Punta de Mita/Sayulita: Horseback Riding Tour

Litibú Beach is the star of this 1.5-hour horseback ride, but the route earns its keep by linking three very different settings: Higuera Blanca village, jungle trails, and the broad Riviera Nayarit shore. You ride with a cowboy guide, not in a tight arena, and the horses are selected for calm temperaments and kept in good condition.

I like the chance to see a typical Mexican village on horseback, and I like the friendly ranch setting, where you can meet donkeys, macaws, peacocks, water buffalo, and other animals. The main thing to consider is the travel time. Pickup and return can stretch the outing well beyond the advertised riding time, especially from Puerto Vallarta.

Key points at a glance

• Three settings in one ride: Pass through Higuera Blanca, jungle, and Litibú Beach.
• Calm horses and patient guides: Ricardo and Carlos are especially helpful for first-time riders.
• Beach gallop option: You may have a chance to gallop at Litibú, depending on your comfort and the guide’s direction.
• A lively ranch stop: See donkeys, ponies, macaws, roosters, water buffalo, deer, turkeys, and peacocks.
• Tequila with a side of humor: Nico leads the tasting after the ride.
• Photos cost extra: The professional pictures can be purchased, but personal cameras and cellphones are not allowed.

Starting at a ranch full of animals

Your outing begins at the ranch operated by Vista Paraiso Tours and Activities. It is more than a place to collect a horse. The property has donkeys, ponies, macaws, roosters, water buffalo, deer, turkeys, and peacocks, giving the start and finish of the tour a relaxed farm feel.

You first receive a short safety briefing. Then the staff matches you with a horse, saddles up, and explains how to handle the animal. This matters if you are new to riding, since the tour attracts both beginners and people who already ride at home.

The horses are described as calm, well-fed, and kept in good shape by the ranch cowboys. That care is important here. You are riding outside a corral, passing through a village and along a beach, so a steady horse makes the trip easier for everyone.

Guides including Ricardo and Carlos have earned special praise for their patience, humor, and attention to safety. Carlos is also known for explaining horse behavior, which can help you feel more at ease before setting out. Ricardo has guided riders through the route and shared stories about the places along the way.

Do not expect a polished resort attraction with every minute tightly staged. The appeal is the combination of working ranch, local village, open countryside, and beach. The ranch itself is a worthwhile part of the visit, particularly if you enjoy animals.

Riding through Higuera Blanca

The first major setting is Higuera Blanca, a small Mexican town near Punta de Mita. Riding through town gives you a glimpse of everyday local life that you would miss on a beach-only horseback outing.

This section also helps explain why the tour takes longer than a simple loop along the sand. You are not just being led from the ranch to the shoreline and back. The ride connects the inland community with the coast, giving you a better sense of the area around Riviera Nayarit.

The town portion should appeal to you if you enjoy seeing places that are not built only for visitors. It is not presented as a formal sightseeing stop with a long list of monuments. Instead, you pass through a typical small community on horseback, with the guide pointing out places and sharing local stories.

That setting also means the ride is not a nonstop beach canter. Much of the route is likely to be at a controlled walking pace, especially through the town and jungle. If your main goal is fast riding, make sure you understand that the beach gallop is an option, not the whole tour.

Through the jungle to Litibú Beach

After Higuera Blanca, the ride heads through jungle and countryside before reaching Litibú Beach. The change in scenery is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing over a short ranch ride.

The jungle section adds shade and a sense of movement through the natural surroundings. You follow the guide and horse group along the route, with the animal doing much of the work while you take in the greenery and changing views. Wear comfortable clothes and bring insect repellent, as the tour passes through areas where insects may be present.

Then the route opens onto Litibú Beach. This is the visual payoff: a broad stretch of Riviera Nayarit coast where the setting feels much more open than the inland trail. The beach ride gives you time to enjoy the shore from a slower, more unusual viewpoint.

You may have the option to gallop on the beach. That is a useful detail for experienced riders, but beginners should not feel pressured to do it. Your comfort, the horse’s behavior, and the guide’s instructions come first. The horses are chosen for their calm nature, but riding on sand still requires attention and control.

The beach portion is also where the professional photographer may follow the group. Personal cameras and cellphones are not allowed, so you cannot simply use your own phone for pictures. Photos are offered for purchase afterward, and prices are not included in the $103 tour cost.

Several riders found the photos worth buying, especially the shots taken during the beach ride. Still, treat them as an optional extra. If you do not want to spend more, enjoy the ride itself and do not expect to use your own camera.

The tequila tasting and ranch finale

Back at the ranch, the tour finishes with a tequila tasting led by Nico. This is not part of the riding route, but it gives the outing a social finish and introduces a familiar Mexican drink in a casual setting.

Nico is known for making the tasting lively and entertaining. You can expect a light, informal end to the tour rather than a formal lesson in tequila production. Bottled water is included, which is useful after time in the sun and on horseback.

You can also buy lunch at a Mexican restaurant on the property. Food is not included, so bring this cost into your planning if you want to eat before returning to your hotel. The restaurant gives you a place to linger at the ranch rather than rushing straight from the saddle into transportation.

One unusual final stop is Soruyo, a bull weighing more than one ton. You can take a picture with this large animal before heading home. It is a memorable ranch detail, though some visitors may be more interested in the horses, birds, or beach than in the photo opportunity.

How much time the outing really takes

The riding portion is listed as 1.5 hours. That is a reasonable way to describe the core activity, but do not plan your day as if you will be away from your hotel for only ninety minutes.

Round-trip transportation is included from certain pickup points. The activity partner contacts you after booking to confirm your pickup location and time, and you should be ready ten minutes before pickup. Pickup locations may not be directly at your hotel, so check the meeting point carefully.

The full outing can take several hours once you add transportation, the ranch introduction, safety briefing, horse preparation, tequila tasting, photos, and possible lunch. One rider reported spending close to six hours from pickup to return, with the meeting point some distance from the hotel. Another considered the trip worthwhile despite a long drive from Puerto Vallarta.

That makes this a better choice for a half-day plan than for a quick gap between other reservations. Leave room in your schedule, especially if you are staying in Puerto Vallarta and the pickup point is farther north. The transfer time is the main practical drawback.

Is $103 a fair price?

At $103 per person, this is not the cheapest way to sit on a horse for an hour. The value depends on what you want from the day.

You are paying for more than the ride itself: transportation from selected pickup points, a guided route through three different settings, a ranch visit, bottled water, and tequila tasting. The animals on the property and the chance to see Higuera Blanca add variety that a short beach-only ride may not offer.

The price is easier to justify if you are staying near Punta de Mita or Sayulita, since the route is close to those areas. From Puerto Vallarta, transportation time becomes a larger part of the day, and you should weigh that against your interest in the ranch and the beach ride.

Food and photographs cost extra. The photos can add noticeable expense, so decide ahead of time how much you want to spend. If lunch matters to you, budget for the Mexican restaurant at the ranch as well.

I would call the price fair for a first-time rider or anyone seeking a varied countryside outing rather than a basic horseback loop. It is less compelling for an experienced rider who wants a long, fast trail ride, since the advertised horseback portion lasts 1.5 hours and much of the route moves at a controlled pace.

Who will enjoy this horseback tour

This tour suits you if you want a gentle introduction to horseback riding with several kinds of scenery. Beginners are welcomed, and the horses are described as friendly and easy to handle. The guides can help you feel secure, and the route offers more to look at than a fenced ranch.

It also works well for couples. The village, jungle, and beach create a varied outing, and the tequila tasting gives you something relaxed to do together afterward. Solo riders can join too, as the ranch takes people with different riding backgrounds.

You may want to choose another activity if you are pregnant, have back problems, or weigh more than 260 pounds, or 118 kilograms. Sandals and flip flops are not allowed, so wear closed, comfortable footwear and clothing suited to sitting in a saddle.

The tour is not suitable if you need to stay connected or want to take your own photos. Cellphones and cameras are prohibited during the activity. The professional photographer provides the main way to purchase pictures of your ride.

Booking and cancellation details

The tour is offered in English and Spanish. Pickup is included from certain points, but the partner confirms the exact location and time after booking. Be at the pickup point ten minutes early.

You can reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your schedule is still changing. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.

Check the starting time before booking because availability changes. Also ask yourself how much of your day you want to spend on transportation. The ride itself is short enough to fit into a larger vacation plan, but the full outing may take much longer.

Should you book the Higuera Blanca horseback ride?

Book it if you want a well-rounded ranch outing with calm horses, a local village, jungle, beach, tequila, and unusual animals all in one package. The strongest parts are the changing scenery, the patient guides, and the chance to gallop briefly on Litibú Beach if you are ready for it.

I would especially recommend it to first-time riders, couples, solo visitors, and anyone staying near Punta de Mita or Sayulita. If you are coming from Puerto Vallarta, confirm the pickup point and allow most of a half-day, not just ninety minutes.

Skip it if your priority is a long, athletic ride or a cheap beach excursion. For everyone else, the mix of Higuera Blanca, the ranch, and Litibú Beach gives you a memorable look at this part of Riviera Nayarit from the saddle.

FAQ

How long is the horseback riding tour?

The horseback riding portion lasts 1.5 hours. Transportation, the ranch visit, horse preparation, tequila tasting, photos, and optional lunch can make the full outing considerably longer.

Where does the ride take place?

The tour travels through Higuera Blanca, jungle areas, and Litibú Beach in Riviera Nayarit, near Punta de Mita and Sayulita.

Is transportation included?

Round-trip transportation is included from certain pickup points. The activity partner confirms your pickup point and time after booking.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and Spanish.

Can beginners join the horseback ride?

Yes. The tour uses horses described as calm, friendly, well-fed, and kept in good condition. The staff gives a safety briefing before matching and saddling your horse.

Can I gallop on the beach?

You may have the option to gallop at Litibú Beach. Follow the guide’s instructions and choose the pace that fits your comfort and riding ability.

Is lunch included?

No. Food is not included, but lunch is available for purchase at a Mexican restaurant on the property.

Is tequila tasting included?

Yes. A tequila tasting is included after the horseback ride.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

No. Cameras and cellphones are not allowed during the activity. Professional photographs may be available for purchase.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or people weighing more than 260 pounds, or 118 kilograms. Sandals and flip flops are also not allowed.