Price
2026
7 nights - $3,530 per person sharing
Dates & Prices
COLOMBIA
The Central Colombian Trail
Overview
After leaving the bright lights of Bogota city behind, your Colombian riding adventure starts on the eastern highlands of Colombia. Here at Cundinamarca at an altitude of about 2500m above sea level, you will be welcomed with open arms at the colonial Hacienda La Casona by Colombian horse fanatic Ernesto Barreto.
Ernesto, together with Bernardo and trip leader Paul Codeny will guide and lead you through this extraordinary country for the next 8 days on a unique Colombian riding adventure. On average, you will spend about six hours a day in the saddle and make your way along centuries old rolling horse trails, riding through the mountain landscapes of the Cordillera Oriental, crossing the desert of La Candelaria and pulling through the province Cundinamarca to the tropical province of Santander.
Jill visited Colombia and said:
"While off the beaten track in South America you will soon understand why they say; “Colombia, el unico riesgo es que te quieras quedar” meaning; “Colombia, the only risk is that you want to stay”. How true that saying is! I have travelled now twice to Colombia and I will go back, I have truly fallen in love with Colombia, such was the experience I had while riding in this beautiful country. The mix of the people, the horses and the fantastic scenery, was such that it is now one of my top rides in the world!"
A bit about Paul Codeny, your ride leader
Paul Coudenys, originally born in Belgium, at the age of 21, travelled backpacking around the globe. Three years later and with a luggage full of travel and riding experiences he returned to Belgium. During his long journey, he worked as a blacksmith shoeing horses at the polo club in Singapore and cowboy at a cattle station in Australia, then became a gaucho in South America and as a rider in too many other places and countries to mention.
In 1996 he founded “Hippo-Trek” and became one of the pioneers of worldwide riding holidays in Europe. Paul rode horses in 53 different countries and is in our opinion one of the most experienced trail riders in the world. Loving the great horse culture and hospitality in Latin America Paul decided to move to Brazil in 2010. He lives in the southern state of Santa Catarina, home of the South American gaucho (cowboy).
After years of experience in organising and guiding equestrian holidays and riding expeditions around the world, he now concentrates on trail rides and equestrian tourism in Latin America. He speaks 6 languages, loves life, is a very social person and knows like no other how to take you on a ride on the wild side!
Zara’s Planet is excited to work with Paul and having ridden with him ourselves, we can’t think of a better guide in South America to entrust our clients.
Location
Cundinamarca, Colombia
Airport
Bogota, Colombia
Duration
7 nights
When to go
All year
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Weight
114kg / 17 stone / 250 lbs
Group size
18 max
Accommodation
Authentic farm stays
Included
All riding, accommodation, meals (except lunch on day 1), snacks, guiding, back up vehicle and drop off in Bogota on last day.
Extras
Single supplement - $65 per night to pay only if you specifically do not wish to share (a single room is not always possible).
Alcoholic beverages package $110 and soft drinks package $60 paid at the start of the ride.
$33 sales booking tax per person.
Excluded
Flights, arrival transfer to hotel meeting point in Bogota on day 1, drinks, lunch on day 1, $33 sales booking tax per person and tips.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
On arrival, take a taxi from Bogota airport to the meeting point. On return, the transfer back to the airport is included.
Departure dates
2026
18 - 25 July
Private group dates also available on request.
Riding & Itinerary
Horses – The horses are chilled out rides, forward going with plenty of energy for long canters and gallops. There are pure bred Colombian Criollo’s and Saddle Horses, plus lots of cross breeds of Criollo’s with Arab, Andalucian, Lusitano, Saddle Horses and with Belgians to give weight carrying heavier horses. They also have some of the finest Mules to ride which are fought over by the guides and riders. They are excellent to ride and can pick their way up and down the mountains with such ease.
The group sizes may be big up to 18 riders, but works well with 4 guides to the group. The horses are all well socialised with each other and it’s a pleasure cantering and galloping in a group of this size.
Day 1
Pick up at the International Airport of Bogota or selected hotel in Bogota. Road transfer to the Hacienda La Casona in Ubaté, 64 kms from Bogotá. Along the way we stop for lunch in a typical restaurant. After lunch and a short drive we arrive at La Montesa, a renowned breeding farm of Colombian Paso Fino Horses where you will ride these pureblood horses and experience why they say the Paso Fino is the smoothest horse in the world. We continue to hacienda La Casona for our first overnight stay.
Day 2
Breakfast and then off to meet and greet the horses. During our first day we ride through the green fields of Cundinamarca, the biggest region of milk cows in Colombia. Around noon we arrive at one of the oldest Colonial farms of Colombia, Punta de Vega, where we will have lunch. After a good meal and siesta we continue riding to Hacienda Potosi where we will arrive around 5pm. Owner Marta will probably want to show off her champion draft horses.
Day 3
Breakfast, then saddle horses and our ride kicks off at 9am. Snack at colonial Hacienda Ticha. Crossing Oak tree forest, panoramic sightseeing of Ráquira, arrive at the country house Ráquira Silvestre, lunch at 3pm. Choose your bed at this typical Colombian country style accommodation and relax. Dinner and Carrangueros, which is typical Colombian folk music.
Day 4
Breakfast, then saddle horses and ride to Ráquira. Lunch at Ráquira around 1:30pm. Ride to Monasterio La Candelaria, settle in, dinner. Accommodation at the monastery. There will be double rooms for couples, and bedrooms with 2 to 4 beds for the single participants and groups of friends.
Day 5
Breakfast and then saddle horses and ride to Villa de Leyva at 8:30am. Picnic in the desert. Arrival at the beautiful colonial city of Villa de Leyva 5pm. Accommodation at Hotel Plazuela de San Agustín. There will be double rooms for couples, and bedrooms with 2 to 4 beds for the single participants and groups of friends. Rest, walk into town. Dinner.
Day 6
Breakfast around 09:30am, then saddle horses and ride at 10:30am, snack. Lunch near the waterfalls of La Periquera. Those who want can have a swim. We continue the ride and see the landscape changing into a more tropical environment. After a nice day in the saddle, we arrive at the guesthouse El Molino. We will have a good local dinner and play Teja, the most popular rural sport in Colombia.
Day 7
Breakfast, then saddle horses and ride through a lovely tropical landscape. We end our week in the saddle at a local and typical sugarcane mill where we will have a drink and a toast to the end of the trip. Lunch around 2:30 pm. In the afternoon, we will enjoy the swimming pool of rural hotel Los Arrayanes where we will have our farewell dinner and spent the night.
Day 8
Breakfast and transfer by private bus to Bogotá airport, which is approx 4 hours drive.
Horses
Colombian Criollos and Saddle Horses, cross breeds of Criollos with Arab, Andalucian, Lusitano, Saddle Horses and Belgians. Some mules.
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Type of riding
Western style neck reining. There is some technical riding involved when ascending and descending off the mountains, in addition to some river crossings.
Tack
Western style tack
Weight limit
114kg / 17 stone / 250 lbs
Group size
18 max
Accommodation & Meals
All the Haciendas have been carefully chosen for their individuality and charm. They all have incredibly friendly owners that are excited to see you and show you round their homes. The Haciendas are original farms, not built for tourism, which is part of their appeal, but it can sometimes mean that rooms will be shared by up to four people.
The food is all home cooked, using fresh, local ingredients.
Breakfasts are usually fruit platters, followed by eggs, ham, cheese, breads and jam.
Lunches are corn soups, with shredded chicken and salsa verde or a picnic lunch of pasta or chickpea salads, with breads, meat platters and cheese.
Dinners are a mix of visits to restaurants in the local towns or at your hacienda, includes barbecue meat, potatoes, rice, avocado, salsas, plantain and deep fried banana.
Snacks are also on offer throughout and there is a help yourself system for beer, wine, fizzy drinks and water. There is also lots of the local drink Aguardiente, which is pretty good for a shot. It has an aniseedy taste and is consumed by the locals in the area.
Accommodation
Authentic farm stays
Single Supplement
We cannot guarantee single rooms
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Drinks payable
The Destination
Cundinamarca is a department of Colombia in the heart of the country. It is heavily urban around Bogota but has some wonderful colonial and natural attractions in the nearby communities and mountains - some marvelous places, full of history and myth. In Cundinamarca, the Muiscas were a native tribe who created the legends that explain the origins of the world, such as the legend of the Tequendama Falls, or that of the origin of the Muisca people, or that of the lake Guatavita.
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