wise mountain retreat

This is our second trip to the ranch...and it just keeps getting better..... Leslie the owner greeted up with open arms on our arrival almost making you feel like family. The Horses are looking good well fed and in great shape. WE took the full day ride and in the afternoon were treated to a great bar b que pork late lunch complete with all the garnishings from her Organic garden. I have eaten in some of the nicest restaurants in my travels and this meal is right up there with the best..The guides we had on the trip were phenomenal Pepito (2nd time with him as a guide) and Angela a beautiful young lady with excellent horsemanship who comes from a horse ranch family in Spain The highs in the ride were the scenery and the rivers although with the monsoon we had a few days prior the rivers were just a little to dangerously high so we opted for the mountain tours.....IF you get the chance do not over look this ranch it will prove to be one of the finest days on your vacation......Looking forward to coming back in 2016 for another great outing.

My Husband and I did the full day tour - everything was wonderful - was so peacefully on the property. We are pretty basic riders the horses and pace was set to our level. Guides were awesome gave us tons of information of the towns and the country - My husband gave me some grief when I told him we would be having lunch as he is not a very adventurous eater but he ended up loving it! Simple and Fresh - Would recommend this as a must do!!

We're really glad you enjoyed your horse ride trip with us. It was lovely to meet you. Hopefully see you again.

We're so pleased you enjoyed spending Christmas day with us, the horses, the dogs and the cats! It was a beautiful day. Come back and visit soon.

I liked everything here, horse riding was great, river crossing etc., You certainly can feel connection with the nature here! I wanna do it once more.

As a professional rodeo cowboy in Canada. And dedicated horseman travelling. To the dominican for the sole basis of riding. I was extremely pleased with this facility. Basic equine health was right to par. The guide on my private tour showed me places. Due to my horsemanship not many people will have the chance to see. Don't get me wrong they also provide a very enjoyable ride for new riders. With complete. Honesty. If you a riding experience. To remember. This is the place too go. Thanks boys it was real!!!!

We booked our trip to Puerto Plata this year, and as soon as confirming the flights we were emailing Leslie to book our trip to Rancho Montana (Wise Mountain Retreat). We were there in May 2013 and did the half day trip. The only bad part about that one was that it ended! We came back this year and did the full day trip with lunch. The lunch was a delicious traditional Dominican meal. Everyone going to Puerto Plata should make sure they book this trip! It's an incredible experience for the small price!

This review is about 2 years late, but better late than never, right? This was easily one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. As soon as I was picked up from the hotel, I felt warmth and hospitality from Leslie. The horses are extremely well taken care of, the couple who owns the stables are nothing but gracious hosts, and the guides are fantastic. My partner and I were lucky enough to be the only riders that day, so we got to ride at a faster pace - which we loved! Part way through, the guides provide you with fresh coconut water, coconut flesh, and they allow you time to swim in the waters that you also get to ride through. When you return, you are greeted with refreshments and fresh fruit. Don't forget to bring a little cash to tip your guides at the end of your journey! They truly deserve it. It was simply incredible, and the very best part of our stay in Puerto Plata. I would recommend Rancho Montana to anybody and everybody.

We went to DR for my mom's 60th birthday and she really wanted to experience horseback riding. I just happened to stumble upon Rancho Montana online and after emailing Leslie, I was very impressed with how friendly she was so I scheduled our ride for 4. Our guides were very personable (Piepito and Chanel). If you are looking for a touristy ride on the beach, this is not for you. This trip is 100x times better. You are able to see the real Dominican Republic but going up a mountain and then riding along and in the river. Be prepared with your shoes because at some points you will be up to your knees in the river, but at that point it feels great. The horses are very well trained and I never once feared for my safety and this was my first time on a horse. The lunch we had was so good and it was nice that Leslie sat and ate with us and even prepared a cake for my mom's birthday. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for a real horseback riding trip through the countryside.

I was with a large group at Monkey Jungle when I met Leslie. She told my friend and I all about her ranch. It sounded amazing and after talking to the rest of our group, we booked the trip and we are so glad that we did. The ranch itself is beautiful, the horses well fed and taken care of and the rest of the "animal" family members, 6 dogs and 6 cats, very sweet ! Her gardens are amazing also ! The horses were matched to us based on skill and the ride was more than I could have even expected. The trails are fairly smooth and the view of the mountains, amazing. At the top of the mountain, we stopped for some cold water and fresh oranges before continuing through more trails and rivers. When we returned to the ranch several hours later, we were greeted with a wonderful lunch ! The ride was more amazing than I could have ever imagined and at one point on the ride I remember thinking "how lucky am I to have had this blessed opportunity. Leslie, the guides and ranch staff are a great group of people and we are so lucky to have met them all ! We return to the Dominican yearly and this will be a yearly visit for sure !

Thank you for this wonderful and memorable experience!We took a family vacation to DR in February of 2014 with out two kids aged 9 and 14. This excursion was a highlight of out trip. As we had riders of different abilities (ranging from the first time rider to an intermediate beginner), we opted for a half day ride (about 2.5 - 3 hours.) The total cost for 4 riders was $232. We rode through a couple of small villages, traversed the river at the foot of the mountain and stopped at a little swimming hole (we had so much fun jumping into the cool river from a big boulder!) We even came upon a small village school with two classrooms which we were able to tour. We had to come back the next day to deliver supplies and books as this school had about 10-15 books in their library.To sum it up, this was totally off the beaten path, intimate and non-commercialized experience. Can't wait to go back and I would highly recommend it!

We were picked up at our resort and driven to a beautiful house where fresh coffee was offered . They ask about our level of experience and matched us with horses very well suited to us. I had ridden before but my wife hadn't. We had a roughly 2 1/2 hour ride through the street, mountain and stream. The guides were great and gave us lots of info on the area. I would have marked excellent but we paid for a full day but only had less than half a day with no lunch and roughly 5 hours ride and trip to and from resort. Maybe just a mix up as they really do try to make sure you have a great time

In October of 2013, My wife and I were picked up at our hotel in Cabarete by Leslie and taken for a 20 minute drive to a beautiful ranch. We opted for the half day ride as I was a beginner. Our guides Charnal and Pepito were knowledgeable and fun loving leading us through jungle trails that traversed a river at several points. Our guides were skilled at assessing our riding ability and setting the pace accordingly. The ride was exciting but not too exciting. Getting to know the owners, visiting a local village during a rest sop and jumping mid-ride into a cool swimming hole were particularly enjoyable. We would definitely go again.

My boyfriend and I went for a full day's ride at the ranch, and the day exceeded our wildest expectations. We were the only ones in our group, along with two absolutely brilliant and very knowledgeable (and patient!) guides. Words don't describe the experience these fellows gave us. We ate freshly fallen fruit by a waterfall, galloped through the lush forest, had a refreshing ride through the river, and got a peek at local village life as we rode through it. Leslie took the time to find out our riding levels (advanced for myself and beginner for my boyfriend) and horses were carefully chosen for us, each with their own spunky personality that made the ride all the more interesting.After a full day's ride, Leslie graciously hosted us to a delicious lunch, homemade right down to the fresh passionfruit juice. We got to chat with herself and the ranch volunteers and learned about their incredible projects being planned to better the ranch and community.We went for the riding, but what we got was an incredibly authentic, personal, and professional Dominican experience in and of itself. We would definitely visit this little gem again, and can't recommend it highly enough. It's an incredible value for what they charge, just make sure to book through Leslie to ensure that the money ends up going directly to the ranch rather than a resort!

My husband and I joined a family of 5 for the half day mountain river ride. When we arrived at the ranch the horses and colony of dogs and cats (mostly strays adopted by the owners) were wandering around freely. We were greeted by the wonderfully friendly owners - a Jamaican/US couple, who offered us coffee and gave us a rundown of the trails and plan for the morning. The horses were very well cared for, and the guys who worked at the ranch were incredibly knowledgeable and professional. They matched us up with horses depending on previous experience and ability, then off we went. The trail was wonderful, beautiful scenery, and the guides were very capable, leading the group and helping out when needed. The kids of the family had never ridden before but were very comfortable and had great fun too, so this is a trip that anyone can take part in. We also had delicious fresh fruit, juice and water during the trip and after back at the ranch.I really cannot recommend this trip enough, just wish we had gone for the full day now!