Portugal - A Week in the Azores

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Day 1
Transfer from airport to the ride centre to meet the team and discuss the following week over dinner.

Day 2
After breakfast the riders and horses will be assessed and matched, followed by a short ride to ensure everyone is comfortable. After lunch enjoy a half-day ride, an introduction to the fascinating Azorean landscape. The ride follows old roads, through villages, passing stone walls which are easily looked over from horseback. Passing cow-dotted pastures on the way to an area that has the atmosphere of a rain-forest jungle, before heading back to the ride centre for dinner.

Day 3
This is a full day of riding. After breakfast, start the ride in Remedios, following quiet roads and passing through pastures. A significant part of the ride takes place in the fields and slopes below Lagoa do Fogo. From here, enjoy panoramic views of the western part of the island, with both the north and south coasts visible simultaneously. After a picnic lunch and exploring this top-of-the-world vantage point, head back to the ride centre for dinner.

Day 4
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before a half-day relaxing or shopping. Some may want to book an extra riding hour, or go on a whale & dolphin safari (not included). After lunch, take a half-day ride toward the northeast to enjoy the varied scenery. The vantage point overlooks the north and some middle parts of the island. Head back to the ride centre to freshen up before dinner.

Day 5
Another full day on horseback. Leave after breakfast, starting from the south coast and finishing on the north side of Sao Miguel. Ride through scenic valleys filled with prolific vegetation, take in the sea views and green pastures while passing charming villages. Lunch is a picnic in nature. After lunch, head back to the ride centre for dinner.

Day 6
Leave the ride centre by car after breakfast to visit Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake), climbing the hillside road up to admire the view. At the top of the mountain, look down onto Lagoa do Fogo. This enormous lake is surrounded by vegetation thriving in the volcanic soil, and is located in the caldera of an extinct volcano. The trip continues to Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, these thermal baths have been in use since 1811. After lunch the horses are transported across to the north coast to meet the riders for a ride though the gentle landscape with super views toward the north coast before reaching the ride centre for dinner.

Day 7
Enjoy breakfast before beginning the last day. Today's route affords an unforgettable day of riding above and around the Sete Cidades (twin lakes) with its 12 km crater perimeter. Located in the crater are the twins, the Green and Blue lakes. The tranquillity of the waters and the scent of the hydrangeas which border the crater rim, contrast the steep sides of the crater, creating an otherworldly view. The small village of Sete Cidades is situated in the crater and boasts a delightful garden containing magnificent trees and banks of hydrangeas and azaleas. Lunch at a restaurant before heading back to the ride centre to say goodbye to the horses and enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 8
Transfer to the airport after breakfast.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The centre has pure & cross bred Lusitano horses in their stables. These are well schooled and there is a mount that can be matched to each rider. There is also a covered riding arena (picadeiro), a large open fireplace and a bar, built in the same beautiful old Portuguese style as the manor house.

Comfortable at all paces and gaits on varied terrain for long periods in the saddle.

The weight limit for this ride is 209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Each guest room has been individually furnished and decorated to give guests a feeling of being at home - all with private bathrooms, accessories and cable TV. The breakfast buffet is served in the part of the house where in former days 'his lordship' had his personal horses. This "Old Stable" has been carefully renovated and converted into a nice and cosy breakfast room. The buffet partly consists of local produce, allowing guests to experience the different flavours from the Azores. To make you feel at home, there are friendly dogs and cats that roam freely.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Portugal.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

The Azores benefits from a temperate, maritime climate with mild winters. January and February are the coldest months of the year, while August is the warmest. Winter spans from January to March with average monthly daytime temperatures ranging from 12°C to 15°C. Meanwhile, travellers get to experience warm summers in the Azores from July to September when humidity is pretty high on average, particularly in August when maximum daytime temperatures can reach up to 26°C.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

You should always bring any regular prescription drugs you may need with you.

If you need to contact the emergency services in Portugal call 112.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Portugal and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

There are no mosquitos in the Azores, but pack plenty of sunscreen.

In Portugal the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

There is mobile signal and Wi-Fi coverage at the ride centre and main areas on the island. If using a GoPro make sure you have the permission of the group to be filmed.

Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384.
- Gloves (optional)
- Comfortable light weight riding clothes
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Half Chaps - these are great when worn with ankle boots and help prevent the stirrup leathers rubbing against your legs
- Hat
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended, but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Sunhat
- T-shirts
- Long sleeved shirts
- Fleece – Although the weather is generally very warm, the evenings can be a bit cooler
- Casual clothes - for when out of the saddle
- Lightweight rainwear
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Wet wipes
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- Copy of passport

This ride has an 8 day / 7 night / 6 riding day itinerary available year round. Preferred arrivals Saturday / Sunday.

2025 High Season: 1 Apr - 31 Oct
2025 Low Season: 1 Jan - 31 Mar; 1 Nov - 31 Dec

• €
• US $
• SEK

• The Portuguese: The Land and its People by Marion Kaplan.


• Rose Macaulay's ‘They Went to Portugal’


• Landscapes of Portugal  by Brian & Eileen Andersen, 


• Walking in Portugal by Bethan Davies and Ben Cole.


• For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com, also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Golf (2 courses close to centre), Tennis, Water sports, Whale & Dolphin watching, Jeep safari, walking tours.

Birdwatchers are in for a treat. Keep a look out for the endangered Azorean Bullfinch (Pyrrhula Murina), with a population of only 500 to 800 couples. it is also possible to spot Corey’s shearwater, Azorean grey wagtail, Cliff Pigeon, European Robin, Black Bird and Azorean Chaffinch. There are no snakes or mosquitos, but plenty of hedgehogs, rats, ferrets, and wild rabbits. The bat of the Azores is the only native mammal that can be found inland.

The Azores have no mosquitos or snakes.

Historically, the Portuguese have been the intrepid explorers of the world. In the 15th Century they discovered the sea route to India, via the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498 and Pedro Cabral, trying to reach India, discovered Brazil two years later (1500). Other Portuguese explorers reached the Far East, China and Japan. The first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, quaint towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Portugal is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals.

Savouring life slowly is a Portuguese passion, and much of the best is humble - traditional folk festivals; simple, honest food drowning in olive oil; music that pulls at the heart strings, recalling past love and glories; and markets overflowing with fish, fruit and flowers.

Portugal is in the GMT time zone and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram.

The international dialling code is +351

If you are hiring a car, you will need to know about how to pay any toll fees as these are done automatically and not on the road. This is a new system from January 2012 and the method for how to pay this will change throughout the year. Please check this website for current information: http://www.amoita.com/node/1414