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Carriage ride in Granada

Department: Granada

Municipality: Granada (view on map)

Comments:
9 comments

Comments

  • Simone Scott Stevenson wrote on Aug 21, 2023:

    This is the most horrendous piece of tourism in the town. The poor horses are abused daily being forced to stand in the sun for hours on end, they are clearly malnourished and exhausted. You watch them shifting their feet around to try and rest - it's painful to watch. The city council should stop this from happening. It is down right just straight animal cruelty.

  • Meredith wrote on Jun 30, 2017:

    Pattie, my sentiments exactly. I loved visiting Nicaragua. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. However, witnessing the neglect of those poor carriage horses in Granada had me in tears and sick to my stomach by the last night of our visit. We thought taking a carriage to the docks for the Isleta tour would be a fun activity on our anniversary. I was a little concerned about how small and thin the horses were but I did read about the breed's endurance so I tried to put it out of my mind and enjoy myself. The boat ride was great but the carriage ride back to the square was terrible. The driver pushed the horses to race another carriage up a small hill all while the harness of one horse wasn't on properly. When we stopped and I got out of the carriage to pet the horses I was horrified to find large exposed proud flesh wounds on the horse's nose and back from the ill fitting harness. They were struggling to catch their breath, hot, covered in sweat, not to mention their poor hooves were in desperate need of a farrier. Some missing shoes. I was struck with such guilt that I contributed to the neglect of these beautiful creatures. I really don't know what to do about it at this point but inform others.

  • Pattie Rainville wrote on Jun 13, 2017:

    I thought the city had some great history but was very sad to see the state of the animals in Nicaragua.
    Underfed and over worked horses, no water offered to the carriage horses standing in the hot sun then asked to pull tourist around for hours. Stray starving dogs. Lack of spray and neutering and lack of education abundant, in the streets of Nicaragua,

  • Jim and Beth wrote on Mar 15, 2015:

    We hired Jorge (he introduces himself as George).
    His carriage is ALL white - even white leather seats. Horse is almost white too!
    His English is beautiful and therefor we learnt allot about Granada and Nicaragua....politics, history, architecture. Churches, the old prison / fort, railway, stadium, cigar manufacturers, chocolate museum, Church tower viewing and finished at a hammock manufacturer - which is actually a street kids help project!

  • ENRIVAUNSESIA wrote on May 26, 2011:

    Hey - I am definitely happy to find this. great job!

  • zeroxtrpo wrote on May 4, 2011:

    Wow this information is great! Thanks this has helped me alot! Im sure your post's are one of the best out there! always
    so acurate!

  • Pride wrote on Oct 1, 2009:

    I travel to Nicaragua on Sep. 2009 from Miami, Fl. to celebrate my birthday. I was born in Masaya & decided to visit Granada. The city is a beautiful place to visit. There is alot of thing do to & plenty of activity. Beside the travel to the Isleta of Granada I was fortuned to meet this wonderful (Carriage #18) worker by the name of OTILIO. He was humble yet had plenty of knowledge of Granada history. He made the trip smooth & I will recommend OTILIO to any one who visit Granada.

  • Kevan, Rochelle and kids wrote on Aug 31, 2008:

    We recently spent a month in Granada, renting a house in the Reparto San Juan. On our first visit into the center of town, we were fortunate to meet Don Fransisco, the driver of carriage #20. Don Fransisco took us around town for almost 2 hours pointing out the highlights of this wonderful colonial city. After the first ride he knew us by name and each time we passed through the Plaza Colon we stopped to visit Don Fransisco. We hired him on 3 separate occasions to give us tours of different parts of the city. On one tour we visited the cemetery where Don Fransisco walked with us through the maze of streets pointing out the different grave markers. If you visit Granada look for carriage number #20 and Don Fransisco. He will surely bring a smile to your face!

  • Xochil wrote on Nov 30, 2006:

    When I visit Granada, I always enjoy the ride.
    The guide explain to you the history of the Churches.
    It is nice to see all Granada and just enjoy the ride.

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Description

What better place to explore the colonial city of Granada from than a horse-pulled carriage? Sit back and relax while the horses walk you through the city.

There are almost 30 carriages in Granada, all of them pulled by two horses and providing space for up to four people. In general there are enough carriages available and the drivers will all invite you to hop in. You can set out your own route, or just let the driver decide. The standard rides last for either about 30 or about 60 minutes.

During the ride, you will pass by old colonial houses and other important buildings like to San Francisco Convent or Guadeloupe Church. Granada has narrow, often one-way streets. The carriages will fight with cars and cyclists over the limited space, which can be an adventure by itself. Sitting in the back of a carriage is for sure a more relaxed way to enjoy the city than from a car, and it is less tiring than to walk around. The prices are reasonable: US$5 for a half an hour ride and US$10 for a one hour ride, with a maximum of 4 passengers.

Getting There

You will easily spot the carriages lined up around the central park.

Online Reservations

We have 3 related tour(s) available that can be booked online.

View and compare all 3 related tours