Horseback Riding & Swim: Tequila Tasting, BBQ & Margaritas

The most unusual part of this Puerto Vallarta outing is the chance to ride a horse through the Mascota River, and, when water levels allow, swim with the horse. The day then shifts from countryside trail to tequila tasting, salsa-making, a Mexican BBQ, pool time, and margaritas at La Dulce Vista.

I like the mix of outdoor activity and food culture. You get a look at rural Jalisco beyond the resort zone, and the guides, including Fabrizio, Martin, Valeria, Rafa, and Saul, are frequently praised for patience and good humor. I also like that horses are matched to riding ability, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced options described by the staff.

The main caution is that the river portion is never guaranteed. In dry weather, you may ride through town, along roads, and over sandy riverbeds instead. The day can also run hot and long, and the advertised private bus has not been consistent for every booking.

Key points to know before booking

• Horse swimming depends on river conditions: High current, rain, or a dry riverbed can change the ride.
• The experience lasts about five hours: Some departures have stretched closer to six hours.
• La Dulce Vista is the day’s second act: Tequila, salsa-making, lunch, pool time, and margaritas follow the ride.
• The horses suit beginners: Staff provide safety instructions and help with mounting and dismounting.
• Bring water-friendly gear: Pack a swimsuit, towel, hat, sunglasses, and shoes that will stay on if wet.
• The $113.26 price covers a lot: Transportation, lunch, bottled water, tequila tasting, and lemon margaritas are included.

A horse ride with a changeable river route

This is not a polished ranch show with a short loop around a paddock. The outing heads about 25 minutes from the meeting point at Marina Vallarta to Hacienda Doña Engracia, where staff match you with a horse based on your experience.

The ride is meant to show you a less-developed side of the Puerto Vallarta area. You may pass through local streets, countryside paths, sandy riverbeds, and sections of natural trail. The route is more about seeing rural Jalisco and spending time in the saddle than about fast riding or technical horsemanship.

You receive basic safety instructions before setting off. That matters if you have not ridden in years or if this is your first time. Staff members are described as helpful when getting people on and off the horses, and the horses are generally calm and well trained.

I would still set realistic expectations. The route can vary a great deal. When the Mascota River has suitable water levels, you may cross it several times and possibly enter the water with your horse. When the river is dry, the ride can feel less scenic, with more time on roads, through town, or across exposed sandy areas.

One particularly negative account described an uncomfortable saddle and a broken stirrup. That appears to be an isolated but important warning. If something feels loose or unsafe, tell the guide before moving on. The overall handling of the horses has been praised, but no riding excursion is completely free of equipment concerns.

Why the possible horse swim matters

Swimming with a horse is the experience’s biggest draw, but it is also the feature most dependent on nature. High current can make the water unsafe. Rain can alter the route. Dry weather can leave the riverbed without enough water for a crossing.

If conditions are right, you will be asked to wear a swimsuit and may ride into the river with the horse. The experience is not guaranteed, so book this as a horseback outing with a possible swim, not as a guaranteed horse-swimming session.

You should also expect wet shoes. The advice to bring footwear that will not slip off is practical. Sandals that float away or loose shoes that come off in the water are poor choices. A hat and sunglasses are useful under the strong sun, but secure them well.

Bring a towel, too. Towels are not included, despite the chance to get wet in the river or use the pool later. A small backpack with dry clothes is sensible, especially if you are returning to a cruise ship or hotel soon after the activity.

The guides can take photos with your camera during the ride if you want them to. I would protect your phone from water and dust and use a strap if possible. The ride includes enough movement that a loose phone can become a problem.

Hacienda Doña Engracia and the rural side of Jalisco

The first stop is valuable because it takes you out of the hotel strip. You see local scenery, vegetation, and small-town surroundings rather than only the familiar Puerto Vallarta beach setting.

Some accounts describe an attractive route into the hills, while others describe less appealing stretches with trash, hot sand, and little shade. Both descriptions can be true on different days and routes. This is a working countryside, not a landscaped park.

That contrast is part of the experience, but it can also disappoint anyone expecting a pristine mountain trail. The tour description points toward the Mascota River, yet the actual ride may include town roads and dry riverbeds. Ask the staff about current water conditions before departure if the river is your main reason for booking.

The ride itself can last around one and a half to two hours, though the exact timing varies. One account described the riding as too long in the heat, while another found it just right. You should be comfortable spending a substantial part of the day outdoors with limited shade.

First-time riders are not automatically ruled out. Safety instructions and calm horses make this more approachable than a fast or advanced riding program. Still, you should be comfortable climbing onto a horse, sitting in a saddle for an extended period, and handling heat.

The stated weight guidance is specific: if you weigh more than 220 pounds or 100 kilograms, your height must be above 5 feet 7 inches or 170 centimeters. If this applies to you, confirm the requirement before booking.

La Dulce Vista turns the afternoon into a food stop

After the riding, the group heads to La Dulce Vista. This is where the outing changes pace. You can cool off at the pool, make salsa, taste tequila, and sit down to a substantial Mexican lunch.

The salsa-making is more than a filler activity. You prepare salsa molcajete, and it gives the meal a hands-on local touch. It is also a good reset after the heat and saddle time.

The tequila tasting includes the house artisanal boutique tequila in Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo styles, along with a premium pink tequila. These categories are useful for comparing how tequila changes with aging. Blanco is unaged and direct, Reposado spends time resting in barrels, and Añejo is aged longer. The activity also has a reputation for making the tasting easy to enjoy, so pace yourself before lunch.

The almond tequila has been a favorite for some people, while others prefer Blanco or mezcal. The supplied details specifically name the three tequila styles and pink tequila, while the individual tasting selection may vary. If you are not a drinker, remember that the outing still involves alcohol as a central part of the afternoon.

The lunch is described as a traditional Mexican BBQ. The sample menu includes chicken, meat, beans, rice, vegetables, salsa molcajete, and quesadillas. Vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian options are available, but tell the provider about your needs in advance rather than waiting until you sit down.

The meal is one of the strongest reasons this tour works as a full-day outing. You are not simply getting a quick snack after riding. You receive a proper lunch in a scenic poolside setting, with lemon margaritas included.

Margaritas, pool time, and the alcohol question

Unlimited lemon margaritas are included with lunch, along with bottled water. This adds value to the $113.26 price, but it also changes how you should plan the day. You will be tired and possibly dehydrated after riding in the sun, so drink water before and during the tasting.

One account said alcohol had to be paid for at an earlier stop, even though lunch drinks were included. That suggests the included drinks may apply to the designated lunch stop rather than every beverage offered during transportation or at other locations. Ask before accepting additional drinks.

The pool provides a welcome chance to cool down. Bring your swimsuit even if the river is dry, because the pool is part of the La Dulce Vista stop. Towels are not provided.

The schedule can feel full: transportation, instructions, riding, tequila, salsa, lunch, pool time, and the return journey. Some people find this variety enjoyable. Others feel worn out by the time the tasting begins, especially during hot weather.

Transportation, meeting point, and timing

The listed meeting point is Av Paseo de la Marina 121 in Marina Vallarta. The activity ends back there. The supplied details describe a private white bus, but transport has not been identical for every departure. Some people have been collected in an Uber or in a vehicle without air conditioning.

That matters in Puerto Vallarta’s heat. A 25-minute transfer is manageable in a cool vehicle, less so in a hot van after a morning outdoors. Confirm the pickup vehicle and exact meeting instructions before the day begins.

If you are arriving by cruise ship, allow extra time to leave the port area. The meeting point can involve roughly a 30-minute walk from the cruise terminal, or you can take a taxi or Uber. Flat, paved walking does not mean quick walking when you are carrying a bag and watching the clock.

The advertised duration is about five hours, but the day can run longer. One departure lasted from around 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and another account called the experience longer than expected. Cruise passengers should not schedule a tight return to the ship.

The group limit is 17 people. That is small enough for guides to offer personal help, but large enough that mounting, dismounting, and serving lunch may take time. A very small booking can also affect the experience. One couple reported that a tequila host declined to lead the tasting because only two people were booked.

Who will get the most from this outing

I would recommend this for you if you want several Puerto Vallarta activities in one day and do not need every part to be polished. The outing suits couples, families, friends, and solo visitors who like horses, Mexican food, tequila, and a relaxed pool stop.

It is especially useful for first-time riders who want support rather than a challenging equestrian route. The horses are generally described as gentle, and staff members have helped older riders and people returning to riding after decades away.

It is less suitable if you want a guaranteed river swim, a pristine trail, strong air conditioning, or a short, tightly timed excursion. It is also a poor fit if you dislike alcohol-centered activities or prefer not to spend several hours in strong sun.

Horse welfare matters here. The available accounts repeatedly describe calm, healthy, well-cared-for horses, including praise from someone who owns horses and normally avoids riding excursions for that reason. At the same time, the equipment complaint means you should remain alert and speak up if a saddle, stirrup, or other tack feels wrong.

Is $113.26 a fair price?

At $113.26 per person, the price is reasonable if you use most of what is included. You receive round-trip transportation from the meeting point, the horseback ride, lunch, bottled water, tequila tasting, and included lemon margaritas. The pool and salsa-making add more activity without requiring a separate admission fee.

The value drops if your main goal is only a river swim and the water conditions prevent it. It also drops if you are not interested in tequila or margaritas, since alcohol is a major part of the second half.

I see the price as fair for a five-hour package with food and drinks, but not as a bargain at any cost. The quality depends on the day’s route, vehicle, group size, weather, and river conditions. You are paying for variety and a local countryside setting, not a guaranteed postcard-perfect ride.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather cancels the activity, you can be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Final call: should you book it?

Book this if you want a lively mix of horses, rural Jalisco, tequila, salsa, BBQ, and margaritas, and you can accept that the river ride may change. The strongest parts are the friendly staff, calm horses, generous lunch, and unusual possibility of swimming with a horse.

Before paying, confirm the pickup vehicle, current river conditions, meal choice, and expected return time. Pack a swimsuit, towel, water-friendly shoes, dry clothes, hat, sunglasses, and a small bag. If you are on a cruise or have evening plans, leave plenty of room in your schedule.

I would not choose it for a guaranteed river adventure or a quiet, refined tasting. I would choose it for a full, good-value day that gets you beyond the resort zone and gives you several distinctly Mexican experiences in one outing.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is Av Paseo de la Marina 121, Marina Vallarta, 48335 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Marina Vallarta.

How long does the experience last?

The stated duration is approximately five hours, though some departures have lasted closer to six hours.

Is horseback swimming guaranteed?

No. Swimming with the horse and river crossings depend on river and weather conditions. High current or dry conditions can change the riding route.

Do beginners need riding experience?

No specific riding experience is required in the supplied information. Staff provide safety instructions and match horses to ability, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced options.

What should I bring?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat, sunglasses, water-friendly shoes that will stay on your feet, and a change of clothes if you expect to get wet.

What food is served?

The sample Mexican BBQ includes chicken, meat, beans, rice, vegetables, salsa molcajete, and quesadillas. Vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian options are available.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water and lemon margaritas are included. The experience also includes a tasting of artisanal boutique tequila, including Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and premium pink tequila.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations may result in another date or a full refund.