Private Guided Tour of Colombia’s Paso Fino Horse

The most interesting part of this private outing is the close look at Colombia’s Paso Fino tradition from the breeder’s side. At Criadero Lusitania in El Rosal, you tour the working facility, hear about the breeding process, meet notable horses, and watch Colombian Criollo horses show their different gaits on the track.

I like the personal format, since only your group takes part and the ranch owners can answer questions at your pace. I also like the well-rounded day, which pairs coffee and conversation with a facility tour, a traditional Colombian lunch, and a proper look at the horses in motion.

The main consideration is the schedule. The day is described as roughly six hours, but the full plan includes the drive from Bogotá, a return around 6:30 pm, and a published start time of 9:00 am alongside a stated departure window of 10:30 to 11:00 am. Confirm the exact pickup and return times before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• See the Colombian Criollo horse in several gaits: The second half focuses on how these horses move, not simply on looking at them in a pasture.
• Visit a real breeding facility: The first part explains the stations and processes used by Colombian horse breeders.
• Meet the ranch owners over coffee: Your welcome includes Colombian coffee and a personal introduction to the people behind Criadero Lusitania.
• Lunch is part of the day: A traditional Colombian meal breaks up the visit before the horses return to the track.
• Private means a more flexible conversation: Your group is the only group taking part, useful if you have detailed questions.
• Plan for a full Bogotá outing: The drive to El Rosal takes about one to one and a half hours each way, so this is not a quick city activity.

Why the Paso Fino deserves a closer look

Colombia’s Paso Fino horse is known for its distinctive way of moving, and this tour gives you a chance to see that movement in a setting devoted to breeding and training. You are not just being shown a horse and handed a few quick facts. The day is built around the people, methods, and animals at one Colombian breeding operation.

The word Paso Fino can lead some visitors to expect a riding lesson. That is not what is described here. The program centers on touring the facility, learning about the breeders’ work, and watching horses demonstrate their gaits on the track. If your main goal is to ride, ask the provider for clarification before booking.

I find that distinction useful. A riding excursion can give you a short taste of being on horseback. This visit offers something different: a look at the horses as carefully bred animals and athletes, with time to understand why their movement matters.

The experience is also private, which changes the feel of the day. With only your group involved, you can ask about the horses you see, return to a point that interests you, and take your time during the conversation. The ranch owners are responsible for explaining and demonstrating the work, so this is a good choice if you prefer direct contact over a large, scripted tour.

From Bogotá to El Rosal by car

El Rosal is outside Bogotá, and the drive takes about one to one and a half hours. That travel time is a real part of the outing, so I would treat this as a full-day plan rather than something to fit between city sightseeing stops.

The transfer is by car, with departure arranged for approximately 10:30 or 11:00 am according to the detailed schedule. At the same time, the published meeting information gives a 9:00 am start. Those times do not line up perfectly, and the day is also described as returning to Bogotá at about 6:30 pm. Confirm the exact meeting time, pickup point, and expected arrival before the day of the tour.

That small bit of planning matters. A private car transfer is convenient, especially for reaching a rural facility outside Bogotá, but your day depends on the agreed departure time and road conditions. Leave room in your Bogotá plans afterward. A 6:30 pm return is an estimate, not a promise that you will be back at your hotel at that exact minute.

The journey does, however, help make sense of the visit. You are leaving the city for a working horse facility, rather than visiting a display inside Bogotá. The change of setting is part of the point.

Colombian coffee and a conversation with the breeders

The visit begins with a cup of Colombian coffee and a small talk about the owners’ history and trajectory. This is a simple welcome, but it gives the day a human beginning.

I like this opening because it puts the horses in context. Before you walk around the facility, you meet the people who have built their work around Colombian horses. You can use this time to ask what drew them to breeding, how their operation developed, and what you should pay attention to during the visit.

The supplied information does not name individual guides, so you should not expect a named celebrity horseman or a formal lecture by a public figure. The people leading the visit are the ranch owners, and the strongest part of the format is that they explain their own operation directly.

The conversation may also help you get more from the later demonstrations. Once you understand that the facility has different stations designed to show the breeding process, the tour becomes more than a walk through ranch buildings. You can connect the practical work at the facility with the horses you later see on the track.

Touring the facility and meeting notable horses

The first main section takes you around the breeding facility. The different stations are set up to explain the process used by Colombian horse breeders, and you have the chance to see some of the operation’s emblematic and famous horses.

The value here depends on your curiosity. If you already follow horse breeding, you will likely want to ask about bloodlines, selection, and the traits the breeders seek. If you know little about Paso Fino horses, the stations give you a starting point for understanding how the animals are cared for and prepared.

The word famous is used for some of the horses, but the supplied details do not identify them by name or list awards. I would not book this expecting a specific champion unless the provider confirms which horses you will see. Instead, think of this portion as an introduction to the animals and the operation.

The private format should help. You can ask the ranch owners to explain what makes one horse important, how the horses differ, and what you should notice when they later move on the track. The review information points especially to the owners taking time to explain, demonstrate, and answer questions, which is precisely what makes this more useful than a quick photo stop.

This is also the part of the day where expectations matter. You may see horses up close, but the available details do not promise that you can touch, feed, or handle them. The program says you will get to know the horses up close, so ask about any hands-on contact if that is important to you.

A traditional Colombian lunch in the middle of the day

Lunch is listed as a traditional Colombian meal. That gives the tour a welcome pause between the facility visit and the horse demonstrations.

No specific menu is provided, so I would not plan around a particular dish or assume that dietary requests can be handled. If you have food restrictions, ask when booking. The meal is best understood as part of the cultural setting, not as a separate cooking class or restaurant-focused stop.

For me, the lunch adds balance to the outing. Six hours or more around a breeding facility and track could feel concentrated if the day were only explanations and demonstrations. A shared meal gives you more time with the hosts and a natural chance to continue the conversation.

It also makes the experience feel connected to place. You are not rushing through a series of unrelated attractions. Coffee, conversation, the facility, lunch, and the horses all belong to the same visit.

Watching the Colombian Criollo horses on the track

The second main section brings you closer to the Colombian Criollo horse and its different gaits. You see several horses on the track while the breeders explain their genetics and movement.

This is likely the centerpiece for anyone interested in Paso Fino horses. The gaits are not a side note. They are the reason to make the trip beyond Bogotá, and watching several horses lets you compare the way they move rather than relying on a still photograph or a short presentation.

The program does not say that you ride the horses, so plan on observing demonstrations. That may disappoint someone looking for an active horseback excursion, but it is a strength if you want to watch the horses properly and hear the breeders explain what you are seeing.

Pay attention to how the owners connect movement with genetics. The available description does not provide a technical list of gaits or breeding terms, and it would be wrong to invent one. Still, the structure promises a useful link between the horses’ bloodlines, their physical qualities, and what appears on the track.

This is where your questions can make the private format worthwhile. Ask the owners to explain how the gaits differ, what makes a particular horse distinctive, and how they evaluate horses within their breeding program. You are encouraged to take part through questions, and the direct demonstration gives those questions something concrete to address.

What the $170 price includes in practical terms

At $170 per person, this is not a budget half-day attraction. The value comes from the combination of private guiding, car transportation from Bogotá to El Rosal, the ranch visit, coffee, lunch, and access to a breeding operation that is not part of an ordinary city tour.

You are paying for access and time as much as for transport. A private visit means your group does not have to follow the rhythm of a large bus. The ranch owners can explain their work directly, and the schedule has room for questions and demonstrations.

The price makes more sense if you have a real interest in horses, Colombian culture, or specialist experiences. If you simply want a rural day trip with a few animals in the background, you may find the cost harder to justify. The tour is built around the Paso Fino and Colombian Criollo horse, so its appeal is specific.

The lunch and coffee help, but they are not the main reason to book. The strongest value is the full access to the setting and the personal explanation of the breeding process. I would compare the price with what a private car transfer and a separate specialist visit would cost, rather than with the price of a standard Bogotá walking tour.

Who will get the most from this visit

I would recommend this experience to:

• Horse enthusiasts who want to watch Colombian horses perform their gaits.
• Visitors curious about breeding, genetics, and the work behind a recognized horse tradition.
• Couples, families, or small groups who prefer a private conversation.
• Anyone who has already seen Bogotá’s main sights and wants a more specialized outing.
• Photographers or observers who value seeing emblematic horses at a working facility, provided they confirm the photography rules directly.

It may be less suitable for someone with only a short stay in Bogotá, since the drive takes up a significant part of the day. It is also not the obvious choice if your priority is riding, a children’s petting-farm visit, or a tightly timed activity with a fixed return.

The experience is described as suitable for most participants, and service animals are allowed. It is also near public transportation, although the planned activity itself includes travel by car from Bogotá. If mobility, seating, or access around the facility is important to you, ask the provider for current details before booking.

Timing, comfort, and simple planning tips

Wear practical clothing for a rural horse facility. The supplied information does not specify a dress code or weather plan, so check the forecast and choose shoes and clothing that will be comfortable for walking around the facility and watching the track.

Keep your day open. The detailed plan places departure around 10:30 or 11:00 am and return around 6:30 pm, while the booking information gives a 9:00 am start and describes the activity as lasting about five to six hours. The safest approach is to confirm the final schedule instead of relying on one published time.

You receive booking confirmation at the time of reservation. Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted.

The activity is private, and only your group participates. That is particularly helpful here because the value depends on asking questions and seeing the horses at a comfortable pace. A large group could make a specialist visit feel distant. This format should keep the focus on your interests.

Is Criadero Lusitania worth booking?

Book it if you want a focused look at Colombia’s Paso Fino tradition, especially if you enjoy horses and appreciate meeting the people who breed them. The coffee welcome, facility tour, traditional lunch, and track demonstration create a fuller picture than a simple horse show.

Think twice if you want to ride, need a short activity inside Bogotá, or dislike schedules with some timing uncertainty. The $170 price is reasonable for a private, transport-included specialist outing, but only if the Colombian horse is a main reason for your trip.

Before paying, confirm the pickup time, return estimate, what hands-on access is possible, and whether the facility can accommodate any dietary or mobility needs. If those details fit your plans, this is a rare chance to see Colombian horses in the setting where their breeding story is actually being carried out.

FAQ

Where does the Paso Fino horse tour take place?

The experience takes place at Criadero Lusitania in El Rosal, Cundinamarca, outside Bogotá.

How much does the private tour cost?

The listed price is $170 per person.

How long does the experience last?

The activity is described as approximately six hours, while another timing note describes five hours. The full day includes travel from Bogotá, the ranch visit, lunch, horse demonstrations, and the return trip.

What time does the tour start?

The meeting information gives a 9:00 am start time. The detailed travel plan says departure from Bogotá is arranged for approximately 10:30 or 11:00 am, so confirm the exact time with the provider.

How long is the drive from Bogotá to El Rosal?

The drive takes approximately one to one and a half hours by car.

What happens during the visit?

You receive Colombian coffee, talk with the ranch owners, tour the facility, learn about the breeding process, see notable horses, eat a traditional Colombian lunch, and watch Colombian Criollo horses demonstrate different gaits on the track.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A traditional Colombian lunch is included as part of the day.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.