Our Destinations

Letter Randocheval

Why travelling with Randocheval ?

URUGUAY : DISCOVER CRIOLLO'S HORSES HISTORY THROUGH AN ORIGINAL CAMPING RIDE...

"Tango, mate and Criollo's horses", this is Uruguay! The word "gaucho" in Latin American Spanish, means friendly and crafty. Doing a "gauchada", means helping somebody. From that it comes out what sort of mentality have these rugged but free men who take care of the vast herds in the pampas of the south of the continent. Be a gaucho is not a profession, it's a state of mind ! You're invited to discover them in Uruguay before they disappear, absorbed by modernism. In this small country where people keep on living quietly, not being bothered with PIB, PNB, and so on, they are nostalgic for the traditions of the gauchos and not one Uruguayan can speak about the "Criollas" feasts without having tears in his eyes. Horseback riding is the only way to work cattle here and the gauchos are very proud of their horses. Criollo horses are well trained, steady and are ready to move out at a good gallop on command. The mares, their foals, their parents, and sometimes their owner are always the main subjet when chatting while having maté (South american traditonal drink). You're invited to share the activities of the gauchos for the time of one horse riding trip, in two regions that we choose for you, with beautiful sceneries, green pastures with rolling hills, Eucalyptus forests, garrigues, bushes and ancient trees. From one estancia to the next one, the gauchos show you their job and introduce you to lassoing, gathering herds, sorting animals, etc... Every night we share their meal, with uruguayan wine, listening to stories of the countryside, songs and poetry raised by their simple way of life. Some estancias are specialised in "Criollo" breeding, those that you mount during the trips. Our saddles are "recado" type, the one that the gauchos use everyday.

ITINERARY

These rides are welcomed by the Sociedad Criolla, active gauchos and all those who participate to gaucho tradition and spirit band together to defend it.


CABALGATA CRIOLLA

Lavalleja is a rural department, with the "Cuchilla Grande", a small mountain range running throughout its territory. The riders are welcomed by the Sociedad Criolla, an association formed by working gauchos and all those who love the gaucho's spirit and tradition.
Horseback riding is the only way to work cattle here and the gauchos are very proud of their horses. Criollo horses are well trained, steady and are ready to move out at a good gallop on command. The mares, their foals, their parents, and sometimes their owner are always the main subjet when chatting while having maté (South american traditional drink).
Every day you go to a different estancia (South American farm) where people are proud to show you their traditions, their ability in working cattle, etc...
Eucalyptus plantations, pathes bordered with bushes in blossom, large areas of sweet smelling garrigue, steep cliffs with pine trees, lovely quiet rivers, uruguayan nature invites you to riding.
In all our trips, we try to make riders meeting local gauchos and people of the countryside. We also draw the attention on old traditions and very simple way of life of the inhabitants, very close to nature. Some very old estancias have gathered instruments of the old times and registers showing their activities since more than hundred years.

Day 1 - Arrival in Uruguay (night in hotel - Montevideo)
Welcome at the airport of Carasco (Montevideo) . Rest in the morning. After lunch visit of Montevideo city and the Gaucho Museum (working days only).
Free evening, or even dancing Tango !

Day 2 to Day 9 - 8 days trip in Minas region
In the morning of day 2 transfer to the trip starting area (2 hours).
Route take you from an estancia to another one through the Cuchilla Grande.
Daily stages are 4 to 6 hours, without difficulties. Horses are criollo breed, strong horses with good character.
Our saddles are "recado" type, the one that the gauchos use everyday. Leading guide is a french horse professional, speaking english and spanish. The rest of the team are real gauchos, even the cook.

Every night a vehicle meets the riders at the stopping place, with the cook, food and riders' luggage. For lunch we bring a picnic in the saddle bags ; for dinner, the cook prepares a good gaucho meal, with fine local wine.
The riders participate to the different tasks of the gaucho : gathering and counting cattle, veterinary treatments, health baths, lassoing, leather work and harnesses maintenance.

Nights are under tents, near the estancias, except for nights 4, 7 and 8 when you sleep at the estancia, in bedrooms.
Day 3, in the evening, you are invited at the "Sociedad Nativista Criolla" in Minas, for a party with local barbecue, mate, music and dance.
Days 7 and 8, you're welcomed by the old estancia "Cascada". Through the generations, the owners are breeding pure Criollo breed horses. They are members of the "Uruguyan Association of Criollo breed".

On day 9, last stroke to the horses and back to Montevideo at the end of the day.
Evening at the Carnival of Montevideo (Trail from March 8th to 17th) or evening at the feast Criolla del Prado de Montevideo (Trail from April 4th to 13th). Night in hotel.

Day 10 - back to your country
Relaxed morning, last souvenirs purchase and transfer to Carasco airport.

NB :The activities of working with cattle will not take place necessarily the exact day as stated in this programme. They depend on unpredicable factors as meteorology, other particular job to do at the estancia, etc....

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

YOUR GUIDES

ACCOMMODATION

You'll be accomodated 6 nights in camps built in the estancia property.
As we are staying in real working Estancias, mostly dedicated to cattle breeding, these estancias cannot provide accomodation for tourist like hotels. This is the reason why we will camp.
Only 3 night during the Gabalgata Criolla ride, are spent in room inside the estancia.
Three nights are spent in hotel in the beginning and at the end of the ride.

For lunch, picnic are provided by organization that you'll bring in your saddle bags (saddle bags are provided).

Your luggage will be transfer from camps to camps thanks to our vehicule.

We'll ask our a participation for brushing horses, saddle and unsaddle, building and take down your tent.

DATES AND RATES

Flights to Montevideo

Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.

- the trail ride as it is described, on full board basis. Except lunches when days in Montevideo and Tacuarembo
- the transfers from and to Montevideo airport together with the other riders.
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval

- flight to and from Montevideo
- drinks
- lunches when days in Montevieo and Tacuarembo
- any other service
- tips and personnal expenses
- insurrance : repatriation aid or multiple-risk (cancellation, luggage, repatriation). Please contact us for rates. You can subscribe to these insurrances only if you are an resident of EU or Switzerland. If you live outside European Union, please check with your local insurrance company.

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact Claire, the specialist for this destination !

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

Formalities
Please check with your local ambassy.

Vaccination - health
No specific vaccinations. Don't forget your repatriation insurance.

We recommand to be update of usual vaccination, and especially tetanus..

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