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from £3,895 or €4,495
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30 October – 7 November
Included – 8 nights accommodation (private bathrooms) based on double/twin room basis, 1 night camping, winery & olive press guided tour, Montevideo airport transfer in & out; English speaking guide & 2nd guide; riding on 7 days; horses & spare horses; saddlebags; grooms services; all necessary transfers/transport as per itinerary; all necessary local taxes, private reserve & national park entrance fees.
Excluded – Flights, appropriate medical insurance (mandatory); visa (as necessary); some meals in Montevideo. taxes
Getting There
International flight to Montevideo, usually via Buenos Aires or Sao Paolo.
Transfer
Only a 25 minute transfer to a central hotel.
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
From riding in the Atlantic surf to crossing the Estancias’ turf, skirting lagoons, traversing enchanted forests and palm tree covered plains, passing through a vineyard and olive groves, from fishing village to historic fort to beachside hotel this is the way to get to know one of South America’s best riding destinations.
Riders enjoy grassland gallops, wetland wades, shady woodland trails and pristine sandy beaches pausing along the way to quaff wine, sample the famous ‘asado’ and to learn about the historical battles for these coveted lands.
This tour begins and ends in the very pleasant Montevideo and, in between, riders canter across pastures and firm sand then the pace slows for trickier terrain; the opportunity of work with cattle alongside the famous gauchos is also on the agenda.
The diverse bird life is fascinating as we continually change ecosystem and wildlife such as delightful armadillos often put in an appearance as well as capybara.
The experienced English horse woman Sally Vergette runs the Atlantic Coastal Rides and you can expect top class horses and a good mix of authentic accommodation, where you’ll be warmly received. Joining you on your ride are local gauchos, which add to the cultural experience of this Atlantic Coastal adventure, they’ll tend your horses and tell fascinating stories of their lives and traditions in this little known South American country.
Horses – Mostly local Uruguayan Criollo, crossed with Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse. Generally between 14.2hh to 16hh, well suited to the terrain, responsive and forward going. There are at least two changes of horses during the ride (sometimes more) with one or more spare horse accompanying the group.
Level of Riding & Pace – Intermediate to Advanced.
Tack – Western style with sheepskin covered saddle, which are very comfortable for the long hours of riding.
Weight Restriction – 190 lbs / 86 kg / 13.7 stone – please contact us if you are above these limits
Heavier weights can be accommodated with prior notice and a supplement for an extra horse.
Group Size – 2 minimum and 8 maximum.
Out on the trail, nights are spent at a restored traditional estancia, a beachside hotel, a new lodge, a charming ‘posada’… guests also enjoy a night under the stars.
One night camping in good quality, large tents, excellent mattresses, sheets & pillows and a permanent ‘rancho’ structure to relax in, shared bathroom.
Food on the Atlantic Coastal rides are good quality and includes a combination of European and typical Uruguayan dishes, you’ll enjoy excellent beef and plenty of ‘asados’ (barbecues).
We have travelled the world testing a huge variety of horse riding holidays to make sure we offer you, our client, the best horse riding holiday experience possible.
Our horse riding holidays are thoroughly researched – we consider all the elements that go towards making our horse riding holidays collection the best in the world. We check the quality of the horses, if they are fit for the job, well produced and looked after. We make sure the riding terrain is good going, the countryside is interesting and, for example, on Classic Dressage horse riding holidays, the arenas are in good condition. We make sure the accommodation, whether it’s a five star hotel, a farmhouse or camping, is clean and comfortable, and offers a great night’s sleep. The food is all important too – we take the time to make sure we tell you if it’s cordon bleu, home cooked, or regional and locally sourced – above all it has to be delicious, plentiful and nourishing. Last but not least, we choose the horse riding holidays that have the best hosts, who are friendly, warm and welcoming.
It’s only when all these elements come together that we add a horse riding holiday into our hand-picked collection of horse riding holidays.
Horse Riding Holidays like the Atlantic Coastal Trail are part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding Holidays Uruguay.
Day 1
Guests are met at the Montevideo International Airport (Carrasco) upon arrival and driven to their well-located city hotel. Enjoy a stroll through the old city or along the sandy beaches of the famous ‘Rambla’ combined with fine dining in this cosmopolitan capital city.
Overnight at a Montevideo hotel.
No meals included.
Day 2
After breakfast, a drive eastwards towards the Atlantic coast. Guests will meet their horses at a traditional, recently renovated Estancia.
Once everyone is comfortable we will ride out to a nearby vineyard and also through olive groves where delicious olive oil is produced for a tour and lunch then we will continue our ride on through the cattle ranching ‘gaucho country’ and back to the estancia for a glass of wine on the veranda at sunset and a delicious dinner awaits.
Lunch at a vineyard; Dinner & overnight at an 1890s recently restored Estancia. (approx. 2. 5 hrs drive, 3-4 hours riding).
Day 3
We ride out along dirt lanes to another Estancia where we join the gauchos (skilled local horsemen) to help out with the cattle work at a ranch. An authentic experience, riders helping out with the daily tasks. The day will depend on what work needs doing but often we have to count the cows (not as easy as it looks!), move herds to the corrals or different pastures and treat any injured animals.
Once the work is over we ride on to our lunch spot for a delicious traditional ‘asado’.
The vehicle will then meet us and we will head to a stunning coastal area for overnight at a horse farm where we will meet new trusty steeds and begin another leg of our journey.
Overnight at individual ‘cabins’ on the property or at small Posada in nearby beachside village.
(Approx 5-6 hours riding, 2 hrs drive to coast).
Day 4
Once riders are settled, we will ride to the beach where the tide will determine how we cross an estuary – normally riders in a boat and horses swimming! On reaching the opposite bank, we arrive in a large system of sand dunes. Lunch awaits the other side of the sand dunes in a restaurant on the beach of an isolated village.
During the afternoon we ride back to the horse farm through pine trees, often spotting burrowing owls and possibly armadillos!
Stunning sunsets are common, enhanced by a glass of Uruguayan wine. Another delicious dinner is served.
Dinner & 2nd Overnight at the delightful cabins or cozy Posada.
(Approx. 5-6 hours riding).
Day 5
Today we ride inland, along grassy lanes, across pastures, through native forests and beside a lagoon the shores of which are inhabited by many bird species. The terrain allows for some long canters and then we plunge into the wetlands, sometimes occasionally swimming on horseback as we approach the ‘rancho’ where we spend the night. Guests will see the very unique, usually solitary Ombu tree and can hear a lot about the local flora and fauna from the guides. There is a night drive to a very rare Ombu forest.
Dinner & overnight at a ‘rancho’ (permanent structure with veranda, tables, shower…)
Night under the stars or in comfortable tents (thick mattresses) – a team will have already put your tent up for you and prepared delicious some delicious dishes ready for your arrival.
(Approx. 5-6 hours riding).
Day 6
A chance to taste the ‘mate’ green tea that Uruguayans could not live without! Then a morning ride across grasslands with the opportunity of spotting rheas (ostrich like flightless native birds), road runners, caracaras, herons, spoonbills, southern screamers, … We will pass strangler figs and palm trees along our trail and other native tree species.
In the afternoon we will be driven up the coast to a Posada in a seaside village but, before this drive, there is an opportunity to call into a local gaucho store to buy some souvenirs and see all the local tack and clothing used. Intricate leatherwork and high leather boots are sold here as well as berets – the gauchos’ surprising choice of headwear. Dinner & overnight at a small, charming Posada. (Approx. 3 hours riding, gaucho shop visit, 45mins driving).
Day 7
As we ride out along the coast, riders enjoy the empty firm-sand beaches as we ride across several bays and points. There is the possibility of seeing dolphins as we splash in the water and canter on the sand. Parts of the ride will be in forest and we pass an historic fort, first built in the 1700s -the guide can once again give you all the details about the battles that took place along these strategic shores and also the many shipwrecks that lie beneath the waves.
Arriving at the beachside hotel, riders spot the outdoor hot tubs; there are also indoor hot tubs and a swimming pool and a whole ocean to swim in, if you wish.
Dinner & overnight at beachside hotel with swimming pools & hot tubs.
(Approx. 6 hours riding).
Day 8
Our final morning ride takes us onto a seemingly endless beach – that continues on into Brazil. Perhaps we might meet one or two fishermen, otherwise flocks of shore birds are the only other inhabitants of this expansive beach. Having enjoyed some exhilarating canters, if they wish, riders can take the saddles off and ride bareback into the ocean, paddling with the horses and crossing an ‘arroyo’ (small estuary) on our way back to the hotel for lunch and the departure back to Montevideo.
Shower & lunch back at the hotel. Drive to Montevideo.
(Approx. 3 hours riding, approx. 3½ hrs drive).
Day 9
Transfer to Montevideo Airport/port – or start an ‘extension’.
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.
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