The Santa Catarina Gaucho Trail
A horseback adventure in the southern wilderness of Brazil
Things you'll see
Santa Catarina, Brazil
8 Days
Day 1 - (Sunday): Fazenda Barreiro
Your “Gaúcho do Brasil” tripleader Paul will be waiting for you upon arrival at the airport of Florianopolis. Transfer (2:30 drive) to Coxilha Rica and Fazenda Barreiro near Lages. You will be welcomed with a local drink upon arrival at the fazenda. Yo will be introduced to the Gauchos who will accompany you throughout the trip and will even get acquainted with the horses. Installation in the cozy and comfortable double rooms of the fazenda. After a delicious dinner, we can socialice at the bar of the fazenda. Local gaúchos will perform music and folklore of the region. It’s a great first evening!
Day 2 - (Monday): Fazenda Barreiro - Fazenda Ferradura
After breakfast, we saddle our horses early and leave around 08:00 direction Fazenda Ferradura. After the first few minutes you will notice already how beautiful the region is, we ride through wide and rolling green countryside dotted with Araucaria trees and cross pristine rivers. You will never forget your first canter with your criollo horse. After a ride of 4 hours we arrive at a typical fazenda where lunch is waiting for us. After a good meal and a siesta we mount our horses again around 14h. We continue towards fazenda Ferradura through the beautiful landscape of Coxilha Rica. Here we find the well-preserved colonial Tropeiro Route. This 250 years old tropeiro route was the route of cattle and mules between Rio Grande do Sul and Argentina to Sao Paulo. Gauchos drove herds thousands of kms beeing awy for months via this route. Goods on livestock traveled along the route, so the tropeiro became also a trade. The route, consisting of an approx 4m wide corridor made of stone was built by slaves. The corridor runs hundreds of kilometers through Coxilha Rica and the State of Santa Catarina. Tropeiro means Trooper. (The route of the troops).
We follow a few miles this historic route and arrive around 17:30 at Fazenda Ferradura. We are welcomed by the owner Gaucho Benjamin Krüzen. A hearty and delicious dinner is beeing prepared for us. We spent the night at this traditional Gaucho fazenda.
Day 3 - (Tuesday): Fazenda Ferradura - Fazenda São João - Fazenda Limoeiro
08:00, after a hearty breakfast we mount our criollos and trek through a rugged Coxilha landscape towards direction fazenda Ferradura. We climb and descend, trot and canter, crossing rivers and seeing waterfalls. On top of a green mountain you have a fantastic panoramic view of the landscape, just you and the great outdoors! Coxilha is since colonial times a great cattle region. Most cattle ranches (fazendas) consisting of thousands of acres are already over 200 years old. We arrive at the colonial fazenda São João where a fantastic lunch is prepared. In the afternoon we ride another 3 and half hours until we arrive at fazenda Limoeiro. After a refreshing shower and a delicious dinner, a soft bed awaits for you at this typical colonial fazenda.
Day 4 - (Wednesday) Fazenda Limoeiro - Rancho Amigo
We leave on horseback at 08:00 hidding for the high pampas of Coxilha Rica, the views are wonderful. The group of horses, the Gauchos, the landscapes, the atmosphere in the group, the sense of freedom, ... nobody wants to travel back home after this trip. After a lunch in the field we continue our ride to the next fazenda. Rancho Amigo is where we stay tonight. We make it cozy with a drink and friends and are having a good meal and a good rest.
Day 5 - (Thursday) Rancho Amigo
After breakfast we saddle our horses. Today is a real gaucho day, and who is in to it, can give the gauchos a helping hand rounding-up the cattle on horseback. Driving the herd is always fun! We drive the herd to the corral, where they are either vaccinated or receive a decontamination bath. Here you see the Gaúcho perform his daily job. Those who prefer not to participate in the activities can easily watch. Want to learn how to rope? Our Gauchos teach you the tricks of the trade! Today we are supposed to do what we want to do. Free riding on the fantastic estate?.. everything is more or less allowed today.
After an active Cowboy-Gaúcho day we pull off our boots, take a shower and are called to the table for a good meal, a cool beer or a warming Pinga (local rum).
Day 6 - (Friday) Rancho Amigo - Fazenda Limoeiro
Today we sleep a little longer ... no rush to saddle the horses and to trot the wide nature. We regularly ride into other gauchos whom are busy at work. These South American cowboys still live and work the same way as roughly 100 years ago. Gaúchos and horses matching great together, living as we can only dream of .. Climbing and descending, one slope steeper than the other, the ride regularly invites us for a nice canter. The horses are really fun to ride with. We arrive at Fazenda Limoeiro and feel ourselves back at home. Dinner at the fazenda.
Day 7 - (Saturday) Fazenda Limoeiro - Fazenda São João
The morning the sun invites us to relax in the hammock with a cup of coffee. We have a pleasant morning at the fazenda and stay here until lunch. After lunch we depart for a nice ride until we arrive at Fazenda São João.
The lady of the house makes us a delicious dish while the musical talented gauchos bring their best songs, guitar and accordion into the livingroom. The bottle of Pinga is eagerly passed around and sometimes we dare to dance!
It's always such a pleasant evening, we enjoy the warm gaucho atmosphere and forge friendship with the locals. Overnight at the fazenda.
Day 8 - (Sunday) Fazenda São João - Florianopolis
After our last breakfast around 08:00 we say goodbye to Fazenda São João, the guides, gauchos and horses and drive around 09:00 (depending the flight) direction Florianopolis. People staying longer can have a drop off in downtown Florianópolis, for the others the holiday comes to an end at the airport of Florianopolis. End of the program.
Important information: We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location and difficulty of terrain. In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
What's Included?
- Accommodation: 7 nights in authentic, rustic and comfortable farm rooms in different fazendas. Based on double-rooms, some fazendas have 3 & 4 bedded rooms. (See tour dossier - Accommodation)
- Meals: Full board. (From dinner first day to breakfast last day)
- Guides & Gaúchos: All tours are personally escorted by "Gaúcho do Brasil" trip leader Paul. Paul speaks fluent English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese and speaks basic German. Furthermore, you will be accompanied by local gauchos Roberio, Giancarlo & Paulo. There are always one or more musical gauchos (guitar, accordion) joining the group. The guides-gauchos are equipped with satellite phones and walky-talky radios.
- Backup Vehicle: Brings your personal luggage to the daily overnight place/fazenda.
- Horses & tack, including saddle bags and raincoat
- Transfer: From the Airport of Florianopolis (FLN) to the Fazenda and vice-versa. (See Tour Dossier Practical info)
Important Notes:
The folowing are not included in the tour cost:
- Insurance: We request you take a travel Insurance. Ask your local insurance campany or travel agent about it. You will not be allowed to participate at the “Gaúcho do Brasil” riding holiday programme without having personal travel insurance.
- Flight: international and local flights are not included. Gateway is Florianopolis (FLN)
- Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks: (cheap)
- Single Supplement: to pay only if you specifically want to sleep in a single room and not want to share the room.
- Personal expenses
- Tips: (optional)
Booking
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Your Default Currency is Australian Dollars |
Main Tour Cost: From $2255.00
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Travel Dates:
11/12/11 - 18/12/11(6+ Seats Left)
08/01/12 - 15/01/12
(6+ Seats Left)
22/01/12 - 29/01/12
(6+ Seats Left)
05/02/12 - 12/02/12
(6+ Seats Left)
04/03/12 - 11/03/12
(6+ Seats Left)
18/03/12 - 25/03/12
(6+ Seats Left)
01/04/12 - 08/04/12
(6+ Seats Left)
08/04/12 - 15/04/12
(6+ Seats Left)
22/04/12 - 29/04/12
(6+ Seats Left)
06/05/12 - 13/05/12
(6+ Seats Left)
28/10/12 - 04/11/12
(6+ Seats Left)
11/11/12 - 18/11/12
(6+ Seats Left)
25/11/12 - 02/12/12
(6+ Seats Left)
09/12/12 - 16/12/12
(6+ Seats Left)
16/12/12 - 23/12/12
(6+ Seats Left)
Tour Price:
From $2255.00 AUD
See purchasing options at the bottom of this page
(2012 prices are subject to change)
Goes Well With
Staying some more days in Brazil?
Feel like having a break on the beach after a week of riding? Only 200 km away from Coxilha Rica you will find Florianopolis,the most splendid coastal city of southern Brazil. We will be glad to help you to arrange an optional extension to the coast. Rather go somwhere else in the country?…you can fly from Florianopolis to all mayor cities in Brazil. Flying time to São Paulo: 40 minutes, to Foz do Iguaço waterfalls: 40 minuntes, and only 1 hour from Rio de Janeiro and Argentina.
Combining Tours
Why not combine one or more of our great tours to create your own tailor-made itinerary?Most of these tours depart either daily or regularly throughout the week and can be added together or combined with additional tailor-made arrangements in order to create your complete travel package. In order to do this simply contact us and let us know what tour or tours you would like to combine, what other travel arrangements you would like us to include, and we will send you through a no-obligations itinerary and quotation.
Custom Tours
Haven’t found exactly what you are looking for?If you have not found exactly what you are looking for then we can tailor make a package to suit your travel needs. Simply click here and fill in the details on our request form and we will put together a custom designed tour package for you and your travel companions.