rancho lobo gris

Thank you so much for a wonderful day in beautiful surroundings. The horses are well cared for and the scenery is spectacular. Lunch was delicious and the added trip to the waterfalls and pools made the day very fun. Would recommend!

Our family of five had an absolutely wonderful day. Daniel picked us up at our villa and we rode up into the mountains in the back of an open truck, which is a fun experience in and of itself. Honestly, the drive up through beautiful scenery and Dominican villages was almost worth the cost of the tour alone. You get ia glimpse of the real DR, which I think is important. Daniel takes safety seriously and briefs you well at the outset on how to handle a horse, then we set out for a good ride down dirt roads and over green fields. The scenery is not to be missed, reminiscent of a cross between Hawaiin mountains and scenes from Jurassic Park. After the ride we were fed a very good, simple but typical Dominican meal of chicken, rice, beans and salad before settling out for nearby waterfalls where you can jump or zip line into the water. Daniel and Simona are always watching out for you and I felt so comfortable that I found myself galloping on my horse, something I would never have thought of doing at home. For some of us, today became about pushing ourselves a bit further than we are accustomed to and we are grateful for that. We shared the day with a mother and her two young daughters and the youngest, a 6 year old who had never ridden before, had a young boy ride with her. He had no saddle or stirrups but rode expertly, letting her do it when she could and quickly reaching around her for the reins when she needed help so even small children can do this tour safely. Forget the nags on the beach and their one or two hour rides. This tour may be double the cost but we were picked up at 8h30 and returned at 5h30 and were fed lunch too. And if you hit a rainy day where lying on the beach is out, this is ideal. Today was mostly cloudy until late afternoon and it rained during the tour once or twice, but it didn't affect anything at all and I was grateful for the relief from the sun and heat. All five of us highly recommend this.

Heard about this riding place through a friend who also lives in Sosua and decided to take part. Haven't been on a horse in more than 25 years and was a little nervous. Simone, the leader of the trail rides is very knowledgeable about her horses and also the local flora and fauna. She matches each rider with a horse according to the rider's ability and the horses are exceptionally well-trained. She picked us up in Sosua and took us to the ranch in her truck. The horses were already saddled so we all mounted up. There are saddlebags on each saddle for your cameras.etc and a bottle of water is also provided for you. We started out along the road and then went through a field and started up into the hills. The horses are used to galloping up this first hill but if you aren't comfortable doing that just let Simone know and she will hold them back. Once we got to the highest point of land on the ranch, you get a 360 degree view of the impressive hills and valleys and also a good view of Mount Isabella de Torres in Puerto Plata. Spectacular! After traversing up and down a few more hills(mountains), we again stopped in a clearing where there was a variety of citrus trees. These were "sour oranges" whose juice is used as a meat tenderizer in the DR. There was also a tree with "sweet lemons" which are edible and taste like a cross between grapefruit, limes and oranges. The guide who was with Simone picked some for us and peeled them for us to eat. Later we stopped at another clearing and learned about a couple of other fruit trees. Limoncillo fruits with are similar to Lychee fruits in flavour and Guayaba which you can't eat but the horses love them. Finished our first leg of the ride back at the starting point and then set off in a different direction (shorter trip) where Simone showed us the waterfall and river that crosses the ranch. You can go zip-lining across the river here or just go swimming. After that we again returned to the starting point and had some cold drinks and signed the guest book. We really got our money's worth and it was an awesome trip.Simone also has an eco-lodge on the ranch which is available to rent. It is a beautiful log and cana home built entirely by hand by Dominican labourers and Simone and her staff. It is solar-powered and has one bedroom,large kitchen and dining area and 1 bathroom. High vaulted ceilings and ceiling fans. There is a wrap around porch for enjoying the views of the valley and hills. Check with Simone as to which meals are provided by her and which you do yourself. The lodge rental can be combined with a riding packing or rented separately. There is no pool but the river is clean and close by. For the adventurous traveler or a couple looking for a quiet, rustic place to have their honeymoon and go riding as well, you should check out this place on the internet. Search "rancho lobo gris, sosua". One word of caution - if you have a fear of heights you should know that some of the hills you go down are very steep but the horses are very sure-footed. I would definitely go again!

It was such a pleasure to be taken on such a marvelous ride with such a fantastic crew. At the helm was Simona, the manager, and she dazzled me throughout the course of the day. Since no one else had made a reservation that day, I was delighted to have a private tour by Simona and Antonio on two horses (Geronimo & Apache) and a mule (Merete). After our savory lunch feast three youngsters (Cacho, Ali, and Manuelito) hopped on board and joined us for the second half of our day. As soon as we arrived at the watering hole the boys quickly removed their clothes in preparation to jump into the cool refreshing water! It was fantastic & then we walked ten steps to uncover the zip line into an even larger body of water! Needless to say, it was OUTSTANDING from start to finish!

You will get more than you expect:) Great hourses, great guide Simona and great nature, hills and waterfalls here. Unexpected additional adventures on waterfalls (diving in lagoon, zipline).Also we did the trip to rancho by car, almost got lost trying to find it because of our great navigo:( so do not hesitate to contact Simona in advance to pick you up from Sosua, she knows the shortest way;) And also it would be great to notify her, because she can be busy on excursion with another tourits, and nobody except her speak English there (at least it was when we visited the rancho), so you can be confused if come by yourself and nobody able to explain when to wait Simona back:)If you like hourses, you should try this incredible adventure!

We booked this tour through Josef at Fun Tours for $55 US per person. Simona picked us up at our hotel and brought us up through the country-side to the ranch. The tour was fantastic! It was only myself and boyfriend with Simona the guide as they do not do large groups. We went on a long ride through the country-side with breath-taking views, zip-lined into a lagoon with a waterfall and swam as well. I highly recommend this tour. The horses are well looked after and the experience and views are amazing. Also, they have a beautiful villa rental there that includes transportation, supper and breakfast for $80 US per person. It has a huge wrap-around deck, beautiful hand-carved furnishings, wifi, fridge, stove-top etc. Magnificant view and such a relaxing place.

We had a wonderful time and the trip exceeded our expectations. The tour was a beautiful way to experience the blessed island and was nothing short of magical. We appreciated the love and understanding of all the staff as we grew more comfortable with the animals. The waterfall and zipline were an added bonus. Quick notes: 1.) if you're looking to tip the locals (Antonio and 2-3 younger children) who help throughout the day, be sure to bring pesos. It was encouraged for our trip to pay is US$ and we were caught off hand by not having small enough/too large peso bills to go around. 2.) I had made the mistake of thinking the guide would e-mail us her iphone photos on her own free will. Little did we know at the end of the trip that there would be an additional charge per photo taken with an iphone camera. I had brought my own camera and took a few pictures, but would have definitely taken more if I knew this fact ahead of time.

Had a most wonderful time riding horses. Samona met us @ our hotel to drive us to ranch. She gave us a tour of ranch first. It's gorgeous! When we got to ride it was wonderful! Horses were great! An experience you will never forget

We were at Ranco Lobo Gris on March 12, 2014. They take a maximum of 8 people, they feel it is more personal experience. We do agree, it was a very memorable day with great company.Their horses are rescue and very well taking care of. The ranch is Beautiful. A local lady next store made our lunch, typical Dominican meal of Chicken, rice, beans Salad. It was very good. The local young boys help Simona (the manager of the ranch) They are very sweet and well behaved young men. Antonio her right hand man was awesome with the horses and kept us all in line. It is rough terrain you would hate to fall off the horse. You are well taken care of by Simona and Antonio We always felt safe. You feel like you were in a fantastic western movie but with coconut trees. The scenery was spectacular especially when your in the jungle with the vines hanging down waiting for Tarzan to swing by. The waterfalls and zip lining was excellent. The kids would have stayed there til dark if we didn't' tell them it was time to go. The surroundings were so peaceful.The views of the mountains were amazing. This is must do trip. 9 hours did not seem long at all. Learning about the Dominican people and the landscape was educational. We would like to thank Simona for a very nice day.

We are staying in the Sosua area and saw the reviews for Rancho Lobo Gris on Trip Advisor. I was hesitant at first because many of the advertised horseback activities seem to be done on mistreated horses and are not much more than one horse following another on a trail. Not to mention, we have a tight budget and this seemed a little pricey. Rancho Lobo Gris could not be more different or more worth the cost! We have been in the DR for almost a month, toured the area, gone snorkeling, to both the 27 Waterfalls and to Cascada El Limon and to see the whales and this was the highlight of the trip for all 4 of us. Daniel, the owner, is a joy to deal with. Simona and Sylvia, our guides, were fantastic! So were all the additional hands that helped to make our day so special. They pick us up promptly at our hotel, the ride to the ranch is an adventure of its own. The scenery was gorgeous and Simona stopped along the way to point out things of interest and to allow us to take photos. It is a great way to see the 'real' Dominican Republic. We were given a tour of the ranch and then introduced to our horses. The horses are matched to the riders ability and all of our horses were just as sweet, and surefooted as we had hoped. The morning is spent riding through the ranch and into the mountains. The views are spectacular and the peacefulness of the area is such a nice break from the noise of the beach areas. We were not required to follow in a line, though for many of the trails, it was the only option. We were able to gallop if we wished and were even taken to a meadow where we could gallop freely as we wished. Lunch was very tasty and there were plenty of leftovers. After lunch we visited two waterfalls and were able to jump, zip line and swim for as long as we wished. There are currently 37 horses on the ranch, many of which were rescued. The horses are well cared for and loved. You only have to talk to Simona or Sylvia for a few moments to feel the passion they have for the horses, dogs, cats and even children in the area. The only bad thing about the day is that we did not get to stay longer. There is a beautiful home on the property and hopefully, we will be back one day and we will stay the night. To top off the day, Daniel, who was unable to be present when we came, called me to ask how we had enjoyed ourselves. That is a professionalism that you do not too often see. Thank you Daniel, Simona and Sylvia for an unforgettable day spent enjoying God's creation.

We wanted a day away from the beach and the local touristy things. My family loves the outdoors and we wanted to see the country side. Rancho Lobo Gris did not disappoint us. Simona and her staff were wonderful. She picked us up from our resort for our day trek. We were assigned horses according to our abilities and set off for the countryside for a couple of hours. The views are breathtaking! We made a couple "stops" in fields to let the horses gallop and eased our way along trails that were so relaxing. We had a traditional dominican lunch of chicken, rice , beans and salad. It was one of the best meals we ate while visiting the DR. After lunch it was back to the trails with a stop at a waterfall and small lake with zip lining. What a blast! This adventure is definitely worth doing. It was the most incredible experience! Thank you Simona for giving us one the most memorable experiences of a lifetime!!

Thanks Simona and the staff for real Dominican cultural experience! It was our first time riding horses but horses were very gentle and easy to handle. Staffs were kind and knowledgeable. After making the reservation over the phone, Simona, our guide, picked us up from our hotel the next day and drove to beautiful countryside. From the ranch, we went for a couple of hours of horseback riding thru mountains with beautiful view, then had authentic Dominican lunch, and another hour of horseback riding to a water fall for zip lining, diving and swimming. All in all amazing experience and definitely was well worth the cost. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Sosua.

I was just there with my wife in August and we both enjoyed the horseback ridingI highly recommend this to whomever that will be traveling to Sosua (or any place near the city).1. Easy to make a reservationWe sent them an email with phone number and the owner (Daniel) called us in less than an hour or so.2. you have a chance to have a private tour (you and your group).when we made a reservation, Daniel told us that they try to make the tour private so that it is not overly crowded. Well, I had a great time on the day of the tour with my wife alone.3. Easy to learn to ride horsesIt was my first time riding the horse, but Simona has taught us very well.Horses were very calm and nice.4. Great lunchit was a traditional dominican meal but when can you possibly try the local food?5. Waterfallsit was getting really hot and they took us to the waterfalls to cool off a bit.6. Will visit again if we decide to go to DR again.

Folks, I want to give a heads-up and a 5-Star recommendation to all of you. However, I really only want to speak to horse enthusiasts, eco-tourists, nature lovers and adventuresome travellers who “truly visit” the countries that stamp their passports.If you are a beach bunny that never leaves your resort and experiences the countries you fly into… my words are not for you. If you arrived with a pack of horny Spring Breakers, hell bent on out-drinking one another and getting laid by Sosua’s many “ladies of the night”, you also won’t be interested in what I have to say.If however, you are a serious world traveller interested in life away from the tourist traps -- someone actually interested in learning about the countries you visit -- or a person keen on experiencing the beauty of the landscape that the Dominican Republic offers, then please read on… and do plan to book and spend at least a full day in the mountains with the amazing team at Rancho Lobo Gris.That day was truly the highlight of my trip… and the source of great disappointment when I had a fall at my resort, twisted my knee and had to spend a day in a Puerto Plata hospital… instead of getting to go back to the Ranch and explore a second itinerary of new trails their staff planned to guide me on. Hence, you can bet where I am going immediately after dis-embarking on my next trip.In less than 25 minutes from downtown Sosua, you will find your vision of the Dominican Republic fully transformed. The “tourist trap” environment – the one filled with hustlers, drug dealers, souvenir sellers, and prostitutes -- will simply evaporate. Instead, you will get to see the very best of what the Island of Hispaniola has to offer. If you are as lucky as I was on the day I visited, you will be escorted on your trek by Simona, the Ranch’s manager. She will with great care and enthusiasm educate you about the Dominican, its people and the founding of Lobo Gris.Simona and her local right hand man Antonio will teach you much about animal husbandry, riding techniques and the flora/fauna you encounter as you ride the northern hilltops of the Ranch and several other neighbouring properties. No questions are off limits, you get to taste many exotic fruits indigenous to the Island and most importantly, you get to ride exquisite horses that are specifically chosen for you based on your riding history. If you are an experienced horseman, you will be very pleased. If you have never been on a horse before, you will instantly be put at ease. All the while, Simona, Antonio and other staff will be keeping a watchful eye to ensure your safety and a most pleasurable experience.Following your morning ride, you will enjoy a great lunch of typical DR cooking, lovingly prepared by the Ranch’s full time cook. I can honestly say the chicken, rice, beans and salad I ate that day was the best meal I had while in the DR, apart from the filet mignion and Caesar Salad I scarfed down at the Waterfront Restaurant.The afternoon includes more riding and interesting landscapes. You will marvel when you arrive at a secluded private lagoon and are told you get to cool off by swimming in the river, zip-lining into the hidden lake and languishing in the temperate waters that lie beneath the waterfalls. Trust that no Piranhas will bite your toes, but there are fish to be caught if you are an avid angler.For non-swimmers like me… this part of the day did raise the blood pressure a bit but I brought a lifejacket, so I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the water and a welcome reprieve from the 32 degree C temperatures and humidity that made it feel like 120 F.For me, the greatest highlight came with the horse assigned to me. I rode “Geronimo” and he was an absolute beauty… though cheeky and eager to try my patience by trying to eat along the way… and test who was the boss whenever I failed to sufficiently give him full instruction to get a move on. I must admit, I was not really taking control that day, anyways, as I was so enraptured by the environment.I was also enraptured by the raptors… no not dinosaur ones… but by the vultures that circled us as we rode. I kept teasing one of my travel mates (who was riding for only his second time ever) that the Ranch had had to cut costs… so we were to be lunch and the vultures (known locally as Black Eagles) were the deliverymen! LOLAnyhoo… we survived and live to tell a wonderful tale. As an avid horseback rider, I have ridden in many countries… probably everywhere I have been, except in Japan (as I could not find any horses and the monkeys in Kyoto are little and would not cooperate with being saddled!) -- so I guess I have ridden in about 15 countries. Scenery-wise, I have never seen anything quite as breath-taking as the mountains we rode in on Rancho Lobo Gris – it could be equalled only by the high plains on the Big Island in Hawaii, where I galloped on the fields they filmed as the backdrop for that infamous scene in Jurassic Park.Animal lovers will be disappointed that Rancho Lobo Gris boasts neither dinosaurs nor any large reptiles/mammals/birds beyond standard farm fare, if you consider noisy Guinea Hens standard. However, that is par for the course on the northern part of the Island. If you want to see more snakes, tarantulas, parrots or drunken American grad students… get thee to Punta Cana or similar parts! LOLFor those who truly appreciate seeing how the locals live, you will greatly appreciate this daytrip. Those Dominicans who live away from the towns/cities frequented by tourists are a joy to meet. No one is looking to get into your wallet, steal from you or try to sell you anything you do not want. Quite the opposite… they are interested in learning from you, ensuring you are enjoying your trip and you get the sense they would share their last meal with you… if they thought you needed help.Touring with Simona and her team at Rancho Lobo Gris gave me a chance to glimpse the real DR and enjoy the company of local people in a way I could never have experienced at Sosua Beach or even on the other tours I took. I was very thankful for that and also for what I saw firsthand in the Ranch’s care of their livestock.Rancho Lobo Gris takes great pride in the care they provide for the horses that participate in their guided rides. While I am sure other stables in the area may give good care too, I also saw a lot of overtly uncared for animals as I travelled during my vacation. Part of the mandate Simona and the Ranch’s owner Daniel Gray have set is to rescue and recuperate ill-treated and underfed horses. As you spend time at the Ranch, you immediately see how this objective is met and how it translates to every staff member’s desire, demeanour and displayed sense of passion.I cannot recommend more heartily spending a day with these folks. In fact, I’m considering making them “my folks” and buying property on the mountain beside them. I may be Canadian but my ancestry is Scottish, so I’ve inherited a somewhat stereotypical bent for thriftiness… so please know if I’m prepared to someday move there… there is very good reason.As for your trip… please know this experience will simply make your vacation hugely special. If you have questions, I’m happy to reply to them as well.Corpae Diem… “Seize the Day”… but travel with care!Cheers!Mike

We truly enjoyed horseback riding in the countryside of Dominica. The views were amazing and the staff as well as the horses were wonderful! The guide was very informative and pleasant and we learned a lot about Dominican living. It was well worth the costs!