9 - 16 November

This trail-riding holiday is not a dude ranch vacation where you stay in a tourist ranch-hotel and where you're just a number, but a riding holiday where you stay on authentic working Fazendas (ranches). Local gaucho families will welcome us in their guest rooms. One Fazenda might be a bit simpler than the other, but all Fazendas are authentic, cozy and very clean. The Fazendas do not all have a standard type of room. Most rooms are double rooms, some fazendas also have 4 bedded rooms with connecting bathroom but there always awaits you a soft bed and a good shower!

Day 1 Fazenda da Chapada

Arrival at the airport of Florianopolis. The adventure starts in Coxilha Rica, a high plateau in the interior of the Southern state of Santa Catarina Transfer (3hrs drive) to Coxilha Rica and Fazenda da Chapada near Lages. You will be welcomed with a local drink upon arrival at the Fazenda. It is time to meet the owner of the farm and the Gauchos who will accompany you throughout the trip. In the afternoon, you will get introduced to the horses. After a delicious homemade dinner, we can socialice at the bar of the Fazenda. Local gaúchos will perform music and folklore of the region. It’s a great first evening!

Day 2 Fazenda da Chapada – Fazenda Rodeio Bonito

After breakfast, we saddle our horses early and start riding towards Fazenda Rodeio Bonito. After the first few minutes, you will notice already how beautiful the region is. We ride through wide and rolling green countryside dotted with Araucaria trees and cross pristine rivers. You will never forget your first canter with your criollo horse. After a ride of 4 hours, we arrive at a typical Fazenda where lunch is waiting for us. After a good meal and a siesta, we mount our horses again. We continue through the beautiful landscape of Coxilha Rica until we reach our final point for the day.

Interesting:

Long before the existence of railways and truck roads, merchandise trade in Brazil was done by the so called “tropeiros” who became fundamental in the development of local economy from the 17th century onwards. The “tropeiros” were troop and commissions drovers of horse, cattle and mules who travelled to major commercial regions around the country and transported goods, clothes, tools, food and slaves. On this day, you will get the chance to ride on a realTropeiro Route that used to connect Rio Grande do Sul and Argentina to Sao Paulo. The route is 250 years old and consists of an approx. 4m wide corridor made of stones. The corridor runs hundreds of kilometers through Coxilha Rica and the State of Santa Catarina. We follow a few miles on this historic route and arrive at Fazenda Rodeio Bonito. A hearty and delicious dinner will be waiting for us. We spent the night at this traditional Gaucho Fazenda.

Day 3 Fazenda Rodeio Bonito

After a hearty breakfast we mount our criollos and trek through a rugged Coxilha landscape. We climb and descend, trot and canter, crossing rivers and seeing waterfalls. On top of a green mountain, you have a fantastic panoramic view of the landscape, just you and the great outdoors! Since colonial times Coxilha is a great cattle region. Most cattle ranches (Fazendas) consisting of thousands of acres are already over 200 years old. We arrive at a little farm where Dona Vera has prepared a fantastic lunch. In the afternoon we ride another 3 and half hours until we arrive back at the Fazenda Rodeio Bonito. After a refreshing shower and a delicious dinner, a soft bed awaits you at this very cozy Fazenda.

Day 4 Fazenda Rodeio Bonito – Fazenda Lua Cheia

This morning we will ride to the high pampas of Coxilha Rica. Prepare for some breathtaking views! The horses, the Gauchos, the landscapes, the atmosphere in the group, the sense of freedom ... nobody wants to travel back home after experiencing this. Picnic lunch. We continue our ride to the next Fazenda - Fazenda Lua Cheia where our great hosts have preparedthe best roasted lamb in the world. Learn about their family story and enjoy a drink accompanied by some life Gaucho music.

Day 5 Fazenda Lua Cheia – Fazenda Sâo Joâo Rancho

After breakfast, we saddle our horses. Depending on the weather and the season, weare invited to give the Gauchos a helping hand at the farm rounding-up some cattle or sheep on horseback. We drive the herd to the corral, where they are either vaccinated or receive some treatment. A unique opportunity to see the Gaúcho perform his daily job. Those who prefer not to participate in the activities can easily watch. Want to learn how to rope? The Gauchos can teach you the tricks of the trade! After lunch, we continue our ride to the Colonial Fazenda Sâo Joâo.

Upon arrival at this Portuguese style Fazenda we pull off our boots, take a shower and are called to the table for a good meal, a cool beer or a warming Pinga (local rum).

Day 6 Fazenda Sâo Joâo - Fazenda Ferradura

Early in the morning, we saddle the horses and leave for another great day in the saddle. We regularly ride into other gauchos whom are busy at work. These South American cowboys still live and work the same way as roughly 100 years ago. Gaúchos and horses matching great together, living as we can only dream of .. Climbing and descending, one slope steeper than the other, the ride regularly invites us for a nice canter. The horses are really fun to ride with. We arrive at Fazenda Ferradura and are welcomed by the owner Gaucho Benjamin Krüzen. A hearty and delicious dinner is beeing prepared for us. We spent the night at this traditional Gaucho fazenda. Dinner at the fazenda.

Day 7 Fazenda Ferradura - Fazenda da Chapada

After breakfast, we depart for the last day in the saddle, a good ride until we arrive at Fazenda da Chapada.Daniel, the owner of the farm welcomes us with Caipirinha & hugs.The ladies of the house makes us a delicious dish while the musical talented gauchos bring their best songs, guitar, and accordion into the barn. The bottle of Pinga is eagerly passed around and sometimes we dare to dance! It's always such a pleasant evening, we enjoy the warm gaucho atmosphere and forge friendship with the locals. Overnight at the Fazenda.

Day 8 Fazenda da Chapada - Florianopolis

After our last breakfast around 08:00 we say goodbye to Fazenda da Chapada, the guides, gauchos, and horses and drive around 08:00 (depending on the flight) direction Florianopolis. People staying longer can have a drop of downtown Florianópolis, for the others the holiday comes to an end at the airport of Florianopolis. End of the program.

2800 EUR per person sharing accommodation

Deposit: 900 EUR

The rest of the sum should be paid 10 weeks prior to departure.

Your passport expiry date should be no less than 6 months from the return date

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Accommodation: 7 nights in authentic, rustic, and comfortable farm rooms in different fazendas

• Meals: full board – breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the ride

• Open Bar - All you can drink

• Guides &Gauchos: professional and multilingual guides

• Backup Vehicle: brings your personal luggage to the daily overnight place/Fazenda.

• Horses & tack, including saddle bags and raincoats.

• Transfer to and from Florianopolis Airport (FLN)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• International and local flights. You need to fly to Florianopolis (FLN)

• Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance

• Personal expenses

• Tips: (optional)

Level: Intermediate (less experienced riders are welcome)

The Rider

You should be confident on a horse at all paces – walk, trot, and canter and capable of riding over varying terrain for several hours at a stretch. Riders weight limit is 120 kg. We will spend between 6 and 7 hours per day in the saddle, making our way acrossrolling grasslands, Araucaria forests and pristine rivers. This is gaucho country so if we come across some cattle “round up”, you will be invited to help. During the “cutting” (sorting the cattle on horseback) you’ll be surprised at just how agile your criollo horse is!

Horses

The horses we are going to ride are Brazilian Criollo horses – notorious for their intelligence, unequaled stamina, speed, and maneuverability. We ride with the typical gaucho saddles. You will adapt quickly as they are very comfortable especially for long rides.

Average daily riding: around 6 hours per day.