Ride World Wide

Riding holidays and horse safaris

South America ~ Uruguay

A small South American country that is unexpectedly diverse, Uruguay has fertile rolling grasslands that are ideal for cattle farming, large estancias where gauchos and horses continue to play a major role in day to day life, a wonderful coastline of unspoilt, sandy beaches and, overall, superb and varied riding country. Taking you across a variety of these large estancias, over sand dunes and deserted beaches, through palm groves and past inland lakes teeming with wildfowl these rides also include visits to historic Portuguese forts, nights in authentic working estancias and comfortable beachside hotels and a chance to see dolphins, black necked swans, parrots and capybaras (the giant guinea-pig like creatures of the South American wetlands). Added to this the company of friendly locals and skilled gauchos who tell you of their lives and traditions, make them a wonderful South American experience.

Rides are run on set dates between October and April and offer an 8 night / 9 day itinerary. Set date rides will be confirmed when there are a minimum of 4 and for maximum of 12. Other rides for groups of 4 to 12 people can be run by arrangement from dates to suit on request, subject to availability, between October to April. Please call us to discuss dates, your plans and availability.


Riding: 5-7 hours a day.

Horses: Uruguayan Criollo breed.

Pace: moderate, with good chances to canter.

Riding ability: intermediate riders and above.

Weight limit: 95 kgs/15 stone.

Accommodation: private hacienda and 3* hotel.

Group size: max 12.

For Uruguay testimonials click here

The horses used are mostly the local Uruguayan Criollo breed. They are between 14.2hh and 16hh, are very well suited to the terrain and are also responsive, forward going and a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Tack is South American style with saddles similar to western, covered with a large sheepskin - very comfortable for long hours in the saddle. The horses are trained western style to neck rein and a relaxed riding style with a loose contact with the horses mouth is required. Saddle bags are available for personal belongings and pack horses or vehicles transport most equipment.

Hours: There is usually between 5 and 7 hours riding a day, following routes through open grassland, palmgroves, rolling hills, sand dunes and along unspoilt beaches. Breaks for rests, lunch and sightseeing.

Pace and experience required: To take part in these rides you need to be a reasonably experienced rider. You should be comfortable, secure and in control on a well schooled horse at the walk, trot and canter and used to riding in open country and over varied terrain. You should have a reasonably good level of general and riding fitness.

Accommodation is in a combination of hotels and Estancias (ranches), all are comfortable and most have either indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Bedrooms all have their own private bathrooms. Single rooms can be arranged on request. The older traditional properties have wonderful charm and offer a unique experience into country life on the working Estancias.

Rates 2010 Rates
Spring 2010 - USD 2400
Autumn 2010 & Spring 2011 - USD 2650
Single supplement USD 380

Christmas Rides (7nights) - USD 2750
Single supplement - USD 350

Rates include - all riding, guiding and equipment, twin accommodation, meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on the last day, meeting in Montevideo on day 1 and return transfer to Montevideo on the last day.

Rates exclude - international flights to Uruguay, personal medical insurance (compulsory), dinner in Montevideo on the first night, personal expenditure such as your bar bills at the estancias, laundry or telephone calls, airport taxes, any visa fees or any tips you might wish to leave.

Prices are quoted in US dollars as the ride prices in Uruguay are set in this currency. Payments to us can of course be made in pounds sterling if you wish and we can give you a sterling rate at the time of booking.
Dates 2010

Atlantic Coast Ride
27th February to 7th March
13th to 21st March
10th to 18th April
30th October to 7th November
13th to 21st November
27th November to 5th December

19th to 26th December*
27th December to 3rd January*
3rd to 10th January*

26th February to 6th March 2011
12th to 20th March 2011
9th to 17th April 2011

* = Special 7 night Christmas itineraries - please enquire

(NB Please note these dates may change or new ones may be added)
Season October to April

The meeting point for these rides is Montevideo. Flights to Montevideo are usually either via Buenos Aires or via Sao Paolo, though one can also fly with one of the US airlines via North America. Rates vary with the season and airline but expect to pay between £650 and £750 per person for an economy return. Please call us if you would like further information on flights or for a quote. We would be happy to book flights for you (our ATOL number for flight bookings is 6213).

Atlantic Coast Ride (please enquire for Christmas itinerary)

Day 1 Met on arrival in Montevideo and transferred to the Balmoral Hotel or similar. Dinner (own expense) and the night in a hotel in Montevideo.
Day 2 Breakfast and transfer to Hotel Fortin de San Miguel in Rocha province. Lunch, then meet the horses for a 3 hour ride, before dinner and the night at Fortin San Miguel.
Day 3 A full day ride heading across the border into Brazil, then south across open pastures. A picnic lunch en-route and in the afternoon ride along deserted beaches of the Atlantic coast to end at La Coronilla. Overnight at La Coronilla.
Day 4 Today's ride takes you along the coast again to Santa Teresa Fort crossing the forested Santa Teresa national park. About 6 hours riding with a chance to see dolphins feeding in the bay and shipwrecks in the sand. Leave the horses and drive back to La Coronilla for the night.
Day 5 Breakfast and a short drive to meet the horses. A ride of about 4 hours to Laguna Negra, perhaps seeing black-necked swans, spoonbills, ibis, herons, egrets and storks en-route. Lunch and a swim in the lake before riding on into the Don Bosco hills. Leave the horses and drive to El Sauce, a working estancia, for dinner and the night.
Day 6 Full day ride on the estancia stopping for a picnic lunch out riding. Return to the estancia for a swim in the pool before dinner. Night at Estancia El Sauce.
Day 7 Breakfast before a day ride that leads from beach into desert. In the morning ride to Cabo Polonio, a fishing village only reached by horse or four wheeled drive vehicles. After lunch ride on through sand dunes. Leave the horses and drive to Estancia El Charabon for dinner and the night.
Day 8 A full day ride on the estancia through eucalyptus forests and across grasslands. A picnic lunch in the country before returning to the estancia for dinner and the night.
Day 9 Breakfast and a morning ride, perhaps working alongside the gauchos. Lunch and transfer to Montevideo airport for your onward flight.
   Contact us on 01837-82544 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions