Villuercas Conquistadors Ride

Introduction
Central Spain Spain
Starting from the lovely town of Trujillo you will ride East to the Villuercas Geopark (UNESCO), crossing picturesque villages in the Villuercas Mountains along the way. You then ride back to Trujillo through the gorgeous landscape of Dehesa, holm and cork oaks woods and pastures, the most emblematic landscape in the Extremadura region.

The scenery during the ride is spectacular and varied, featuring fields, forests and mountains.  

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so nights are spent in different locations.

Description
Accommodations are in small hotels and rural inns with private bathroom (toiletries almost always included). All accommodations provide free Wi-Fi access.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Country house in Trujillo
Night 2: Hotel in Madroñera
Night 3: Guesthouse in Berzocana
Night 4: Hotel in Logrosán
Night 5: Guesthouse in Zorita
Night 6: Country house in Trujillo



Country house in Trujillo
This finca was built during the 19th century and is composed of two old farmhouses (one for wine and one for olive oil). Nowadays, it welcomes guests in 13 tastefully decorated ensuite bedrooms fitted with central heating and air conditioning. Wi-Fi is available in public areas and guests are welcome to roam the 30 hectares (approx. 75 acres) park (with vines and olive trees) or go for a swim in the outdoor swimming pool.


Hotel in Madroñera
This small hotel dates back to the 19th century and was built with local stones. It offers 23 air-conditioned rooms (some with beamed ceilings) with private bathroom, a TV and free Wi-Fi access. There is a small garden with a terrace for guests’ relaxation.


Guesthouse in Berzocana
This small country house is surrounded by mountains and features amazing views of the surrounding as well as a quiet environment. Each ensuite bedroom is unique and features a beautiful painting of a local bird. Here, there is no heater or air-conditioning but rooms are kept fresh thanks to very thick walls and a small wood stove allows to warm-up during cold nights. Guests can still access Wi-Fi and are welcome to relax in the garden or in the shared lounge.


Hotel in Logrosán
This rural complex offers accommodations in small stone-built huts called chozos. The 6 chozos mix perfectly the charm of the countryside with modernity and all come equipped with a small kitchen, free Wi-Fi access, a TV, air conditioning and a fireplace. There is also a small garden.


Guesthouse in Zorita
This guesthouse has a lovely façade and offers simple accommodations in the heart of Zorita village. The rooms all feature ensuite facilities, a TV and air-conditioning.  Visitors can also make use of the lounge area to relax or chat with each other.

Room Occupancy
If we are unable to find another rider to share the room with you, the single supplement fee applies.



Meals
All meals are included on this trip.

The food is a highlight of this trip! Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc.

Lunches are taken on the trail; in the countryside (we bring tables and chairs) and always include a starter (salad, gazpacho, vegetables, etc), a main course (paella, iberian pork, fish, etc), fresh fruit, coffee and local wines. Lunchtime features delicious home cooked Spanish dishes such as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads, and soft cheese very typical from Extremadura “Torta del Casar”. Lunch is often followed by a siesta in the countryside.
 
After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you can choose from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes. Your dinner is usually taken at the accommodation and include a choice between 3-5 starters (mix salad, soup, vegetables, pasta, etc), 3-5 main course (grilled beef, pork, stews, fish, omelet, etc), a dessert (flan, rice pudding, fruit, cake, etc), local wine, bread and coffee or tea.

The following drinks are included in the package: red and white wines, beer, refreshments, coffee or tea during the meals and aperitifs. Water bottle is provided every morning.

Dietary Restrictions
Special diets (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Schedule
On a normal day, we start riding at 10am, after a well-deserved rest and a good breakfast. Participants are encouraged in helping with the preparation of the horses. Usually, we need to catch the horses from the fields where they have spent the night, feed them, brush them and saddle them up before breakfast.
In the morning, you will ride about 4 hours with a short tapas-break (Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc. and something to drink) in the middle of the morning (usually around noon). After the break, we ride to the lunch place. A luxury picnic is waiting for us in the quietest and most beautiful spot. The stop for lunch is about 2 hours long, with time to enjoy the pic-nic and little siesta after lunch.
In the afternoon, we ride for about 2 hours until we get to our accommodation.

Riding Experience
This trip has been designed for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter, in group, in open spaces and your seat should be firm. On the rides, you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

Pace
The overall pace of riding is moderate with walk, trots and canters mostly every day, depending on the terrain. Usually, when the terrain allows for a safe canter, we canter. In the mountains, in many areas the terrain does not allow for trotting or cantering so we enjoy walking with breathtaking views around.
The distance covered on the average is 25-35 km per day. We usually spend about 6 hours in the saddle every riding day.

Tack
We use fine quality English saddles and silicon seat saver. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. You have small saddlebags in front of the saddles for a water bottle, sunscreen, camera, mobile, etc.

Helmet
We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

Support Vehicle
A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and to move your luggage. This means you have access to your luggage at least 3 times a day.

Horses
We currently have 21 horses: 14 PRE, 4 Pure Hispano-Arab, 1 Anglo-Arab and 2 Crossed (hispano-bretón, hispano-lusitano).
Our horses are responsive, well behave, good natured and serene thanks to the natural horsemanship method used to train them.
Most of our horses were born and bred at home while others have been with us since they were foals.
They live in freedom as a herd, eating, drinking, sleeping and traveling together in the most natural way possible.
They live in a huge pine forest (500 ha) in the Gredos Mountains or in the rich pastures in the Dehesas of Extremadura. They keep fit as they can walk around 20 km every day. They live with other groups of animals including other horses, donkeys, cows and also wild animals such as wolves, roe deer, deer, wild boar, foxes.

Staff
Emilio and Mamen (both born in Gredos Mountains) will be personally escorting you on these trips. Emilio will happily guide you across the trails, while Mamen will be preparing delicious meals and pic-nics.
Emilio has been working in equestrian tourism for over 30 years and he dedicated his whole life to his horses. He speaks English and Spanish.

Age Restrictions
There is no upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy. The minimum riding age is 10 years old (competent riders only), accompanied by an adult.

Travel Insurance
It is mandatory to take a travel insurance for this trip! If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

The following is a sample itinerary but please note that changes are possible due to weather and other circumstances.
The van support is always close to the group with the luggage, so it's not necessary to carry things on the horse. The group meets the van at tapas time, lunch time, or in any other moment if necessary (for shoeing a horse, take rain coats, etc).

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival in Trujillo
Meeting point at Madrid Airport at 3:00pm and transfer to Trujillo (2.5 h driving). Time to visit to the spectacular town of Trujillo before welcome dinner at the hotel in Trujillo where we learn about the ride and region on the map.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Trujillo

Day 2 (Monday): Herguijuela to Garciaz
Transfer from Trujillo to Herguijuela, where the stables are located. Distribution of horses. Riding through the Dehesa, which is thought to be the most common kind of habitat that covered the Extremadura region thousands of years ago. Comfortable lunch in the countryside with excellent paella, cooked by us and good wines.
After lunch, short afternoon ride to Garciaz where the horses spend the night. Riders are transferred (15 min) to Madroñera.
Riding 5 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Madroñera

Day 3 (Tuesday): Garciaz to Berzocana
Beautiful views of the best-preserved Mediterranean forests. The dominant species are the evergreen oaks, the holm or cork oaks and the deciduous oaks.
After lunch, we ride with magnificent views of the Sierra de las Villuercas. We get to the Villuercas mountains in Berzocana. Night and dinner at a very nice rural hotel where we can enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Villuercas Geopark.
Riding 7 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Berzocana

Day 4 (Wednesday): Berzocana to Logrosán
We enjoy the view over the impressive Villuercas landscape. We can observe Vultures, Eagles, Azure-winged Magpies, Red-billed Choughs, Shrikes and Ravens.
Villuercas has been declared Geopark (UNESCO, 2011) because of its Cultural and Natural Heritage and, of course, the great geological features, with many interesting and visible geological elements. This is a very rural region with fields and stonewalls. In the afternoon, we enjoy some good canters.
Riding 6 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Logrosán

Day 5 (Thursday): Logrosán to Zorita
Good trots and canters in the morning by the Dehesa. Cattle can be seen everywhere: cows, sheep, goats and Iberic pigs still live in a way, which is reminiscent of bygone days.  After our luxury pic-nic, in the afternoon, good canters to Zorita. Dinner at local restaurant.
Riding 6 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Zorita

Day 6 (Friday): Zorita to Trujillo
We will ride in the Dehesa Extremeña with good and long trots and canters to return to Trujillo. We will spend the night at the same hotel in Trujillo than the first night. Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Trujillo

Day 7 (Saturday): Departure
Breakfast at the hotel and departure from Trujillo at 10 am, to be at Madrid Airport around 12.30 pm. Please, do not book flights before 2 p.m. All riders will be transferred at the same time, so if any rider needs to arrive Madrid before, all riders depart earlier or we can arrange transfer (at extra cost).
Meals included: Breakfast


Non-Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. They can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish, they can rent a car and move on their own, joining the group for dinner.

Rates and Dates for Villuercas Conquistadors Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Navarredonda de Gredos
Airport: Madrid
Transfer: Madrid airport

Climate:
                                            Cáceres‎ area