Andalusia -
Almoraima Rides

Choose from two excellent riding trips in southern Andalusia. Enjoy the comforts of the Finca during the week, so no packing every day. The horses stay out on the trail and you transfer back each evening for a relaxing dinner and good night sleep.  The finca is located near Jimena and is proud to present very nice accommodations, an outdoor pool and excellent horses. If you want to extend your stay for a few days, you can play some Polo with excellent Argentinean polo instructors.
Our rides will take you through mountains, forest and beaches. This will be also an opportunity to taste the marvelous local cuisine that comes from the fusion of Arab and Christian tradition.
The Tarifa and Nature Parks trail starts in the middle of the Hozgarganta valley (a historic place where Arabs and Christians fought 800 years ago). The trail takes you to the Atlantic coast through four National Parks, crossing rivers and lakes, Sierras de Montecito and del Niño, and open meadows with herds of bulls until you reach the endless sandy beaches of the Atlantic.
The Green Mountains of Ronda ride is a trip for horse and nature lovers. You will enjoy an amazing nature in one of the few untouched places of Europe, riding on the way to the very famous historical city of Ronda. Also you will have the opportunity to taste the delicious regional cuisine and our fantastic wines.

PG-TRTJ
Rates include seven nights lodging, all meals, 6 riding days with English speaking guide
8 days/ 7 nights  $ 1,495   Single: +$185
-- based on € 1050 / € 125
Non riders (based on sharing) $ 945  (€ 655)
2008 Dates: 
Tarifa and Nature Parks
01/05-01/12    01/26-02/02    02/09-02/16
03/01-03/08    03/22-03/29    04/12-04/19
04/26-05/03    05/17-05/24    06/07-06/14
06/21-06/28    07/05-07/12    07/19-07/26
09/13-09/20    09/27-10/04    10/18-10/25
11/01-11/08    11/15-11/22    12/06-12/13
Green Mountains of Ronda
01/12-01/19    02/02-02/09    03/08-03/15
03/29-04/05    04/19-04/26    05/10-05/17
05/24-05/31    06/14-06/21    08/12-08/19
09/06-09/13    10/04-10/11    10/25-11/01
11/08-11/15    12/13-12/20
Meeting:   Jimena
Airport:      Malaga
Transfer:   $95  (€65)  pp  from Malaga return
Level:         Low intermediate+
Tack:          English trekking
Horses:      Quarter, Criollos,
                   and Thoroughbred mix
Pace :         Walk, trot with some canters 
                   - 4 to 5 hrs of riding per day
Min/Max:  4-8 riders

Accommodations and meals:
The finca has 2 Spanish rustic style houses built in 1725 and refurbished in 2005. There are a total of 14 bedrooms (single and doubles) with views of the river or forest. You will wake up every morning to the sounds of the forest and birds singing. There is a beautiful pool and barbeque area surrounded by flowering trees and shrubs making this an idyllic and tranquil place to relax.
Three meals a day are included each day. Massages are available during your stay at the finca.

Other activities for additional days:
We offer canoeing, lake and sea fishing, whale watching, day excursions to Morocco, and of course Doma Vaquera and Polo training.

Itinerary
Tarifa and Nature Parks
DAY 1- Arrival and transfer to Jimena de la Frontera and the finca in the middle of the Valle del Hozgarganta Natural Reserve. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 - After breakfast you will have the first contact with our horses. Then ride towards Castellar, following the Calzada Romana (Roman Road). We can see the well conserved Arab Castle on the top of the mountain and also the Guadarranque lake (a nice place for fishing). Finally we'll arrive to the Arenillas Valley, which is famous to have the best oranges trees in Spain.
DAY 3 - We leave Arenillas and go across the beautiful Almoraima Natural Reserve with a special permission. Then we take la Ruta de las Cigueñas (Stork route), that’s a protected area where the birds from Africa cross Europe in the summer and go to Africa in the winter; if you like birds, here is the best place in Europe to observe them. Finally we'll arrive to los Barrios and we taste the typical cuisine at the end of the day.
DAY 4 - Leaving Los Barrios we'll go to the typical place of the Montera del Torero(the beginning of the Bullfight route), and you'll arrive at the Charco Redondo lake in the Alcornocales Natural park - home to eagles, vultures, wild boars, deer and other wildlife. Finally you arrive at Dehesa la Granja Farm,a, a 3000 hectares farm. Here they breed the best Spanish horses; we have an special permission to see that horses that comes from the Spanish champion “Lejano”, a legend in the horses world.
DAY 5 - We leave La Granja and take the Facinas route, around Luna mountains and Almodovar lake. You ride along old livestock trails and across and meadows of cows and fighting bulls. We arrive to the Stretch National park where you can see 30 kinds of plants that you will only find  here. Finally we arrive to the coast, and from Tarifa you can see the Moroccon coast.
At dinner it is the time to taste the traditional and delicious lamb.
DAY 6 - A day on the beach awaits you. First you ride along sandy trails through the coastal pine forest, later around the fishing village Barbate. A long 7 km stretch of deserted beaches invites you for a nice gallop in the way to Zahara. If you book in advance, it is possible to rent a boat to see different kinds of Dolphins and Whales (unforgettable). As usual the support vehicle awaits you with the picnic and refreshments.
DAY 7 - We leave Tarifa across the beach, by the way of the Roman Ruins of Baelo Claudia. Then we take the way to the mountains crossing Cabrito and Bujeo mountains with some of the best view of  Africa (with help of binoculars you can see some Moroccon villages). Finally we arrive at Botafuegos where this wonderful ride comes to an end. Before or after dinner you can swim in the pool of the finca.
At dinner time our chef Amparo will prepare her unique Paella.
DAY 8 - Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

DAY 1 - Arrival and transfer to Jimena de la Frontera in the middle of Hozgarganta Valley Nature Reserve. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 - After breakfast it's the moment to introduce our nice horses to you. Then we take the way to the Alcornocales National park, a 50000 hectares of wild life. This is considered the last untouched forest in Europe, where you can find Plants like the Laurisilva that comes from the time of the Dinosaurs. We'll pass around Jimena, a very nice white village with an Arab Castle in the top.
Day 3 - We still are in the Alcornocales park, where we follow the route of los Meloncillos (a nice animal similar to Beavers that lives near the water falls and rivers). This beautiful place is also good to observe the migration of many different kinds of birds. Finally we arrive to El Corchado near San Pablo.
DAY 4 - We leave el Corchado in the way to the mountains. It's very nice to heard the Berrea (the sounds that makes the Deers to call females). Finally we'll arrive to Gaucin, now we are in a very high altitude from where you can see Spain and Africa coast. This village have a very nice postromanic castle ,that’s a good place for photos lovers. At night we'll offer to you the typical local Asado(Barbacue) under an sky full of stars, with different kinds of meet.
DAY 5 - We leave Gaucin and Then we take the princess route to Cortes de la Frontera. This is one of the typical white villages for which the whole region got its nickname “Pueblos Blancos” (white villages). This part of Andalucia is also an historical region, you should visit the wall paintings in the caves “Cuevas de la Pileta”.
Day 6 - Leaving Cortes it,s the time to go to Sierra de Grazalema Natural park, a beautiful place with many rivers and big mountains, also famous to be home of Eagles (The Royal Eagle). If you fell full of energy we can go high and see the Buitreras (The home of the vultures). As usual the support vehicle awaits you with picnic and refreshments. Finally we'll arrive to Jimera de Libar.
At dinner time it's time to try typical Spanish food.
DAY 7 - We leave early an then we take the Bandoleros Route still in the natural Park. We'll arrive to Benaojan and finally to Ronda. This is one of the nicest an more famous historic cities in Spain, with the amazing tajo de Ronda, and with Romans ,Arabs and Christians monuments. Also you can visit the oldest bullring in Spain that’s have also a very good museum.
If you like at dinner time you can try our delicious suckling lamb with honey, a beautiful dish that comes from the Arab times.
DAY 8 - Breakfast and departure to the airport.