Gallop across sandy beaches on beautiful Andalusian horses and hear nothing but the sound of hooves and the sea. In sunny southern Andalusia, with its (almost) guaranteed good weather, temperatures don't usually below 16 degrees even in winter, and there is always a fresh breeze in summer, so you'll find ideal riding weather all year round. Tarifa is the southernmost point of mainland Europe and also the meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel is located about 6 km west of Tarifa, in the middle of the bay, directly on the beach with a view of Africa. The stables are right next to the hotel. From here, you can set off on short or extended star rides to the most beautiful beaches of the Costa de la Luz and the beautiful nature reserves in the hinterland! A natural horsemanship course is also offered.

Itinerary

The riding programme
The rides take you to the most beautiful places in the Tarifá area. Your Dutch riding guide will lead you through the countryside with first-class knowledge of nature and horses.
You will discover the most beautiful beaches and bays on the Costa de la Luz. Sometimes you will also ride cross-country along donkey trails. You will pass through various nature reserves with varied landscapes, cork oak, pine and eucalyptus forests. From rolling hills to rocky mountain landscapes, past cliffs with views of Africa. You will ride through extraordinary natural surroundings with a huge variety of birds. In the green hinterland, you will encounter free-roaming pigs, goats, sheep, bulls and herds of horses. You will visit the monastery complex of Santuario de la Luz and a family-run inn serving traditional tapas, ham and wine. Riders can enjoy refreshments at reasonable prices. Alternatively, you can take a saddlebag picnic with you.
The routes offer plenty of variety and the opportunity to learn a lot about Andalusia. The daily riding time for the Tarifa Star Rides is 3-4 hours. During the Tarifa Riding Week, you will go on a 2-hour ride every day for 5 days.

These 5 riding days await you on the star rides:
(the order in which the 5 riding days take place depends on the tides)
1) Two extensive beach rides in the morning and evening
2) Ride to the monastery Santuario Nuestra Senora De La Luz
3) Ride to a typical local Venta. Here you will have the opportunity to eat delicious tapas (at an additional cost, but affordable)
4) Beach and dune ride from Valdevaqueros
5) Ride to the cork oak forest, usually with beautiful bird watching.

Beginners: Those who are not yet confident will be taken on walking rides after a short introduction.
Natural Horsemanship Course: In addition to the riding programme, a Natural Horsemanship Course can be booked, consisting of a total of 10 hours of riding, theory and ground work (2 lessons per day on 5 days). This course teaches you about the behaviour and language of your four-legged partners and creates a foundation based on communication, trust and respect. The course is also suitable for beginners.
The course takes place with a minimum of 1 person (max. 6 people). The knowledge gained in the natural horsemanship course is integrated into the trail rides.
We recommend renting a car. This gives you flexibility and allows you to take worthwhile excursions – a trip to Gibraltar, Seville or a performance by the Spanish Riding School in Jerez.Other activities
For those who don't surf, there are many other activities such as fitness, yoga, mountain biking, kayaking, wakeboarding, sailing, climbing, golf, etc. A trip on a rubber dinghy among dolphins and whales, which you can get particularly close to, is also wonderful.
The Hotel Hurricane has two swimming pools and a sauna where you can relax after a day in the surf in stormy weather. The Hotel Punta Sur has a large pool. Massages for tired muscles can be booked on site. The Hotel Punta Sur also has a tennis court. Cannondale bicycles can be hired at the hotel: approx. 20EUR per bike per day, approx. 120EUR per bike per week.
Nice places to visit include Jerez, Gibraltar and Vejer de la Frontera, or other ‘white villages’ in the hinterland. If you want to see high-level dressage, a visit to the Cartujano stud farm near Jerez is highly recommended.

Accomodation
You have the choice between two beautiful hotels that are a 5-minute drive from each other. As a guest, you may use the facilities of both hotels. One hotel and the stable are right next to each other. The beautiful hotel is open all year round and is located directly on the beach. The hotel has a pool, sauna and fitness room. You can choose between to stand Double/twin occupancy or single occupancy on the sea side of the hotel or the side facing the mountains.
The second hotel is only 1 km away, it is not directly on the beach, but it is within walking distance. The rooms in this hotel are slightly larger and are laid out in a bungalow style in the garden. It is generally quieter than our beach hotel. Prices here correspond to the mountain side prices. This hotel also has a beautiful large garden with a pool. The large rooms all have a seating area with a view of the garden. There are also special family rooms for families and groups (prices on request).
Both hotels are very stylishly furnished and show attention to detail. The hotel restaurants are well known and offer an excellent à la carte dinner (not included).
Other restaurants in the area serving Spanish and international cuisine are within easy reach (car rental recommended).

 

Saddle & Tack: Spanish saddles and Hackamore

Experience: For the rides you should be saddle fit, already have trail experience and be able to control your horse safely in all gaits. Beginners can take part in walk rides. Max. Rider weight 85kg.

Horses: There are approx. 15 reliable Andalusians available at to stand . The horses are carefully trained with Natural Horsemanship and live in a herd of huge pastures.