Horseback Riding in Portugal
COSTA AZUL RIDE |
The southwest of Portugal is ideally suited to a riding tour and the climate remains exceptionally temperate all year. This is one of the least populated parts of Europe and has been protected by law from the unbridled development which has taken place on so much of the coast. The routes have been chosen from the 1,000 miles of firm, sandy tracks to give the widest variety of landscape and the most opportunity for trots and canters. The rides traverse oak and pine forests, cross golden plains ablaze with wildflowers and skirt the spectacular Atlantic Coast.
Wildlife abounds with over 200 species of birds, and hundreds of plant species. The landscape has changed little over the centuries since the Romans and Moors settled here. The towns and villages are connected by ancient sand tracks which are used daily by ox and mule drawn carts, donkeys and horses. Trails on the ride are selected from the miles of traditional tracks to offer the best variety of landscapes as well as opportunities for extended trots and canters.
|
| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Meet at Lisbon airport between 1 PM and 5 PM and transfer to the riding center guesthouse where you will be based for the week. Settle into your room and enjoy the evening meal with the group and your hosts at the family owned restaurant overlooking the beautiful bay and Pessegueiro Island. |
| Day 2: | Breakfast is followed by an introduction to the horses, tack and riding in Portugal. Ride in a southwest direction, passing an impressive Moorish fort. Feel the salty breeze from the Atlantic while crossing the remote Malhao beach with sand dunes where you a view of the coastal plain ahead. Enjoy a picnic lunch underneath pine trees, surrounded by lavender and thyme. Then back to the farm for dinner and overnight. |
| Day 3: | After leaving the farm you ride north through the small fishing village of Porto Covo, follow the cliff tops where you can see the many small beautiful beaches that line the coast. The terrain turns flat and soft, perfect for long and enjoyable canters before entering the cork oak forest where you will have a long, restful lunch near the Morgavel dam. Time for an optional refreshing swim. Then ride along the long meandering trail through the Gaio valley filled with tall ferns and many species of wild flowers, as would be found in such an old forest. Reaching the old windmill where flour used to be made, enjoy watching the horses rolling and getting ready to overnight. |
| Day 4: | Starting from the windmill, ride through the Sela Vermalha Valley, passing the old iron mines to the ridge of Cercal, where there are spectacular views in all directions. Lunch will be next to the small creek shaded by overhanging poplar trees. Afterwards ride to the rich, green rocky Roncão valley and canter inland through eucalyptus and cork oak forests. |
| Day 5: | Today ride south through the Godins valley to the Ribeira da Azenha plain with sandy tracks leading through the pine and eucalyptus tree forests. Then ride near the village of Milfontes, crossing the Mira River to lunch in the pine tree forest near the riverbank. In the afternoon continue riding through the pine forest to the small village of Almograve, where you end the days trail and stable the horses. |
| Day 6: | From Almograve ride in the direction of the coast to reach the spectacular cliff tops of Cabo Sardão. Here you have lunch and enjoy the stunning views of the Alentejo coastline. In the afternoon ride along the cliffs where storks can be seen nesting continue on to ride over the rolling sand dunes of Almograve. Then return to Almograve to stable the horses and transfer to your guesthouse. |
| Day 7: | Ride from Almograve along a farm track to reach the sand dunes and the sea. Cross over the Mira River and ride through the town of Milfontes. After lunch continue up the coast and cross over the coastal plain to reach the farm, where you leave your horses and return to your guesthouse. |
| Day 8: | After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon airport (about 2 hour drive), arriving around noon. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
|
|
|
| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Lisbon |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 6 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-4 Maximum-8 |
| Riding Per Day | 5-7 hours |
| Pace | moderate |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | Pure or cross bred Lusitano (no stallions) |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2008 Dates | year round, Saturday to Saturday, except August and the New Year's period |
| 2008 Price | Due to rapidly changing market please call for the current US dollar rate.
€985 (high season: April, May, June, July and September)
€920 (low season: January, February, March, October, November and December) |
| Single Supplement | $ 480 |
| Transfers | included from and to the Lisbon airport at preset times |
|
|
|
|
