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Uruguay is a perfect place for a horse riding holiday. Horseback riding is an integral part of the culture in Uruguay because raising cattle is big business and the gauchos still depend heavily on horses to handle the cows. Riding is taken for granted, almost like walking in other parts of the world. The Criollo horses are ideal for the terrain and will carry you comfortably through the hill country of the interior and along the white sand beaches of the coast. They are reliable and responsive mounts and the traditional saddles are very comfortable. Uruguay is not as touristy as some of its larger, more well know neighbours. This allows our clients a better experience of the authentic culture of the country and the genuine friendship of its people. The food is excellent - lots of tender organic local beef as you would expect and plenty of freshly caught fish. The climate is mild all year round making ideal conditions for riding. So in summary, we end as we began - Uruguay is a perfect place for horse riding holidays.
By South American standards Uruguay is small - even though it is approximately the same size as Great Britain. In South America only Suriname is smaller. It has just one land border - with Brazil in the north. To the south east lies the Atlantic Ocean and across the estuary of the Rio do la Plata to the west & south is Argentina. Many folk from Buenos Aires, both locals and tourists, hop across to Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, for a day trip. Uruguay is known for its glorious beaches - about 300 miles worth! Uruguay is officially called the 'Eastern Republic of Uruguay' because it lies to the east of the River Uruguay and the name means 'river where the painted birds live'. Half the population live in Montevideo which is a lively city with a wonderful 9 mile beachfront. Another town you may well know is Fray Bentos - though perhaps you know it more for the canned beef company that took its name. The vast majority of the country is sparsely populated and is given up to grazing sheep and cattle and much of Uruguay's economy is based on the exporting of livestock and related goods.
Traditionally it has been more affluent than most Latin American countries and is known for its advanced education, its social security systems and its liberal laws on social issues. In fact, Uruguay was one of the first countries in South America to introduce a welfare state system. Recently the recessions of Brazil and Argentina have hit Uruguay hard but the economy is now improving again. Tourism is welcomed as a source of income and is on the increase.
The Europeans arrived in what is now Uruguay in 1516. It was fought over by Spain and Portugal, Spain being the eventual winner and as a result the official language of Uruguay is Spanish. The Spanish imported cattle which became a source of wealth and led to the current dependency on livestock in the country.
Estancias and Beaches - Uruguay
Currently this is Unicorn's only horse riding holiday in Uruguay and it is superb. The complete itinerary takes in not only working estancias but also tropical palm groves, protected wetlands, beaches, shipwrecks and marine life such as dolphins, whales and seals. It is a trail ride and is ideal for those riders who like to ride fast. Riders also ride in style - because of its exclusivity and fabulous accommodation, this horseback adventure falls into Unicorn's premier range of riding holidays.
You'll start with a city tour to discover Montevideo, a very safe city that combines museums, street markets, nice restaurants and very friendly people. Later, in your free time why not go clubbing and join in the tango! You'll be driven to the Brazilian border and into Rocha, arguably the most beautiful province in Uruguay with its pristine beaches, emerald shores and network of lagoons. Meet your gauchos and horses and ride around the rolling hills of San Miguel. Take a fast-pace ride along the wonderful, isolated ocean beach of ‘Barra Chuy’. Visitors seldom reach this beach so enjoy a long, exhilarating canter with no signs of habitation riding across the pure white sands alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
Then ride south, alternating beaches with coastal hills, sand dunes and pine forests into the immense Santa Teresa National Park. Ride along forest trails, down to the beach passing a shipwreck buried in the sand – one of many along this treacherous coast. Luckily ‘Beagle’ with Charles Darwin aboard did not succumb to this fate and Darwin spent quite some time in Uruguay collecting species and most likely starting to formulate his theories of evolution. Most days there is the wonderful sight of dolphins feeding in the bay. Then move on to a lagoon where you will surely see ibis, herons, egrets, storks and a legion of migrating birds (birds arrive here from as far as Alaska and the Falkland Islands).
Head off to stay in a nearby working estancia. Enjoy a full day riding around the crops and very varied vegetation on the property. The estancia is not a hotel but the family house, and we have been invited to stay as guests of the owners, offering us an incredible experience and a very special insight into the life in the country. Sample the ‘mate’ sipped hot out of a dry gourd. The gauchos and their mate are inseparable and a ceremony has developed around drinking it.
The holiday continues - ride your horse from the coast into the desert! Ride through the area declared a natural animal reserve and a Biosphere Natural Reserve by UNESCO. Cabo Polonio, a charming fishing village, can only be reached by horse or four wheeled drive. The most fascinating part of the area is home to the huge expanse of shifting sand dunes, which when you ride through it you will feel as though you are in the middle of the Sahara. After lunch at a typical restaurant on the beach you will see seals and sea lions that populate the small islands and make up one of the largest populations of seals in the world. You may be lucky enough to spot a migrating right whale. Riders can then swim in one of the most beautiful beaches of the country.
Stay at another working estancia specialising in calving and lambing and help the gauchos with their sheep drives. You won't want to come home!
This has given you an overview of Unicorn's very special horseback holiday in Uruguay - but click here to see more details Estancias and Beaches - Uruguay. .
Add-ons
Unicorn is always delighted to arrange extensions to your equestrian holiday in Uruguay. You may already know what you'd like, but our team are also happy to offer suggestions. How about extending your stay with a few days in Montevideo. Perhaps you're inclined to hop over to Argentina - it's so close, just over the river estuary. You can take a day trip, but we recommend at least 2 or 3 nights in vibrant buzzing Buenos Aires. If the packed itinery of our equestrian vacation hasn't tired you out, we can arrange various water sports activities that might! Whatever your requirements, just give us a call to arrange any of these and we'll add them to your riding holiday in Uruguay.
At Unicorn we group our holidays into several categories to help you find the rides that best suit your riding level and your requirements. Below we have listed the ride categories that you find on at least one horse riding holiday in Uruguay:
trail riding holidays
beach riding holiday
horse riding holidays for riders who like to ride fast
premier range of horse riding holidays
We offer at least one horse riding holiday in the following Central American & South American countries - (see our Latin America menu). Click on the link and the relevant web pages will be displayed:
horse riding holidays South America:
horse riding holiday Argentina
horseriding holidays Brazil
horse riding holidays Chile
horse riding holidays Ecuador
horseriding vacations Peru
horse riding holidays Uruguay
horse riding holidays Patagonia
horseback holidays Andes
horse riding holidays Atacama
horse riding holiday Pantanal
polo holidays
estancia holidays
horseback holiday Machu Picchu
horse riding holidays Central America:
equestrian holidays Costa Rica
horse riding holidays Mexico
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