Spain - Andalucian Hacienda

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from GA of Loughborough on 03/11/2018

There is no set itinerary for this ride, the riding is flexible to accommodate each riders wishes and goals for their stay. A suggested itinerary:
Arrival day - afternoon assessment lesson
Morning -  Riding out through beautiful scenery at a pace that suits your abilities, from 1 to 3 hours with plenty of opportunities to canter through the vines and olive groves, returning to the hacienda for lunch. Relax and enjoy the pool, the gardens and the view 
Afternoon - lessons for around an hour according to your riding goals in large sand school arena 

On a full week holiday riding will include: one all day picnic ride, one bar hack and to a nearby Finca for lunch, with this last option a full day of hacking will be offered. The rest of the week will be riding amongst the vines, olives and pines in the area, with far reaching views and photo opportunities.

In the hotter months there is a change to the riding schedule: Ride at 8.00am in the cool breeze and return to the hacienda for breakfast.  Another evening ride to take advantage of the cool breeze. There are more riding options in summer to enjoy long canters in ploughed fields for experienced riders. 

For those riders on a 5-7 night stay, on certain weeks the following additional rides may be available, please enquire.

Flamingo ride
All day ride to see the flamingo Lake, 6 to 7 hours riding in total - only available to riders with proven riding ability. A €45 supplement applies, minimum of 5 people needed to confirm. The ride can be arranged on-site.

Beach rides
Experience a 2 hour ride along the Costa del Sol with this beach riding option. You and the horses will be driven to the beach where you can canter along the sand and play in the surf. It is a 4-5 hour round trip so would be a full day option. A €45 supplement applies, minimum of 5 people needed to confirm. The ride can be arranged on-site.

El Tempranillo – 2 Day mini Trail
Two day riding trip that follows the route of an Andalucian folk hero Jose Maria El Tempranillo. He was a local bandit in the early 19th Century who was very similar to the English Robin Hood, robbing the rich to give to the poor. Overnight out in Galga, set dates in spring and autumn with a minimum of 5 riders, there is a surcharge for this ride.
Day 1 - approximately 30 kilometres (5 – 6 hours)
Pass local towns of Alameda, Carcoya and Badalatossa and visit natural springs and a monastery where El Tempranillo sheltered. Stop at Jauja, for a night in typical rustic accommodation of the village entertained by Sevilliana music and dancing.
Day 2 - approximately 40 kilometres (6 – 7 hours)
Rise early, visit the museum of Jose Maria, for a local guide to explain the history and special stories of the village. Travel back to the Cortijo via Benemaji, and through the village back to La Posada El Tempranillo; stopping for local refreshments and photo opportunities, before heading back to the hacienda.

Natural Horsemanship Course
For a supplement a natural horsemanship course is available.

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.

There are 30 horses all of whom are well mannered, forward going and responsive, with a kind calm temperament and a choice to suit every rider from beginner to advanced and there are also horses suitable for riders with learning or physical disabilities. Most of the horses are Andalusian and X but there are also some Breton X and more substantial horses. The tack and riding style is English as is the tuition.

The horses are accommodated in spacious boxes in an extensive and immaculately maintained stable area adjacent to the hacienda.

Children from 6 years onwards can ride, either in the school or on hacks as appropriate for their riding ability which will be assessed onsite.

Groups are split into similar riding abilities unless a family wishes to ride together. Lessons are tailored to individual needs and it would be rare to have more than 2 or 3 in a lesson. Basic riding tuition, dressage and show jumping can all be taught here as well as natural Horsemanship and Jane Savoy method if riding.

Extra riding and tuition can be booked on site for €35/hr in 2018.

This ride is for any level of rider from beginner onwards. The instructors will establish what the goals are for your riding holiday and help you to work towards achieving them. There are opportunities for riding through beautiful scenery at a pace that suits your abilities. There is help available to mount/dismount and disabled riders can be catered for. The minimum riding age is 6 years.

The terrain is gentle with lots of great ground for trotting and cantering.

The weight limit for this ride is 16 st/220 lb/100 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Spacious accommodation with a mixture of apartments & bedrooms, all are en-suite and most have their own with kitchenette facilities. Every room is unique, sympathetically integrated into the 16th century  building and individually decorated with local artifacts and antiques.  There is a wedding suite/romantic tower room with extensive views over the surrounding countryside in all directions; 2 double apartments (attracts a €20 surcharge per night in 2017), 2 x 2 bedroom apartments, 1 x 3 bedroom apartment - all bedrooms en-suite; and two apartments for disabled and less-abled guests. There are hairdryers etc in each room.

People booking as singles have their own room with bathroom, so sharing not necessary.

With different daily menus, the chef prepares Andalusian dishes mixed with classics.  The food is sourced locally and fruit and vegetables are grown in the vegetable garden for use in the recipes. Spanish cooking lessons are available for those interested for a small charge. Vegetarian and vegan diets catered for.

The nearest village is a bit of a walk, but has a café there if you fancy it and are not hiring a car.

There is Wi-Fi in the rooms and the public areas of the Hacienda.

The hacienda can take cash or card payments.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advanced notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. If Visa’s are required the 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 on request.

General information:

Visa are not required for U.K. or other European nationals. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives travel advice on travel insurance, passport and visas, health and vaccinations, legal issues and emergency issues. They can be reached on 0207 008 0232/0233 or at www.fco.gov.uk

The British Consulate in Madrid is at the Calle de Fernando el Santo 16, 28010 Madrid. Tel: +34 91 7008200. Email: commerce@ukinspain.com www.ukinspain.com.

The Spanish Embassy in the U.K can be found at 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB. Tel: (020) 7235 5555.

Andalusia has a warm climate all year round and many warm, sunny days right through winter. Meals can be eaten outside for 9 – 11 months of the year.
There are pleasant temperatures from April to early November. In the hottest months of July and August the riding schedule is changed to hack in the early morning breeze and the gentle wind of the late afternoon.

No special health precautions are required for visits to Spain, for further details please see your local doctor. We do advise taking plenty of sunscreen!

For up to date information on specific health concerns please contact the Medical Advisors For Travellers Abroad. Their website can be found at www.masta.org

Voltage is the same as in the UK and most appliances such as battery chargers for videos, hair dryers etc. can be plugged in with appropriate adapters. These are available for purchase at most airports and travel shops.

230V 50HZ with a two pronged round pin plug

Light summer clothing is needed on most departure dates.
You need a riding helmet which must stay on firmly and sunglasses with string are recommended. There is a good selection of helmets available on site.
2 pairs of riding trousers / jodhpurs (cycling shorts if you like the extra padding! for men), half chaps are recommended, riding gloves, jersey, warm jacket (Spring and Autumn), shorts, long sleeve shirts, T-shirts, sarong or wrap, swimsuit, plenty of socks, raincoat (seasonal), sun block, camera on a shoulder strap with a pouch which can be secured to your belt, bum bag, shorts, lightweight riding boots or trainers.

This programme is available from February to November and there is a minimum of 3 nights.

2018: Open February - November, minimum stay of 3 nights. Low season Feb; Mid season 1-25 Mar, Jun-Aug, Nov; High season 26-31 Mar, Apr, May, Sept-Oct.

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There is an abundance of wild life, birds and flowers in La Camorra which is a designated natural area for wild life protection to ride through, staying to the paths to prevent any intrusion to the eco system. There is the scent of pine, sage, thyme and rosemary. Hoopoes, Cuckoos, Buzzards, Kites can be spotted and possibly even one of European Eagle Owls that nest near the Cortijo each year. Beekeepers make a special honey here which has a hint of rosemary as this seems to be a favourite of the bees in this area.

On site play area, gym, reading room, games room and heated infinity pool. Indoor garden and several lounge and reading areas for places of privacy. The following activities can be provided for an additional cost :
4 x 4 drives; archery, cookery, massages, carriage driving, bicycle hire, Spanish lessons, rafting, paintballing, motorbike cross country rides, cultural visits, and murder mystery dinner parties by appointment.
The hacienda is set in the heart of Andalucía; perfect for absorbing the mountains, hills, vineyards and olive groves of the area. In spring the local natural park is full of lilies, orchids and intoxicating smells of wild herbs and flowers. In the summer ride across the crop free fields in the cool of the early morning and calm of moonlight night time Amble along sandy pathways and meandering tracks to breathtaking mountain views of the Antequera plain and Malaga Mountains. Enjoy tapas bars and eating al fresco. Excellent location for those who want to experience the cities, towns and villages of the Andalucían region and the real Spain. There are three stunning, historic & very different cities of Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Granada a little over an hour away. Closer still, within a 20 minute car journey, is the beautiful medieval town of Antequera, the cross roads of Andalusia.

More riding can be booked and paid for onsite if desired. All extras such as massages, laundry and shop purchases can be paid for on site, major credit cards and cash are accepted. They just need 1 days notice for any extras.

Spain is a beautiful and diverse country, the second largest in Europe. The official language is Castilian Spanish but Catalan, Galician and Basque are also spoken. Territory includes two island archipelagos – the Balearics and the Canaries – and two enclaves on the North African coast, bordering Morocco – Ceuta and Melilla. The African influence can be found throughout Spain but especially in the south, for example the guitar was invented by the Spanish when they added a sixth string to the Arab lute. Music and art permeates Spanish culture, most obviously displayed in the fire and passion of the Flamenco and the stunning modern architecture found in the cities.

The famous siesta is still enjoyed by the majority of Spaniards, most shops close at lunchtime for two or three hours so everyone can escape the often scorching afternoon sun. Evening meals are served late into the evening with plenty of wine or sangria. Often meals can last two or three hours, especially if your host is serving Tapas, small and varied dishes of meats, bread, vegetables. Paella is also a delight and very popular across the country.

Spain is one hour ahead of GMT 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 for Spain is +34.