Guadalupe is located in the region of Villuercas (Cáceres) in the middle of mountains. It is a very old city with many remarkable historical buildings. The most important one is the Real Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadeloupe), which was declared World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1993.
The monastery was built in gratitude of King Alfonso XI of Castile, after he asked the Virgin of Guadeloupe for help in the already existing chapel in 1340 for a battle against the Muslims (and Moors) and returned victoriously from his battles. Since its foundation, the monastery has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites on the Spanish peninsula. Before Christopher Columbus set off on his journey to the New World, it is said that he prayed here for the blessing of the Virgin.
The trip to Guadeloupe allows the visit of many other mountain villages in the region, such as Cañamero, Logrosan or Berzocana, and also offers the opportunity to discover the cuisine of Extremadura, which is simple but exquisite, and is especially distinguished by the high quality regional products.

Itinerary

Day 1: Madrid - Trujillo
Meeting point at Madrid airport, transfer to Trujillo. Short visit of the city and then welcome dinner where you will learn more about the riding program, the tour and the region.

Day 2: Trujillo - Herguijuela - Madroñera
Transfer from Trujillo to Herguijuela. Distribution of the horses. They ride through the dehesa, a cultivated landscape of grazed oak groves, which is characteristic of central and southern Spain. Half of all Spanish cork and holm oaks grow in Extremadura. The dehesa not only offers a range of different foods, but also provides a habitat for endangered wild animals such as the Iberian lynx or the Spanish imperial eagle. Short afternoon through flat terrain to Madroñera, dinner and overnight in a country inn. Riding time about 5 hours.

Day 3 : Madroñera - Zorita
Departure after breakfast. They ride along cattle trails to Zorita. Longer trots and gallops in the morning through the dehesa, where cattle can be seen everywhere: local breed cattle, sheep, goats and Iberian pigs. Dinner and overnight stay in a country inn. Time in the saddle: about 5 hours.

Day 4: Zorita - Logrosan
After breakfast you will start and follow the Via Verde, an old railway line from the 1920s, which was never completed because of the Spanish Civil War and is now used as a hiking and horseback riding trail. Along this route you will see some buildings and structures that remind you that a railway line was supposed to run here. Dinner and overnight stay in a country inn. Riding time: about 5 hours.

Day 5: Logrosan - Cañamero
Departure after breakfast. You will ride through the olive groves and vineyards of Cañamero, famous for its good wines. Here the hilly landscape of the Villuercas changes and you will see the canyons of the river Ruecas. You continue to follow the Via Verde. Dinner and overnight stay in a country inn. Riding time: about 5 hours.

Day 6: Cañamero - Guadalupe
Today is a short riding day. You will ride on Cañadas Reales (old royal cattle tracks) from Cañamero to Guadalupe. During the ride you can enjoy the impressive landscape of the Villuercas region. Villuercas was declared a Geopark by Unesco because of its cultural and natural heritage and its geological features, especially its Appalachian relief. If you are lucky, today you can observe vultures, eagles, blue stars or shrikes. Comfortable lunch in the country. In the evening you have time to visit the old town of Guadalupe and the monastery. Riding time about 4 hours.

Day 7: Guadalupe - Madrid
After breakfast at about 10:00 am collective transfer to Madrid airport.

Accomodation
Accommodation is in ed hotels in double and single rooms with shower/WC.

Saddle & Tack: English.

Experience: You should be comfortable in all gaits and have at least 3-5 years of riding experience, have off-road experience and be able to control a new horse in all gaits. You will help with grooming, saddling and feeding the horses. Daily about 4-5 hours in the saddle. Max. 90kg. Minimum age: 10 years.

Horses: about 20 reliable, well-bred P.R.E., Hispano-Arabs in excellent condition

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