Choose on two things: where you're staying and what you weigh. From Costa Adeje, Las Américas or Los Cristianos you have the Caldera del Rey and the Arona stables close by, with one-hour rides through volcanic landscape and farmland. The north, around Icod, is greener and cooler, but has the lowest weight limit. If you weigh more than 90 kg (just over 14 stone), check the limit before you pay: the stables enforce it and anyone over it doesn't ride.
Our picks
1
The most booked
A 1- or 2-hour ride with an instructor and almost 950 reviews. A good option for beginners who want to choose how long they ride.
GetYourGuide1 - 2 hours
Tenerife: Horseback Ride with Instructor
4.4 (946 reviews)
from €45Check availability
2
Top rated with plenty of reviews
A guided hour-and-a-half ride through woodland, rated 4.8 from almost 300 reviews.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Tenerife: Guided Horseback Riding Tour to the Lomo Forest
4.8 (277 reviews)
from €48Check availability
3
An hour in the south
A short ride to fit into a beach day, without crossing the island.
GetYourGuide1 hour
1-hour horse ride in the south of Tenerife
4.4 (149 reviews)
from €49Check availability
4
To try it out
30 minutes to 1 hour heading towards Teide, from €20: the cheapest way to see whether it's for you.
GetYourGuide30 minutes - 1 hour
Tenerife: Horse riding on the way to Teide
4.9 (18 reviews)
from €20Check availability
Where to ride: the island's stables
South: Caldera del Rey and Arona
The Caldera del Rey is on Avenida Francia in San Eugenio Alto, behind Siam Park. One-hour rides cross a volcanic valley with plots of bananas, mangoes and avocados. It's the most convenient if you're staying in Costa Adeje, and you can also visit the same area by tuk-tuk.
In Arona there are several stables sold through agencies. The Xanadu centre charges €49 for an hour and €84 for two hours, with a minimum age of 6 and a maximum weight of 95 kg. Another Arona stable sold by Club Canary applies the same 6 years and 95 kg "for the welfare of the horses", charges €10 per family for pick-up and lets you cancel free up to 48 hours ahead. They're close to Los Cristianos and Las Américas.
El Médano: the registered riding school
Hípica Cuadras El Médano is on the TF-64 at km 9.5, in Granadilla de Abona. It's a family-run school with rides for beginners ("Beginners Walk"), trails for experienced riders, private outings and a first introduction for young children ("First Steps on Horseback"). Rides are listed from €30 depending on length and number of riders.
It publishes its registration number as an adventure tourism business (TA-4-0026349.30) on its website, something none of the other stables on this page do, and a quick check that it's operating above board. For island residents it runs group lessons of 1.5 to 2 hours: €33 a session, €160 for a block of 5 and €300 for 10.
North: Icod and Tacoronte
In the north-west, around Icod de los Vinos, rides are cooler and greener than in the south, but with the strictest weight limit: 85 kg.
Centro Hípico Los Brezos, in Agua García (Tacoronte), is a riding school with courses and camps for 5- to 16-year-olds. It's more useful for long stays than for a one-off ride.
Prices
| Format | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-hour ride | €40–49 |
| 2-hour ride | €80–84 |
| Rides at El Médano | from €30 depending on length and riders |
| Residents' lesson at El Médano | €33 (5 for €160, 10 for €300) |
| Private 2-hour ride towards the coast (platform) | from €225 |
On the platforms, most one-hour rides are listed from €45–50, in line with what the stables charge. Where things really differ is in the small print: maximum weight, pick-up and cancellation.
See the horse ride with an instructorfrom €45Affiliate link: it costs you nothing extra.
Weight, age and what to bring
The weight limits published by stables and agencies:
| Where | Maximum weight |
|---|---|
| Icod de los Vinos (north-west) | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) |
| Some platform listings | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) |
| Arona (Xanadu and another stable) | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) |
| 2-hour ride towards the beach (agency) | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) |
| Horse Riding Adventures | 104 kg (16 st 5 lb) |
The stables stick to these, so give your real weight when you book. On the platforms it's often tucked away in the conditions: open them before you pay.
Age. Trail rides take children from age 6–7. For the youngest there are led pony sessions, like the one at El Médano. More ideas in Tenerife with kids.
Clothing. Long trousers and closed shoes. The stables lend you a helmet.
Timing. There's no shade in the south and it's hot between 12:00 and 16:00: take the first ride of the morning or the last of the afternoon.
The animal welfare debate
Some people question tourist horse rides because of the heat and the weight the animals carry. The stables respond with strict weight limits and minimum ages, which they explicitly justify on horse-welfare grounds. If it matters to you, choose a registered school, avoid the middle of the day and respect the limit even if they'd let you through.
Horses can use all the Cabildo's (island council's) forest tracks, without the restrictions on motor vehicles, so trail rides in the hills are legal and common. If you'd rather explore the hills on foot, see our hiking routes.
Who it's for
Yes: families with children over 6, couples looking for something relaxed (more ideas in Tenerife for couples) and experienced riders after a long or private ride.
Not so much: anyone over 100 kg, who has very few options, or anyone after speed. For that, try the buggies and quads.
More horse rides
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Tenerife: Horseback Ride with Instructor
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See all options on GetYourGuide →
How much does horse riding cost in Tenerife?
An hour costs about €40–49 and two hours €80–84. At El Médano there are rides from €30, and a private 2-hour ride towards the coast starts at €225 on the platforms.
Is there a weight limit for horse riding?
Yes, and each stable sets its own: 85 kg in Icod, 95 kg in Arona and up to 100–104 kg on some specific rides. Say what you weigh when you book, because they check.
From what age can children ride?
On trail rides, from age 6–7. For younger children there are led pony sessions, such as the one at Hípica Cuadras El Médano.
Where can you go horse riding in the south of Tenerife?
At the Caldera del Rey, behind Siam Park in Costa Adeje; at several stables in Arona; and at El Médano, on the TF-64.
Are there horse rides on the beach?
Some agencies advertise a ride "to the beach", but it isn't confirmed that you ride on the sand, and horse access is regulated by each local council. Ask before you book.
What should I wear for a horse ride?
Long trousers and closed shoes. The stable provides the helmet; in the south, bring sun protection too.
