Dominican Ranch Horseback Tour & Cattle Drive with Beach Ride

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (138 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/6

Duration5h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Horseback ride through Dominican ranch life, cattle drive, cocoa planting, and beach add-on

You’ll ride Paso Higueyano horses through real Dominican farmland, help herd cattle with local guides, sample fresh tropical fruits straight from the trees, and share a ranch lunch before heading back. It’s muddy boots and laughter—not just scenery—that you’ll remember.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dominican horseback riding and ranch tour

Hotel pickup and transport to ranch
Drive through towns and view cathedral
Ranch staff briefing and safety instructions
Mount horses and start 2.5-hour ride
Herd cattle with guides
Enjoy panoramic mountain views
Sow cocoa beans in plantation
Taste wild tropical fruits
Return to stables
Eat ranchero lunch and drink tropical fruit beverage
Watch Paso Higüeyano stallion exhibition

The Experience

I thought I knew what “country life” meant until we rolled up to Rancho Cana Tequila near Higüey. The smell hit me first—earthy, sweet grass, and something like sun-warmed leather. Our guide José grinned as he handed out helmets and explained how these Paso Higueyano horses are basically local celebrities (he said it with a wink). I was nervous about riding at first—my last horse experience was a birthday pony ride when I was six—but José made it feel easy, even when my horse decided to snack on some roadside leaves.

We started off winding through fruit tree groves—mangoes everywhere, and the air felt thick but somehow clean. At one point we stopped so José could show us how to spot ripe guava; he split one open for us right there. Sticky fingers, tangy-sweet taste—honestly better than any dessert. Then came the cattle part. Suddenly there were cows everywhere, big brown eyes watching us as we helped herd them across a pond (well… mostly watched while the real cowboys did the work). The sound of hooves in mud is weirdly satisfying. My jeans got splattered but I didn’t care.

There’s this hilltop where you can see forever—fields rolling out under a hot blue sky. We planted cocoa beans together (I probably did it wrong), and someone made a joke about leaving our mark in the Dominican Republic. Lunch back at the stables was loud and relaxed: rice, beans, chicken that tasted smoky from the fire, and fresh fruit on the side. They poured us a shot of tequila “for courage,” which made everyone laugh too hard for no reason. I still think about that view from the top of the ranch when things get noisy back home.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in comfortable vehicles, all safety gear like helmets, guidance from experienced local staff throughout your horseback adventure and cattle drive, plus welcome drinks or pastries depending on time of day. After riding through fruit groves and helping with ranch tasks, you’ll sit down to a homemade Dominican lunch with fresh fruit—and yes, there’s even a tequila shot before heading back to your hotel.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Rancho Cana Tequila