Horseback Riding in Uruguay
GAUCHOS AND ESTANCIAS |
Riding out of town
Artisan-made belt and buckle
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Our first horseback riding tour in Uruguay in April, 2005 was a tremendous success. Eleven veterans of other Equitours rides joined us for that exploratory trip and their approval was unanimous and enthusiastic though many of them had been on more than 10 other trips.
Sandy and Chico from D. C. said, “The Uruguay trip is a real winner! We were totally embraced by the hospitality of our hosts and their eagerness to make our riding holiday the best it could be. We can’t wait to go back. The people, the country and the landscape are totally unspoiled. The mild climate and beautiful green open spaces are perfect for riding.”
Comments from all the others were similar.
Uruguay is classic Gaucho country and raising cattle is the major business. Green pastures with rolling hills extend as far as the eye can see in every direction and cows can graze all year long in the mild climate. Horseback riding is the only way to work cattle here and most people take riding for granted, almost like walking in other parts of the world. The Criollo horses are well trained, steady and ready to move out on command.
The country has a very low rate of crime and the people are unusually friendly and hospitable. We felt very much at home in the estancias we visited.
The fresh meat, sea food and vegetables are first class and the local wines were a pleasure to drink. We found our accommodations in all three estancias extremely comfortable and the whole ambiance was always picturesque.
An attractive aspect for us is that these estancias are well off the beaten tourist path and we were treated more like members of the family than paying guests.
The gauchos accompanying the ride handle all the tacking up. They are competent, gracious and helpful. A pickup is always quite near in case anyone is tired and wants a break from riding. We found the local saddles covered with sheepskins very comfortable, but other types of saddles are available with advance notice.
View Uruguay Horseback Vacation Video
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Arrive at Montevideo airport or port (there are frequent ships which take a few hours from Buenos Aires) in the afternoon and spend the night at the Hotel Radisson in the center of town. There is an optional tour of the town arranged for 3:00 for those who arrive in time and dinner will be in a local restaurant. Transfer to the hotel and the overnight at the hotel are included in the trip price. Dinner and the tour are not included. |
| Day 2: | After breakfast you will be driven to El Ceibo Estancia by bus where you will arrive about 11:00 to meet your hosts, the staff and the horses. Lunch will be at about 1:00 and will consist of a traditional barbecue and criollo cuisine. We will head out on horseback across the fields to visit a local winery called Bodega de la Cruz at about 2:00. If there is time, you can taste some of the wines. The ride is about 15 miles there and back. On our return we will have a typical Uruguayan dinner and local dancers will perform to music. |
| Day 3: | After breakfast we will head out again on horseback toward San Pedro de Timote Estancia which is 40 miles away so we will go only a part of the way on this day. Part of the way will take you along some grassy tracks where the footing is excellent for cantering. A picnic lunch will be cooked for you near a half way point on the ride and after a rest you will ride on out over another stretch with more good places for a canter. In places the landscape reminds me somewhat of Ireland with the green fields and rolling hills, but this countryside comes without the bogs and the paved roads. At the end of the afternoon’s ride we will leave the horses to graze in a pasture for the night, climb in our bus and return to El Ceibo for a hot shower, cocktails and another feast. |
| Day 4: | After breakfast we will return by bus to the horses which should be saddled up and ready to make the final leg of the ride to San Pedro. This morning we will wind through groves of eucalyptus trees and across fields arriving in time for a late lunch. The first view of San Pedro de Timote is striking. The large buildings stand on top of a hill surrounded by lovely old trees. This estancia is one of the show places of Uruguay and has been declared a national monument. It was established in 1854 and was the headquarters for a huge ranch of 100,000 acres or more. Now it has been complete refurbished with comfortable bedrooms most of which have private bathrooms. There is an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool. Enormous fireplaces blaze away in the sitting rooms and the décor is in the classic old Hispanic style. After lunch you can go horseback riding again for two or three hours to explore some of the estancia’s fields and forests. The estancia has a fine restaurant and after a delicious dinner you will be entertained by guitar playing and drinks by a campfire. |
| Day 5: | After breakfast we will make an excursion to a neighboring estancia which belongs to Ms Cecilia Gallinal. This beautifully managed dairy farm raises jersey cows and produces cheese. You will return to San Pedro for lunch and a rest an afternoon of riding in the surrounding area. Return to San Pedro for dinner and overnight. |
| Day 6: | After breakfast you will be driven by van to the northern department of Paysandu to Estancia La Paz, a beautiful old colonial 18,000 hectare estancia founded in 1856. This is also a working estancia which grows crops and breeds Charolais cattle, a variety which originated in France. After lunch you will have the opportunity to ride around the wheat fields and among the cattle grazing in the pastures. Although still in Uruguay, this part of the country has its own distinctive character. At the end of the afternoon you can relax in the estancia’s spa, or enjoy a drink under the starry sky while waiting for dinner. The cuisine at LaPaz is excellent; combing the influence of its Belgian forefathers with Uruguay’s national dishes. |
| Day 7: | After breakfast you will again ride over estancia land; crossing rivers and cantering through woodland, returning to the estancia for lunch. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to ride over so far unseen areas of the estancia. Dinner and overnight at Estancia LaPaz. |
| Day 8: | After breakfast the bus will return you to Montevideo and to the airport or port. We suggest that those who have time lunch at the Mercado del Puerto which is the very busy, picturesque and excellent restaurant near the port. The price of the lunch is very reasonable, but not included. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Sheep farmer and dogs
Sheepskin-covered saddle--very comfy
The noon spread
Gaucho with his horses
Estancia main room
Guide at your service
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Montevideo |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 6 1/2 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-8 Maximum-12 |
| Pace | Moderate |
| Tack | Western |
| Horses | Criollo |
| Weight Limit | 210 lbs. |
| 2010 Dates | March 20-27
April 10-17
October 23-30
November 6-13 |
| 2010 Price | $2115 for 8-10 riders
$2230 for 6-7 riders
$2460 for 4-5 riders |
| Single Supplement | $345 |
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