Rancho Loco
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Rancho Loco is an equestrian center that is dedicated to boarding and caring of horses, training of juvenile horses, riding lessons for beginners as well as experienced riders and horseback ride tours.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

See what travellers are saying
  • Caroline W
    Charlotte, North Carolina1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible experience
    Rancho Loco was incredible the staff was friendly and helpful. They take great care to make sure you are safe and feel comfortable. You can do the tour as a beginner or intermediate. Definitely check it out.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 2 October 2023
  • Tara H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the time and money
    It was an amazing experience. All the ranch hands were experienced and put us at ease. The horses were great and well taken care of. The views on the rise were spectacular and taking a dip in the natural pool was the icing on the cake. Definitely worth the money and time!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 9 October 2023
  • beata j
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Experience you can’t afford to miss
    I booked this amazing adventure for my husband’s birthday. It was his first time riding a horse. I wasn’t sure if he would like it, but he loved it!!! One of the best experiences and memory-makers. He still talks about Pico and the bond they made during the short time :) We will definitely be back. Love the crew and everything about the experience! Note for the ladies with larger chests, please make sure you wear good support for your girls; you will thank me later!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 November 2023
  • Macy M
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing views, staff and horses!
    Had an amazing ride to natural pool. Was my companions first ride ever and he felt very comfortable. Their horses are amazing. I grew up with horses and really enjoyed the ride. This was my 3rd time taking this ride and I would do it again.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 November 2023
  • Jay I
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great time
    My wife and I had a great time on the Rancho Loco tour! The guides were friendly, and the horses were well trained and taken care of. The tour lasted a little over 2 hours; we saw numerous wild goats as well as a cute little owl. Sadly, we were unable to go into the natural pool due to the wind but we still were able to walk around and get some great photos.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 November 2023
  • Tracy B
    Belleville, Michigan5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular Horseback Riding in Aruba!
    We couldn't have asked for a better adventure to end our trip. The views were amazing, the guides were informative and nice and the horses well-mannered and in great health. Felt comfortable and safe the whole time. The process and communication were easy start-to-finish. Love love loved Rancho Lco!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 November 2023
  • Michael C
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth it!
    This was one of our top experiences in Aruba! I'd never ridden a horse before and the staff did a great job of giving tips and matching you up with the right horse. It is so cool to be on a horse riding through hills of cacti, only to somehow come upon the ocean and the natural pool area! It was too windy for us to safely swim, but it didn't finish the experience at all. Highly satisfied! (And only a bit sore the next day haha)
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 November 2023
  • Lee L
    Ottawa, Canada16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Horse ride to the hidden pools.
    Had a great ride to the hidden pool. Patrick, Andres and the Dutch lady were welcoming, funny and shared insight in the island. The staff take the time to pair riders with suitable horses and keep an eye on riders to ensure the tour is enjoyable often making adjustments on the way. Patrick helped me figure out how to ride with Carnival (or Fred) so I felt and looked like pro. Leaky out driver was funny and informative during the trips in and out to the ranch. The views and scenery are incredible. Well worth the sore butt! Big thanks to all the Ranchi Loco staff.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 November 2023
  • Larisa H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible scenery and great guides!
    Such an incredible experience! The team really prioritized safety and made sure all riders felt confident before heading out. The national park was beautiful to ride through, and the natural pool we swam in was GORGEOUS! I also loved talking with the guides; they were so good at their jobs and hilarious to chat with. I highly recommend this!!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 December 2023
  • Jackie G
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing trip with well cared for horses!!
    We had an amazing time. The guides were very concerned about everyone’s safety and took the time to explain everything and match everyone up to the perfect horse. I have been on a few horse trips through Aruba before with different ranches and you can tell these horses are very well cared for, which was very important to me. It was a nice tour through the countryside and then you can’t beat natural pool which is always a favorite. I would highly recommend Rancho Loco to anyone visiting.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 4 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles505 reviews
Excellent
450
Very good
30
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
13

Jenna Viggiano
Pelham, NY7 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Was a great way to spend an evening until the horses spiraled out of control. As the tour was coming to an end, our tour guide became very relaxed and the horses began to have a large gap in between each other. The tour guide ( the young man with the blonde hair) didn't keep the group together and a man riding a motorcycle had a big enough gap to cut through. This scared the horses and they began to run. Once one started running, they all began to race. I find it very disrespectful when Rancho Loco says that basically all of this was a lie. My horse was one of the horses that began to run, and after watching my little brother get thrown off, and crushed between two horses, I was terrified. I then saw another little girl get thrown off and she proceeded to lie on the road screaming in pain. After spending a night in the hospital, her and her mother found out that she broke her elbow. After I fell off my horse, I had to watch my 8 - year - old sister screaming "help me" and crying as a horse took her into the desert. My father ran after her and found her at a stranger's house (where she had fell off) 3 miles from the ranch. The tour guide came back to the ranch before we even heard anything about my sister. Therefore, the tour guide left my sister in the desert alone. They didn't take charge to do anything and we asked if they could get in their cars to find my sister, but they declined. I am not leaving this review to bash the company, I am just trying to save anyone else from going through this sort of trauma. This was the scariest moment of my life to not know where my sister was for about twenty minutes. I'm am just disappointed with the lying coming from Rancho Loco. Obviously, my family and I would never deny their help. The owner even said " that never would've happened if I was the one on that tour". Please, as a family considering going on that tour, don't do it. I can swear on my life that nothing in this story was made up. The people at the ranch were completely unprepared in case of emergency. Their response to my mothers review was filled with lies.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry that you experienced this unfortunate accident, which was just that - an accident - that occurred due to an irresponsible motorcyclist on a Harley. I stand by my response to your mother’s review. If you think we are liars then you are saying the witnesses and polis are also liars. Your family received a full refund for your tour which you said was as a great way to spend an evening up until the very end when the incident occurred.
Written 4 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Woodzy
3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
Would rate zero stars if I could - poor communication through a third party vendor who claims they sent a confirmation email but I never received ANYTHING that told me to confirm just an email saying I was all set with the vouchers and said we would be picked up between 8-9…they never showed up. Man at the ranch when I called was rude and blamed me. Horrible customer service when tourism is your livelihood. You would think they would have fallen up with a phone call if they didn’t hear from us considering they had already charged my credit card over a month ago!!
Save your money and book Rancho Notorious excellent customer service and 30% discount when you book online.
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hazel d
Clarksburg, Canada28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
Fantastic ride to the natural pool on the east coast of Aruba!! The scenery was fabulous, and the guides were excellent! I've been riding for >40 years, including lessons, jumping, and on riding vacations. During that time, I've been on many many trail rides. Andreas gave the best introduction I've ever heard for people who have limited experience - this helped to settle my friends who have limited experience. Meredith and Sarah were both very helpful and customized the experience for me and others in our group. Before, during and after the ride, it was evident that this organization REALLY cares for its horses, and their riders. The horses were well cared for and well fed; before our ride, the horses were saddled up with loose girths and waiting for us in a shady open ban. After the ride, their saddles were removed and they were hosed down to cool them off - before getting ready for a group in the pm. Many other stables leave their horses in the hot sun before and between rides.
Written 3 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dylanjdefrancisci
Weston, FL54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
My Daughter and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary on our Aruba Trip other than the beach or typical water activities. She selected horseback riding. We were looking at a short beach trip along the water, but the a friend suggested Ranchos Locos that included a 2 1/2 hour trip to the Natural Pool from their location in Santa Cruz. We had the option of being picked up by their van at the hotel or driving. Being I had a car an wanted to check out some other sights after we drove. Driving from the high rises was very easy and made it in less the 20 mins. Upon arrival, we were greeted and the staff was very organized. We filled out our waivers and were provided water and an overview of the day. After the overview, our guides Andres and Patrick paired us with our horses, provided the basics for an amazing day. We got to bond with our horse for a bit before mounting and making our way to the trail. Our group was small, making it very personable. Both Patrick and Andres provided expert guidance, as we navigated up on over the mountainous terrain making our way the the refreshing natural pool. Along the way we saw some wild goats, burrow owls and a boa constrictor. Being new to horse back riding, our guides made us feel like experts by the end. The views throughout the tour were outstanding. I give Ranchos Locos an A+. Thank you for an amazing day.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kikibuddy
Boston, MA19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
We recently did the horseback ride to the natural pool. It was AMAZING! The guides were very conscious about every rider’s safety. The horses were very friendly and easy to ride. I rode Caramello, my daughter’s horse was Candelito, and my husband rode Titan. The ride in was about an hour. The natural pool was so unique and very beautiful. The ride back included seeing the sunset over the hills and was spectacular. I highly recommend this activity. Wear your water shoes and bring a towel!
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tufan K
Castle Rock, CO3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
Firstly we made our reservations through pelican tours and we had a confirmation. By the time we went to to our pick up point they said we don't have any reservations.then they delay our our reservations to afternoon. Horseback riding was great. Until we asked for another bottle of water after our horse back riding. They said we are only allowed only one bottle of water per person. And they said have to charge us for extra bottle of water. We were riding horses more than 2 hours. We paid more than $100 per person. I think you can give another bottle of water to your guests. I give 4 stars because i heard you rescue animals and we like that. Work on hospitality part little bit more and stop smoking in the transportation car. It really stinks.
Written 5 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen T
Milwaukee, WI36 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
My four friends and I took this tour through the national park mainly so that we could go to the natural pool. We enjoyed the tour, the terrain was rocky for most of the trail. Myself and my friends all commented that even though there were a lot of rocks we all felt that our horses were well trained and cautious. Unlike other horse back riding trips that I've taken in the US they actually allowed the group to trot on the horses and even cantor a little. Along with that though I would recommend wearing a strong sports bra.

We got the opportunity to get into the natural pool. It felt like the time in the pool went fast so I'd recommend moving quickly to get into the pool. I wore my shoes that could get wet but are also closed toe which I thought worked well. There was also a pouch on the horse to hold the water bottle, small towel and phone. I was a little disappointed that the tour only took one picture of each of us on the horse and it was from the side or behind. We had to take our own pictures of each other from the horses. We did ask the guide to take a picture of us jumping into the pool and they did accommodate that request.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rhonda A
2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
My husband and I went to Aruba for our honeymoon and did the Sunset Horseback Riding with them The guides were personable, knowledgeable, and patient. The entire experience was great! Def. money well spent! One of the guides was taking pictures and at the end of the trip, he stated that he would post the pictures on Facebook. I was excited about the pictures. When will my husband and I ever be on a honeymoon horseback riding in Aruba again? It was also his first time riding. After calling them twice and them promising to upload it the same day, they finally posted the pictures two days ago (over a month later). Note that they were posting everybody else's pictures the same day. Now I see why they skipped past ours and didn't post them. The picture quality was terrible and he was taking pictures from far away. Our faces weren't showing and the pictures were blurry. I would advise everyone to go, but if you care for pictures, ask them to use your phone or take your own pictures.
Written 9 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

molls132
Baltimore, MD61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
This excursion was SO much fun! When I first heard we were horseback riding to a natural pool, I thought we'd be walking on the beach but it was actually in the National Park and we rode up, down and all around on various types of terrain. We rode about an hour to the natural pool and an hour back, so we really got our money's worth! Plus, the staff were super nice and knowledgeable and somehow timed it right so we had the natural pool all to ourselves (which was awesome because as we were leaving, 40 tourists showed up at once. :) Cheeno was the best horse and they even let us trot and canter on the way back, which made my younger horseback riding self so happy!!

The ride there and back is pretty sunny, so don't forget sunscreen! No backpacks or bags when riding, so anything you bring has to fit into the saddle bags or stay back at the stable. They provide waters too, which was super helpful.
Written 19 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karl L
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
Took a family trip of 25 to Aruba. 9 of us booked a ride with Rancho Loco. They were great to be with. They picked us all up from the Resort and drove us out to the ranch. They were all very nice and informative about the ranch and horses. The horses were very responsive and forgiving of the 6 kids we had riding. Our party was a mix of first time to experienced riders. The trail guides were great at teaching the first timers on how to handle the horses. One of our trail guides, Josh, had great conversation with my 14 year old son about some common interests. All in all this was a great ride and I highly recommend Rancho Loco! Thank you for a great experience.
Written 22 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 476
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

RANCHO LOCO (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

All things to do in Santa Cruz
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday homesTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire