The best-reviewed horse ride on Gran Canaria starts at El Salobre Horse Riding, a ranch inland from Maspalomas, and the only decision that really matters is how long you ride. The 1-hour ride stays at a walk and suits complete beginners; the 2-hour ride lets experienced riders trot and gallop. Rides start from ~€38 per person on GetYourGuide, take children from age 3, and have a 110kg rider limit.
Gran Canaria: Volcanic Trail Horse Riding & Transfer Options
A guided ride through the volcanic hills above Maspalomas from the El Salobre ranch, with calm horses matched to your level and optional hotel pickup.
- 1-hour walk-pace ride or 2-hour ride with trot and gallop
- Guides speak Spanish, English and German
- Helmets for all riders, safety vests for young riders
- Optional hotel pickup in selected areas
Total price from
€38
Includes taxes and fees
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One hour or two: which ride should you book?
El Salobre runs four kinds of ride. The first two are the ones sold on GetYourGuide with optional hotel transfer; the sunset and private rides appear on the ranch's own website. The start times below are the ranch's own published slots as of September 2026.
| Ride | Pace | Start | Age | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | Walk only | 13:00 | 3+ | Optional |
| 2 hours | Trot, gallop for experienced | 10:00 or 16:00 | 3+ | Optional |
| Sunset (May–Sep) | – | 19:00 | 6+ | Not offered |
| Private 2 hours | – | By arrangement | 3+ | Included |
Book the 1-hour ride if anyone in your group has never sat on a horse. GetYourGuide's listing says the whole hour is conducted at a walking pace, which is exactly what a nervous first-timer or a young child needs.
Book the 2-hour ride only if at least one rider wants more than a walk. The listing describes it as suitable for all levels, but the trotting and galloping is for experienced riders, in selected areas and weather permitting. One reviewer's verdict is worth passing on: "I think 1 hour is enough" for a casual rider.
Where is the ranch, and what do you ride through?
El Salobre Horse Riding is in the El Salobre area of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, the municipality that also covers Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. It is a family business, and the ranch says it has more than 25 years of experience.
This is not a beach ride. The ranch describes its routes as volcanic landscapes and ravines, with views from the mountains to the Maspalomas dunes, so the sand is something you look down on rather than ride across. The ground is dry, rocky hill country, and it looks nothing like the resort strip just below it.
You may also see riding listed under Puerto Rico or Playa del Inglés. Before booking any of them, check where the ranch actually is: a resort name on a listing often describes the pickup area, not the trail.
Is horse riding in Gran Canaria suitable for beginners and children?
Yes, and that is who the 1-hour ride is designed for. The ranch matches each rider to a horse by experience, and says many of its horses are rescued and retrained. Guides give a short safety briefing at the ranch before anyone mounts.
Children can ride from age 3, and from age 6 on the sunset ride. The ranch's wording is that children ride "always with an adult", so ask how that works for your child's age before you book. Riders over 110kg cannot take part, a limit set for the horses' welfare.
Reviews from the past year are consistently warm about the horses and the guides. The criticism that does come up is about mixed groups: some riders would have liked groups split by ability, with less waiting and more time at a trot. That is another reason to pick the 1-hour ride with beginners, and the 2-hour ride only when everyone can handle more.
After the ride, you can visit and feed the ranch's farm animals, which tends to be the part younger children remember. For more ideas at that age, see our Gran Canaria with kids guide.
What should you wear, and what is included?
The dress code is the thing most likely to catch you out. GetYourGuide's listing rules out bikinis, skirts, shorts and sandals, and asks for clothing and footwear suitable for riding. If you only packed beach clothes, the ranch hires out riding boots on site.
- Included: a professional guide, helmets for every rider, safety vests for younger riders, and 1 or 2 hours of riding
- Optional: hotel pickup and drop-off, if you select that option
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before the ride
- Languages: Spanish, English and German
Is the sunset ride worth booking instead?
It can be, if you have transport. The sunset ride leaves at 19:00 between May and September, has a minimum age of 6, and does not include hotel transfer, so you need to get yourself to El Salobre and back.
For most visitors without a car, the 1-hour or 2-hour ride with pickup is the simpler booking. If you are driving anyway, contact the ranch directly for sunset availability, since the GetYourGuide listing covers only the 1-hour and 2-hour rides.
Which base works best for a riding day?
Anywhere in the south works, because the ranch sits just behind the main resorts. Maspalomas, Meloneras and Playa del Inglés are the closest bases, with Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán further round the coast.
If you are still choosing where to stay, our where to stay in Gran Canaria guide compares the southern bases. If you want to see more of the interior in one outing, the Gran Canaria jeep safari runs from the same resorts into the valleys and villages, and the volcano sunset tour takes a full day over the island's high summits.
FAQ – horse riding in Gran Canaria
Featured image: Bengt Nyman / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
