Unforgettable Uruguay

Introduction
Uruguay Uruguay
Wonderfully tranquil and relatively unexplored, Uruguay offers a diverse landscape of sandy beaches, colonial towns, coastal reserves, grassy plains and cattle ranches.

This 12-day ride gives you the opportunity to explore 3 different areas. The fishing village of Jose Ignacio (arguably one of the most chic places in South America), the beautiful province of Rocha (famous for its pristine white sand beaches,
azure shores and lagoons) and the inland province of Lavalleja with its rolling hills and Tuscany-style landscapes.

This tour is designed for intermediate riders looking at a fast-paces ride across grassy pastures and sandy beaches. You will ride three different sets of horses during the trail. All horses are local Uruguayan Criollos and Criollo crosses which are ideally suited to the terrain.

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so you will be staying in different locations during the trip.

Description
The accommodations provided in this program include interesting and charming seaside hotels and ranches available in the areas we visit, all of which include private bathrooms (except Posada Valizas where, depending on group size, clients may have to share bathroom). Accommodations are clean, comfortable, and provide very good service. You will be able to get good night’s sleep in the pleasant surroundings. If you are sharing your room, please let us know in advance if you prefer twin or double beds. 
There is access to laundry facilities during this trip for an extra fee.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel Cottage in Montevideo
Night 2: Casa Flor in La Barra
Night 3: Chacra la Magdalena
Night 4 & 5: Estancia Anastasio
Night 6: Hotel Parque Oceánico in La Coronilla
Night 7: Chacras de Laguna Negra in Punta del Diablo
Night 8: Posada Valizas in Valizas
Night 9-11: Estancia Balcon del Abra in Mariscala

Hotel Cottage in Montevideo
This small hotel offers 64 modern bedrooms, all equipped with air conditioning, a smart TV, free Wi-Fi internet, a safe and ensuite facilities. Guests can relax in the garden or go for a swim in the outdoor pool.

Casa Flor in La Barra
This lovely boutique hotel features comfortable air conditionned bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, a TV and a safe. Wi-Fi is available free of charge in all rooms.
Guests are welcome to relax on the patio or cool down in the pool. 

Chacra la Magdalena
The Farm has 2 separate houses and 3 bungalows for a total of 24 guests. It is beautifully decorated in Uruguayan country style, surrounded by nature, flowers and birds.

Estancia Anastasio
This charming estancia offers 5 guestrooms overlooking the central garden and the swimming pool. Each room features air conditioning, private bathroom and free Wi-Fi access.

Parque Oceanico Hotel in La Coronilla
Boasting a garden with 2 pools, a hot tub, and restaurant, Hotel Parque Oceánico offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and Ocean views in Coronilla. Fully carpeted, rooms at Parque Oceánico feature air conditioning, heating and plasma TVs. All of them have private bathrooms and feature sea views.



Chacras de Laguna Negra in Punta del Diablo
This beautiful country house offers 3 cozy bedrooms. There is also an additional cottage in case more rooms are needed.
In the evening, guests can relax on the patio or by the pool.


Posada Valizas in Valizas
This small coastal accommodation only has 6 guestrooms (2 of which with ensuite bathrooms) that are simply decorated and comfortable at the same time. There is a common area where guest are welcome to play board games or read a book. The property also has a lovely garden and an outdoor swimming pool. WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
In case you request a single room, you will need to share a bathroom at this location.


Balcon del Abra
Nestled among green rolling hills the Posada de Campo el Balcon del Abra provides comfortable accommodations.  Inside the hotel, guests will find a hearty welcome and a warm and cozy ambience.   The rooms feature wood stoves, sofas and private bathrooms.  There is also a common room where guests can surf the internet, watch TV or simply enjoy the view of the surrounding garden.

Room Occupancy
If you attend as a single rider willing to share but we are unable to find another rider to share, the single supplement fee applies.



Meals
All meals are included on this trip, except for dinner on Day 1 in Montevideo.

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.
All breakfasts and dinners are eaten at the accommodations where we spent the night.
Lunches are picnic-style and out on horseback.

Alcoholic drinks are not included in this trip and guests are not able to bring their own. It is possible to purchase alcoholic beverages directly at the restaurants.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to all dietary restrictions with advanced notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Experience
We can accommodate all levels (from someone who has been on a horse but who does not necessarily feel comfortable at all paces to advanced) of riding for this trip and adjust the itinerary as need-be. Groups can be separated based on riding levels. We ride between 3-6 hours per day, which can also be adjusted.

Horses
During our rides we work very hard to maintain only two sets of horses throughout the whole tour. Our intention is 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. Depending on the size of the group, 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.

Tack
We use local, ‘western’ type saddle with a sheepskin. 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. 

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.

Weight Restrictions
If your weight is more than 95 kilos (~210lbs) there is a surcharge so we can take an extra horse - so the weight is not too demanding for one horse.

Non-Riders
Non-riders are welcome on this trip. Non-riding activities include sight-seeing, hiking, fishing, surfing, biking, trekking, canoeing and bird watching.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Sunday): Montevideo
Today is set aside to relax and explore the coastal city of Montevideo. We will stay at the residential neighbourhood of Carrasco from where we will enjoy an afternoon tour including lunch at the port market and a mate tasting.
Meals included: Lunch
Accommodation at Hotel Cottage

Day 2 (Monday): Aguaverde Ride
After an early breakfast, we will drive East, to the Province of Maldonado driving across the famous Punta Del Este. We will stop at Casapueblo on the way to enjoy an amazing view of the ocean and then continue onto Aguaverde Wine lodge, a beautiful private estate where we will meet our horses! Today we ride will ride along the vineyards and private trails to a local estancia for lunch.
During the evening, we will stay at a local posada where we will enjoy dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Casa Flor in La Barra

Day 3 (Tuesday): Art & Nature Ride
This morning, we drive to Aguaverde to meet our horses. Today we ride to the Atchugarry Foundation, created by Pablo Atchugarry, renowned Uruguayan artist. We will ride along private trails, bordering local estancias and studs until we get to the “Sculpture Park” and exhibition Centre. There, we will enjoy a picnic lunch before we continue riding to Chacra La Magdalena.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 
Accommodation at Chacra La Magdalena

Day 4 (Wednesday): Beach Ride
Today's ride goes along sandy white beaches towards the lagoon of Jose Ignacio, a lovely ecosystem of coastal lagoons that open to the ocean. We then continue to the small town of Jose Ignacio where we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
During the afternoon, we ride to Chacra La Marquesa where we might spot capybaras and local deer. Then, short transfer to Estancia Anastasio (5 minutes) for dinner and overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Estancia Anastasio

Day 5 (Thursday): Laguna Garzon Ride
After an early breakfast, we will drive to meet our horses and ride towards Laguna Garzon where the landscape surprises with views of lagoon, sand dunes and ocean. We will ride along the beach and into the rural area of Jose Ignacio. After a lovely lunch at the barn, we will ride along the estancia fields and for the adventurous ones, we offer the possibility to swim with the horses at the lake! 
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Estancia Anastasio

Day 6 (Friday): Barra Chuy Ride
We start the day with a transfer to the Province of 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 Horqueta, where we will meet our new horses.
Today we will enjoy a 3-4 hour ride towards the coast. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at midday followed by a swim in the ocean or a pleasant “siesta” discovering that gauchos’ saddles are so comfortable to ride but also to sleep!
During the afternoon, a fast-pace ride along the wonderful, isolated ocean beach of ‘Barra Chuy’, awaits. Visitors seldom reach this beach so we can enjoy a long, exhilarating canter across the pure white sands alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
We eventually arrive 22km (12 miles) further south to "La Coronilla" for a stay at our beachside hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Hotel Parque Oceanico in La Coronilla

Day 7 (Saturday): Santa Teresa national park, dolphins & shipwrecks
We will ride south across beaches, sand dunes, pine forests and coastal hills where we might see dolphins feeding before reaching the immense Santa Teresa National Park. The centerpiece 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 formed ‘Uruguay’ finally captured and held the fort. 
After a picnic lunch we will ride along the forest trails and down to the Beach next to a shipwreck buried in the sand, one of many along this treacherous coast. In fact, Cabo Polonio (where we ride tomorrow) 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.
Our afternoon ride to the small town of Punta del Diablo will take about 2 hours. On arrival, we will stay at a typical, local countryside home.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Chacra de Laguna Negra in Punta del Diablo

Day 8 (Sunday): Cabo Polonio
The day starts with a transfer to Valizas, located next to the famous Cabo Polonio, a charming fishing village we can only access by horse or SUV trucks. UNESCO declared this area a Biosphere and animal Natural Reserve.
We will leave our luggage at a local “rancho valiceros” and continue onto the entrance of “El Cabo” where we will start our ride. The fascinating part of the area is the huge area of shifting sand dunes and, as we ride through, it is possible to imagine that we are right in the middle of the dessert!
Enjoy lunch at La Perla Seaside restaurant and visit the light house asw ell as 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 Valizas where we will enjoy dinner and spend the overnight at Posada Valizas
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Posada Valizas

Day 9 (Monday): The incredible wetlands of the Castillos Lagoon
After breakfast, short drive to our horses at the Puente Valizas. Today, we ride across the wetlands of Castillos lagoon with its Ombu Forest and a magic forest of Ceibos, Coronillas and native trees.
Enjoy a long morning full of riding until we get to Estancia Barra Grande, for a traditional asado lunch!
In the afternoon, we drive to our next destination at Mariscala.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Balcon del Abra

Day 10 (Tuesday): Balcon del Abra
This morning, meet your new horse and ride towards a nearby estancia to see the way they work the cattle. The landscape is very beautiful and we will go through one way and return through another one.
Then, get ready for a delicious lunch at Balcón Del Abra. During the afternoon, ride to the “Mar de Piedra” and enjoy a long lovely ride along the hills.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Balcon del Abra

Day 11 (Wednesday): Riding to local private cemetery  
The day starts with an early breakfast followed by a ride towards a local neighbor estancia. We will ride past an abandoned private cemetery and return along a different trail back to Balcón Del Abra.
After lunch, we ride along the countryside enjoying the scenery.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation at Balcon del Abra

Day 12 (Thursday): Departure
After breakfast, enjoy your last ride before our farewell lunch. We will return to Montevideo in the early afternoon and transfer you to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Non-riders are more than welcome to attend! Non-riding activities: Sight-seeing; hiking; fishing; surfing; biking; trekking; canoeing; bird watching.

Rates and Dates for Unforgettable Uruguay

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Montevideo
Airport: Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD)
Transfer: Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD)

Climate:
                                        José Ignacio area