Horseback riding
TThe town of Los Planes is located to the best of the Osa Peninsula, approximately 40 minutes by horse from Drake Bay, where 30 families live. Here people make a living of agriculture and cattle farming and part of the population is dedicated to jobs in relation to eco-tourism and adventure-tourism.
One of the families that lives there is one that belong to Mister Zacarías Alemán and Misses Luz Marina Fajardo, both of Guanacaste province origin.
The origin of this family like the origin of most of the people of Guanacaste is multi-cultural, since the Pre-Columbian indigenous groups that populated the North Pacific on the country and that had the influence of the Mesoamerican Mayas mixed together later with the Spanish and the African slaves from Angola and people from India that conquerors brought . The original cultural groups of Guanacaste were named Chorotegas and Nicaraos.
Mister Alemán’s family migrated to the South Pacific f Costa Rica looking for a better way of life and new opportunities to work and progress and from 14 brothers there were 2 of them who gave themselves the task of buying land and building a wooden house 30 years ao. These brothers are Misters Zacarías and Gregorio Alemán.
With time Zacarías met at Los Planes Missis Luz Marina Fajardo whom he married and they had 4 children: Cyndia, Karen, Lisbethh and Edward and their grandchildren Leonel and Kendal
They had dedicated themselves to farming. On their property you can find pineapple, plantains, square plantain, avocados, and cashews. In the past they planted beans, rice, and corn. They worked the fields with the help of to oxen.
They raise cattle for production of meat and milk. They also have pigs, hens, 2 dogs and a cat. Closet o their faro there are rivers where they can fish for river shrimps and fresh continental water fish species like guapotillo (Rainbow bass family), la guavina, la machaca and el machín.
One of the most important sources of income for this family is providing horse back riding tours. For this they have 10 horses.
Casa Corcovado has contracted the Alemán Fajardo Family to operation of these tours since the lodge foundation 13 years ago.
The adventure experience that the horseback riding tours offer in the Osa Peninsula is very interesting for many reasons:
The tours starts at 8:00 a.m. at Casa Corcovado and during 3 hours the tour takes you through farms like Claro del Bosque and Campanario, going up through a ridge in the mountains that is located parallel to the coast line between Corcovado National Park an d Drake Bay. The route goes through primary and secondary Rainforest. It is possible to see very old trees like Central American Milk Tree, Pilón, Crabwood, Guachipelin, Stonewood, Panama Redwood, Butternut Tree and others, Also you can see many species of plants like bromelias, orchids and medical plants and animals like mammals, reptiles, birds and insects.
The trail is public; it goes through overgrown pastures, tall shrubs, grass land and agricultural land and cattle faros. Eventually the trail split in two, one way goes to Playa San Josecito and Playa Rincón, and the other way goes to Los Planes. The tour takes the latter.
The house of Mister Alemán and his family is located near the town. There, the visitor can exchange life experiences and culture with them. A lunch of very delicious traditional food is prepared on a wood stove is one of the best experiences.
After lunch, the tour returns to the hotel. According to the weather, an alternative return route is possible in the way to stop in one of the rivers to cool off while the horses drink water.
The enthusiasm of the horses guide is overwhelming, the guide could be any of the Alemán’s brothers, and both are very well knowledgeable about trees and plants of the Rainforest and the area in general. The horses are exceptionally healthy and well-trained.
This is an excellent tour which explores the Rainforest, the ocean view, the farmer’s territories and the way of life of the Costa Ricans who live in the area around Corcovado National Park
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