Ronda to the Atlantic

Introduction
Southern Spain Spain

Accomodation

You will be staying at nice country hotels. The first night is at the riding centere in Fuengirola.
Breakfast is not a big meal in Spain, so you can expect a “Continental” type breakfast with coffee, buns and jam only, but in most places you can order extra ham, cheese, etc (extra). Dinner is usually not before 8 PM.
Dinner is usually accompanied by complimentary table wine, but usually only 1 or 2 glasses per person. Additional wine is extra (usually quite inexpensive).

For Day Two - single rooms are not available even if you have paid for a single supplement – it is a small village in the mountains and rooms are difficult to come by.

Riding

The Horses

The Andalusian is the oldest domesticated riding horse in the Western world, partner to toreador and vaquero, famous for his courage and great heart.  Each purebred or Andalusian cross used for this tour is well trained and a joy to ride--you will be amazed at their stamina and willingness!

Mares and geldings are used on the ride: Hispano-Arab, Hispano-Anglo-Arab, and pure breds.

The saddles are Spanish dressage style with "box-stirrups".  They are sensitive and easy to ride. Horses are ridden with a hackamore.   
During the tour the horses are cleaned and saddled in the morning. Riders will help with cleaning in the morning and unsaddle their own horses at the end of the riding day. 

You should have experience in the countryside and have your horse under control galloping and be able to move free on a horse while climbing in the mountains.
Riding time about 7 hours / day.

For the months of  January to April and starting Mid-October we recommend rain gear. Since saddlebags are not permitted, we recommend belt bags or similar bags.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Malaga and transfer to the riding stable in Fuengirola. Free time in the afternoon around the pool or to explore the nearby hilltop village.

Day 2: Early transfer to Ronda. On the first day you ride through deep canyons that are only accessible on donkey trails, which are still being used by smugglers. Cortes de la Frontera is one of the typical white villages for which the whole region got its nickname 'Pueblos Blancos' (white villages). Time seems to stand still when you enter this village in the evening. This part of Andalusia is also an historical region: You should visit the wall paintings in the caves Cuevas de la Pileta before dinner. Overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 3: After descending into the canyons of the white villages you enter the naturepark Cortes de la Frontera. Soft, springy forest trails alternate with livestock and donkey trails. The slopes are covered with pine cork oak forests through which you slowly descend towards the plain. At the Puerto de Galis, the border between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz, the horses stay for the night while you drive to Alcala de los Gazules. The central Village Square is the heart of the village life where people meet - especially late at night after dinner. Bordered by half a dozen of pubs and in safe distance from the church, every villager walks across the square at least once a day. Virtually undiscovered by tourism, Alcala is one of the few remaining typical Andalusian villages. There is even a saddlery here that you might like to check out.

Day 4: The last stage through the mountains. You have probably already admired the surefootedness of your Andalusian horse. You now ride through the nature parks Aljibe and Alcornocales, which are very rich in wild game and have been established to halt the Spaniards' passion for hunting. As no cars are allowed in the parks, you carry your lunch picnic in the saddlebags. In the afternoon you ride over rolling hills on trails that are bordered with hedgerows cacti through large meadows and fields of sunflowers. The horses stay at Patrite nearby Alcala while you drive back to your hotel.

Day 5: The large-scale landholdings of the bull and horse breeders are located in the triangle between Alcala, Jerez, and the coast. You ride across large meadows with fighting bulls and cows with their calves. One meadow is often several miles long. Spring is spectacular in this area as the meadows are covered with wild flowers and are very lush and green while they dry out during the summer. You will certainly meet 'vaqueros', Spanish cowboys who spend their days in the saddle looking after the cattle on these large ranches. You stop for lunch at a 'venta', a typical country restaurant, just below the old Moorish fortress Medina-Sidona. On wide sandy trails and the livestock trail 'Paquiri', named after the famous matador, you ride to Los Naveros where the horses spend the night. You drive to Zahara de los Atunes on the Atlantic Coast. The next nights you will spend in a hotel right on the beach where you can enjoy a swim in the pool or the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 6: In the morning you ride through meadows and fields of sugar beets, beans, cotton, and the bright yellow sunflowers. The support vehicle awaits you as usual with the lunch picnic and today you will need to fortify yourself for the fast rides on the beaches. You will soon note that you're reaching the beach in Conil: Feel the anticipation of your horse! Except for very few stretches, the beaches are deserted. You enjoy long canters and gallops on yellow sand and into the blue waves of the Atlantic! You ride along the coast on sandy trails and through pine forests, past Cap Trafalgar where Lord Nelson fought his last sea-battle, to Caños de Meca. You drive back to the hotel in Zahara. At the beach you can see the small fishing boats that deliver their catch every day to the local hotels. Enjoy these Atlantic delicacies for dinner.

Day 7: Another day on the beach awaits you. First you ride along sandy trails through the coastal pine forests and around the fishing village Barbate. A 7-mile long stretch of deserted beach invites you. This area is under the supervision of the military; so, no hotels have been built. In a fast gallop you reach Zahara where this wonderful ride comes to an end. Transfer to the riding center for a farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 8: After breakfast transfer to the airport in Malaga for departure.

Subject to change

Rates and Dates for Ronda to the Atlantic

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Malaga or Fuengirola
Airport: Malaga
Transfer: Malaga

Climate:

The overall climate of Andalusia is similar to Southern California: hot in the summer, pleasant and moderate in the spring and fall, and fairly cool in the winter. Rain is possible anytime, but rare in summer. The main rainy season is from the end of October to the beginning of May. The Atlantic Ocean is warm and pleasant to swim in from May to October.

Even during peak summer months it is not too hot for horseback riding as the humidity is very low and the ‘levante’ winds are constantly blowing from the Atlantic

English or Western riding attire is fine for the ride. Attire is strictly informal throughout, though if you are planning to visit other cities on your own later you may wish to bring a jacket and tie. Regular film can be obtained locally, but special sizes may not be available-bring plenty. It is a good idea to bring your own soap, since not all hotels supply it. There will be no opportunity to have laundry done while on the ride.  Saddle bags are not permitted.

In general the hotels only heat the rooms during the winter months. Even newer buildings are seldom insulated. Therefore when the weather turns cool you can an impression of dampness. In case your rooms are too cool during your stay, you should find an extra wool blanket in the closet, or ask at the reception.