Private Paradise Tour

We had a wonderful experience on the private horseback riding tour. Our guide, Candido, was patient, knowledgeable, and did an excellent job teaching us the basics of riding as complete beginners, which made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the tour. He also carefully paired each of us with a horse that matched our level of experience, which made the ride even more enjoyable and reassuring. The ranch was clean and well-maintained, and it was clear that the horses are well cared for and in excellent condition. The office staff was incredibly responsive and accommodating from the time we booked through the day of the tour. One of the highlights was that our guide took photos and videos of us riding the horses in the water, giving us unforgettable memories to take home. From start to finish, the experience was professional, welcoming, and memorable. We highly recommend this tour for riders of any experience level!

July2026: 5⭐: If you're trying to decide on an excursion, I would wholeheartedly recommend The Gold Mine Ranch. Between the exceptional guides, the wonderful horses, the rugged scenery, and the unforgettable memories, this was an outstanding experience from beginning to end. My spouse and I are already looking forward to returning on our next trip to Aruba and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and memorable way to explore the island on horseback. We decided to do something different and skip the typical UTV excursions. The conversation with a friendly driver and ranch employee outside our hotel who recommended the horseback riding to us after we saw the van picking up guests. I found the site and booked a trail ride with The Gold Mine Ranch and it ended up being one of the highlights of our entire trip. When we arrived, the staff, and our guides, CJ and Jesus, made us feel welcome. All of them greeted us as soon as we stepped out of the vehicle, helped us through the quick check-in process, ensured our helmets fit properly, and carefully adjusted each saddle to make the ride as comfortable as possible. Their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail immediately set the tone for a fantastic experience. The horses were equally impressive. I rode Colorado, a beautiful, calm horse that was easy to handle and made the trail ride smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. My wife, Claudine, rode Victoria, who happened to be two months pregnant and had a personality all her own. She kept stopping along the trail for little snack breaks, which gave us plenty of laughs throughout the ride. I laughed because my spouse does the same thing... stopping during the day for snacks. Both horses were well-trained and comfortable on the trail, making the experience enjoyable even for us as riders with limited experience. Some of the things we loved most was the opportunity to take in scenery at a relaxed pace. CJ and Jesus brought us to several beautiful viewpoints that were perfect for photos and gave us a chance to truly appreciate the landscape. A particularly memorable moment came when we passed through an area where a UTV tour was taking place. We joked that while they had dozens of horsepower, we were getting by with just one! Honestly, though, my spouse and I laughed later saying we wouldn’t have traded places with them. Upon our return to the stables holding area, the horses moved themselves into the areas where they were stationed upon our departure for the initial ride. The horseback ride felt far more personal, exciting, fun, and connected to the island. We have added this location to our permanent list of things to do upon our return.

The whole experience was great!! The horses were well behaved and well cared for. We had an hour and a half ride along the coast and through the dunes. Beautiful sites. The jeep ride was so much fun. The natural pool was closed due to the roughness of the water. We appreciated the concern for safety. Our guide offered alternative options. We elected to go to the pool anyways to experience the ride and see the site. It was quite the off road adventure. We all had a blast. Our guide was knowledgeable and very kind. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

This was one of the highlights of my trip. Loved that we got a tour with just my wife and I. Our horses were great and the ride was calm, fun, and beautiful. It was so peaceful along the journey looking out at the coastal rocks and seeing the splash of the waves. The ruins were cool, but the desert was so cool to see up close. There were a few times we were able to let the horses gallop and that was a lot of fun. This is an adventure you will want to add to your trip.

Excellent time riding horses to beautiful locations. Tour guides were great and took so many pictures using your own phone. It was just under 2 hours, the perfect length. Highly recommend!!