rancho chilamate adventures on horseback

I am sitting here and have been here all of five hours and I couldn't wait to write this review. This place is a stunning retreat from the hustle and bustle of San Jose. The staff here are all awesome and it feels like we are warm house guests instead of checking into a hotel. You are greeted with delicious wine and beer and the food has been fresh and great. This place is a treat for horse and non horse affeciandos alike. A must go for anyone visiting Nicaragua. I will be recommending this place to any friends and family who are making their way to this area of the world.

Ranchochilamate was the most scenic horseback riding experience that my wife and I have ever had. The staff are truly sincere and welcoming.

I've gone riding a lot on my vacations but this was the best... great horses, wonderful people, fantastic countryside, professional hosts and galloping along a pristine beach. When in SJDS, this is the place to ride! Hope to return again. Thank you so much.

The warm welcome, beautiful ranch, luxury room, excellent food, amazing team and fun rides were the highlight of our Nicaragua trip. Blue makes you feel at home instantly and we can't wait to go back one day. Highly recommended!

This was a perfect place for us. Blue and her staff went out of their way to make sure we had the best vacation. From the moment we stepped ionto the ranch we felt welcomed. We arrived to cold drinks and a wonderful lunch. After lunch we picked out our cowboy clothes and saddled up our horses for a memorable ride through the jungle and on the beach. Some in our group were experienced riders and some were not, they matched horses to each individual perfectly. We all ran the horses on the beach like we were pros. We came back relaxed by the pool while a delicious dinner was prepared for us. The following morning after a great breakfast, the girls had a wonderful massage by the massage therapist, Amanda. We didn't want leave! Thank you Blue, Nick, Amanda and Heather.

Three of us friends went on this ride and loved it. The scenery is fabulous (you can see monkeys usually) and the beach is quiet and peaceful. The horses loved the beach and were excited to run around in the waves. I loved that we got to wear western outfits and have our photos taken. The animals are well loved and taken care of as well. I would highly recommend this place.

Apologies for the very belated review, but couldn't miss the opportunity to say what a FABULOUS time we had indulging in a sunset ride at Rancho Chilamate. Having been picked up from San Juan we were thoroughly welcomed by Blue and the team before donning our cowbgirl getups and heading off into the sunset. Riding through rainforest with monkeys overlooking you before heading down onto the beach to be greeted by Blue and her canine sidekick (not to mention some welcome beers and treats) and finally galloping through the waves as the sun begins to fade is a truly unique experience and one we won't forget in a hurry. Blue had done a wonderful job with the place, but perhaps one of the greatest assets is this lovely woman herself! I really hope to get a chance to go back, hopefully this time actually staying over in the ranch - one of our only regrets is missing out on that the first time around! Oh, and thanks for the fantastic pics - not only did we get the great ride we got it all preserved courtesy of Blue herself. Thanks a million Blue and team!

We were welcomed at Ranch Chilamate with a cold glass of watermelon juice, a warm smile from Blue and Nick, and a detailed description of what sounded like a beautiful 3 ride through the forest and onto the beach. I was the only experienced rider out of our group but within less than 24 hours we were galloping on the beach break in cowboy boots and hats, splashing up water in mad exhilaration. The horses are heathy, happy and extremely responsive. Well looked after with well fitting saddles (no sigh of any saddle sores whatsoever). I would not have ridden otherwise. In fact we loved our ride so much that we returned to join Blue and the other hosts for a delicious Christmas eve feast. She has set up a beautiful and responsible project and I could not recommend her more. Congratulations Blue, Rancho Chilamate is an inspiration. Keep it up! We hope to come back soon.

Was the ride of a lifetime. Rode through the enchanted forest, saw some howler monkeys and had a view of some of the Nicaraguan villages. Our guides were fantastic and brought us each a cold beverage for a toast to the sunset on the beach. We were able to trot/gallop through the waves for about half hour before riding back under the stars. Was truly a magical experience that I will never forget. Would highly recommend this trip!

Dear adventure seeker, If traveling to Nicaragua and visiting San Juan del Sur, please make it a point to stop by Rancho Chilamate and go on the horseback riding adventure! The horses are extremely well taken care of and happy. The horseback adventure is truly a one of a kind experience, magical! They take you through the mountains, exchanted forest and you will end up at a private beach where you will be able to gallop through the beach and enjoy the gorgeous views. Now if you aren't such an expert rider, like myself, no need to worry. They have a horse for everyone. You will always feel safe during the ride. So much fun! You will definitely channel your inner cowboy/cowgirl. It's an amazing way to enjoy the beauty Nicaragua has to offer. If you have decided to go on the riding adventure make sure to stay the night at Rancho Chilamate. You will not regret it! I will definitely be returning for a third time in December, can't wait!

If there is one activity that you have to do if you come to San Juan del Sur, it is to go riding with the team at Rancho Chilimate. They will pick you up in town and drive you out to the ranch which is situated in beautiful country a short distance from town. I took my 3 kids who were pretty new to riding and the team were great at matching their experience to the right horses and me too. The ride took us through woods and fields and allowed us to experience the sights and sounds of the countryside in its natural state. When we hit the beach the fun really started and we were let off the leash and allowed to canter through the waves which was utterly exhilarating before a gentle hack back to the ranch, all in all about 3 hours which was really good value.What attracted me to the Rancho was the gut feeling I got from the website and reviews that Blue really loves her horses and cares for them and this is completely born out when you meet them. All of our horses seemed to enjoy the experience almost as much as we did and had a gleam in their eyes. So if you have any concerns about the welfare of the animals, you can set your minds at rest at Rancho Chilamate.And you can stay there too which would be a real thrill as I am sure their hospitality is unmatched.Thank you Blue, Nick, Adam etc for a memorable day.

This adventure is what dreams are made of - Blue throws all your regular conceptions of trail rides out the window- and truly provides the experience of a lifetime. From the moment you first see the pristine Rancho Chilamate - a beautiful white casa in stark contrast to the clear blue skies - to the point where Blue brings you into her home to get decked out in your choice of cowboy boots, bandanas and cowboy hats - you're excited for what is sure to be a great experience. Blue takes great care in matching horses to rider experience (or inexperience) and her love of the horses, her staff, and the community is apparent. The ride takes you through tall grass fields and onto deserted beaches, where you're free to gallop through the surf while Blue makes sure to take lots of pictures. The best part is that you know that some of the proceeds of your adventure are put back into the community for essential improvements, such as providing water to the local school. Seriously - do not miss out on this during your travels to Nicaragua. And book in advance - the rides are limited to 6 people so that everyone enjoys the same 5 star experience. You now can stay at Rancho Chilamate as well - which can only enhance your experience. No roughing it here - gorgeous views, a pool and people so nice that I doubt you'll ever want to leave. Blue - I seriously am ready to sell everything and move in with you!

First of all let met say that 'm about as far from a cowboy as you can get. My wife and I took our first trip to Nicaragua and had an amazing time. We went surfing, volcano hiking, boating on Lake Nicaragua, etc. etc. So by the time we got to our last day of the trip at 6:30 in the morning we were tired and figured we might as well try to enjoy our horseback ride because we already paid for it. Wow, all we can say now is that this was the absolute highlight of what was already an awesome trip. Picked up in town and taken on a beautiful drive to their awe inspiring ranch was just the beginning. The grounds of the ranch are straight out of a movie. Beautiful ranch house with a huge kitchen and eclectic decor. The staff here is amazing and immediately provided us with much needed coffee. After our wake up, it was into the cowboy boot and hat room where they had ample selections for us. Now that we looked the part it was time to take a few pictures and then out to the horses. The horses are obviously well taken care of and for novices like us the horses couldn't have been better. The ride through the jungle and then to the secluded beach was surreal. Beautiful and breathtaking are understatements. The icing on the cake was running the horses on the beach. Not having ridden horses more than about 3 times in my life made me very nervous about this but the staff was extremely helpful and the horses were awesome and I must say the funnest thing I did was getting to take a horse at full gallop on a beautiful secluded beach (yes right where Survivor was filmed and yes the ranch house was also a part of a winning survivor challenge as well). The people we met while riding were so much fun as well. It was like a big family having a great time together and that was all created by the staff who made us all feel so welcome. You simply cannot miss this opportunity if you go to SJDS. Thanks Rancho Chilamate for an incredible experience. :)Michael and JauniceCalifornia

Our 4th ride with Blue and crew. We arrived at the Ranch, it was overcast but a good day. We were doing the sunset ride. As we set out it started to rain and started getting heavier as we went on. Blue asked if we wanted to continue, and all 6 of us said YES. We donned our yellow rain slickers and continued on. It was heavy rain and kept getting heavier so it was determined best to go back to the Ranch. A little disappointed but we know the weather can't be controlled. Once back there we were given wonderful plush beach towels to dry off. The Ranch serves as an Eco Guest Ranch. We toured the great eclectic rooms and had a ball. If I had not been riding before, I probably would not have missed it, we had so much fun with the crew.A soggy partial ride and fun at the Ranch. A GREAT time.I am trying to decide which room to stay in for our ride in 2015. A horseback beach ride and overnight stay at Rancho Chilamate can't be beat!

My boyfriend and I went for a ride for my birthday- I am a keen rider and my birthday is the second time my boyfriend has sat on a horse. In short, one of the most amazing things about this ride was the fact that experience didn't matter. My boyfriend was able to canter through the waves, or not at his wish. What a fantastic way to un- complicate riding and build confidence! The confidence Adam had in the horses was tremendous. From start to finish, we were made to feel extremely welcomed and at home on the ranch. Adam, who co manages the ranch with his girlfriend Christina were to die for. It was really clear that as soon as we stepped out of the car, they were really pleased to see us and get to know each member of our party. They had only been there about two months I think, but happily chatted to the locals as we rode past them on our ride. And vey happily chatted to my boyfriend and I, and the other people in our party. It is clear they loved the work, the country and the horses. And though we needed no push in that direction, their attitude was infectious!We were promised well cared for horses, sadly a rare find in Nicaragua and Adam was able to tell us in depth about the horse we were riding. It was clear they had paid real attention to the emails sent in advance describing the weight, height and experience of each rider because each member of the party was horsed up perfectly. I fell in love with the lovely speckled grey cappuccino! Though it was slightly further to the beach than we expected, we really didn't mind as we were able to see many monkeys in the trees and the most beautiful landscape. Christiana offered us some sunscreen and the hats we borrowed offered great protection from the sun. Adam was very knowledgable about the plants we passed and various animals. I enjoyed learning about horse care in Nicaragua as a whole, something Adam was happy to inform me about. Galloping through the surf was an incredible experience- no words do it justice. The horses love their work, which horse wouldn't! For the first time in our stay in Nicaragua, we saw happy and healthy horses that thrived in their industry. Thank you so much Racho Chilamate! You made my 21st birthday. We just can't wait to see the photos. Hopefully we will be back soon!!