Aruba North Coast ATV Adventure and Aruba Countryside Horseback Ride

[jandn]

We are trying to choose between the Aruba North Coast Atv Adventure and the Aruba Countryside Horseback Ride offerered as excursions by Princess Cruises. Has anyone done these excursions? Who does Princess contract with for these excursions? Do the excursions go to the Natural Pool and allow time for swimming and snorkeling? Would you recommend these excursions? Why or why not?

 

Has anyone used a private operator for Aruba Horseback Rides or Aruba ATV Rides? What did you like or not like about the tour? Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations to help us decide which tour to book and whether to book the excursion through Princess Cruises or a private operator?

[Arubalisa]

Sorry I do not know any information specific to Princess, but in reading the description of both of these tours, neither mentions the Natual Pool or even snorkeling. The ATV excursion offers a stop at the "Baby Natural Bridge" but neither mentions the Natural Pool. If you wish to see the Natual Pool and do not mind a private tour, check the thread ABC Jeep Safari.

 

Here is a list from a previous post with links to ATV operators.

http://www.watapanaaruba.com/dynamicPage.asp?id=97 Watapana Tours ATV Expedition $75

http://www.watapanaaruba.com/dynamicPage.asp?id=105 Watapana Tours ATV Natural Pool Adventure $75

http://www.ranchonotorious.com/quadracer.shtml Rancho Notorious Quad Racer Tour $65

http://www.kinikini.com/kk/servlet/Tours#TR_2 Kini Kini Tours ATV Tour $65

http://www.visitaruba.com/ranchodaimari/index.html#4wheel Rancho Daimari Four-Wheeling Tours $65

 

Here is a list of links to the horseback riding operators on the island:

http://www.thegoldmineranch.com/

http://www.visitaruba.com/ranchodaimari/

http://www.ranchodelcampo.com/

http://www.ranchonotorious.com/

http://www.kinikini.com/kk/servlet/Tours#TR_4

 

For either the ATV's or Horseback Riding, the individual website listings for decscriptions of tours may not match Princess' description if the operator is customizing the tour at Princess' request. If you are able to match a Princess tour with one of the tours of any of the operators above, since there is such a limited number of operators, I would say chances are pretty good that this actually is the company contracted by Princess to offer the tour.

[jandn]

Here is a list of links to the horseback riding operators on the island:

http://www.thegoldmineranch.com/

http://www.visitaruba.com/ranchodaimari/

http://www.ranchodelcampo.com/

http://www.ranchonotorious.com/

http://www.kinikini.com/kk/servlet/Tours#TR_4

 

Has anyone used any of these operators?

[Aubiecruiser]

On a previous land vacation to Aruba, we took a 4 hour horseback ride with Rancho Notorious. The scenery after you leave the immediate ranch area was exceptional. We rode down past the old gold mine, over to the Natural Bridge (before it fell) and then back to the ranch. The horses, for the most part were quite well behaved, with the exception of mine (i think his name was, aptly put, Satan) and seemed to take delight in changing the speed of his cantor. Of course, this made for quite a bit of bouncing and the "end" result was a pair of rather handsome saddle sores. Perhaps a slightly more advanced rider would have fared better but not me. All in all though, it was worth the money.

Aubie