Had an amazing experience on the beach trail! Chrystal was awesome and even picked us up and gave us a ride into Town! read more

Desert Trails - Beach Ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

I came here with a large party of 9 during a cruise to Ensenada. The beach ride was very beautiful, and the horses were gentle and seemed well cared for. We all had a great time. One thing, none of us speak Spanish and our three tour guides only spoke limited English, so the communication was a little tough. We are beginner riders (first time for a couple of us), so more instruction/explanation would have been nice. For instance, the stirrups weren't adjusted per rider so they were all either too short or too long. We used the transportation service to and from our ship port, and it was very convenient and timely. Our guides also took photos and videos during our ride that they sent us after, which was a nice perk! Overall great experience! read more

Desert Trails - beach ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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I literally don't know where to start, so I'll start by saying this excursion is hands down one of THE BEST I've ever been on as someone who cruises a LOT. I was initially skeptical of even getting off the boat in Ensenada due to the Facebook posts in the travel groups, you would think Ensenada was a three street town with nothing but people selling items, one restaurant, and horrible beaches. (They were WRONG...never listen to Facebook groups) Well I wanted to go horseback riding and reached out to this company to see if they could accommodate my large group of 20+. The owner (I believe Crystal?) told us where to meet the drivers and they were ready for us!! Coming off the boat, I did see horses on a beach that looked very frail and the beach didn't look too great...well that was NOT for us. We drove about 40 minutes to another location with a beach as blue as ever!!! Not a lot of people and our guides made sure everyone had a horse that matched their riding ability! The horses were BEAUTIFUL! The scene was BEAUTIFUL! Our drivers were KIND. The ride was AMAZING! We were able to ride at a comfortable pace based on your specific needs. All the beginners/children had a person right next to them guiding their horses while the more experienced were able to ride on our own! The scene was legit like something out of a MOVIE. The blue waters with mountains in the background and white sands were legit amazing. If I could give this company more than 5 stars I would! There is literally NOTHING I would change!!!! I will recommend this place to any and everyone! I wish they had locations in the east Caribbean as well!! Best excursion ever! read more

Desert Trails - Twin sister riding with niece - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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We did the combo ride (with the picnic lunch) which was trails and on down to the beach. Fantastic experience! We went with the whole family 2 adults and 3 kids ranging from 10 - 14 and everyone had a blast! Our guides did a great job making sure everyone was safe and having a great time! Chrystal met up with us and took us to a fantastic spot for lunch - delicious tacos and sweet treats as well. Don't worry if you're inexperienced We all have little to no experience on horseback and it was a great day! Strongly recommend!!! read more

Desert Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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The owner lady was very nice. However I would not recommend, it was a bit of a circus. Lots of red flags, unsafe for the family, disorganized, in hindsight I probably just should have cancelled at the very beginning. read more

Crystal is the sweetest person to talk to when we call for horseback riding. We took the mountain trail for my birthday. My in laws and cousins never ridden a horse before but soon got completely comfortable on them. It was our highlight of our Ensenada trip. We came back for a romantic beach horseback riding with our couple friends. We're getting married next month and our friends just got engaged. Alex again was such a great guide! We had an incredible time! Thank you so much for being so accommodating Crystal and Alex with our last minute planning! read more

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Two friends and I went on a girls cruise weekend. We were picked up by Chrystal at the port and did the beach ride. Beautiful scenery and horses, and wonderful staff helping us. Afterwards, Chrystal took us into town for fish tacos, margaritas, and shopping. Our favorite part of our whole weekend was eating the best fish tacos from a little taco stand away from the tourist areas while sitting in the tailgate of her truck. Actually, spending the day in general with Chrystal was the best part of our trip. read more

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HIGHLY recommended, everyone! This was the best idea and we had sooooo much fun!!!! My BFF and I went on a cruise but we heard any optional tours you book through the cruise line would be super expensive. And my BFF said the horse riding at the beach was her dream so I researched before the cruise and I found the website. I contacted Chrystal and explained to her that we booked another tour and it ends at 2:00 pm. She was worried that we might miss the ship but after I told her that our ship leaves at 6:00 pm, she said she could do 2:30 pm. (Although it was still pushing, she made it happen for us! Thank you Chrystal!!!) When she picked us up, she was very nice and friendly. She explained to me what's like living in Ensenada, why she moved here, etc. I had so much fun listening to her stories. After we got there, we hopped on her horses and went to the beach. OHHHHHHH MY GOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!! It was SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I guess the timing was perfect. The sun was soft and gorgeous. Ocean was beautiful. It was blue and sparkling like a diamond. The beach is so long but there were no people at all. We only saw three people walking during the ride. The beach was clean and I did not see any trash. Usually the beach has nasty seaweeds but there were nothing like that either. The beach was breathtakingly beautiful place. We could not believe how heavenly this place was. And we were riding the horse!!!! Do you understand how luxury it was? Her horses were so nice and cute. My horse and my BFF's horse were playing the game. Every time her horse catches up with my horse, he speeds up trying to show off who was leading the group. It was fun ride. Chrystal and her business partner definitely know what they are doing. They made sure we were safe. They watched the time for us while we were having too much fun and forgot how much time we were spending. She took many photos of us. And she took us back to the ship safely. She knew the traffic well. I do the guide in LA and I know what time is traffic so it takes this much time, etc, so I could tell she also knew this town very well. We think this was one of the two top fun things we did during the cruise (another one was parasailing). I was surprised that only two of us from the cruise ship came to this horse riding at the beach. Seriously everyone on the ship missed out this most memorable fun activity. I would do this again!!!!! read more

Desert Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

I am not sure on number of stars because I can not get to the website to book the tour. Whenever I try the link AT&T blocks and warns me the site has malware attempting to install in my computer and this is sus to me because that has never happened. I want to ride through hills and beach both, visit the geyser, and get Krystal's local eats recommendations but I will have to take the kids on the more expensive cruise sponsored if I can not get to the site. Also one son wants a mini horse and I do not know if she has one of those in her rescue team. read more

Desert Trails - "MALWARE PAGES ATTEMPT TO INSTALL SOFTWARE THAT CAN HARM..." - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

Yes, being picked up at some random place in Ensenada by a stranger to go God knows where for horseback riding may seem odd, and it was. But Crystal kept in constant contact with us, reassuring us we were going to have a wonderful ride along the beach. After a 1/2hour car ride, we got to the horses and jumped right on. Our guide followed behind us and the horses knew their way to the beach. It was beautiful! Our guide picked up big seashells to show us and took lots of pictures for us. For the price, this trip can't be beat. read more

I contacted Crystal and made my deposit and everything was great. Until she said I will leave you with my business partner Alex because I have to take another couple Zip lining and bufadora. Alex was not prepared at all. We waited around until someone else arrived to take us horseback riding. I instantly felt unsafe this older man had no conversation and it felt out of place. At one point the horses were to close to each other and one horse kicked the other horse they were all spooked and I almost fell off. I immediately told the gentleman I don't want to ride anymore and we headed back. I felt these horses were not tamed at all but I'm no expert. read more

Dang it! I forgot to finish my review... but as you can see, even to this day, Desert Trails are still wonderful and enjoyable. We came down to Ensenada on a cruise in 2015 and between horseback riding and the bufanda, we choose horseback riding. I'm not very good with horses - heck, i was a wee little one the last time I was on a horse. Everyone we worked with at Desert Trails was awesome. They answered all the questions and any concerns we had. They came to pick us up at the local hotels and we had the local experience of riding in the back of a pickup truck. tee hee. Stuff you can't do at home. We got to see beautiful trails and local sights. The entire horseback tour was about 2 hours, and with transportation, we were with Desert Trails for about 4 hours. They pick you up and drop you off at the same spot. If you are on the cruise, the pickup location is a walk-able distance from the port. read more

Amazing horse riding experience! The owners were wonderful and took us on an amazing trip! 10/10 read more

Desert Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

We were on a Carnival cruise to Ensenada with a group and wanted to patronize a local business for an informal shore excursion. Chrystal was a gracious guide and we rode comfortably in the back of her pickup truck to go to the ranch. She has ~5 dogs that were calm and adorable, 2 of which accompanied us on the horse trail ride. We had a lovely 2.5 hour horseback ride and then she brought us to explore La Bufadora (the blowhole, or marine geyser). She is laid back and offered her advice on where to eat only if we wanted it. The views for the horseback trail up the mountains were spectacular and the ride was a good enough duration for newbie riders. She offered to drop us off at Papas n Beer that we wanted to check out, but in the end we didn't have enough time to do it all. All in it was still less expensive than a cruise-led shore excursion and it felt more local. The horses have their own personalities, and while not wild, they may trot once in a while and be a bit more fidgety in general, so do keep that in mind. From what I gathered a few or all may have been rescue horses. read more

We booked privately during our cruise when we visited Ensenada. We had the booking for a while before visiting. We had multiple issues and I would never recommend this company for your excursion. We waited for hours to only cancel the excursion. What happened was we called at the time of pickup only to find out that the driver "had a flat tire". Why didn't she call to inform us? Why is the customer taking that initiative? We had to call her multiple times to gain communication of what was going on. After she gave us another eta of 30 mins, they were late to that again. We called and cancelled because it felt like a joke. We wasted our time because of this company. Honestly, I am glad we cancelled because I feel her lack of customer service would reflect her business style and model. We had no interest in being further disappointed. At the time of cancelling she made more excuses about a "rockslide". Where was this communication when we were left on some steps on the side of the road? No thank you. Find a company that actually wants to have customers. read more

Looked on tripadvisor for activities in Ensenada during our Carnival Cruise. The testimonies won me over to Desert Trails as they sounded too good to be true. I began to email Chrystal and Glenn months prior to our trip inquiring about their rates and ride hours. I had to look twice when I saw that their rates were less than half of what Carnival's horseback riding excursion. Chrystal accommodated to our cruise times arranging where we would meet and when when we docked in Ensenada. We met with her husband Glenn and their driver/assistant Liz, and my wife and I immediately warmed up to them. When we got to their stables, we saw the horses (which are horses they own and raise) have grazing space and are pretty much a part of their family as a dog or cat would be. The benefits of going with Desert Trails are: 1) Personal riding and attention from Glenn and Chrystal as opposed to a large group. This is especially important for beginner riders with little experience, needing more attention to go at a slower pace. 2) Price: Carnival charges $71+ ...I cancelled my Carnival excursion as soon we began contacting Chrystal and Glenn, knowing it was going to be better. 3) Healthy Horses: We drove by the Carnival horseback excursion to find that all of the horses were tied to a wall/fence and were not grazing. Also, Glenn and Chrystal know their horses, and the horses are eager to go on the trail as they are very familiar with the route. 4) Photos: Glenn and Chrystal take photos while you are riding so that's one less thing you have to worry about as you enjoy the trail and manage such an amazing animal. 5) Lunch: For $10 per person, Glen and Chrystal cooked homemade BBQ (fajitas and pie) for us, and we got to dine with them on their porch totally family style. This added a great personal touch to the Ensenada vibe. This was a highlight of the tour. 6) La Boufadora: We ended up paying them for a trip to La Boufadora as well, getting two excursions in one day with ample time to make it back to the ship. While on the drive, we got to hear lots of insights about Ensenada and their experiences in the city. If you have a small group or are a couple, I recommend, contacting Chrystal and Glenn right away and start making reservations. Their expertise and hospitality will put you at ease right away and make you feel welcome in unfamiliar land. read more

Desert Trails - Photos taken by Glenn so we can enjoy the view and the ride! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

I booked a carnival cruise from long beach to Ensenada and was a tad nervous about booking a horse back ride with a company that didn't advertise with the cruise ship but I trusted the reviews from yelp and TripAdvisor and through emailing Crystal a ton of questions I felt secure with my decision. It was indeed the BEST decision I could have made. Besides the fact that they are not selfish, extremely inexpensive, and the price they charge is just enough to take care of themselves and the animals, they are really beautiful genuine people. The horses are loved and well taken care of. Great experience all together for myself and everyone in my group as first time horse riders. They are better then any tour guide you will find in Ensenada. We can't wait to go back! :D read more

Desert Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

Chrystal is super friendly and resourceful. She was very responsive throughout the booking process. The horses were friendly and clean. We definitely recommend her for horse riding experience in Ensenada (Playa Peninsula) read more

Really enjoyed riding with Desert Trail, Crystal was really prompt with responding to my emails and answering my questions, she picked us up at a hotel across the street from the Ship terminal, and drove us to an area to ride along the beach. Although, it was a gloomy day, it is still really beautiful having the beach to ourselves. She and her team even helped my boyfriend and I take lots of pictures without asking and sent them over on Facebook without charging us more. Price is very reasonable. Crystal also provided us alot of reccomendation of places to visit in Ensenada and dropped us off at the shopping area we wanted to go afterward. Looking forward with riding with Desert Trail again. read more

Our group had a great time! Nice calm ride. My horse was easy to ride and well trained. Pickup was easy and just a short walk from the port.

Crystal was really flexible and came to pick us up from one of the local hotels. She drove us to ride horses and we had an excellent time. She and her crew took lots of pictures and really gave you the chance to be independent. I loved seeing the sights and being able to experience Ensenada from a more local vibe. The prices were amazing and me and mom would definitely go back again. read more

AMAZING time!!! Very catering to our requests and very friendly. Chrystal and Alex have a huge variety of tours. Definitely email/visit website to see it all. Thank you!!!! read more

I can't express how awesome Chrystal and her staff are! We booked a combo mountain and beach ride and had an amazing experience with our trail guides Alex & Julia. Her horses were well behaved and were a great ride for any experience level rider. This is the perfect experience if you don't want the normal tourist trap rides where you're lead down the beach. Chrystal definitely made us feel right at home like we were old friends. Her ranch had beautiful, well loved animals of all kinds (we even got to snuggle some puppies and kittens). I would recommend Chrystal & Desert Trails to anyone spending time in Ensenada! We will definitely be back soon!!! read more

just amazing, Alex and Krystal were very professional and they actually were in town when I called and picked us up ...going above and beyond... The ride itself was stunningly gorgeous, the horse was very sweet dot-dot-dot had an amazing time for an amazing price ... I'm going back there in 2 weeks animal call them again for another ride!! read more

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I visited Ensenada as part of a port day with princess cruises and wanted to do horseback riding on the beach. I reached out to Glenn and Chrystal and asked if they would be willing to do a special trip for us. After a few weeks of planning, they gave me the green light to do the horseback trip as I had requested. They picked us up near the ship terminal and took us to a nearby beach with nice sand, waves, and sand dunes. In my opinion, the pricing was very fair for this customized trip. After we were done they gave us cold water and took us anywhere we wanted. My family and I wanted a massage so they dropped us off and gave us tips on how to get around town and where to eat. These guys are a must visit attraction if you're visiting Ensenada. read more

Desert Trails - Beach ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

We decided to do this , we were a little late and crystal was kind enough to squeeze us in for a later time that work out for us . I had an amazing time you actually get to ride a horse at your own paste I was very happy with my horse. I meet a horse that was born 1 week ago can't wait to go back see the horse be all big :). I would recommend this only 30 dollars. And also you get to see this amazing view , friendly staff. read more

Desert Trails - Selfie with this horse - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

So much fun! Traveling alone with my 5 yr old daughter in Ensenada sounds a little crazy. Then add getting into a car with random strangers to drive 30 min or so out of the main tourist area (where the cruise director told us to stay) then into a car after the horseback ride with a man we just met. It all sounds a bit much and a little risky, HOWEVER, we could've have felt more at ease. Chrystal and Alejandro (aka Alex) were excellent and very accommodating to our needs (esp my demanding 5 year old who kept ordering Alex to guide her and her horse to the water and/or to move faster). We had a great ride on the beach. It was an awesome experience for my girl's first time on a horse by herself. I was a little freaked out because I wasn't sure how the horses were going to take to my kid pretending like she was on a race horse, but they were so good and patient with her. It helped having Chrystal's helpers walk along us as well. One of the helpers even picked up a few sand dollars for us to keep! We were given a ride to Las Cañadas afterward where Alex waited for us in the car while we ziplined. He didn't speak much English, but (with me and my attempts at remembering my college Spanish) he couldn't have been any nicer. I've already recommended the same ride to friends heading down in a few weeks. read more

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Like everyone says, the prices and service can't be beat. This is not a mainstream, corporate, sterile option; you're riding spirited horses in a very small group on narrow trails up a mountainside. The views are incredible, and you commune with the horse in a much more direct and organic fashion than if you were to ride in a long nose-to-tail caravan on the beach. My family and I were with Liz, Chrystal and Glenn's associate, and she was warm, welcoming and knowledgable. Our 7-year-old and 9-year-old very much want to go again! read more

My boyfriend and I just got back from our weekend getaway to Ensenada and riding with Desert Trails was such a good choice! I'm a bit of a control freak so I wanted to have a set plan for our on land excursion since we only had like 9 hours in Mexico, my bf on the other hand was leaning more towards just "winging it" once the ship would pull up to the port. Luckily we found great reviews for Desert Trails and they would be able to accommodate us at 1:30 on Sunday. This worked out PERFECTLY! We had a few hours to explore downtown on our own and buy little touristy things for friends/family and then we waited for glen at the meeting spot which was supppppeeerr easy to find! He showed up right on time and we were off! I loved getting away from the busy downtown area and getting to see the "real" mexcio I hadn't seen in years. Glen and Chrystal were super chill and let us say hi to their adorable pups and horses and then we got to ride. We only did the hour long ride since I'm a bit of a chicken but for us it was the perfect amount of time. I asked for an old and slow horse which meant the poor girl kind of huffed and puffed a little going up one of the hills but it was all a part of the experience and I thanked the horse kindly haha. If you're on the fence about booking with Desert Trails...do it! We did our small deposit via paypal and paid the remainder cash. This was certainly one of the highlights of our trip! Gracias! read more

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Súper friendly people! Awesome experience! nothing like the people who are at the beach and charge crazy for a 5 min ride. Beautiful scenery and trail. Can't wait to come back again. read more

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I really enjoyed this as it was a nice change of pace from all the other activities offered in Ensenada. I emailed Chrystal about a week in advance of our trip and we were able to communicate and book everything over email. We met her at a gas station where we followed her in her car to where the horses were. We had booked a beach trail ride so we stopped by a gorgeous lake and immediately got on the horses. There isn't much training or instruction (it's not really needed) but I hadn't been on a horse in years. After a few minutes though I started feeling more comfortable and Chrystal is good at picking the right horse for you. We took a 1.5 hour ride along the beach which was so nice, calm and peaceful. read more

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Do THIS instead of any excursion booked on the ship! The value and personal touch are exceptional. Had such a great time with my two boys. The horses are well-loved and have great personality. The trail ride is fun and the views are breathtaking. Just a wonderful experience. My kids haven't stopped talking about it, and this trumped parasailing! I purposely avoid the onboard excursions because a lot of your $$ goes toward things other than the experience you're paying for. In this case, not only was the value higher, but I felt great about contributing to the upkeep of these animals! My kids are already asking if we can go back and see the horses again. read more

AVOID THIS COMPANY!! I contacted this company through email only and got all rates and policies through email. It was never disclosed that they will keep 40% of the payment if you have to cancel. I contacted her 2 days in advance to cancel and she said she would only refund 60% because her refund policy is on some website I never even went to. She provided every other single policy and rate through the emails, which is how I got all the information, yet never said anything about a refund policy that keeps 40%. How is that reasonable? And what exactly is she keeping the 40% for? Do her horses need therapy because I canceled? After I filed a dispute with Paypal she refunded only 38%. She has been lying to Paypal saying we went on the ride? I mean, talk about dishonest. Be careful, if they do this stuff you have to wonder what they are capable out in the middle of nowhere Mexico. read more

This was by far one of the most amazing horse back rides I have been on. I called chrystal the day before we got to ensenada. I was on a cruise and I was looking for somewhere that you didnt need to wear a helmet and also it didnt seem like the horses were dead beats walking in a straight line. Chrystal picked us up just 5 minutes from the cruise and made us feel so welcome. Her and her worker Julia and Alex provided me and my father a once in a life time experience. The ranch is about 20 minutes away and the horses were absolutely gorgeous. What I like even more is when I called she asked my experience level and my father's and matched us with horses. I have ridden all my life and her horse hulk was amazing to ride he had such a personality. My father's horse was perfect for him since he had no experience. The ride started from her ranch and took us up into the mountain through the city. It was a very personal ride allowing us to see so much of the culture here. It led us down to the water and ending on the beach. Alex and Julia were so nice and made the experience that much better. I will definitely be coming back to this gem next time I'm in ensenada. Thank you desert trails for a once in a lifetime experience. read more

Desert Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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It was not what I expected. I've been on dozens of horseback riding tours and this one wood rank a 5 out of 10. We took the "mountain" trail to the beach. The trail has beautiful views of the Ensenada wetlands. That was definitely the highlight of the trip. The horses were well-behaved and not skittish. They were in very good condition and obviously well-cared-for. The downsides where that I anticipated being picked up at the cruise ship, but we had to locate a hotel to wait for our ride. The ride to the Stables was pretty long and we were in a large van with little airflow. Also, I paid for a wine and cheese tasting with a full lunch, but only got wine and cheese no lunch. The wine and cheese tasting was okay, but the location was terrible. I definitely would not recommend food being part of your tour. read more

A ride we will never forget. I cant wait to ride Halo again, such an amazing beast. We were looking for a non-tourist experience and we got it. Thank you for the REAL Mexican ride! Cant wait to see the pix! read more

Glen and Chrystal really do their best to create the best horseback experience for you. I walked from my cruise ship to a hotel to meed Glen where he drove me to his ranch. We were celebrating my wife's 50th birthday, and Glen and Chrystal really gave us a great place to relax, eat, and go horseback riding. What I loved the most about it was that it wasn't structured in any way. We were free to pet the horses, and feed them etc before going for a ride. The ranch that I visited was temporary. Apparently they're moving to a 6.5 acre ranch across town. I can't wait to see it. I'm sure the experience would be even better in more of a country setting. (the temporary ranch had several houses around it). The horses were great, the views were spectacular, and they even sent us some great pictures. read more

Wow! Chrystal and Alex are soooo Amazing ! I can't thank them enough for everything they have done, it started with an awesome family Vacation with a combo ride with their Horses . You see the Mountain views of Ensenada and end up in a beautiful beach of Ensenada absolutely memorable, so Memorable that we had to take another combo ride the Second weekend of our Family Vacation. Chrystal and Alex were great teachers to our kids because this was the first time they road a Horse, They have gone over and beyond For my family, they planned a whole photo shoot for my daughter from scheduling the hair and makeup to even getting the flowers for Us. If I can give them more than a five star rating I would because honestly they really deserve a 10/10 . They make you feel Right at home, From all of these Wonderful experiences with desert trails I have made a great friends. I'm definitely looking forward to our Next family vacation to Make more wonderful memories with Desert trails. Thank you Chrystal and Alex !!!!! read more

Desert Trails - Hulk was so Amazing during my daughter's photo shoot! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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I left a lengthy review on Trip Advisor, I'm going to keep this one a bit shorter but I will say that this experience was one of the highlights of our trip. We booked about 3 weeks in advance which I highly recommend. Came on a cruise with my boyfriend and 7 year old son. It was the first time for all 3 of us and we all had an amazing time. My son went on his own horse after a lot of convincing I might add, but he was guided by Glenn walking with the horse for the entire (uphill) ride, meanwhile Glenn was snapping pics of all the riders and giving a running commentary on everything around us. Chrystal and Glenn are very dedicated and friendly people and they know what they're doing! This was an amazing experience and when I come into the area again I will definitely go for another ride with them! read more

Desert Trails - My son on his own horse, being led my one of the very knowledgeable and friendly helpers - Horseback Riding Near Me - Ensenada, BCN

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We booked a one hr ride with chrystal for a carnival cruise to ensenada and it really made the trip. Super affordable and chrystal was great! Our cruise schedule changed due to weather and chrystal was able to switch our appointment with no issues. Crystal picked us up near port and took us out to the horse trail with her cute doggies (puppy snuggle bonus!) Everyone was friendly and helpful and the horses were a lot of fun. Highly recommend! :) read more