CONQUISTADORS- VILLUERCAS GEOPARK

Progressive ride in 5 days riding, from the lovely town of Trujillo following East direction to the Villuercas Geopark (UNESCO), getting picturesque villages in the Villuercas Mountains as Berzocana and Cañamero, coming back to Trujillo through the gorgeous landscape of Dehesa, holm and cork oaks woods and pastures, the most emblematic landscape in Extremadura.

 

This ride starts and finishes in Trujillo, very historic town with a mix of cultures, still exist Roman remains from the Roman town Turgallium, which nowadays is Trujillo. In the top of the town there is an spectacular Castle founded in the 10th century by Arabs, in the main square many beautiful palaces built by Spanish Conquistadors during the 16th-century. Many storks, eagles, swallows can be seen circling the nests on the roof of the churches and palaces in the Plaza Mayor, very good atmosphere.

 

Trujillo is very famous for its monuments and because it was the birthplace of Francisco Pizarro and his brothers, conquerors of Peru, as well as of Francisco de Orellana, who accomplished the first descent of the River Amazon. Pizarro’s equestrian statue stands in the Plaza Mayor.

 

The landscape during the ride is spectacular, holm and cork oaks woods and pastures, called Dehesa, the most emblematic landscape in Extremadura and the impressive landscape of Villuercas GEOPARK by UNESCO, perfect for riding with our excellent horses.

 

Emilio knows the terrain and the trails very well and will show you interesting facts along the way.

CONQUISTADORS- EXTREMADURA TREASURES

Stationary ride in 5 days riding with 2 days on a mini trais and visits to Mérida, Cáceres World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

The trail is based in the lovely town of Trujillo and during your stay you will enjoy 2 very interesting visits to the most important towns in Extremadura: CÁCERES and MÉRIDA, both World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Mérida, is a real spectacle, with its complex that includes the Roman theatre and amphitheatre built in 8 BC. Cáceres which medieval center is a UNESCO world heritage site, delimited by Arab walls, cobbled medieval streets, fortified homes and Renaissance palaces.

In addition to these incredible sites, the region contains exceptional wildlife and natural landscapes which you will discover on horseback. During your stay you will enjoy 2 full days riding and 3 half days riding.

The landscape during the ride is spectacular, holm and cork oaks woods and pastures, called Dehesa, the most emblematic landscape in Extremadura.

A great combination of excellent riding, having fun in Trujillo and some amazing historical visits in Trujillo, Mérida and Cáceres.

The pace of this ride is moderated depends on the terrain, walk, trots and with good canters when is possible. The distance covered on the average is 25-35 km per day. The landscape changes every day. Normally we do not walk leading horses, except any circumstances that required like in this ride 20 minutes on the third day downhill.

 

LEVEL OF RIDING

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group and in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. On the rides you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

 

GUIDE

Every ride is personally guided by the experienced Emilio, with an experience over 30 years as equestrian guide he is a terrific guide. Emilio is expert rider and has a special ability to match his horses with riders. He is leading the groups with his confident and well-mannered horses that are a pleasure to ride and to be around, you will always feel very safe. He is English speaker.

 

HORSES

Excellent PRE horses, Hispano-Arabs, born at home, very much loved, very well trained, beautifully looked after and good natured, very easy to ride. They are all well fed and in great riding shape.

 

TACK

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

 

HELMET

We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

CONQUISTADORS- VILLUERCAS GEOPARK

7days trip/ 6 nights/5 days riding

 

Day 1 MADRID AIRPORT – TRUJILLO

Meet at Madrid airport (meeting time is at 3pm), transfer to Trujillo, 2,5 hours drive. Time to visit to the spectacular town of Trujillo before welcome dinner at the hotel with us where we learn about the ride and region on the map.

 

Day 2 TRUJILLO- HERGUIJUELA-GARCIAZ

Transfer from Trujillo to Herguijuela. Distribution of horses. It is an easy day, is time to meet the horses. Riding through the Dehesa, the Mediterranean forest, the habitat most similar covered Extremadura thousands of years ago.

Comfortable lunch in the countryside with excellent paella, cooked by us at the spot, good wines, salad, fresh fruit and coffee or tea with chocolate and biscuit.

After lunch short afternoon to Garciaz where the horses spend the night, no accommodation for riders so, transfer (15 min) to Madroñera. Night and dinner at small and beautiful rural hotel. Time on the saddle 5 hours.

 

Day 3 GARCIAZ- BERZOCANA

Beautiful views of the best preserved Mediterranean forests. The dominant species are the evergreen oaks, the holm or cork oaks and the deciduous oaks.

Comfortable lunch in the countryside, always with starters, main course, salad, fresh fruit, coffee or tea with chocolate and biscuit; good wines, beer, refreshment, the cool box is always open to everyone. Afternoon with magnificent views of the Sierra de las Villuercas, we get the Villuercas mountains in Berzocana, a beautiful small village in the mountains. Night and dinner at very nice rural hotel with spectacular sunsets over the Villuercas Geopark, time on the saddle 7 hours.

 

Day 4 BERZOCANA-LOGROSAN

We can enjoy the view over the impressive Villuercas landscape, from the top of the mountains, with great mountainous views all around 360º. On any day riding we can observe Vultures, Eagles, Azure-winged Magpies, Red-billed Choughs, Shrikes and Ravens.

Villuercas has been declared Geopark (UNESCO, 2011) because of its Cultural and Natural Heritage and, of course, the great geological value of its relief, with a lot of interesting and visible geological elements. Very rural region, fields with stone walls. Comfortable Lunch in the countryside. Afternoon with good canters. Night and dinner at nice rural hotel, time on the saddle 6 hours.

 

Day 5 LOGROSAN-ZORITA

Good trots and canters in the morning by the Dehesa. Cattle can be seen everywhere, cows, sheep, goats and iberic pigs. They still live in a way which is reminiscent of bygone days. After the luxury pic-nic, in the afternoon, good canters to Zorita. Dinner at local restaurant, night at rural Inn. Time on the saddle 6 hours.

 

Day 6 ZORITA-TRUJILLO

We will ride in Dehesa Extremeña with good and long trots and canters to return to the beginning of the ride. After the lunch in the countryside, short afternoon to the horses place. Time in the afternoon to visit Trujillo town. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

 

Day 7 TRUJILLO-MADRID AIRPORT

Breakfast at hotel, departure from Trujillo at 10 a.m., to be at Madrid Airport about 12.30 p.m. so, please flights not before 2 p.m. All riders will be transferred at the same time, if any rider needs to arrive Madrid before, all riders depart earlier or we can arrange special transfer at extra cost.

 

ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

CONQUISTADORS- EXTREMADURA TREASURES

7days trip/ 6 nights/5 days riding

1. OVERVIEW

Stationary ride in 5 days riding with 2 days on a mini trail and visits to Mérida and Cáceres, World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

The trail is based in the lovely town of Trujillo and during your stay you will enjoy 2 very interesting visits to the most important towns in Extremadura: CÁCERES and MÉRIDA, both World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Mérida, is a real spectacle, with its complex that includes the Roman theatre and amphitheatre built in 8 BC. Cáceres which medieval center is a UNESCO world heritage site, delimited by Arab walls, cobbled medieval streets, fortified homes and Renaissance palaces.

In addition to these incredible sites, the region contains exceptional wildlife and natural landscapes which you will discover on horseback. During your stay you will enjoy 2 full days riding and 3 half days riding.

The landscape during the ride is spectacular, holm and cork oaks woods and pastures, called Dehesa, the most emblematic landscape in Extremadura.

A great combination of excellent riding, having fun in Trujillo and some amazing historical visits in Trujillo, Mérida and Cáceres.

2. ITINERARY

7days trip/ 6 nights/5 days riding

Day 1 MADRID AIRPORT – TRUJILLO

Meet at Madrid airport (meeting time is at 3pm), transfer to Trujillo, 2,5 hours drive. Once accommodated in your hotel for the week, welcome dinner with your hosts where we learn about the ride and region on the map.

The order of the days can be flexible but during your stay you will have:

• HALF DAY RIDING AND VISIT TO MÉRIDA TOWN

After breakfast at the hotel, horses are already tack up, ready to go! we mount up for a lovely ride along the ancient cattle paths between fields and green pastures with carpets of wildflowers. Riding in the surroundings of Trujillo with great views of skyline of the historical town through the quiet paths with stone walls that make you move in time hundreds of years in the area called “Berrocal de Trujillo”.

After the luxury pic-nic with good local wines (Extremadura red wine is excellent and almost unobtainable anywhere else), in the afternoon, visit to Mérida (45-min drive from Trujillo).

Mérida, is a real spectacle, with its complex that includes the Roman theatre, amphitheater and Roman bridge cross the River Guadiana.

Mérida was founded by the Romans in 25 BC as Augusta Emerita, the capital of the Roman province Lusitania, one of the most important towns in Iberia.

This afternoon you could visit the historic town and the Roman theatre during a couple of hours. There are audio guides available (not included tickets to Museums and Monuments, guided visits or  drinks/snacks in bars)

Dinner and night in Trujillo.

2-MINI TRAIL TO FINCA SANTA MARTA- FULL DAY RIDING

Today you get to ride through these ancient Mediterranean Forests, with beautiful views, open landscape. In the afternoon, you will ride in the Dehesa and alongside olive trees and vineyards lined by stone walls.

Good red and white local wines. After lunch, you will ride for a further two hours in the afternoon, getting the Finca at time to have a relaxing break before your dinner.

Finca Santa Marta is a former olive oil mill which was converted into a country inn, situated in the heart of the outstanding natural landscape of the Extremadura dehesa, with swimming pool and olive grove, still possible to visit the old olive oil mill.

3-FINCA SANTA MARTA – TRUJILLO- FULL DAY RIDING

Good trots and canters in the morning by open natural landscape. Natural landscape and cattle can be seen everywhere, cows, sheep, goats and iberic pigs. They still live in a way which is reminiscent of bygone days. After the luxury pic-nic, in the afternoon, good canters to Trujillo. Dinner and night in Trujillo.

4- HALF DAY RIDING AND VISIT TO CACERES TOWN

This day the riding will be in the morning, with beautiful views of the best-preserved Mediterranean forests. Rolling hectares of holm oaks, the classic landscape in Extremadura “Dehesa”. Comfortable lunch in the countryside, with starters, main course, salad, fresh fruit, coffee or tea with chocolate and biscuit; good wines. In afternoon transfer to Cáceres for a visit to this historical World heritage site by Unesco. Dinner and night in Trujillo.

The Old Town of Cáceres, just a 30-min drive from Trujillo, is a World Heritage site and every corner is full of charm. The Old Town is a wonderful medieval and renaissance complex full of history and palaces. This afternoon you will visit Cáceres for a couple of hours (not included tickets to Museums and Monuments, guided visits or drinks/snacks in bars)

Visiting Trujillo and Cáceres feels you have stepped back in time or in the middle of a medieval movie. And it’s for this very reason that Game of Thrones chose Cáceres and Trujillo as a filming location!

 

5.-HALF DAY RIDING AND VISIT TO TRUJILLO

After breakfast at the hotel, horses already tack up ready to go! We mount up for a lovely ride along open natural landscape. Green open spaces and cattle can be seen everywhere.  Lovely picnic lunch with an excellent paella cooked at the spot with good wines

 

Time in the afternoon to visit Trujillo, very historic town with a mix of cultures, still exist Roman remains from the Roman town, on the top of the town there is an spectacular Castle founded in the 10th century by Arabs, in the main square many beautiful palaces built by Spanish Conquistadors during the 16th-century and the equestrian statue of Pizarro. Many storks, eagles, swallows can be seen circling the nests on the roof of the churches and palaces in the Plaza Mayor, very good atmosphere. There are also two museums – Casa-Museo de Pizarro and Centro de Visitantes Los Descubridores (not included tickets to Museums and Monuments, guided visits or drinks/snacks in bars). Ideal way to discover this lovely town of Extremadura, which invites you to explore its cobbled streets on foot. Night and dinner at beautiful hotel.

 

Day 7 TRUJILLO-MADRID AIRPORT

Breakfast at hotel, departure from Trujillo at 10 a.m., to be at Madrid Airport about 1 p.m. so, please flights not before 3 p.m. All riders will be transferred at the same time, if any rider needs to arrive Madrid before, all riders depart earlier, or we can arrange special transfer at extra cost.

*SPECIAL DATE OCT 11-17, 2020

This special date includes a visit by car on October the 12^th (Hispanity day) to the traditional Pilgrimage on horseback to Guadalupe monastery.

Very traditional pilgrimage from any place of Spain to the Monastery on Oct 12^th. Since its founding in XIV century, it has became one of the major pilgrimage centres of the Ibérica peninsula.

ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

Please get in touch with us for any further information

The accommodation and the customer attention in every aspect of the rides is all to an excellent standard.

 

The accommodation along the way varies from charming rural Inn in villages to delightful hotel in Trujillo town. All rooms have private bathrooms. All of them very clean and comfortable.

 

Single rooms are possible on request with a single supplement.

 

The food is another highlight of this trip, Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you in any unexpected place with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc. Lunchtime is relaxing and social affair with delicious home cooked Spanish dishes as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads, soft cheese very typical from Extremadura “Torta del Casar”, excellent quality, followed by a siesta in the peace of the countryside.

 

After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you have a choice from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes, your dinner is at your guesthouse accommodation. All the drinks are included during the meals, excellent Spanish red and white wines, beer, canned drinks and water.

 

There is Wi-Fi in every place we stay and is for free.

 

There are towels, shampoo and liquid soap in each room and in some places they have hair driers.

 

Special diet (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.

 

The accommodation has been carefully chosen by us, due to the quality and also because of the place for horses, they will normally rest in a field next to the hotel where we spend the nights.

 

A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and also to move your luggage, so you have access to your luggage during the day at least 3 times or when is necessary, so it is not necessary to carry anything on the horse. You have some small saddle bags in front of the saddles for small things, such as a bottle water, sunscreen, camera, mobile. The service along the rides is outstanding.

MEETING POINT AND TIMING?

The meeting point is Madrid Airport for all the itineraries. Emilio, Mamen or both will personally do the transfer. Telephone number in case of delay: +34 635 433 079 (Emilio)/ +34 609 833 783 (Mamen),

The meeting time is at 3:00 pm, so please flights on the first day not after 2 pm. The transfer Madrid airport –Trujillo-Madrid airport is included (for group of 4 riders or more). The transfer from Madrid airport to Trujillo is about 2,5 hours.

The transfer back to the airport on the last day will be at 10 to be at the airport about 12 pm, so please flights on the last day not before 2 pm.

All riders will be transferred at the same time, so if any rider needs a different transfer we can arrange transfer at extra cost.

 

WEITGH LIMIT?

90 Kgs / 198 Lbs.

 

NUMBER OF RIDERS?

Min 2 to Max usually 10

 

TRIP LENGTH?

“Conquistadors ride” The itinerary is 7 days, 6 nights, 5 days riding from Sunday to Saturday. The length of the ride it is around 150 km.

 

NON RIDERS?

The ride is suitable for non-riding companions; they can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish can rent a car in Madrid too. They can move in their own and join the group for dinner.

 

LEVEL OF RIDING?

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. On the rides you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

 

WHAT I NEED TO BRING?

We recommend you to check the weather forecast before coming, always is important to bring sunglasses, sun cream and a rain coat.

 

WHAT TYPE OF TACK?

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

 

DO I NEED TO WEAR HELMET?

We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

 

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

It is a condition of your booking that you take out a travel insurance covering you for all medical expenses, injury, cancellation, baggage and personal effects for the entire duration of your trip at the time of booking.

If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

 

WI-FI?

There is Wi-Fi in every accommodation we spend the nights and is for free.

 

AGE LIMIT?

There is not an upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy, keep in mind we are long hours on the saddle for 4 to 7 hours a day. Minimum riding age is 10 years old, competent riders, accompanied by an adult.

 

WHEN CAN I RIDE WITH YOU?

We are opened all year round, so it is possible riding with us in Gredos or in Extremadura all around the year.

 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO COME?

In Extremadura the winter is dry, sunny and good temperatures for riding, it is a good time to come February, March, October, November, December.

 

DO YOU CATER FOR SPECIAL DIET?

Special diet (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.