Horse ride to San Miguel with Chilo
photo by John Banks

Activities

Activities offered at Rancho Mastatal include rainforest hikes, swimming in pristine forest rivers, soaking in hidden hot springs, wildlife viewing and birdwatching, horseback riding, and more. The area is a paradise for water lovers, as numerous rivers and waterfalls are accessed from the area with the Pacific Ocean only 15 miles to the south. For those more interested in taking it a bit slower, Rancho Mastatal is the perfect place for kicking back, reading a good book and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Below is a list of activities that you might be interested in participating in during your stay in the area. Guides are either needed or recommended for many of the below activities, and often times only speak Spanish. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to work on your Spanish, and helps the local economy. Tips for guides are recommended. The owners of Rancho Mastatal are often available to join you on your tours if there is an impassable language barrier. For some activities, especially the horseback rides, we will need a day or two advance notice so that we can make arrangements with the local community members that we work with. Don’t forget your bathing suit for the activities that include swimming holes and waterfalls. Group rates are generally available for most activities.

Interns kicking it
photo by Delfino Cornali

Horseback Rides
Wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring lots of water and a snack (when not included in the price of the trip). All horses are locally trained and owned. We need 2 days notice to organize horseback rides. All rides are guided.

"Trapiche" and Río Turbio Waterfall: ¾ day trip. Ride from Rancho Mastatal to the town of San Miguel and then down an old road past an antique sugar mill ("trapiche") powered by oxen. Then continue through pastures before walking to an enormous waterfall on the Río Turbio. Great swimming opportunities. $27.50. Snack included.

Rio Rey Waterfalls: Full day ride. This is a demanding horseback ride. Ride through pastures and forests and then walk to three wonderful waterfalls on the Río Rey. Nice swimming opportunities. $25.00. Snack included.

“Trapiche” and Río Chiris Hot Springs: ¾ day trip. Ride from Rancho Mastatal to the town of San Miguel and then down an old road past an antique sugar mill (“trapiche”) powered by oxen. Then continue through pastures before walking to a small undeveloped hot spring alongside the Río Chiris. Wonderful swimming opportunities. $27.50. Snack included.

Zapatón Indigenous Reserve: Ride along our country roads to the small town of Zapatón. On the way, catch great views to the La Cangreja National Park and the Pacific Ocean. This is a great trip for beginners. $20.00.

Looking off La Piedra in La Cangreja National Park

Hikes
Wear closed shoes or boots and long pants on all hikes. Carry at least 2 liters of water and some snacks (when not included in the price), be prepared to get wet and take precautions against the sun. All durations given are for round-trips.

La Cangreja National Park to Rancho Mastatal: 5 hours. Hike from La Cangreja National Park to Rancho Mastatal (or vice versa). Experience primary and secondary tropical forests, beautiful rivers, great swimming holes and wildlife. Three stream crossings. Guide necessary. Moderate. $6.00-10.00 depending on number of people.

Rancho Mastatal Circuit: 3 hours. Hike Rancho Mastatal’s 7-kilometer circuit. Mountain views, primary and secondary forests, river, waterfalls, swimming holes and wildlife. Two stream crossings. Moderate. $3.00-5.00 depending on number of people with guide. Free without guide. We can provide you with a self-guided map.

“Trapiche” Río Chiris Hot Springs : 6 hours. Walk to the town of San Miguel and then continue down an old road past an antique sugar mill where they still use oxen to process the cane. Continue your walk through pastures to a small undeveloped hot spring. Guide necessary. Moderate (can be strenuous for some due to length of the trip). $10.00-15.00 depending on number of people. Snack included.

Hidden Falls and Big Trees: Visit primary forest on the Ranch’s land and discover small, hidden waterfalls. Approximately 4-hours with time for discovering. Nice pools for swimming. No path. Walk up river. Wildlife. Guide necessary. Easy to moderate.

Río Rey Waterfalls: 5 hours. Walk through town and then down an old road before hiking down an extremely steep hillside to the Río Rey. Then walk upstream to some beautiful waterfalls. Nice swimming opportunities along the way. Guide necessary. Moderate to strenuous. $5.00-10.00 depending on number of people. Snack included.

Cerro Cangreja Summit: 8 hours. Climb to the summit of Cerro Cangreja, the highest point in the area, for wonderful views to the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside. Bring extra water. Guide necessary. Moderate to strenuous. $10.00-13.00 depending on number of people. Snack included.

Whitewater Rafting

Quepos/Manuel Antonio Area

Río Savegre: Outside of Quepos. Class III-III+. $80. Includes breakfast and lunch, hikes to spectacular waterfalls and guide. Full day. Jungle trip. Beautiful. Getting to the put-in is an adventure in itself. There is also a half-day option on the Rio Naranjo. Class III-IV. $65. Beautiful river. Arranged or public transportation from Ranch is extra.

Sea Kayaking

Quepos/Manuel Antonio Area

Damas Island Estuary or Manuel Antonio’s Coast: Visit mangroves or the beautiful Central Pacific Coast near Manuel Antonio National Park. Coastal option is a bit more challenging with some open ocean but still ok for beginners. $65 includes guide and lunch. Arranged or public transportation from Ranch is extra.

Don Rafa talking with students from the Yestermorrow Design/Build course

Cultural Activities

"Trapiche" Visit: Visit a local sugar mill where they still use oxen to press the sugar cane. Drink fresh sugar cane juice and help the local family make “tapa dulce”. Sample the finished product and share conversation with the local owners. $5.00-7.50 depending on number of people. Can be coupled with other trips (see above).

Night fishing for “langostinas”: Go out after dark with a local guide to hunt for freshwater shrimp. Going out into the forest at night presents certain risks so please talk with us in detail about this option before making your decision. $5.00-7.50 depending on number of people.

Basketweaving in Zapatón Indigenous Reserve : Share stories, make baskets and eat a typical lunch with a family in Zapatón. $10.00-15.00 depending on number of people. Minimum 6 people.

Other

4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser Ride : 4x4 your way through the backcountry of Costa Rica in a 1961 Toyota Land Cruiser with a seasoned off road competitor. Rate will be worked out in advance and depends on the number of passengers., Great activity during the rainy season and an awesome way to see the countryside. We need a minimum 3-day advance notice to set this up.