Costa de la Luz

Horses & Riding

Tack

Quality English saddles and bridles. These are a mix of leather and synthetic material, but all are well maintained and individually fitted to the horses.

Horses

The horses are a mix of Andalusian, Hispano-Arab and Anglo-Arab horses. The horses are well cared for and loved by your hosts, who know each and every one of their characters.

Riding

There are 2 itineraries:

• 8 Day Beach and Forest Ride is a based ride
• 5 Day Beach and Forest Ride is a based ride

Ages

There is no specific age limit but the ride is not recommended for younger children - all riders must be able to ride a well-schooled horse at canter and able to cope with up to four and a half hours of riding a day. Children must be confident handling and riding a small horse as there are no ponies here.

Health

Riders must be "saddle-fit" and able to control a forward going horse, at canter and gallop, in open country.

Weight

82 kgs / 182 pounds / 13 stone

Food & Accommodation

Food

Breakfasts are not included at the hotels, but lunches/dinners are on all days except Thursday during the 8-day ride.

Travelling in February, you will have access to a fully fitted kitchen in your apartment so you can easily self-cater or pop into a nearby cafe for breakfast. If staying at the Adiafa hotel then buffet breakfasts are available at the hotel and you can pay for them locally, pre-purchase them or choose to eat at a nearby cafe instead. There is also a coffee/tea vending machine at the hotel.

Lunches are taken in the early afternoon (after your ride) in a traditional tapas bar near the stables. These are usually light meals and Caroline will choose a selection of dishes from the menu for guests to try out, taking into account preferences and dietary requirements. Dinners will be from set menus, served in local restaurants back in Barbate. Meals served in these restaurants are typical ‘Andaluz’ and include a lot of fish dishes being on the coast.

Vegetarian and special request diets may be catered for by prior arrangements, but please note that choices will be limited.

During the 8-day riding tour, Thursday is a free day when no meals are included. You will instead be free to choose where and when you eat. Drinking water will be provided for the riding days, but any other drinks with lunch and evening meals, as well as food or snacks outside of mealtimes, are not included.

Lunches and dinners are eaten as a group with the other riding guests. Lunches are not included for non-riding companions who are very welcome to join and pay locally.

Accommodation

The owners of this destination believe that good accommodation is a very important part of your horse riding holiday and have taken great care in selecting the hotels they offer.

You will stay in the well-appointed hotel Adiafa***, in the heart of the beautiful seaside town of Barbate. The hotel is ideally situated only 50 meters from the beach and is perfect for providing a sense of relaxation after a day of exploring the area on horseback. The hotel itself is family-run and offers a friendly and welcoming service to all its guests. Rooms are spacious and include large twin beds, with en-suite bathrooms equipped with a bath and shower. All bedrooms have air-conditioning, wifi internet and digital TVs with international channels.

During the main summer season (March - mid-November) you will stay in hotel rooms which will be allocated without a balcony, but a small supplement can be paid if you prefer to upgrade to a room with a balcony and sea view. During all seasons, guests requiring an individual room will have to pay a single supplement charge. If a triple room is booked, then there is no supplement to pay for the balcony upgrade.

If you book to stay in February, you will be accommodated in self-catered apartments at the Adiafa Hotel. Each apartment has a living room, terrace, equipped kitchen and bathroom in addition to either one or two bedrooms. There's free WiFi throughout the hotel. As the winter months can be less 'beach-focused', the apartments offer more space for relaxing when not riding. There will be no buffet breakfast or room upgrade options during this month.

Itineraries

8 Day Beach and Forest Ride Standard accommodation.

5 Day Beach and Forest Ride Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

Barbate is a medium-sized seaside town with a busy fishing port. The town's beach is a beautiful expanse of golden sand and runs for almost 2 km from the River Barbate to the Marina. The beach is overlooked by a wonderful promenade that features plenty of lively bars and restaurants. You will be made to feel more than welcome by the local people. Barbate also has a lovely town square and busy town centre. Shopping facilities are great here and offer the perfect excuse for some souvenir shopping. Many shops accept bank cards and there are a number of cash points in the town. There are good bus and taxi services should you wish to explore further afield after the days riding has finished, or during your free day.

Andalucia has much more under the sun than flamenco music and impressive Moorish cities and culture. Almost one-fifth of Andalucia's total area has protected status, with a variety of habitats, from wetlands to deserts, making it an interesting place for bird-watching. There is always something to see in Andalucia. Many birds return much earlier after winter because of the moderate Mediterranean climate. Migration can be followed throughout the year, with peak numbers present in spring and autumn. This area is a prime location for all migratory birds. It is said that the number of birds in transit here is higher than the number passing the Bosporus in Greece.

A visit to Jerez de la Frontera to see the famous stallions of the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art is recommended on the horses' rest day and even non-riders will find this enjoyable. The free day is usually Thursday but sometimes Wednesday.

For those looking for some more active pursuits, there are also a number of other sports available in the local area. For scuba divers, there is a diving school based in Barbate harbour and it is possible for beginners to take a PADI course and immersions for PADI licence holders can be arranged. It is possible also to enjoy windsurfing and golf.

Travel

Flights are available to Malaga from most UK airports and set-time transfers from Malaga airport are included in the cost of your holiday.

On arrival day, collection is no later than 14:30pm (Sunday and Wednesday)
On departure day, you will arrive at Malaga at around 10:00am (Sunday) in time for flights from 12:00pm.

Transfers from Gibraltar (or Jerez) airports can also be arranged for you, please contact the office for further information. There will be an extra charge for these transfers.

Testimonials

Sheilagh O., Oct. 17, 2023

Beautiful forest and beach, really enjoyed exploring the landscape. The views, the landscape, the beach! The riding and the horses were excellent, it was a great and relaxing way to experience the area. I enjoyed chatting with Caroline and learning about her horses and her life in Barbate. I felt safe with her guidance and she gave us a chance to get to know the horses and discuss our matches after the first day.

Sian H., Sept. 27, 2023

Great, all horses were very obviously well taken care of. Great rides, Caroline was lovely

Vivien K., May 16, 2022

The organization of the whole trip was excellent from the airport pickup to the meals and transport to the stables. It was lovely to be in the town of Barbate so in the evenings you could soak up the atmosphere. The food was very good, mainly locally caught fish. The horse I rode was amazing and really looked after me. Caroline took us through beautiful pine forests and the beach and was very knowledgeable about the whole area.

Emma S., Nov. 3, 2021

A fantastic holiday from booking to departure home. (I enjoyed) spending time with my daughter, making memories and sharing our love of horses. Caroline has a wealth of knowledge regarding horses and Spanish culture - willing to share it with us.

Hennie & Danno, Oct. 4, 2021

Lovely seaside based stay. Fast fun riding - Good mix of adventure riding and relaxation. The horses were safe but responsive and forward going, we were really impressed. Caroline really knew her horses well.

Valerie B., June 7, 2021

1st Class - a horse riders' dream. Beach gallops, beautiful pine forests. The horses were excellent as was all the tack. Caroline was great. Very informative, good company, and gave us lots of thrilling rides.

Jane B., June 7, 2021

Excellent! Great mix of riding, beach and leisure time. (Favourite memory?) The gallops on the firebreaks and beaches.

Fiona M, May 22, 2019

It was fantastic - beautiful location to ride in, lovely horses and Caroline and Steve were wonderful hosts. The horses were lovely - forward going and responsive. Caroline was a great host. She gave clear instructions up front, was happy to answer any questions and was really chatty with the group.

Andrea L, Nov. 25, 2016

Thoroughly enjoyed my holiday, a lovely destination with horses that know their jobs but are still suitable for a range of experiences of riders. Guides were knowledgable, very focused on the welfare of their horses and at allocating riders to horses. As a vet the horse part of the holiday was critical and I was really pleased with what I experienced. I would come back happily

Judith & Peter H., Nov. 21, 2016

Excellent horses & riding. Comfortable, clean hotel. Plentiful food. (Favourite memory?) Fast beach ride on forward going horses (Romeo & Levante).

Barbara M., Sept. 5, 2016

Just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for recommending and organising the riding in Barbate. I had such a wonderful time and it is certainly one of the highlights of my trip. It was a pleasure riding with Caroline, she is such a great host and the horses were beautiful.

Mark S., April 1, 2016

Favourite moment was the ride to the beach at Cape Trafalgar which allowed for a good long canter/gallop. Riding was almost totally free of roads. I liked my horse who was a good ride and could go fast. (February 2016)

Lucy B., Dec. 1, 2015

Favourite memory? - Riding on the beach, miles of sand and the really blue sea.

Tracey C., Nov. 4, 2015

It exceeded my expectations! (Favourite memory?) The peace and quiet of Barbate and the friendly and informative guides.