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| Europe : Spain : The South Coast Ride with Los Alamos |
| What: |
8 day Sunday to Sunday ride for at least intermediate riders with pace adjusted for less confident riders. Sunday to Sunday ride along the Southern coast beaches through forests and easy to move, open field countryside on excellent, forward going horses. |
| Dates and Rates: |
2008 Sunday to Sunday year round holidays. Rates vary
with season from $1360 US to $1951. Since property has eight seasonal variations, we think it is easier for you to contact us for prices for specific dates.
Single supplement $185 US.
Prices include 5 riding days, day trip to Royal Equestrian
school in Jerez, Transfer to and from Gibralter and Malaga on
prescheduled transfer time.
Single room supplement $175 US/85 GBP.125 E |
| Horsesense: |
Riders should be comfortable at all paces with horses that suit your riding ability and size. We will always try to provide a steady ride for less confident riders. English saddles and tack are used, we also have Spanish and Portuguese tack. The horses are mainly Andalucian and Spanish-Arab cross, but we also have two beautiful, sturdy Welsh cobs, Polly and Careta. You will ride on 5 days for an average of 3 1/2 -5 hours each day. Each day will be varied and different. We don't set a fixed daily itinerary because we like to choose the right day for the right ride. Outside of the hot summer months we break the ride with drinks and lunch at small local tavern's in the forest or adjacent to the beach, then carry on with our ride, arriving back at base mid afternoon. In the heat of the summer we ride out earlier, usually before 9am and will break for a cool drink in the forest arriving back to the villa for a late lunch. You will ride in small friendly groups of no more than eight. Restrictions: the weight restrictions are 13 stone (182lbs or 83Kg) for the Andalusian and 15 and half stone (220lbs or 100kg)for the cobs. Age restriction are, no one under the age of 15 with no upper age limit. |
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Each day will be varied and different. We don't set a daily itinerary because we like to choose the right day for the right ride. Two days a week we picnic in the forest. On the other three riding days we break in the forest for a drink and then a snack at a local bar, then carry on with our ride, arriving back at base mid afternoon for a late lunch, you will ride in small friendly groups of no more than eight. You will be accompanied at all times by two of our personable, knowledgeable, English speaking guides. .
Forest rides Los Alamos sits on the edge of the spectacular 5000 hectar natural park of La Brena y Las Marisamas consisting of forest of pine and eucalyptus, salt marshes, steep cliffs and miles of sandy beach. The forest stretches out along the hills and cliffs, offering stunning views over the African coast and the beaches of cape Trafalgar. The going in the forest is excellent, with long sandy tracks and firebreaks that weave their way through the trees and wild flowers such as lavender and rosemary. Here you have the opportunity for long collected canters and as you become more confident with your horse we start to include corners, these canters we affectionately call the "wiggly canters". The firebreaks give the perfect opportunity for exhilarating gallops that are loved equally by horse and rider. In between the excitement we travel at a leisurely pace enabling you to take in the peaceful tranquility of the forest while bonding with your horse.
The beach ride occurs on the long sandy 10 km beaches of Cape Trafalgar and El Palmar. The pace of the ride is fast and exhilarating and something you will never forget. People and horses leave the beach with big grins and lots of sand on their faces.
Countryside The rolling hills of El Campo offers fantastic views as we ride over ancient drovers roads and cattle tracks. We ride past old monastery's and through the sleepy Andalucian hamlet of San Ambrosia, which has remained untouched for centuries. |
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| WHAT TO EXPECT: |
| Getting There : |
You will need to fly to either Malaga or Gibraltar . Pick up is at 1pm at the information desk in the departure lounge, and 2.30pm in Gibraltar arrivals.
Pick up and return to Malaga Airport or Gibraltar airport is included in the price of the holiday.
Transfer time is approximately 2½ hours from Malaga and 1½ hours from Gibraltar .
Transfer costs are included in 2007. |
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| Room and Board: |
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Your stay is at the luxury Jacaranda villa, situated in a beautiful secluded spot four miles inside the national forest. The Villa complex is set in its own grounds, with a private swimming pool, gardens and terraces. Accommodation is a large typically Spanish hacienda, which has six large twin bedded rooms, kitchen dining room and large comfortable lounge area, perfect for chilling out at the end of great days riding. There are also three apartments with their own lounge and king size beds. All rooms have en-siuite bathrooms, heaters in the winter and fans during the summer.
Your holiday is all inclusive, therefore breakfast and lunch is provided, along with tasty cuisine in the evening. Breakfast is self service. The region is famous for its fresh fish and great steaks and there are always fresh vegetarian dishes available should you prefer. Special diets can also be catered for. |
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| Weather: |
Hot Summers - Sunbathing almost every day from May to early October. Virtually no rain. Daily highs about 32°C and nightly lows 18°C. T-shirt weather all the time, evenings included.
Mild Winters - Mixture of clear, sunny winter days with sometimes overcast but warm days. Evenings noticeably cooler. First rains are usualy early October, can be heavy but rarely last more than a day or two. Daily highs about 18°C and nightly lows rarely below 10°C. Pullover in the day, jacket in the evening. The nearest City to us is Cadiz to check out the latest weather for our region. |
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| ITINERARY |
The aim is to give you the holiday of a lifetime and as such we have planned some fantastic rides for you to enjoy. It's difficult to put together an exact itinerary, as sometimes nature intervenes. However, below is a typical weeks riding holiday, each day is interesting and varied, with an average 4.5 hours riding at all paces. Your guides will ensure a mixture of relaxing and exhilarating rides for you to enjoy.
When not riding there are lovely walks all around the villa and there are some of the best unspoilt beaches in Spain where you can soak up the sun or swim in the sea. The villa has secluded terraces and private swimming pool where you can sit and relax with a book and a cold drink. Close to Los Canos de Meca are the towns of Barbate and the ancient hill top town of Vejer . Time permitting we can take you to either place, where you can take in the shops and bars and in Vejer's case the stunning views over the countryside. |
| Sunday |
We recommend that you fly to Gibraltar as it is the nearest airport, however we do pick up from Malaga . We will be there to meet you, escort you to your transport, and begin the trip down the coast to Los Alamos . We drive you over the mountains past the busy port of Algeciras and the old pirate town of Tarifa , the most southerly tip of Spain . Here we are just 7 miles from the stunning Rif mountain's towering up from the coast of Morocco , you almost feel you can swim across, its so close. The rest of the journey takes you along the Atlantic coast to the villa Jacaranda near the village of San Ambrosio , your accommodation for the week. When you arrive you will have time to freshen up before we meet for a Spanish style lunch and have the opportunity to get to know each other. After lunch we take you to our corrals and introduce you to the horses for the first time. Dinner is usually served at around 8.30pm.
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| Monday |
Your breakfast is self service, and is a choice of toast, cereals with teas, coffee and fruit juices. At 10 am you will make your way down the lane to where the horses are kept, you will be introduced to your horse and at 10.30am we will head off deeper into the forest for your first ride. Today is a fairly quiet ride giving rider and horse the opportunity to get to know each other. We wind along old drovers tracks still used to move sheep and cattle between farms, then turn into the Las Brenas Nature Park, a 5000 hectare protected forest which is characterized by beautiful woods of umbrella pines with rosemary, blackthorn and palms. The forest offers cool shade even on the hottest days, which can be a blessing sometimes. The trails through the forest are an absolute joy to ride through. The pine trees are well spaced, the turf firm under hoof and long uninterrupted paths allow us to canter along at a brisk pace. After a couple of hours we will break in the forest for lunch, then continue riding arriving back at Los Alamos around 3pm . The rest of the afternoon is for you to relax before we meet for dinner around 8.30pm. |
| Tuesday |
This will be your first visit to the beach with your horse, so pop on your sun cream and goggles. We will ride through the edge of the forest down to Cape Trafalgar and along ‘Playa de las Almas' (the beach of the souls, so called since the battle of Trafalgar washed its dead upon the shores here in 1806), tide permitting, you will have your first taste of a beach cantor or gallop. At this historic place with its old lighthouse you can see as far as Morocco . With smiles and sand on our faces arriving at the other end we will head off back to the forest and wind our way to the small village of San Ambrosio, where we will stop and have lunch in a local bar. We will then ride around the edge of the forest passing cattle farms and a Hermitage first built 700 AD, arriving back at Los Alamos approx 3.30pm.
Once again the rest of the afternoon is for you to siesta, just relax by the pool, before we meet up in the evening for dinner at around 8.30pm.
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| Wednesday |
We head off into the forest along sandy trails over to the Moorish look out tower “El Tajo”, which stand some 100 metres above sea level and is one of the beacons belonging to the military architecture of the 16th and 17th century which offers fantastic cliff views of Africa . As you are more confident with your horse this ride incorporates some fun wiggly canters and an exhilarating fire-break gallop. To day we will enjoy a picnic lunch out before arriving back at Los Alamos at approx 3.30pm. |
| Thursday |
Today the horses have a rest day and we drive to Jerez to visit the “Escuela de Arte Ecuestre” (The Royal School of Equestrian Art), where you will have the pleasure of experiencing one of the finest displays of horse showmanship anywhere in the world. It's truly breathtaking. After the show we will have lunch in a local Tapas Bar in Jerez . You will also get the opportunity to visit a large well stocked tack shop, and time permitting take in some sherry tasting. We return late afternoon to Los Alamos where you can reflect on the day's delights. |
| Friday |
This ride takes you through the forest towards the port of Barbate , the sandy tracks are perfect for long windy cantors, we drop down onto the old Roman cliff road where you will have stunning views of Barbate and the coast of Africa . The Barbary pirates who crossed the seas from North Africa plundered this coastline for centuries for its tuna and other riches, to combat this a series of watchtowers were built and remain almost in tact, which you can see from the Roman road. Heading back through the forest we will lunch at a small bar before heading for home and taking a small diversion for a gallop through the eucalyptus trees.
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| Saturday |
Oh no, this is the last days riding! But one you'll never forget. We set off early down to the beach of Cape Trafalgar where tide permitting you will have the opportunity for long cantors or gallops; we ride along the coastal path to the next beach of El Palmar for more fun. Leaving the beach with even more sand and bigger smiles on your faces we cross through the agricultural land along sandy tracks and drovers trails enjoying the views over the wide open landscape through sunflower, sugar beet and barley fields. The drover's trails have been used by Spanish and Moorish horsemen and cattlemen for hundreds of years and are still used to this day. The tracks are wide and sandy giving us opportunities for your last cantors. We will be having lunch outside San Ambrosio giving everyone a chance stop to have a well earned rest before carrying on home through the forest, where we bring an end to your unforgettable weeks riding. After saying your sad but fond farewells (until next time) to your horse we return to Los Alamos . We will meet for our farewell dinner at approx 8.30pm , where by now new friends have been made and new experiences can be reminisced over a glass or two of Rioja. |
| Sunday |
After breakfast we say our goodbyes, always sad but until we meet again, you will be driven back to Gibraltar to catch your flight home. |
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