Jacó's coastline has hosted mounted travelers since the 1960s, when cattle ranchers from the inland valleys first guided foreign surfers down palm-shaded trails to the volcanic black sand. Today the same routes carry visitors at golden hour, when the Pacific light softens and the tide retreats far enough to open a three-kilometer corridor along Playa Hermosa. The horses themselves descend from Paso Fino and Quarter Horse bloodlines introduced to Puntarenas Province in the 1940s, bred for steady temperament and the smooth gait required on uneven beach terrain. Most outfitters stable between eight and fifteen animals, rotating them across morning and evening shifts to preserve stamina. Jaco sunset horseback riding tours depart between four and six in the afternoon, timed to the season's changing light. Guides lead riders south past the Costanera Sur junction, where the beach widens and motorized traffic thins. The route crosses tidal pools inhabited by hermit crabs and ghost crabs, skirts driftwood piles left by winter swells, and occasionally diverts inland through secondary-growth forest where howler monkeys vocalize at dusk. The pace remains controlled—a walk punctuated by brief trots—allowing riders of all backgrounds to participate without prior equestrian training. Operators provide helmets, stirrup adjustment, and pre-ride instruction in both Spanish and English. The landscape itself shifts throughout the ride. At high tide the trail narrows, pressing riders toward the vegetation line where coconut palms and Indian almond trees provide intermittent shade. At low tide the exposed sand hardens, revealing tidal rivulets and the tracks of shorebirds—sanderlings, willets, and the occasional roseate spoonbill. The western horizon remains unobstructed for the final thirty minutes, offering a direct view of the sun's descent into the ocean. Most tours conclude before full dark, returning riders to the staging area by seven thirty. The town's equestrian infrastructure grew alongside its tourism economy. By the early 2000s, three family-run stables had formalized their operations, acquiring liability insurance and veterinary protocols that met international safety standards. Today those same families manage the majority of Jaco's sunset rides, maintaining the trails, training the horses, and coordinating with local conservation groups to protect nesting sites along the route. The experience remains low-impact: no amplified sound, no permanent structures on the beach, and a strict leave-no-trace policy enforced by the guides themselves.