Most visitors have one free day for an excursion outside Puerto Vallarta. The problem is choosing: horses, ATVs or zip-lines? At Rancho Capomo you do not have to. Our combo tours stack two or three activities into a single day at the ranch in Las Palmas, with transportation, a waterfall, a cooking class, lunch and open bar included, for $150 USD per person. This post explains how the day is sequenced, which combo suits which traveller, and what to bring so you get the most out of it.

The three combo tours

All three are $150 USD, taxes included. That compares with $103 for horseback riding alone, $103 for zip-lining alone and $113 for the ATV alone, so any combo saves you between $56 and $66 USD against booking two separate days, and it saves you a second morning of pick-ups.

How a combo day is sequenced

People worry that three activities in one day will feel rushed. The trick is the order: we start with the slowest activity and finish with the fastest, with the waterfall in the middle as a break.

8:15–8:50 am: pick-up

The shuttle collects you at the OXXO in the Zona Romántica, Starbucks Marina Vallarta or Starbucks Las Juntas (see pick-up points). The drive to Las Palmas takes about 45 minutes.

Late morning: horseback riding

Every combo begins on horseback. You ride along the river into the Sierra Madre rainforest, cross the water and climb into the hills. This is the immersive, quiet part of the day, and starting with it means the horses work in the cooler hours.

Midday: trek, waterfall and swim

You dismount and walk the last stretch over hanging bridges and stone steps to the waterfall. There is time to swim in the pools and cool down before the second half of the day.

Early afternoon: zip-line and/or ATV

Back near the ranch, the guides fit harnesses for the seven-line canopy course and/or hand out helmets for the ATV loop through the village and the jungle tracks. On the ultimate combo you do the zip-lines first and the ATV second, so the adrenaline builds rather than drops.

Mid-afternoon: cooking class, lunch and open bar

You make salsa and hand-made tortillas, then eat fajitas or chicken with guacamole, beans and rice under the palapa, with national drinks included. Then the shuttle takes you back to town. Alcohol comes after the driving, never before.

Which combo is right for you?

Families with young children

Horseback + zip-line. Kids love both, both are guide-assisted, and there is no driving involved. Younger children can share a horse with a parent and ride the zip-line tandem with a guide. Kids pay less on single tours; on combos ask us on WhatsApp for the current family rate.

Couples and friends who want it all

The ultimate combo. If you are only going to leave the beach once, leave it properly.

Teenagers and adrenaline seekers

Horseback + ATV or the ultimate combo. The ATV section is the fastest part of the day and the river crossings are unforgettable.

Cruise ship passengers

Any combo fits a standard port day if your ship is in from morning to evening. Read our guide for cruise passengers for timing details.

Mixed groups

Not everyone has to do everything. A grandparent who does not want to zip-line can wait at the platform area with a drink and rejoin the group. Non-participating companions pay $40 USD for transport, lunch and open bar.

What to bring on a combo tour

Because you switch between horse, foot, cable and quad, pack for all of them in one small backpack that stays at the ranch:

  • Closed shoes (sneakers or trail shoes) – required for the trek and the zip-line.
  • Light pants or longer shorts – the saddle and the harness are kinder to covered legs.
  • Swimsuit under your clothes, towel, and a full change of dry clothes for the shuttle.
  • Sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses with a strap, hair tie.
  • Phone in a zip bag. Remember cameras are not allowed on the zip-lines; guides take photos there.
  • A normal breakfast in your stomach. Lunch is mid-afternoon.

Rules that apply to every combo

  • Weight limit 250 lbs (120 kg).
  • Expecting mothers and guests with heart, back, neck, balance or dizziness conditions cannot do the activities but are welcome as companions.
  • ATV drivers must be adults with ID; children ride as passengers.
  • Waterfall volume varies by season: bigger from July to November, gentler from March to June.

Combo tours vs. other full-day Puerto Vallarta excursions

Boat trips to Yelapa or the Marietas show you the coast; the combo shows you the Sierra Madre. City tours show you Vallarta's malecón and churches; the combo shows you a working ranch and a mountain village. If you want to see the mountains once and see them thoroughly, the combo is the most complete day you can book, and the only one where you ride a horse, fly over a river and drive a quad before lunch.

Why we built the combos this way

Rancho Capomo started as a horseback ranch. The zip-line course and the ATV fleet came later, and the first thing we noticed was that guests who had come for horses asked whether they could "also do the other thing". Rather than sell them a second day, we rebuilt the schedule so all three activities could share a single morning and afternoon: the horses leave first while it is cool, the waterfall works as a natural break, the zip-lines and ATVs run from the same base near the ranch, and lunch waits at the end. The combos are not three tours stapled together; they are one day designed around the ranch's geography. That is why they run smoothly even when the group is mixed and why the price is a single flat $150 USD rather than a sum.

Combo tours for special occasions

A surprising number of combo bookings are for a reason: a birthday, an anniversary, a proposal at the waterfall (yes, it has happened), a graduation trip, a bachelor party. Tell us in the booking notes. The guides can time a photo at the waterfall, keep a ring dry, or make sure the birthday person gets the horse with the best name. For groups we can run a private departure with its own shuttle and guides; use the contact form and describe what you have in mind.

Sample itinerary: the ultimate combo, hour by hour

  • 8:15 / 8:40 / 8:50 am – pick-ups in the Zona Romántica, Marina Vallarta and Las Juntas.
  • 9:35 am – arrival at Rancho Capomo, welcome, bags stored, restrooms.
  • 9:50 am – horses assigned, safety briefing, mount up.
  • 10:00–11:15 am – ride through the village, along the river and into the rainforest.
  • 11:15–12:15 pm – dismount, trek over the hanging bridges to the waterfall, swim.
  • 12:15–12:45 pm – ride back to the zip-line base.
  • 12:45–2:00 pm – harnesses on, seven zip-lines through the canopy.
  • 2:00–2:45 pm – ATV briefing and practice loop, then the convoy ride.
  • 2:45–3:30 pm – cooking class and lunch with open bar.
  • 3:30 pm – shuttle back; arrival at pick-up points between 4:15 and 4:45 pm.

Times are indicative; the guides adjust to the group, the river and the weather. The two-activity combos follow the same shape with one block removed and an earlier return.

Common mistakes to avoid on a combo day

  • Sandals. Every year someone shows up in flip-flops. They ride, but the trek and the zip-line are miserable. Closed shoes.
  • No change of clothes. You will be wet from the waterfall and dusty or muddy from the ATV. Dry clothes in the bag make the shuttle home pleasant.
  • A huge breakfast at the hotel buffet. A horse's gait and a full stomach are not friends. Eat normally.
  • Leaving the booking to the day before in high season. Combos are the first tours to sell out on cruise days.
  • Forgetting bug spray in summer. The waterfall is beautiful; the mosquitoes think so too.

A closer look at each activity in the combo

The horseback section

The horses are ranch-raised, calm and used to first-timers. Guides match each rider to a horse, give a briefing, and ride front and back of the group. The route follows the river into the jungle and climbs into the hills, with several water crossings. Helmets are available. If you want the full picture read our complete guide to horseback riding in Puerto Vallarta.

The zip-line section

Seven lines strung along the river between tree platforms, linked by hanging bridges and jungle paths. Full-body harness, helmet, double connection, guides clipping you in and out. About an hour and a half including photos. Details in our first-timer's guide to zip-lining.

The ATV section

Automatic single or double ATVs, a practice loop at the ranch, then a convoy ride through the village, along the river and into the rainforest tracks with a guide in front and behind. Drivers must be adults with ID. Details in what to expect on an ATV tour.

Is one day enough? Energy and pacing

A reasonable worry is whether three activities will leave you wrecked. In practice the day is paced by the ranch, not by you: the ride is at a walk, the trek to the waterfall is short, the zip-lines are gravity-powered and the ATV does the work on the last leg. The swim in the middle resets everyone. The most physical part of the whole day is the stairs between zip-line platforms. Guests of all ages and fitness levels do the ultimate combo; the only people we steer toward a single activity are those with the medical restrictions listed above or with a very early cruise departure.

How the combo compares on price

  • Horseback riding alone: $103 USD. Zip-line alone: $103 USD. ATV alone: $113 USD ($138 double).
  • Any two activities as a combo: $150 USD. Saving versus two single tours: $56–$66 USD, plus a whole second day of your holiday.
  • All three as the ultimate combo: $150 USD. Saving versus three single tours: $169 USD.

Every price includes transportation from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, guides, gear, the waterfall, the cooking class, lunch and open bar, with taxes. There is nothing to add at the ranch except tips if you feel like it.

Seasonal notes for combo days

In the green season (July–October) the river crossings on horseback and ATV are at their most dramatic and the waterfall is full; bring a complete change of clothes. In the dry season (November–May) the trails are easy and dusty and the mornings cool; bring sunscreen and a bandana for the ATV. Zip-lines are unaffected by the season. Our month-by-month guide goes deeper.

Photos on a combo day

Your phone can come on the horse and the ATV (in a zip bag, strapped to you) but not on the zip-lines. Guides take photos at the platforms and are happy to use your phone at the waterfall. A chest-mounted action camera is the best all-round solution for the ride and the quad. Ask a guide before filming other guests.

Booking

Choose your combo, pick a date and pick-up point and pay online on each tour page; availability is real-time. For group rates (bachelor parties, corporate groups, family reunions) use the form on our contact page or WhatsApp +52 322 230 7793.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the combo tour in Puerto Vallarta?

All three Rancho Capomo combos are $150 USD per person: horseback + zip-line, horseback + ATV, and the ultimate combo with all three activities. Transportation, waterfall, cooking class, lunch and open bar are included.

Is the combo tour too much for one day?

No. Each activity is scheduled at its natural pace: a morning ride, a stop at the waterfall, the zip-lines and/or ATV loop, then lunch. Most guests are back in Puerto Vallarta by mid-afternoon, tired and happy.

Which combo is best for families?

Horseback + zip-line is the family favourite: kids ride their own horse and zip-line with guide assistance. Horseback + ATV suits families with teenagers who want to drive as passengers on a double ATV.

Do I have to do all the activities?

No. If someone in the group prefers to skip the zip-line, for example, they can wait at the platform area or the ranch and rejoin for lunch. Companions who skip everything pay $40 USD.

Is the combo cheaper than booking separately?

Yes. Two single tours would be $206–$216 USD; the combo is $150 USD and includes everything.