Horse Back Riding tour through Southern Brazil

DAY 1: WELCOME TO PARADISE
Your guide is already waiting to welcome you at the Florianópolis airport in southern Brazil. The transfer from the airport to Campeche takes only 10 min.

In Campeche we will welcome you with the national drink of Brazil – take a seat and enjoy an ice-cold Brazilian Caipirinha. Enjoy the rest of the day at the beach only 100m from your hotel. Relax, sunbathe and unwind after the long flight or take a refreshing dip in the ocean.
In the evening, you’re invited to a get-together, so we can meet each other and your guide.

DAY 2: RELAXING ON THE BEACH OF CAMPECHE

Relaxation and swimming. This day can be spent as you please in order to acclimate yourself to the region and rest up for the big journey ahead. Optional: different trips and activities can be booked through us. Overnight stay in double rooms at the Pousada Natur Campeche. (B)

DAY 3: WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE GAÚCHOS!
After breakfast we’ll drive to the fazenda of Marcelo Silva Souza located in the Serra Catarinense.
His wife Silvana will prepare a delicious lunch for us. After lunch we will finally meet our horses and learn how to saddle a horse in the typical regional way. Our first ride brings us to Carlos and Silvana’s small 350-hectare private nature reserve. We will be served a delicious dinner at their Fazenda Curucaca.

Our ride back will start in the dark after dinner providing us with a view of the clear starry sky as we return to the home of Marcelo and Silvana with horse and torch. After we have stabled our horses, we’ll enjoy the rest of the evening together over ice-cold Brazilian beer. (B/D)

DAY 4: RIDING UP TO THE CANYONS

Today our real horseback riding starts. We will discover endless high plateaus and grazing land, clear blue rivers and creeks, canyons,monkey-puzzle forests, waterfalls and the diversity of species of the Atlantic mountain rain forest. From now on, we get up at 7, feed the horses, have breakfast and are in the saddle and ready to go by 9 at the very latest. At lunchtime we will stop at different fazendas (farms), where we will enjoy typical regional dishes prepared in Gaúcho
style or prepare our own food. After a short soneca (nap), we will continue riding until late
afternoon or early evening. We will sleep on farms that you’ll find both simple and comfortable.

On the first morning of our trip, we will ride up to the canyons of the Serra Panelão. Around lunchtime we will reach the Fazenda Serra do Panelão. After we’ve unsaddled our horses,
we’ll recharge our batteries at a hearty country buffet. The Fazenda Serra do Panelão is part puma territory, so maybe we’ll see one.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue our ride uphill. We’ll have to traverse some steep and difficult terrain as we approach the deep canyons. On our way back into the valley, we’ll see impressive forests of monkey-puzzle trees and giant ferns. We’ll ride alongside creeks, meet several small herds of cattle and pass remote farms where we’ll be greeted by the always-friendly inhabitants.
Soon we’ll reach a small pub and have a beer and chat with the locals. Saúde! Cheers!
By late afternoon, we’ll reach the fantastic Fazenda Villa da Montanha of Sonia and Walter.
We will sleep in small cabanas located before a natural rock façade nearly 200m high. (B/L/D)

DAY 5: HORSEBACK RIDING OVER THE CLOUDS AND ALONGSIDE GORGEOUS WATERFALLS

Today we start out before breakfast, rounding up and feeding our horses. If we are lucky, Sonia will serve us one of her famous breakfast specialities like chocolate cake made from scratch.

We say goodbye to our dear hosts and continue our journey to the pousada of Peti near the small provincial town of Urubici. This region is famous for its production of diverse fruits and vegetables. We’ll see peach, kiwi, apple and other fruit plantations. If the region has had enough rainfall within the last month, crossing one of the creeks near Urubici will certainly bring us some wet feet today.

After a lunch break at the pousada, we will continue our trip past Urubici and riding up to an altitude of 1.400 m. Our next stop will be at an enormous 120 m waterfall that can only be reached on foot or horseback. An impressive demonstration of natural beauty and power!
After passing one more of the small farms of the region, we’ll gallop through a huge grazing pasture and enjoy a fantastic view of the cloud-covered valley below. By early evening, we’ll reach the Fazenda Fogo Eterno, where we will be met with a great traditional churrasco (Brazilian barbecue). (B/L/D)

DAY 6: GRAZING PASTURES, CATTLE HERDS, PUMAS AND THE SIMPLE LIFE
Today we start out riding through the fog to the high plateau of the Coxilha Santa Barbara. Atop the high plateau, we will discover an endless flat grassland where several small herds of cattle graze.

From time to time, we will see puma tracks, and soon we’ll reach a mystical cemetery belonging to an old local family. Here you might feel the spirits of centuries past. After lunch and a short soneca, we’ll ride to an abandoned fazenda in the deserted countryside. After a short break for horse and rider, we’ll pass some forested valleys and stay overnight in the remote Fazenda Santa Barbara. Before bed we’ll enjoy a traditional dinner with the owner’s family. (B/L/D)

DAY 7: OLD CATTLE PASSAGEWAYS AND THE FAZENDA 15 DIAS
We saddle our horses after breakfast and start our tour today bound for one of the most beautiful and famous canyons of the region, but we can only make this visit if the fog is not too intense impairing our vision and that of our horses. Later we’ll pass through an old stone corridor built in the slave era for herding cattle from place to place. We might get to visit an old slave plantation or the existing ruins of one. We’ll prepare our own bag lunches to carry on the ride today. After lunch and a soneca, we’ll continue our ride, reaching our final destination of the day by late afternoon or early evening. The Fazenda 15 Dias is run by a friendly and simple family. Here we’ll find the true country lifestyle with horses, pigs, chickens, cows and dogs all around us. We will prepare our dinner together over an open fire. Tonight we’ll all sleep together in the hayloft! (B/L/D)

DAY 8: THE CANYONS OF THE SERRA RIO DO RASTRO
After breakfast we’ll continue our ride through small willows and canyons. In the afternoon, we’ll reach our final destination – the canyons of the Serra Rio do Rastro. Here the canyons reach depths of 1500 m and we’ll have a breathtaking view over the beautiful valley. When weather permits, it is possible to see the Atlantic Ocean far away on the horizon 200 km in the distance. The view is incredible! By early evening, we’ll reach the Rio do Rastro Eco
Resort where the Criollo, a unique breed of horse, is bred. A delicious churrasco is waiting for us. Tonight we will sleep in comfortable rooms at the Eco Resort. (B/L/D)

DAY 9: HORSEBACK RIDING AT THE SERRA RIO DO RASTRO AND TRANSFER TO LAGOA
In the morning, we’ll take a short ride once again to the impressive Rio do Rastro canyon.
After returning to the Eco Resort for lunch, we’ll feed our horses, help load them in the transporter and bid them a heavy-hearted farewell. After lunch we’ll start our return trip to Lagoa da Conceição, one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods on the Ilha da Magia, where we’ll check in at the lakefront Pousada Casa da Lagoa.

Casa da Lagoa is a small cosy pousada at the centre of Lagoa da Conceição, the most visited
part of the island of Florianópolis. The pousada is located at the end of a small quiet road only
30 m from the lake. In the nearby neighbourhood, you will find numerous bars, cafés, shops and
restaurants. The sunny rooms of the pousada are stylishly decorated and the affectionately
designed garden offers enough space to relax in the sun. (B/L)

DAY 10: A RELAXING DAY IN LAGOA DA CONCEIÇÃO
After a long week in the saddle, we should use today to sleep a bit later and relax. You could spend the day at one of the beautiful beaches or have a coffee in one of the small neighbourhood cafés. (B/-)

DAY 11: TREKKING CANTO DOS ARAÇÁS
After breakfast we’ll make a trip to explore the local nature of the island. To reach our starting point, we take a small ferry along the beautiful lake coast before we reach Canto dos Araçás. From there we trek about 3 hours along the coast. Here we can feel the real magia da ilha, the magic of the island, trekking small paths along the coast through the Atlantic rainforest. We will pass bamboo forests, small fishing villages, waterfalls, ruins from the time of the slaves and a fully functional flourmill. We will reach a lookout point from where we’ll enjoy the fantastic view of the ocean, the dunes and the mangrove forests.

After lunch at a restaurant in one of the small fishing villages, we ferry back again to the small harbour of Lagoa da Conceição. Overnight stay will again be at Pousada Casa da Lagoa. (B/L)

DAY 12: ONE LAST DAY RELAXING IN PARADISE
Before you pack your bags and prepare to leave Brazil, you’ll have one last chance to spend the day relaxing in paradise. We can offer you an optional trip to the beautiful small island of Campeche not far from our pousada. We will catch a small fishing boat to the uninhabited island with a Caribbean feel. On the island you’ll find signs of the indigenous people who lived there long ago.

DAY 13: DEPARTURE
It’s time to say goodbye. This trip will leave a lasting impression and many fond memories.
We are sure that you will never forget our country, the locals, the nature and the people you meet here. Your guide will take you to the Florianópolis airport. Take care and we hope to see you again soon. Beijo e um abraço. (B/-)