Day 1: Montevideo – Tour of the capital city & Port Market

Today is set aside to relax and explore the coastal city of Montevideo. Transfer along the wonderful coastline called “Rambla” to the downtown hotel. Enjoy lunch at the lively Port Market and a short walking tour of the “Old City” of Montevideo. Accommodation at Don Boutique Hotel. L.

Day 2: 18th century Fortín de San Miguel

After breakfast, we will be driven to the Brazilian border and into Rocha, arguably the most beautiful province in Uruguay with pristine beaches, emerald shores and a great network of lagoons. We will arrive to Estancia “La Rosada” located next to the small town of La Coronilla. After lunch, enjoy a wonderful ride along the estancia in order to get to know our horses. After a typical “merienda”, continue onto Fortin de San Miguel, built in the same stone as the nearby Portuguese fortress. We can admire the views out across an enormous stretch of fresh water – one of the largest fresh water reserves of South America, the "Merín Lagoon"; we are right on the Brazilian border. This area is home to a wide variety of birds and we will see many different native trees and bushes. Dinner and accommodation at “Fortín de San Miguel" Hotel. AB, L, D.

Day 3: Barra de Chuy beach – Brazilian border & a ride along a pristine beach.

After breakfast, we will be drive to ‘Chuy’, a very curious town straddling the border where guests can step into Brazil and hear the locals speak a strange language made of a mix of Spanish and Portuguese. Continue onto our horses to start a nice 3-4 hours ride towards the coast!
After a picnic lunch, riders may have a pleasant “siesta” discovering that gauchos’ saddles are so comfortable to ride as to sleep! In the afternoon, we will enjoy a fast-pace ride along the wonderful, isolated ocean beach of ‘Barra Chuy’. Visitors seldom reach this beach so we can enjoy a long, exhilarating canter with no signs of habitation as we ride across the pure white sands alongside the Atlantic Ocean. We arrive 22km (12 miles) further south to "La Coronilla" and stay at small beachside hotel. AB, L, D.

Day 4: Santa Teresa national park, dolphins & shipwrecks.

Today we will ride south alternating beaches, sand dunes, pine forests and coastal hills where we might see dolphins feeding before getting to the immense Santa Teresa National Park. The center piece of the park is a fort started in 1762 by the Portuguese to defend the edge of their territories then completed by the Spaniards who took it by assault just a year later. This was just the start of a succession of conquering, losing and reconquering the fort; it was not until 1825 that the newly forming ‘Uruguay’ finally captured and held the fort. The fort is surrounded by 3000 hectares of forest containing over 2 million trees, most from other parts of the world. After a picnic lunch we will enjoy riding along the forest trails and down to the beach and we will pass a shipwreck buried in the sand, one of many along this
treacherous coast; indeed, Cabo Polonio (where we ride later) is named after a Spanish galleon that went down just off the point. Luckily ‘Beagle’ with Charles Darwin aboard did not succumb to this fate and Darwin spent quite some time in Uruguay collecting species and most likely starting to formulate his theories of evolution. After a traditional picnic close to the fortress or on the beach, depending on the weather, we will continue along the coast towards the lovely town of Punta del Diablo. Dinner and accommodation at Posada Terrazas de la Viuda. AB, L, D.

Day 5: Cabo Polonio – shifting sands & sea lions

The day starts with a drive to the ocean coast. We will meet our horses and ride to the hidden Brioso Lagoon and along the beach of Valizas. After enjoying a picnic lunch, we will ride into the desert! This area has been declared a natural animal reserve and a Biosphere Natural Reserve by UNESCO. We will ride to Cabo Polonio, a charming fishing village which can only be reached by horse or SUV trucks. The fascinating part of the area is the huge area of shifting sand dunes, as we ride through it is possible to imagine that we are right in the middle of the Sahara. Dinner and accommodation at Posada La Perla AB, L, D.

Day 6: Wetlands, Lagoon & Ombu Forest

After breakfast, we will visit the light house, the seals and sea lions that populate the small islands and make up one of the largest populations of seals in the world; very occasionally we spot a migrating whale. Riders can swim in one of the most beautiful beaches of the country. We will then begin our ride towards the wetlands of Rocha. We will ride along the Castillos Lagoon and across an amazing untouched landscape of Palm groves and Ombu Forest. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the way before reaching the lovely & charming Estancia Guardia del Monte, a traditional working estancia. Accommodation and dinner at Guardia del Monte. B, L, D.

Day 7: Cattle and sheep work with the gauchos on the estancia

Morning ride along the estancia´s fields. We will have the chance to work alongside the gauchos and their trusty dogs as they tend to the cattle and sheep on this working ranch. The work varies depending on the time of the year, but the gauchos always welcome a bit of help checking and moving the stock or putting animals in the corrals. Sometimes a lame animal has to be caught and tended to. The wonderful, friendly gauchos with their berets and their knives tucked into their colorful belts all seem to have been born on a horse and it is a delight to be riding with them. We will enjoy lunch at the neighbour estancia Barra Grande where we will enjoy lunch and a tyipical ¨Uruguayan merienda¨. We will then ride back to Guardia del Monte. Dinner and accommodation. B, L, D.

Day 8: The small town of Castillos

The day starts with a lovely breakfast of homemade bread, jams and cakes, admiring the views of the countryside. We will start our ride towards the small town of Castillos where we will visit a local “gaucho store”. Traditional bridles, typical riding “bombachas” (riding trousers), gaucho hats and colorful ponchos will be available to admire and buy! We will then enjoy a picnic lunch and say goodbye to our horses before heading back to Montevideo – to the airport, port, the city, or to start an extension tour. AB, L.

SUGGESTED EXTENSIONS:

Extension 1: Balcon del Abra, rolling hills of Lavalleja Province

A lovely extension tour to the rolling hills of Lavalleja Province, where guests will be able to ride for an extra two more days surrounded by a completely different landscape. Located in the small town of Mariscala, the cozy and charming countryside inn of “El Balcon del Abra” offers great comfort and great horses. Guests will discover wonderful trails to ride around the hills, along the countryside and across streams including the fantastic Salamanca Grottoes and lovely rides to nearby estancias. After 7 days riding in the east, this extension tour can be the perfect option to ride some extra days combined with some relaxing quality time in a beautiful spot in the middle of the hills.

Extension 2: Vineyards and Horses

An unforgettable extension tour to one of the prettiest areas in Uruguay: The province of Maldonado where the famous and renowned Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio are located. We will be staying at a Luxury Wine Lodge in the area of La Barra from where we will enjoy great rides along the vineyards, to local interesting places related to art and gastronomy and to the Beach. You will be able to visit the winery, enjoy a wine tasting combined with a lovely “farm to table” lunch overlooking the vineyards and visit art studios and exhibitions from local artists. This small extension tour is a perfect blend of horse riding, Uruguayan culture, wines and art.

Horses & Tack: During this ride we have worked very hard to maintain the same set of horses throughout the whole tour. Our intention if that riders can actually build a bond with their horse and enjoy not only the landscape and ride but also the company of their horse! As always one or more spare horses will accompany us in case a change is needed. The horses are the local Uruguayan “criollo” breed and “criollo” cross: ideally suited to the terrain. Criollo is the horse breed in Uruguay, Argentina and the south of Brazil. The breed was developed from horses that were brought from Spain in the 17th century and then bred in this region. Criollo is a strong horse with an excellent walk and good character. We use local, ‘western’ type saddle with a sheep skin. Neck reining (western ‘one-hand riding). Help will be given in adjusting to this tack which is very suitable for long days in the saddle.

Accommodation: The accommodations provided in this program include charming seaside hotels and ranches available in the areas we visit, all of which include private bathroom. They are clean, comfortable and provide a very good service. You will be able to get good night’s sleep in pleasant surroundings. If you are sharing your room, please let us know in advance if you prefer twin or double beds.

Meals: After a full day riding, it is comforting to know that you can return to fully prepared meals that reflect the local cuisine. All meals are prepared with completely natural and fresh products of the region. Red meat, fish and wine are specially recommended, but we can easily cater for vegetarians.

Climate: The weather in Uruguay is variable, but you can expect somewhat warm spring and autumn temperatures, although we might also get some cool days (especially early in the morning or at night) and perhaps some rainy days too. The average temperature at this time of year is 65 F, average lows are 54 F, and average highs are 74 F.

Clothes and Equipment: Clothes and equipment should be light to accommodate for riding. You will also need: Sun block, insects repellent, a warm coat, jacket or sweater, hat (sun/rain), footwear (boots or sneakers) bathing suit and wet weather gear for the eventuality of rainy days. Don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars. Remember that as your bags will be transferred from accommodation to accommodation by car, you can pack as much clothes as you want to feel comfortable.

Emergencies: In case of accident, our guides will always carry a mobile phone which they will use to contact local assistance. All of the towns along our route count on a medical emergency service.

Health services: In general, public sanitation and health care in Uruguay are very good. In the event of illness or accident during your stay, you should be prepared to pay for assistance. Upon return home you can submit a claim for reimbursement according to the specifications of your insurance policy. Visa and Master card are credit cards commonly accepted.

Safety: The places we will be visiting in the countryside are completely safe.

DATES 2019

Arraival          Depart            Group Size

NOV 02             NOV 09             Min 4 pax – Max 8 Pax

NOV 30             DEC 07

Ask for others available dates for closed groups.We ride from October to December adn from late February to April.

Montevideo

Included: All accommodations; all meals and mineral water (except 1 day); English speaking guide; 7 riding days; horses and grooms services & 7 nights (Private Bathrooms); transfers and tours as per itinerary.

Not Included: Soft and alcoholic drinks; personal expenses & Tips.

Non Riding Options: Sight-seeing; hiking; fishing; surfing; biking; trekking; canoeing; bird watching

Maximum Weight limit: 95 Kg. An additional of U$S 385 (NET) per person will be charged for the whole trip to clients exceeding this limit in order to provide an extra horse.

Small Group Supplement: A surcharge of U$S 770 NET per person (accommodated in DBL room) will be applied to small groups up to 3 people.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Lares terms & conditions apply.
• Booking will be confirmed upon receipt of the corresponding deposit (A 20% non-refundable prepayment will be required upon confirmation and balance payment will be required no later than 45 days before beginning of the tour). Same conditions apply to groups booking a private or regular departure trip.
• We reserve the right to alter the itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.
• Appropriate medical insurance is mandatory and the responsibility of each guest/booking agent.
• It is the responsibility of the individual guest/booking agent to ensure that participants have the necessary riding skills to take part in the chosen tour.
• Guests are strongly advised to bring and wear their riding helmets while riding during the tour.
• Guests will be required to sign a responsibility release before starting a tour.
• Lares reserves the right to use the pictures taken to the riders during this tour and/or the comments received by participant riders describing the services and their experience, with publicity purposes.
• Please note that the last day includes riding during the morning and a quick lunch. Departure to Montevideo is usually scheduled around. 14:00, arriving approximately at 17:00. This means that riders leaving on the same day should not book flights earlier than 19:00.