Horseback riding in Punta Cana: Dominican countryside culture

A day in the fields: horse ride, river swim, market walk, and a beach stop

An 8-hour countryside tour from Punta Cana that combines a 15-minute horseback ride with visits to rural villages, tobacco and sugar cane plantations, the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in Higuey, and swimming in the Anamuya River. The tour includes hotel pickup, a typical Dominican lunch at a private ranch, tastings of locally made coffee, chocolate and seasonal fruits, and ends at Macao Beach before returning to your hotel.

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive into the countryside around Punta Cana. You'll visit a rural school and a tobacco plantation where you can see handmade cigars being made, then mount a horse for a 15-minute ride through the fields. After that comes a walk through a batey, a traditional sugar cane worker settlement, and past the plantations themselves, with a panoramic view of San Dionisio along the way.

The route then takes you into Higuey to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia and walk through the municipal market on foot, moving through the everyday rhythm of a Dominican town. You'll swim in the Anamuya River in the middle of the countryside, then sit down to a typical Dominican lunch at a private ranch. Before heading back, you'll stop at a rural house to see how people live there and walk among coffee, cocoa and fruit trees, with tastings of coffee, chocolate and whatever seasonal fruits are available.

The final stop is Macao Beach, where you can rest and swim before the drive back to your hotel. A live guide in English, Spanish, French or German travels with the group throughout, and hotel pickup is included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• safari transportation throughout the day.
• 15-minute horseback ride.
• visits to a rural school, tobacco plantation, sugar cane plantations and the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in Higuey.
• walk through the municipal market.
• swimming in the Anamuya River.
• typical Dominican lunch at a private ranch.
• tastings of coffee, chocolate and seasonal fruits.
• visit to a rural house with fruit trees.
• time at Macao Beach.
• live guide in your chosen language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 80

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yery Constanzo

Is this one for you?The day involves steady walking, water entry and a full 8 hours away from your hotel, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with a moderate pace and want to move through several different landscapes and activities rather than stay in one place. The early morning pickup means an early start, which is what makes the full itinerary fit into a single day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What's the horseback riding like on this tour?

The horseback ride lasts 15 minutes and happens in the early part of the day, after you visit the tobacco plantation. It's a short stretch through the countryside, not a long trek.

Is swimming in the Anamuya River included, or do I need to bring anything?

Swimming in the Anamuya River is included in the tour. You'll want to bring a swimsuit and a towel, as you'll have time to bathe in the river during the day.

What kind of food and tastings are part of this tour?

You get a typical Dominican lunch at a private ranch, and tastings of handmade Dominican products including coffee, chocolate and seasonal fruits picked from trees at a rural house you visit.

Does this tour visit Higuey, and what will we see there?

Yes, Higuey is one of the main stops. You'll visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, the city's most important landmark, and walk through the municipal market to see how locals shop and live.

How much walking is involved during the 8 hours?

There's moderate walking throughout the day: through the batey and sugar cane plantations, around Higuey and the market, and at the rural house and Macao Beach. The pace is leisurely, with stops to rest and swim built in.