Lunch at the farm, then back to your hotel.
The two activities are genuinely different in character. El Chorro is loud, cold, and demands your full attention. The horseback ride through the farm's jungle trails is unhurried: birds, valley views, a natural swimming pool at the end. Together they make a full day that feels earned.
Because El Chorro runs only from January through April, this combo is seasonal by definition. If your trip falls outside that window, or if someone in your group doesn't meet the age or health requirements, the Naranjo Saddle & Paddle combo runs year-round with Class II-III water and no age restriction beyond 7 years.
Groups run from 2 to 24 people. Your bilingual guide stays with you through both activities.
Part 1: El Chorro, Class IV whitewater (morning)
Pickup is at 8:30 AM from your hotel. The drive to the upper Naranjo River gorge takes about 45 minutes. Your guide uses the time to brief you on El Chorro's character, what to expect on the water, and the safety protocol that applies before you even get near the raft.
El Chorro earns its reputation for one main reason: the gorge is extremely narrow. At the tightest point the canyon walls are close enough to touch on both sides, and the water accelerating through that gap creates the rapid known locally as the "jet gorge." In dry season it runs Class IV. During high water periods it pushes to Class V. The difficulty is real and should not be underestimated.
You do not need prior rafting experience to join. You do need to be in good physical condition, comfortable in the water, and free of heart conditions, back problems, or anything that makes sustained physical exertion a risk. The safety briefing before launch is thorough. Your guide and the rafting crew know this river well, and the equipment is in good shape. But this is not a tour where you sit back and let the scenery pass. You will paddle, you will get wet, and the gorge section will be intense.
After the river run, the group has snacks and time to decompress before the drive to the horseback farm. The full El Chorro experience from hotel pickup to departure for the farm takes roughly 4 hours.
Age and health requirements are strictly enforced: minimum age 16, good physical condition required, no heart conditions or serious back problems. These limits exist because of the demands El Chorro places on every person in the raft.
If you want El Chorro on its own without the horseback component, see the standalone El Chorro Whitewater Rafting tour.
Part 2: Horseback riding through the jungle (afternoon)
After El Chorro, you drive to the Londres farm. The change in pace is immediate: the farm sits on quiet land with open-air buildings, stables, and a range of animals most visitors don't expect. Rabbits, goats, ponies, horses, sheep, chickens. It is a working property, not a staged attraction, and it shows.
The guided horseback ride covers about 1.5 hours on jungle trails. The terrain gives you valley views, dense vegetation, and regular sightings of birds and reptiles. Your guide points out what you're seeing, keeps the pace comfortable for all experience levels, and handles any nerves from first-time riders. Beginners are common on this tour and the horses are calm and well-suited for it.
At the far end of the trail the route opens onto a natural pool. After a morning on El Chorro, the cool water tends to feel exactly right. When you're ready to move on, you ride back to the farm for lunch.
Lunch is served at the farm and is a proper sit-down meal, not a snack. After lunch the group loads up for the drive back to Manuel Antonio, arriving mid-afternoon.
Weight limit for horseback: 265 lbs (120 kg). If you want the horseback experience on its own, the standalone Horseback Riding through the Jungle tour runs separately. The Savegre River Rafting tour is also worth comparing if you want Class III-IV whitewater on a different river with different scenery.
What's included
- Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off
- Certified bilingual guide for both activities
- All rafting safety equipment and gear
- El Chorro whitewater rafting on the upper Naranjo River
- Snacks after the river run
- 1.5-hour guided horseback ride through jungle trails at the farm
- Swim stop at the natural pool at the trail end
- Lunch at the London farm
- Beverages throughout the day
What to bring
- Sunglasses with a croakies cord (they will come off in the gorge without one)
- Bathing suit (worn under clothes for the river, useful again at the natural pool)
- Water shoes or old sneakers (nothing you mind getting wet and muddy)
- A complete change of dry clothes for the afternoon
- Beach towel
- Long pants for the horseback riding portion
- Sunscreen (apply before pickup, not on the water)
- Cash for tips
A typical day
- 8:30 AM Hotel pickup in Manuel Antonio
- 45-minute drive to the upper Naranjo River gorge
- Safety briefing with rafting crew before launch
- El Chorro Class IV whitewater run through the jet gorge
- Snacks and time to regroup after the river
- Drive to the Londres farm
- Meet the farm animals and get acquainted with your horse
- 1.5-hour guided horseback ride through jungle trails with valley views
- Swim stop at the natural pool in the jungle
- Ride back to the farm
- Sit-down lunch at the farm
- Drive back to Manuel Antonio, arriving mid-afternoon
Frequently asked questions
El Chorro runs through a very narrow gorge, and the water level controls whether it's runnable or reckless. In dry season (January through April), the river settles into its navigable range: fast and challenging at Class IV, but manageable with a competent crew. Once rainy season begins the flow climbs quickly, and the gorge becomes unnavigable and dangerous. There is no modified or easier version available in wet season. If your trip falls outside the January-to-April window, the Naranjo Saddle & Paddle combo runs year-round on the lower section of the same river.
No prior experience is required, but you do need to be in good physical condition and comfortable in water. El Chorro is Class IV with Class V potential at higher flows, which means there will be moments where you are paddling hard and the raft is moving fast. People without previous rafting experience run it regularly and have a strong time. The safety briefing is detailed and your guide is on the water with you the whole time. If you have heart conditions, serious back problems, or any physical limitation that makes sustained exertion a concern, this tour is not appropriate.
El Chorro is on the upper section of the same Naranjo River but the character is entirely different. The defining feature is the gorge: the canyon walls press in very close, the water accelerates through the gap, and that combination creates a rapid with a force that the lower Naranjo and Savegre don't replicate. The Savegre is a Class III-IV river with beautiful scenery and good flow for most of the year. The lower Naranjo runs Class II-III and is suitable for families and younger guests. El Chorro is specifically for people who want the most demanding option available in the Central Pacific.
No. The minimum age of 16 for El Chorro is a firm requirement, not a general guideline. It exists because of the physical demands the rapid places on everyone in the raft, and it is enforced at the river. If you have younger guests in your group who want both activities, book the Naranjo Saddle & Paddle combo instead. It covers the lower Naranjo River at Class II-III and the same horseback riding farm, with a minimum age of 7.
This is a full-day strenuous tour. The El Chorro section requires active paddling and involves getting submerged in fast, cold water. The horseback ride is about 1.5 hours on trails and is moderate in physical demand but adds up on top of a morning on the river. You will be tired by the time you sit down to lunch. Most people who do this tour are in reasonable physical condition and looking for an active day rather than a sightseeing one. If you are unsure whether your fitness level is appropriate, WhatsApp us before booking and we can give you an honest answer.
Dry season's most extreme combo tour is waiting.
Available January through April. Hotel pickup included. Price at checkout via Rezdy.
Prefer just your group? Take this tour private →
