| |
Tropical Treks at Fire
Island Farm, on the Big Island of Hawaii |
|
Welcome to your tropical riding
adventure! Imagine tolting through a lush, pristine Hawaiian
mango forest to clear and secluded tidepools along the wild coastline
of ‘sunny Kapoho,’ then jumping in for a swim while your
hosts prepare your lunch by the shore. On the way home you can
pick papayas and strawberry guavas off the wild trees for snacks as
you ride by (the horses love papayas, too)! |
|
 |
With
over 2.5 million acres of land, 90% of it rural and undeveloped, the
Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect home for Tropical Treks Icelandic
Riding Adventures. Our island’s land and climate
is large and varied enough to offer exciting rides in almost any terrain
and climate zone, all either from our farm or within a few hours drive
from our farm. For example, we can ride on white sandy
beaches in sunny Kona. We can ride in parkas and thermal underwear
high on the slopes of Mauna Kea. We can ride on wild, windy
and exotic green sand beaches at Ka Lae (‘South Point’)
the southernmost tip of the United States. We can ride lush, steamy
jungle trails through banyan trees, rubber trees and mango trees. |
We can
ride on a working cattle ranch that looks like parts of Iceland,
with lava flows twisting through open tundra-like pasture dotted
with ancient, time-bowed native trees. Here we can admire fiery,
billowing volcanic action in the distance. However, unlike
Iceland, the temperature is about 70 degrees on average! We
can ride through recent lava flows and temperate upcountry native
forests.
|
|
 |
We can ride to volcanically heated swimming ponds and marine preserves. Man,
oh, man, can we ride in some great places! This incredible variety
is one reason why we offer custom riding adventures. Tell
us what you want to experience and we will find it for you. |
Besides Riding
‘Horse husbands’ and non-riding members of the family
will be happy to know about the amazing natural beauty and variety
of the eastern side of the Big Island. While
Kona is more renowned as a tourist location, the lush ‘windward’ side
of the island offers amazing swimming, surfing, and fishing, Our varied
and rugged coastline hides many small, black sand beaches and ocean
entries.
|
|
 |
For example, about 20 minutes from Fire Island Farm is a unique
marine reserve, where you can snorkel in calm volcanically created
tidepools and see tropical fish and coral formations rivaling any in
the world. |
Horse ‘husbands’ can
also enjoy shoreline and jungle hiking, viewing Kilauea (the active
volcano), exploring volcanic ‘steam vents’ and lava tubes,
fishing for delicious Tilapia at Greenlake, or fishing along the Puna
coast. Hunting for wild boar is available just a
few hundred yards away in Nanawale Forest reserve, and local guides
are ready to hunt with you if desired. Hunters also enjoy searching
for wild mouflon sheep, as well as wild turkey and a variety of game
birds. Of course, animal lovers of all kinds enjoy hiking out
to view the wildlife as well. Many rare native Hawaiian hawks
(Io) nest on and around the farm, as well as Hawaiian owls. |
|
|
|
|
|
