Ride Overview
With the discovery of America in 1492, Seville became the arrival and departure point for every expedition to the newly discovered continent. Amassing great wealth, palaces were built, new industries were created – all financed by American gold.
Riding on the pilgrimage roads to El Rocío, named the International village of the horse, and by the environs of the Doñana National Park, enjoy the sand tracks and ancient bridle paths. All the houses have stables and all the streets are sand tracks. In the times of the pilgrimage, this village hosts thousands of horses.
An optional visit to the Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre en Jerez (the Royal Spanish School of Equestrian art) can be organized.
Dates: Not on offer in 2024. Our Gredos or Segovia rides as they are equally as fun and with the same level of hospitality and accommodation!
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 6 days of riding
- All meals
- Wine with meals
- Airport transfers at pre set time
- Horse and all tack
- Guiding services
- Luggage transfers
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks outside of meals
- Gratuities for the staff at the end of the stay
Day 1
SEVILLA – CORTIJO LA CORBERA (UTRERA)
Pick up - Meeting time around 13:00-14:00 at the Sevilla airport – or at the Santa Justa train station if you are in Seville already. Transfer to the equestrian centre La Corbera, south of Sevilla, near Utrera, about 20-30min from Sevilla.
It is a beautiful Cortijo, a traditional Andalusian country estate. Upon arriving you will have an Introduction to the horses and the stables followed by an introductory ride of about 2 hours.
In the evening, relax with a welcome drink at the Cortijo before dinner.
The accommodation is at the finca, with 8 charming bedrooms in overlooking the fields and the horses.
Day 2
HACIENDA LA CORBERA - HACIENDA LA INDIANA
You will ride through agricultural land and pine wood before stopping to enjoy an aperitif in the countryside.near the pine woods.
The ride will continue with several trots and canters to the beautiful Hacienda La Indiana. Picnic lunch near the Hacienda Don Rodrigo.
In the afternoon, you ride back to La Corbera through wonderful orange groves and olive trees.
Dinner and overnight at La Corbera.
Day 3
HACIENDA TORREQUEMADA - VILLAMANRIQUE DE LA CONDESA – ARDEA PURPUREA
Today’s ride will start at Torrequemada, a XVI c. Hacienda of Andalusia. After a brief visit of Torrequemada, this is a traditional stop of the pilgrims on their way to El Rocio during the Camino de Triana, you will mount up and start today’s ride.
Making your way through farming land of olive trees you will arrive to the pine forest for the aperitivo stop. After which, you will follow the Camino de Triana, and stop for a picnic lunch at the Dehesa de Torneros.
In the afternoon you will cross the river Quema, where the pilgrims heading towards El Rocio, and are traditionally!. You will ride on to Villamanrique de la Condesa, to the beautiful cortijo Ardea Purpurea. Dinner and night at this charming place dedicated to the Purple Heron, due to its great location for birdwatching in the boundaries of Doñana Nantional Parque.
Day 4
VILLAMANRIQUE - PALACIO DEL REY - EL ROCÍO
Beginning the ride through more pine woods and the Dehesa de Boyal, a forest of cork oaks, you will follow the Camino de Pilas and later the Camino de Hinojos, where you’ll stop for the lovely aperitivo.
Continuing on you then join the Raya Reall , an impressive wide sand avenue surrounded by forests of pines, cork oaks, and eucalyptus. where many trails meet for the last part of the pilgrimage. Lunch is near the beautiful Palacio del Rey, a royal hunting lodge built for Alfonso XIII.
In the afternoon you will reach the destination of your pilgrimage on horseback: El Rocío, the international village of the Horse, with the church Ermita de la Virgen del Rocío. It is a unique village: all the houses have stables and all the streets are sand tracks. Annually to this day, in the time of the pilgrimage this village hosts a million people and thousands of horses!
You will stay at a traditional house of El Rocío, which has been restored with all the comfort. Dinner at a local restaurant with a beautiful view of the marshlands.
Day 5
CAMINO DEL MOGUER – EL ROCÍO
OPTIONAL: JEREZ ROYAL EQUESTRIAN SCHOOL
This day the group can decide about a half-day ride or a day trip to visit the Royal School of Jerez (extra cost)
The half-day ride follows the “Camino de Moguer”. This camino follows the stream of La Rocina, which runs for 40km, and it is call “la Madre” and its waters area the source of the marisma – the marshlands which are the heart of Doñana. Along its banks one can often see many different species of birds and at times, deer and the wild black pigs of the park, as well as a variety of plant species. Aperitif stop n the countryside surrounded by pine trees where the Hermandades de Huelva rest when making the Rocio pilgrimage. Ride back to El Rocio and lunch at a restaurant.
Afternoon free to visit El Rocío and enjoy the nature and the Doñana nature reserve. Dinner and night at El Rocío.
The Doñana nature reserve stretches of a 100,000 hectares protected area and it is one of Europe’s most valuable natural landscapes, a mixture of marshlands, swamps, lagoons, pine forests and sand dunes. Thousands of birds of different species come to spend the winter in this paradise.
***Alternate Option: This is also the day during which a visit to the Royal School of Jerez can be organized (full day trip at an extra cost). The performance is always on Thursdays at 12pm. The visit includes lunch in Jerez.
Day 6
EL ROCÍO – CAMINO DE MOGUER - DONANA NATIONAL PARK - HERMANDAD DE PALOS
After breakfast, you will ride in the Camino de Hinojos and ride through La Matanza, a private bull breeding state which belongs to the well known breeder Borja Domecq.
Aperitivo in the countryside, before you continue the ride through the Donana National Park, where you will stop for a picnic lunch.
In the afternoon you will ride to HInojos and then on to Hermandad de Palos. Dinner and night at the Cortijo Ardea Purpurea.
Day 7
HERMANDAD DE PALOS - ATLANTIC COAST - MAZAGON
In the morning, you ride through the pine forests, dehesas (holm and cork oaks estates) and private fincas. Aperitivo and picnic lunch in the countryside..
Through this lush and beautiful landscape you make your way to the wide open and deep sand beaches of the grand Atlantic ocean. Both you and the horses will feel the energy of the sea as your pace quickens - the thrill of a wonderful gallop down a wide open and long stretch of beach is the perfect culmination of this week exploring Andalucia!
In the afternoon, you will ride through the park like woods and tracks to get to the Hacienda de Gelo, sadly, the end of the ride. The horses and the riders (in separate means of transport, of course!) will be driven back to La Corbera.
Farewell dinner and night at la Corbera.
Day 8
SEVILLA
Breakfast and transfer to Sevilla, to the airport or the train station (central location in Sevilla).
Laura D.
Amazing experience! Well-matched horses with quality care of the animals throughout the trip. Stacey answered all of my questions and more leading up to the trip and Maria Elena was the ultimate host and guide.
Every day was new scenery with fun surprises along the way (city of sand streets, enchanted woods, beautiful country homes and the beach!) Gorgeous country-side, picture-perfect meals under the cork oaks, and the food — oh, I miss aperitivos!
Lifetime experience. I’d do it all over again.
Millie R.
For a week that had more rain in one week than they normally have in a year, the ride was still amazing. The horses were very good. I especially liked the visit to the gentleman with the competitive driving horses although I understand that was not a regular part of the itinerary – but added because of the rain that day. I felt like Alfonso and Maria Elena had options to make this a super week despite the effects of Mother Nature.
The food was very good. El Rocio was, in a word, great. And the of Seville – Loved It!