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Rio de Janeiro

Overview

Rio de Janeiro is a fascinating destination, known to the world for its rich culture, home to the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is now also an excellent destination for horseback riding. Your hosts have been operating horse riding hol…

Highlights

  • Visit Rio de Janeiro, iconic city of Brazil
  • Ride the Mangalarga Marchador - the native gaited horse
  • Encounter spectacular landscapes and unique views
  • Exciting beach riding
  • Learn about Brazilian culture

Essential Facts

  • 1 itinerary available
  • Max 8 riders per group
  • Average of 3 - 4 hours riding per day
  • Weight limit: 100kg/ 15st 10lbs /220lbs

Description

Rio de Janeiro is a fascinating destination, known to the world for its rich culture, home to the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is now also an excellent destination for horseback riding. Your hosts have been operating horse riding holidays in Brazil for over 18 years and this itinerary encapsulates the spirit and the diversity of its culture. This, coupled with trail riding through the spectacular and dramatic scenery that makes the country famous, makes for a very special adventure. The trail features a variety of terrain, from long, golden beaches to cloud forests, coffee plantations and verdant mountains.

Travelling through Brazil, you see horses everywhere. There are nearly 6 million horses in the country, which means Brazil has the fourth largest herd in the world. Many of these horses are of mixed origin and frequently used in cattle-ranching. But Brazilians also breed and enjoy riding quality horses in disciplines that range from classical dressage to endurance.
Apart from popular imported breeds such as Quarter horses, Lusitano and Arabs, Brazil also values its main national breed: the Mangalarga Marchador.

A highlight of the ride is a visit to a very famous stud farm. Historically, many nobles built their summer palaces in the highlands near the capital and here, in one of the most beautiful, lies the farm where you will not only learn about the national breed but also have the opportunity to stay in the actual homestead at the farm. Today it is a stud farm of Manga Larga Marchador (more than 200 horses), and it is not usually open to tourism and only receives a few private groups per year. You will have the chance to explore the unique and picturesque setting as well as see behind the scenes of the stud farm's work. For the adventurous rider, the exciting mountain trails lead to extraordinary views, as well as insights into the traditional livelihoods of the country, and all atop the country's native horses.

Horses & Riding

Tack

Typical Brazilian tack. Saddles are deep seated and padded for long hours in the saddle.

Horses

The horses are one of the highlights of this ride - the Mangalarga Marchador breed has its origins in the best horses from the Lusitano Alter stud farm that the Portuguese court brought when the Portuguese royal family moved to Brazil in 1808 as result of the Napoleonic Period and the disagreement between France and Portugal over the Continental Blockade. Their Iberian and Portuguese ancestors gave them a talent for training. They are a versatile horse, which, in addition to its very expressive and proud appearance, has a great work ethic and enjoys the challenge of the trail.

As an added attraction, this breed also has a particular gait: the Marcha! The rider can maintain this pace over long distances, with almost no vibrations and in high comfort. Its wide and economical gait makes it easier to cover long distances.

Riding

There is 1 itinerary:

  • Beaches and Rainforests is a based ride

Health

You need to have good general fitness for this ride.

Weight

100kg/ 15st 10lbs /220lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

The food in Brazil is always fresh and tasty. There are plenty of fresh salads and fresh fruit on offer at all meals and vegetarians can be catered for with advance notice.

There is good meat on offer as cattle farming is big business here, and barbecuing is very popular. The main dishes are mostly rice and beans (Feijão) and sauces, with lots of meat or fish and salads. Each region has its own traditional dishes. Along the coast you will find more fish and shrimp dishes. Most meals are taken at the main farm houses, but you may have lunch out on the trail too.

Accommodation

Camboinhas Beach Pousada – Located less than 50 meters from the beach, the Camboinhas Beach Pousada offers its guests all the comfort combined with the tranquility of a family atmosphere on the beachfront inn.

Fazenda Pao Grande - in the main house of the farm, built in 1800, with many materials imported from Portugal and France. In the 1980’s it underwent restoration, maintaining the initial design, preserving as much as possible the details of the furniture, objects and carpets from the 19th century. The bathrooms continue with the same structure and decoration from the colonial era. Spacious halls and bedrooms feature a collection of period furniture, rugs and rare crockery, among other pieces with great significance. Every little part of the house tells a story. Several important personalities have passed through it over the years; the most illustrious of them was Princess Isabel in 1883. Auguste Sanit-Hilaire, a French naturalist, visiting the Farm, said: “After three days of travel, we arrived at the most important sugar mill I have seen in Brazil.”

Itineraries

Beaches and Rainforests Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

The focus is on riding and meeting local people, but with a few extra days in the area you could explore the following:

City tour of Rio de Janeiro
Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain
Tour the statue of Christ the Redeemer
Waterfalls & Caves trail at Tijuca Park
Visit Copacabana beach

Travel

The trail starts and ends close to the city of Rio de Janeiro and transfers are available at added cost.

Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1

Riding: No riding.

Today's meeting point is at a ranch in Niterói, 13km outside of Rio de Janeiro (we can organise transfers for you) and on the edge of the Serra da Tiririca Ecological Park. Your hosts will tell you about the horses and there will be a brief orientation regarding the next day's ride. Your accommodation tonight is at Camboinhas Beach Pousada hotel which is just 50m from Camboinhas beach.

Day 2

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Today you will start your trail ride into the Serra da Tiririca Ecological Park forest, passing through a section which was part of Charles Darwin's expedition in 1832. You will cross the mountain and follow a dirt road to arrive at Praia de Itaipuaçu where you will ride on the beach before stopping for lunch. You'll ride back to the ranch today and overnight in Camboinhas Beach Pousada hotel once more.

Day 3

Riding: 2 - 4 hours

Today is another beach riding day which follows the same format as the day before. Overnight at Camboinhas Beach Pousada hotel again.

Day 4

Riding: No riding.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Pao Grande farm in Paty Alferes, drive time of around two and a half hours. This incredible property is situated in the heart of the old Vale do Café, a mountainous region which offers beautiful landscapes and a lot of Brazilian history. This is a journey back in time! In the afternoon you will visit the Pao Grande horse stud farm, home to hundreds of horses and winner of several awards.

Pao Grande is actually a palace which was originally built by nobles. It is not generally open to tourists, only to private groups such as riders on this tour.

Days 5 to 7

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

For the next three days you will ride for around four hours a day, exploring the local area. This will include visiting various surrounding farms which are home to eucalyptus plantations, agroforestry coffee plantations, forests, cattle pastures and even the 'Remonta Instruction Field' used by the Brazilian Army.

Each evening you will return to Pao Grande, such a unique and picturesque setting.

Day 8

Riding: No riding.

After breakfast you will transfer back to you Rio de Janeiro for travel home.

Accommodation

This is a two-centre riding holiday - the first three nights are in a beach hotel and the other four nights are at a historic stud farm.
Experience Intermediate / Experienced

This is for intermediate and above riders who are comfortable in the saddle at walk, trot and canter and who are confident enough to try the unique gait of the Mangalarga Marchador horse - the Marcha!
Minimum group size 5
Maximum group size 8
Departure windows

At any time during: April 1, 2025 - Oct. 31, 2025  (Programme confirms on request for minimum of 6 riders.)

Pricing

2024
Rider; Sharing		 £2945 $3725 €3535
2025
Rider; Sharing		 £2825 $3575 €3390
Included 7 nights of accommodation in twin/double rooms, all meals and riding as detailed in the itinerary.
Not included Flights, travel insurance, airport transfers (prices available on request), drinks, tips and personal expenses.

Extras

2024/2025 - Single Supplement £470 $600 €565
Paid to Far and Ride
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.