Skip to main content

Spain, Costa de la Luz

Costa de la Luz is the part of the Andalusian coast that extends from Tarifa to Portugal. Mass tourism has not reached this area yet, so here it is still genuine and personal, and you can get to know the real Spain. Join Jesus, who is a passionate rider since childhood, on trail rides, on one of his beautiful horses.

At the trail ride Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez you will enjoy riding on beautiful beaches, among sand dunes and in two beautiful national parks with their famous corks. And for many the highlight of the week, visit the equivalent of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, with the associated show. You will stay at two nice hotels of good standard where you can enjoy good dinners with wine. The lunches will be enjoyed at small local taverns or consist of good picnics.

On the Trail ride From Ronda to Gibraltar, you are following the route of the 19th century travellers “when writers and artists and painters, known as “the Romantics”, came from all over Europe and as far away as America, to follow this route from the coast of Spain to the Royal city of Ronda. You will also see traces of the Moorish occupation between the 8th and 15th centuries which left behind towers, castles, and fortresses. As well as the historical significance, the scenery is unsurpassed.

The rides are characterized by Jesus' local knowledge, enthusiasm, horsemanship and pleasant manners that both horses and riders love.

 

Full text search

Spain, Costa de la Luz - From Gibraltar to Ronda

Spain, Costa de la Luz - From Gibraltar to Ronda

The horse trail leaves from the Campo de Gibraltar and arrives in Ronda following the route of the 19th century travellers “when writers and artists and painters, known as “the Romantics”, came from all over Europe and as far away as America, to follow this route from the coast of Spain to the Royal city of Ronda.
Here you will also see traces of the Moorish occupation between the 8th and 15th centuries which left behind towers, castles, and fortresses.As well as the historical significance, the scenery is unsurpassed.

Riders must wear shoes or boots suitable for riding and walking over rough ground. On this ride there are several occasions when horses have to be led due to the terrain.

Preliminary day-by-day program

Day 1 - Day 1   Welcome - Customer pick-up in Malaga airports and transfer to Los Barrios starting point. Horse allocating.
Dinner and accommodation in “Finca las majadillas o similar”

Day 2 Los Barrios - Castellar  
This trail allows you to discover the Hispano-Muslim frontier heritage of the province from a privileged location in the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, the southern edge of the Sierra de los Melones. The route heads north from Castellar Castle, built during the Nazar kingdom.
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback (three in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and Accommodation in “Hotel rural la Almoraima o similar”
Picnic on the route

Day 3 Castellar - Jimena de la Frontera  T
The roads and crossroads that on this route are in the middle of forests of holm oaks, cork oaks and a leafy thicket of rockrose, gorse and thyme, the ideal setting for the bandits who inhabited these lands. You will ride beneath The Castle of Jimena de la Frontera an important defense for the Nasrid Kingdom which linked
Castellar with Jimena.
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback (half in the morning and another half in the afternoon)
Accommodation and dinner in “Private cortijo rural”
Picnic on the route

Day 4 Jimena de la Frontera - Gaucin 
The romantic legend of these lands is linked to the famous “Bandoleros” of the Serrania de Ronda. They were highwaymen who hid in the hills and the forests to rob the wealthy travellers going to Ronda. You will ride along the paths that the smugglers used to take, carrying tobacco and other goods from the coast
to Ronda from where it was distributed throughout Andalucía and Spain.
Approximate duration: 4,5h 5 hours on horseback (three in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and accommodation ”Hotel las buitreras o similar".
Picnic on the route.

Day 5 Gaucin – Cortes de la frontera  
This route never disappoints, it is a charming, rough valley, a colourful mosaic, like a lush garden thanks to the care of its inhabitants, who have wisely managed to exploit its resources without undermining its landscape and natural beauty. Today's route takes you through some of the old trails used by the muleteers transporting the wheat and olives that were milled in the numerous mills on the banks of the Guadiaro River.
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback
Dinner and accommodation in “Hotel las camaretas o similar”
Picnic on the route.

Day 6 Cortes de la frontera - Montejaque
The itinerary winds through valleys and slopes following the historic route deep in the Serranía de Ronda. The fruit trees and irrigation of the Guadiaro valley give way to the sharp slopes, forested hillsides, and bare rocks of the landscape. You follow a beautiful path above and then climb up to where you look across to the ancient city of Ronda and its famous gorge. Riding along an old, cobbled lane under the gorge.
Approximate duration 4,5 hours on horseback (three hours in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and accommodation in “Las casitas de la sierra” o similar
Picnic on the route.

Day 7 Montejaque- Ronda  
Ancient Ronda is a colourful tapestry woven from a skein of tangled threads which make it one of the most interesting cities in all Andalusia. The landscape, the layout of the town, its history, the romantic legend of its bandits with their evocative names, the cradle of bullfighters and artists whose names have gone down in
history: all this makes Ronda a unique city.
Approximate duration 4 hours on horseback
Dinner and accommodation in Hotel Puerto las muelas Ronda o similar
Picnic on the route

Day 8. Transfer to airport after breakfast.

Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez

Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez

We offer you a tour of the southernmost territory of both Spain and Europe, picking a seven-day itinerant route that goes through both coast and mountains. Campo de Gibraltar is a region located southeast of the province of Cadiz acting as a border between Europe and Africa, as well as the Gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. That and the colony of Gibraltar makes it one of the top strategic locations in Europe. We’ll enjoy two natural parks, Los Alcornocales Natural Park, which houses the biggest, most continuous and best cared of mass of cork oaks. Its botanical and mycological richness justly earns Los Alcornocales its fame as the last European forest. The second Natural Park will be the strait of Gibraltar, where hundreds of millions of birds cross the strait every year in their migratory voyage between Europe and Africa, making it not only one of the most prominent destinations for bird watching, but one of the most ecologically diverse places in Europe too. 

Visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation, based in Jerez de la Frontera, is worldwide famous for their “How Andalusian Horses Dance”, a unique show that both exhibits and summarizes in a seemingly natural way all the work that the institution has done since its foundation. Lunch with Flamenco Performance in a typical tablao flamenco.

Prelimiary day-by-day program

Day 1  Welcome - Customer pick-up in Malaga or Jerez airports and transfer to Los Barrios starting point. Horse allocating. 
Accomodation Hotel la Montera **** o  ”Finca las Majadillas”

Day 2 Los Barrios - Ojéns dal | "Prisoners 'Way" - We will go through the roads that were made by the Republican prisoners between 1931 and 1942, before World War II started. The route offers a splendid view over the Valley of Ojén, where you’ll be able to witness the great contrast between the areas of pastures of cattle and the leafy cork trees forests, as well as the bushy masses of gall in the wettest lands. You’ll also enjoy the particularly striking view off all kind of birds resting on these valleys.
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback (three in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and  Accommodation in Hotel la Montera or “Finca las majadillas”   Picnic on the route.

Day 3 Valley of Ojén – Tarifa “Bandits’ mountains and enchanted forests” - We will cross the mountains where the bandits once lived and assaulted carriages loaded with items coming from the landings in Gibraltar. 
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback (Half in the morning and another half in the afternoon)
Accommodation and dinner in “Hotel La Peña” in Tarifa o similar. Lunch in either a typical bar or a picnic on the way. 

Day 4  Tarifa (Circular)  “  Land of Phoenicians”  - This coastal territory was populated by the Phoenicians, and the Romans took advantage of the settlement to install several factories of sea products, as well as to establish a small colony that slowly grew into a rather important one back in the second century BC. We’ll ride for Punta Paloma through a pine forest along the Atlantic coast, enjoying splendid vews of the African continent. The Atlantic coast of Tarifa that we’ll traverse back mostly runs through fine sandy beach trails.
Approximate duration: 5 hours on horseback (three in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and accommodation in “Hotel la Torre”  o similar in Tarifa. Lunch in either a typical restaurant or picnic on the way 

Day 5. Breakfast in typical road restaurant in Jerez. Visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation, based in Jerez de la Frontera, is worldwide famous for their “How Andalusian Horses Dance”, a unique show that both exhibits and summarizes in a seemingly natural way all the work that the institution has done since its foundation. Lunch with Flamenco Performance in a typical tablao flamenco.          
Accommodation and Dinner  in “Hotel la Torre” or similar.

Day 6  Tarifa – Algeciras “Pillars of Hercules” - This could be considered the southernmost route of the Iberian Peninsula. It runs parallel to the coast through an old livestock route. The whole route constitutes a splendid natural viewpoint to the Strait, Morocco, and the colony of Gibraltar, with the other pillar of Hercules, the Djebel Musa, forever standing at the other side. The Djebel Musa was a mythological element in the strait of Gibraltar. It was the boundary of the Greek World until, according to Greek historian Herodotus, Colomo Satos went through back in the 7th century BC. 
Approximate duration 5 hours on horseback (three hours in the morning and two after lunch). Picnic on the way.   
 Dinner and accommodation in “Hotel Meson Sancho” Algeciras o similar.

Day 7 “ La Trocha” Following Centuries-old paths - We will follow the path that has been used for centuries. The voyage to Cadiz along the coast seemed full of dangers, due to the continuous attacks of the pirates. But
the alternative route in the inland was also not without difficulties. La Trocha was a horseshoe road, impossible to pass with carriages. The road was used by those who were brave and those who dared to take the road. Because by taking this road they saved a day travelling on their way to Cadiz. Frequented by smugglers it was a complicated crossing because of the time, according to the travelers, any encounter raised suspicions. It is a hidden areas of the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful and wild landscapes of Andalusia. Shadowy slopes, cliffs, ravines and deep gorges crossed by streams where only the murmur of water is heard. Upholstered by a green cloak of cork oaks a surprising landscape that many do not know.
Approximate duration 5 hours on horseback (three hours in the morning and two after lunch)
Dinner and accommodation in “Hotel La Montera” Los barrios o similar.

Day 8. Transfer to the airport after breakfast

Accommodation & food

On the trail ride Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez you stay in 2 different hotels in double rooms with shower and toilet and on the trail ride Gibraltar to Ronda you change accommodation every night. Single room: Can be booked with a supplement. For price click "Book on request" under Dates & price. If there is no one to share room with, there will be single room supplement. Towel and sheets are included. 

Most lunches are served at small local restaurants that you pass by, with the horses kindly waiting outside, or you are offered a good picnic with a glass of wine. The dinners are three courses and you will get to taste many of the region's specialties in both food and drink.

Travel information

Ability description: Trail Ride Level 2-3 >>

Included in the price: 7 nights, 5 days riding, full board incl. water and one glass of wine or beer with meals

Not included: Flights, insurance, drinks (except above) and extras not mentioned. 

Travel: Book flight/rental car >> 
Fly to Malaga

Transfer: Book in advance with HorseXplore and inform about your flight times.
From the airport in Malaga it takes about 2.5 hours to your first accommodation.
Price: One group transfer is included
Meeting point: At 18.00 by the Exit in the arrivals hall. Departure earliest at 07.00 from the last nights accommodation, please book a flight with departure after 12.00.

Single room: Can be booked with a supplement. For price click on ”Book on request” under Dates & prices. If there is no one to share room with, single supplement will be added. 

Currency: EURO
Credit card: You can pay with credit card at the hotels
Tipping: Not expected.

Wifi: Yes
Electricity jack: EU-standard

Group size:  Min. 4 and maximum 10 on Beach Ride and Jerez. On Trailride Gibraltar to Ronda min. 5 and max 8. 

Season: Set dates

Horses: Andalusian och andalusian crossings. You ride in English saddles. Saddlebags are available. Your luggage will be transported with car.

Pool: In several of the hotels but not in all

Climate

 

Dates and prices

DateDaysName of tripPrice from
24/03/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - from Gibraltar till RondaEUR 2,250Book on request
07/04/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in JerezEUR 1,830Book on request
20/04/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in JerezEUR 1,830Book on request
26/05/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in JerezEUR 1,830Book on request
22/09/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - from Gibraltar till RondaEUR 2,250Book on request
20/10/20248Spain, Costa de la Luz - Beach Ride and Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in JerezEUR 1,830Book on request
Contact us
Address:
HorseXplore
Norra Catalinagränd 17
183 68 TÄBY
Sweden