The ultimate trail blaze for riders looking for a truly exciting experience living the gaucho way of life and riding gaucho style. With pride, friendliness and hospitality, the gaucho families open their doors for you, let you ride their best horses and guide you in their territory. Riding the gaucho way, living the gaucho way! Not a “nose-to-tail” riding experience, but a trail ride for riders looking for a truly exciting and authentic gaucho experience!

The hardened gauchos and their agile beloved Criollo steeds make a formidable combination at their work. The “Gaucho do Brasil,” the legendary South American cowboy, refuses to break with tradition and is said to be the liveliest equestrian culture in the world. The Brazilian Gaucho lives in the southern states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul and has roots in Europe due to the large numbers of immigrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, pioneers mostly from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium. The Criollo horse is just as legendary, an intelligent animal with unequalled stamina as well as being fast and highly agile and a joy to ride.

 

The adventure starts in Coxilha Rica, a high plateau in the interior of the Southern state of Santa Catarina. Here at an altitude of about 1000m above sea level, in the heart of gaucho territory, you will be welcomed with open arms on an old fazenda (farm) by Paul and his Gaúcho friends. Flemish born Belgian Paul Coudenys, is one of the pioneers of the international equestrian tourism in Europe. Paul, together with his gaucho companion Roberio will be your host and riding guide during your entire riding holiday.

For eight days you will explore the beauty and huge expanse of the pampas with its rolling hills, araucaria forests, crossing pristine rivers and, in general, ride off the beaten track of southern Brazil. This is gaucho country so should we come across a cattle round up, we will be happy to help. Fazendas with thousands of acres are the ideal playground to test the temperament of your criollo horse.

Every nights is spent at a different fazenda, where time has stood still from Colonial times, with rooms filled with antique furniture and large country kitchens, a perfect atmosphere to sample the local brew Chimarão (maté, a sort of tea) and Pinga (local rum). Gauchos are not only tough men, but also romantic souls. Guitar and accordion will appear more often than not and the serenade is of lost loves and the good old days, this while mama is roasting the best meat in the world. A fantastic relaxed gaucho atmosphere, which is pure and sincere.