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Estancias
Escape Ride
This seven day tour has wonderful rides along the fascinating
Rocha province which integrates the “Humedales del este” declared Biosphere
Natural Reserve by the UNESCO. We will sleep in two of the most charming working
estancias of the area where guests are received as a complementary activity of
the ranch. In addition to the rides trough the estancias fields and unique
landscapes, we will also be able to enjoy fascinating rides along the lonely and
sandy beaches of the nearby ocean coast.
Each day is varied and very different form the day before; the estancias are
idyllic and their owners welcoming. Home made regional food and traditional
barbecues will be specially appreciated after a full day riding on a genuine and
willing criollo horse, accompanied by gauchos and our specialized riding guide.
 IT-URRT02
Rates include accommodations, meals (except dinner Day 1), English speaking
guide, 5.5 riding days
7 days/
6
nights $ 1,395
Single:
+$200
If less than 4 riders + $300 pp
2007 Dates:
02/04-02/10 02/18-02/24
04/22-04/28
05/06-05/12
... additional dates are available from
Oct to Dec and late Feb to April
availability
& reservation
All inclusive: horses, guides, meals, transfers accommodation.
Level:
All levels
Tack:
South American
Horses:
Criollos
Pace: Trots, canters and gallops
Min/Max Riders: 4-8
Note: Non riders are welcome: main activities are
sightseeing, walking, birding, bicycling, beach, swimming pool, short
rides.
Tour Outline
Day 1 Montevideo
Today is set aside to relax and explore the city of Montevideo.
Arrive at noon for a delicious dinner at the local market. Explore the many historic buildings, go to the wide open sandy beach,
have lunch at the market place near the harbor and maybe take in a
Tango show at night. You will stay in a nice centrally located 3 to 4
star hotel. You may want to book an evening Tango Show ahead of time. (activities and
dinner are not included today)
Day 2-4 Estancia Guardia del Monte
The tour starts with an early morning drive to “Guardia del Monte”, a
working estancia next to the “Laguna de Castillos”. “Guardia del Monte”
has outstanding landscape beauty with important ecosystems like the
wetlands with a great variety of birds and native scrublands. This area
has been declared Natural Animal Reserve since 1996. We will have the
opportunity to visit the forest of Ombúes. The Ombú curiously rarely
grows in groups of more than 2 or 3, the forest of Ombúes that we visit
is possibly the only one in the world. Each tree has its own wonderful
shape with thick, twisting roots spreading out over the ground; some are
over 500 years and have a diameter of 2 meters (6 feet). During the
second day at Guardia del Monte, we will ride to “Cabo Polonio”, 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. This charming
fishing village can only be reached by horse or four wheeled drive and
the fascinating part of this visit is the huge area of shifting sand
dunes; as we ride through it is possible to imagine that we are right in
the middle of the Sahara. Arriving at the ocean, we will see fur seals
that populate the small islands and make up one of the largest
populations in the world; very occasionally we spot a migrating Franca
Whale. Most likely (but this will depend on tides and water levels and
will be decided on the day) there is an optional boat ride along the
river joining ‘Laguna de Castillos’ to the sea. During the third day at
this charming estancia, we will ride its fields enjoying the wetlands
and a huge number of birds.
Day 5-6 Estancia EL Charabón
The day starts with a drive to Estancia El Charabón (charabón means
small rhea) and an evening introductory ride to get used to the local
saddles and choose the horses that feet better with rider. The second
day is a full day riding along the estancia fields, a typical Uruguayan
countryside landscape of waved prairies. Riders will be introduced to
the estancia rural activities as cattle and sheep drives among others.
The third day stars riding to the beach and after having lunch at La
Pedrera, a tiny coastal village, part of a chain of bays with sandy
beaches and rocky capes, we ride back to the estancia.
Day 7 The last day includes a full morning ride
and goodbye lunch before being driven to the airport or extension.
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