Spain, Almeria - Cabo de Gata Star Ride
This is the programme for riders looking to explore the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar with a knowledgeable guide and excellent horses. The park features virgin beaches, valleys and small fishing villages - all of which you can experience whilst staying in the same comfortable accommodation each night. 5 half days riding (ca 3 hours/day).
If you are a total beginner or have little experience and would like to have more confidence in the saddle you can instead learn to ride. By the end of the programme you should be happily walking and trotting in open countryside, having learnt good riding techniques from Manolo. He has great horses for beginners and years of experience in giving riders confidence.
The Beginners Programme combines riding lessons with trails in the beautiful Spanish countryside and can be done at your own pace
6 nights B&B, 5 half days riding (ca 3 hours/day)
Program
PRELIMINARY DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM
Below is an example of day program. If you are a beginner you will get lessons instead and in the end of the week you should be happily walking and trotting in open countryside
DAY 1. ARRIVAL.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Rodalquilar and will be able to discuss the coming week with your guide. Same accommodation all week.
DAY 2. TORRE DE LOS LOBOS - EL PLAYAZO
You will ride along the famous beach of El Playazo. With its golden, crystalline sand within a white rugged setting and overlooked by the castle of San Ramon, this is a spectacularly beautiful ride.
DAY 3. LAS MINAS DE ORO
Cross the interior, full of old mines and climb up through ravines which serve as the only connection to the inland farms. Ride through the crater which forms the Rodalquilar valley and discover mineral walls where the remains of hidden gold can still be found. The mines were operational from 1933 until 1986.
DAY 4. THE ANDALUCIAN WESTERN
Today you will visit quaint villages such as Los Albaricoques, where you will discover the scenery from many Spaghetti Western movies. For those who have watched the likes of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "A Fistful of Dollars", some of the streets may seem awfully familiar! You will also ride past the "Friar's farmhouse" which inspired the novel "Bodas de Sangre" by Federico Garcia.
DAY 5. THE VULCANOES
Today's rid will be an opportunity to visit the great craters of the volcanoes that originally formed the Cabo de Gata National Park. Despite the passing of thousands of years, evidence of the force of these valconic eruptions is still visible today.
DAY 6. LAS NEGRAS
On the way to Las Negras you ride past vegetable gardens which are irrigated by water flowing from Rambla de las Aguillas and collected in a series of pools near the sea. The village of Las Negras is a simple collection of white houses overlooking the sea. Your return path leads to San Pedro Cala with some impressive ecological sights.
DAY 7. DEPARTURE
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport, bus terminal or train station in Almeria.