Cap Cana · Dominican Republic
Los Establos Equestrian City
250 Stables · Polo · Jumping · Paso Fino · Trail Rides · 5 Min from Villa Espada
250 Stables · Polo · Jumping · Paso Fino · Trail Rides · 5 Min from Villa Espada
Los Establos Ciudad Ecuestre is one of the most extraordinary equestrian complexes in the Western Hemisphere. With 250 stables and six world-class disciplines across a sprawling facility inside Cap Cana, it represents an unmatched equestrian experience for guests of all abilities — from first-time riders to competitive polo players.
Los Establos brings together the full breadth of equestrian sport under one roof. Built to international standards and set within Cap Cana's lush tropical landscape, the facility serves both competitive equestrians and leisure riders with equal distinction.
Two international-standard polo fields
Show jumping arena and training tracks
Dedicated Paso Fino competition arena
Thoroughbred racing track on premises
Training arenas and professional instruction
Guided rides through Cap Cana's landscape
Whether your group includes seasoned equestrians or first-time riders, Los Establos has the perfect experience. The Riding and Polo School offers professional instruction at all levels, making it approachable for complete beginners while challenging enough for advanced riders.
Your Villa Espada butler makes all reservations, arranges private transport from the villa, and coordinates timing with your broader itinerary. Los Establos is approximately 5 minutes by private vehicle from Villa Espada.
When you book Villa Espada, your personal butler arranges Los Establos reservations, private transport, and custom group experiences — seamlessly woven into your stay's itinerary.
Los Establos Ciudad Ecuestre sits within the northern section of Cap Cana's Central Boulevard, spread across roughly 3.0 million square meters of dedicated grounds. Developed by the Hazoury Group and opened in 2015 as the Dominican Republic's first dedicated equestrian city, it is the largest and most complete equestrian center in the Caribbean and Latin America — not a resort stable with a handful of trail horses, but a full equestrian city built to international competition standards, a 5-minute drive from Villa Espada.
Key infrastructure includes:
The Paso Fino is the most culturally significant horse breed in the Dominican Republic. Its name translates as "fine step," referring to a natural four-beat lateral gait that produces one of the smoothest rides of any breed in the world. Its three gaits are the fino (collected show gait), corto (a comfortable traveling gait without the bounce of a trot), and largo (a faster gait for covering distance). Descended from Spanish horses brought to the Caribbean by early settlers, it is the horse most visitors ride on trail and sunset experiences, and its smooth gait suits riders of every level.
Polo ponies at Los Establos are primarily Thoroughbred–Criollo crosses. The Criollo, of Spanish origin with exceptional stamina, is central to Argentine polo breeding and well represented in Dominican polo. The ponies used for polo-school lessons are selected to suit beginner and intermediate riders while still giving students an authentic experience.
The facility maintains Warmblood and Thoroughbred-type sport horses for jumping and dressage, trained to work with both competitive riders and visitors who want arena-level equestrian sport in a controlled, guided environment.
Guided rides through Cap Cana's tropical landscape are the most popular experience for visiting guests. They use Paso Fino horses specifically because the smooth gait eliminates the bouncing that puts off beginners. Options typically include sunset rides timed to finish as the sun drops over Cap Cana's western hills, scenic morning rides before the midday heat, and, depending on route availability, coastal sections with Caribbean views. Trail rides suit complete beginners, supervised children, and non-riders.
The Polo School offers group and private instruction at every level, including riders with no previous polo experience — one of very few structured polo programs in the Caribbean at an international-grade facility. Lesson formats include:
Polo lessons for groups staying at Villa Espada are scheduled through the villa's butler concierge, which keeps coordination simple across golf, polo, and other priorities.
Two jumping tracks (sand and grass) built to international standards host show-jumping sessions for visitors with prior riding experience. The dressage arena serves riders with a classical background by arrangement. For non-riders, the polo fields host live matches throughout the year — a genuinely distinctive social experience. Families can book pony rides and gentle introductory sessions on smaller horses, supervised by experienced instructors, which work well as a half-day activity for mixed-age groups.
| Discipline | Suitable For | Experience Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paso Fino Trail Ride | All levels, beginners, families | None | Most popular visitor experience |
| Sunset Guided Ride | All levels | None | Best booked in advance |
| Polo Introduction Lesson | All levels | None | No riding experience needed |
| Polo Intermediate Lesson | Riders with basic horse experience | Basic riding | Includes chukka participation |
| Private Polo Coaching | Any level | Any | Best for structured skill development |
| Show Jumping | Intermediate to advanced | Prior jumping experience | Arena to international standard |
| Dressage | Intermediate to advanced | Classical riding background | By arrangement |
| Polo Match Viewing | All guests | None | Spectator experience, no riding |
| Children's Pony Rides | Children and families | None | Supervised; all ages |
| Paso Fino Competition Viewing | All guests | None | Indoor arena, year-round events |
Pricing varies by experience type, group size, and seasonal demand. The ranges below are a general guide — confirm current rates when booking through the villa butler concierge or directly with Los Establos.
| Experience | Approx. Price Range (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Trail / Scenic Ride (45–60 min) | $60–$100 |
| Sunset Guided Ride | $80–$120 |
| Polo Introduction Lesson (group) | $80–$120 |
| Polo Private Lesson (1 hour) | $150–$250 |
| Show Jumping Session | $100–$180 |
| Polo Match Viewing | Complimentary to low-cost entry |
| Children's Pony Session | $40–$60 |
Guests at Villa Espada have equestrian bookings arranged by the villa butler, who coordinates transport, timing, and group logistics — removing the friction of booking directly as a visiting group.
A frequent question from groups is whether Cap Cana offers enough variety beyond golf. It does, and Los Establos is central to that variety. Within the gated community, guests have access to:
A typical day for a mixed group might pair a morning tee time at Punta Espada for golfers with a polo lesson and sunset ride at Los Establos for non-golfers, then a shared dinner at the marina. For the full picture, see the Cap Cana experiences guide or the Cap Cana travel guide.
Los Establos is approximately 5 minutes by private vehicle from Villa Espada, both inside Cap Cana's gated community. The villa's butler arranges all transport, bookings, and scheduling. In practice: your butler confirms experience type, group size, and time slot; the villa's private vehicle or golf-cart transfer handles the trip; helmets and any needed equipment are organized in advance; and if you want to combine polo with a golf round on the same day, the butler builds the full schedule to avoid conflicts. The short distance also makes spontaneous visits practical — if a morning round finishes early, an afternoon polo introduction can often be added with a same-day call. Groups planning a structured stay can review the Cap Cana golf guide alongside this page to see how the two anchor activities complement each other.
Yes. Los Establos Ciudad Ecuestre at Cap Cana is the largest equestrian and polo center in the Caribbean. It offers polo lessons, Paso Fino trail rides, show jumping, dressage, polo match viewing, and family sessions, all within the gated Cap Cana resort community on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
The Paso Fino is the Dominican Republic's native horse breed, descended from Spanish horses brought to the Caribbean by early settlers. Its most distinctive feature is a natural four-beat lateral gait that produces an exceptionally smooth ride with almost no bounce, making it ideal for riders of all levels. The breed has three natural gaits: fino (collected show gait), corto (traveling gait), and largo (fast distance gait).
Yes. The Polo School at Los Establos offers structured introduction lessons for guests with no prior polo or riding experience, covering ground work, mallet technique, and slow-speed riding with a ball. Groups staying at Villa Espada can arrange polo lessons through the villa butler with transport included.
Los Establos is approximately 5 minutes by private vehicle from Villa Espada, with both located inside Cap Cana's gated resort community. Villa Espada's butler handles all transport and booking coordination.
For visitors, the most commonly booked experiences are Paso Fino trail and sunset rides, polo introduction and intermediate lessons, polo match viewing, and family pony sessions. The wider facility also hosts show jumping, dressage, and Paso Fino competition.
Yes. Beyond two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses (Punta Espada and Las Iguanas), Cap Cana offers equestrian and polo at Los Establos, tennis and padel, Juanillo Beach, the Cap Cana Waterpark, sport fishing at the Cap Cana Marina, and Scape Park for adventure activities.
Wear closed-toe shoes and long trousers for all riding activities. Helmets are provided at the facility. Avoid sandals, loose flowing clothing, and jewelry that could catch during riding. Early morning or late afternoon sessions are recommended to avoid midday heat.
Yes. Los Establos regularly accommodates corporate retreats, bachelor parties, and large family groups for polo lessons and match experiences. The combination of a team sport, tropical setting, and luxury villa accommodation makes Cap Cana polo a popular corporate event option.
Los Establos is not a hotel stable — it is a world-class equestrian city that happens to sit inside one of the Caribbean's premier luxury resorts. For guests at Villa Espada it is 5 minutes away and accessible on any day of the trip, with booking handled entirely by the villa butler. Whether your group wants a single sunset Paso Fino ride, a serious polo introduction, or a full equestrian day combined with golf, it is available at a level no other destination in the Dominican Republic matches. See the full experiences overview, or how polo fits a structured group stay on the corporate occasions page.
247 acres · 2 cenotes · 8 zip lines · cave expeditions · wildlife
Tennis, padel & pickleball — one of 6 Rafa Nadal Centers worldwide
#1 in the Caribbean — member rates & 2 golf carts included
90-min certified massage under $100 — 75% less than resort spas