Facebook Instagram Youtube

Brazil

These ride follow a route from fazenda (ranch) to fazenda, where you’ll be welcomed by friendly, music loving gauchos and their agile criollo horses. Rolling hills of open grassland and forested valleys stretch for miles; the sense of vastness is inspiring. Alongside this, the hospitality of the region is exceptional. You might find a delicious barbecue and caipirinha awaiting you at every stop..!
Request a Booking
View Image Gallery
Download Full Details

Where is it?

On the Coxilha Rica, a high plateau in the interior of Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, which has a beautiful, diverse landscape and is the heart of gaucho territory.

What is it like?

Its an area of rolling grassland hills, at an altitude of around 1,000 meters (3300ft) and fantastic cattle country. Predominately large open fields, interspersed with stands of woodland that include ‘Araucaria’ (monkey puzzle), a very different tree and a truly wonderful sight in its native environment. There are rivers to cross, small lakes where you may swim the horses, some valleys that are thick with sub-tropical forest and winding paths through this lush,  jungle-like vegetation.

Who does it suit?

Riding-wise, anyone who is a reasonably competent, confident and balanced rider, who is used to riding outside in open country, with other horses and over varied terrain. One of the joys of this ride is the relaxed gaucho attitude – you are encouraged to spread out and take your own line and if you’d like to go on ahead a little and canter up to the top of a hill to admire the view or take a ‘photo, that’s fine as long as you’ve shown you’re fit and capable. Its also a ride for those who enjoy the sociable group atmosphere. Single rooms ae generally not possible, dinners are family style affairs with everyone mucking in – join in and enjoy the ride!

Why we love it

The best way to experience the Brazilian cowboy culture! We love this introduction to local cowboy life, delicious local food (Brazilian cooking is influenced by a mixture of European, Indian, African and Asian cuisine), authentic gaucho music, keen Criollo horses and of course southern Brazil’s warm-to-hot, welcoming sub-tropical environment.

Travel with trust

When you travel with Ride World Wide, you can travel with trust. We’re a member of ABTOT (the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust) which provides financial protection for your booking through our ABTOT bond and under the ABTOT ATOL franchise. If you have any questions please ask.

In a Nutshell

Riding
5-7 hours a day
Horses
Criollo, Criollo crosses, ‘Manga Larga’
Pace
Moderate, with good opportunities to canter
Riding Ability
Confident intermediate to experienced riders
Weight Limit
Up to 120 kgs (18 ½ stone) but please contact us just to check that a suitable horse / horses are available if you are over 95kg
Group Size
Maximum 15
Accommodation
Simple fazendas, private farm houses
2026 Dates
September to April, set dates; see “Key Information” below
2026 Prices
7 night trail from USD 3,180 (approx £2,485) per person; see “Key Information” below
What you'll be doing

Itinerary in Brief

Gaucho do Brasil Ride

Below is an example itinerary. Please ask us for other itineraries.

Day 1

Arrive Florianopolis airport. Met around midday and driven to a Fazenda near the town of Lages, about 3 hours drive. Dinner and night Fazenda da Chapada.

Day 2

Breakfast and meet the horses. A long day riding as you set off through forest and open rugged country of the Coxilha Rica. Stop for lunch at Fazenda Ferradura and after a siesta ride on another 3 hours to Fazenda Rodeio Bonito where a delicious dinner awaits.

Day 3

Breakfast and set off riding to Fazenda Dona Vera where caipirinhas and lunch are waiting for you. After a siesta ride back to Rodeio Bonito by a different route.

Day 4

A longer day today with about a 3 hour ride stopping for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon continue for another 3 hours across rivers and through forested valley and open pasture to Fazenda Lua Cheia for dinner and night.

Day 5

The morning may be helping the gauchos to round up sheep or cattle. Then after lunch set off riding to the beautiful Fazenda Sao Joao for dinner and night.

Day 6

Breakfast and set off riding again, perhaps meeting gauchos who are at work in the countryside. There is some good open country with opportunities for long canters. Arrive at Fazenda Ferradura in time for dinner and the night.

Day 7

Breakfast and the last days ride back to Fazenda Chapada. A farewell dinner accompanied by gaucho music and perhaps even dancing. Night Fazenda Chapada.

Day 8

Breakfast and drive back to Florianopolis to arrive around midday for your onward journey.
Our Rider Feedback

What People Say

"I've been on numerous rides around the world. Many pamper you to the point that you are isolated from the culture. Not so with Paul's ride in Brazil. I felt I joined the culture when I mounted my sturdy little horse and rode with the gauchos and when I slept in the bunk houses and when I was entertained by the gauchos' music in the evening. The food very good and ample. The landscape stunning, the weather perfect, the horses hardy and fast and beautiful. Paul and the gauchos were attentive to our needs and our safety while allowing us a sort of unfettered freedom. I could go on. But the bottom line is the ride in Brazil was one of the highlights of my life".
JK (Seattle)
"Highlights: ovely roast pork (with crackling) at the lunchtime Fazenda with the English Country Garden; cheerful and helpful Gauchos on the ride. Horses are very much part of their culture and they have a very relaxed approach. Excellent cooking by Guida and hosts. Social and welcoming hosts at Fazendas. Musical entertainment at Daniel’s Fazenda on the last evening. It was interesting to visit the tiny country school (3 pupils); Long views from green rolling hills.”
JL (Cheshire)
“The wide open spaces and rolling hills - perfect riding country! The friendliness of all the people we came into contact with and seeing and sharing, for a time, what’s probably a disappearing way of life.”
RT (London)
More Detail

Key information

You’ll find all the information you need at the ‘Download Full Details’ link above. If there’s anything else you would like to know, please contact us to ask.

More Detail

Booking Request

To request a booking on a particular ride, please fill in the details below, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. (Please note this is a request for space not a guarantee of booking!)

Contact details
Additional information