Brazil
The Gaucho Way – Ride, Work and Live the Traditions of Southern Brazil
escapade Dates:
Oct. 15, 2025 - Oct. 22, 2025
Nov. 12, 2025 - Nov. 19, 2025
Jan. 8, 2026 - Jan. 15, 2026
March 5, 2026 - March 12, 2026
Oct. 13, 2026 - Oct. 20, 2026
Nov. 15, 2026 - Nov. 22, 2026
8 Days / 7 nights
Lages – Rincão do Tigre – Coxilha Rica Highlands – Campos das Lages – Ferradura Valley – Lages
Trip Overview
The Gaucho Way is a riding journey into the heart of southern Brazil’s gaucho culture, taking you across the sweeping highlands of the Coxilha Rica plateau in Santa Catarina. Over six days in the saddle, you’ll travel from fazenda to fazenda, passing through Lages, Rincão do Tigre, the Coxilha Rica Highlands, Campos das Lages, and Ferradura Valley. You'll be riding strong Criollo horses alongside working gauchos who continue to live and work by tradition.
This is more than a trail ride, it’s an invitation into a way of life. You’ll learn to ride like a gaucho, help with daily fazenda tasks such as mustering cattle or roping and enjoy home-cooked meals around shared tables. Evenings are often spent by the fire with music, mate tea, and local storytelling. The atmosphere is welcoming, honest, and grounded in community.
You’ll stay in traditional fazendas, many of them over 200 years old - simple, characterful homes where hospitality matters more than luxury. Rooms are clean and comfortable, typically shared and meals reflect regional cooking: wood-fired meats, beans, vegetables, and fresh local ingredients, often prepared by your hosts.
The horses are primarily Criollos, bred for their stamina and intelligence. They are forward-going, sure-footed and well-suited to long days in open country. Riders use gaucho or Western saddles, designed for comfort over distance and padded with lambswool.
Your guide, Paul Coudenys, brings decades of trail-riding experience across five continents, and works closely with the local gaucho teams to ensure an experience that is both safe and culturally respectful. His knowledge of horses, rural Brazil and rider needs makes this an exceptionally well-run trip.
This ride is for confident, experienced riders who want more than just beautiful views - it’s for those looking to immerse themselves in a rural, working culture, ride with purpose and share in the traditions of a community few outsiders ever get to know. A sense of humour, openness, and willingness to engage will take you far
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Florianopolis – Lages – Coxilha Rica Plateau
Meals: Dinner
Activities: Arrival, Group Transfer, Welcome Dinner, Meet & Greet
Official group meeting at 12:00 PM at Florianópolis International Airport (FLN). You’ll be welcomed by your guide and transferred by road (~3 hours) to the Coxilha Rica plateau, a remote highland region near Lages, the oldest city in Santa Catarina.
Upon arrival at your base fazenda, you’ll settle in, meet the hosts and your horse for the week. Over a traditional dinner, you'll get to know your gaucho team and fellow riders. A relaxed, atmospheric start to the journey.
DAY 2
Lages – RincAo do Tigre
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: First Day of Riding, River Crossings, Traditional Trails
Riding: 6 Hours
After breakfast, saddle up for your first day on the trail. Today’s route heads south into the Rincão do Tigre region, crossing grassy fields, forest corridors, and rivers along historic Tropeiro paths — ancient routes used for centuries to move cattle and goods.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of the Araucaria trees. The day ends at a welcoming fazenda where you’ll be hosted for the night. Evening meal is served communally, with plenty of local flavour.
DAY 3
Rincao do Tigre – Coxilha Rica Highlands (Waterfall Loop)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Highland Riding, Waterfall Stop, Local Farm Visit
Riding: 6 Hours
Today is a loop ride into the heart of the Coxilha Rica Highlands. You’ll ride through undulating pastures and pine-clad slopes, with a stop at a nearby waterfall for rest or a refreshing dip. Lunch is served at a smallholding hosted by a local family.
The route circles back to the same fazenda for a second night. After riding, unwind around the fireplace and enjoy another gaucho-style dinner.
DAY 4
Coxilha Rica Highlands – Lua Cheia Region
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Open-Country Riding, Picnic Lunch, Traditional Dinner with Music
Riding: 6 Hours
A full day in the saddle as you travel deeper into the Lua Cheia region. The terrain opens up with wide campos ideal for relaxed canters. You’ll ride past grazing cattle, wooden gates and stone walls as you cross the plateau.
A picnic lunch is enjoyed en route. Your destination tonight is a remote fazenda surrounded by fields and forest. Dinner may feature slow-roasted lamb and often includes live music performed by the hosts or local gauchos.
DAY 5
Lua Cheia – Campos das Lages
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Ranch Work, Cattle Handling
Riding: 6 Hours
Start the morning by joining in with seasonal ranch activities, such as mustering, cattle sorting, or even a bit of roping practice — all supervised by your gaucho hosts. This is an authentic, hands-on insight into gaucho working life.
After lunch, you’ll ride on to Campos das Lages, a region of valleys, old stone paths, and remote farmland. Tonight’s fazenda has panoramic views and a quiet, rural atmosphere. Dinner is shared around the table, followed by relaxed conversation and stories.
DAY 6
Campos das Lages – Ferradura Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Long-Distance Ride, Varied Terrain, Meeting Local Gauchos
Riding: 6 Hours
This is one of the most diverse and rewarding riding days. You’ll travel through the Ferradura Valley, riding over mixed terrain consisting of open hills, rocky paths and winding cattle trails. Along the way you may meet gauchos at work on neighbouring fazendas and exchange greetings or stories.
Arrive in the late afternoon at your next fazenda, hosted by Benjamin Kruzen, a well-respected local horseman known for his knowledge and generosity. A hearty dinner and warm welcome await.
DAY 7
Ferradura Valley – Lages
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Return Ride, Final Gallop, Farewell Dinner
Riding: 3-4 Hours
Your final ride takes you northward through open pastures and quiet pine groves as you make your way back toward Lages and Fazenda da Chapada. Enjoy a few final long canters across the campos and soak up the plateau views.
Back at the fazenda, your group will gather for a farewell dinner with music, caipirinhas, and reflections on the week. A relaxed, celebratory end to your time with the horses and hosts.
DAY 8
Coxilha Rica Plateau – Florianopolis
Meals: Breakfast
Activities: Departure, Group Transfer
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Florianópolis Airport. We recommend booking flights departing after 14:00. Optional overnight extensions or onward travel (e.g. to Iguazu, the Amazon or the coast) can be arranged.
End of your escapade!
the gaucho way, brazil: ride pricing
8 Days / 7 Night Itinerary
Pricing: £2,360 per person
Single Supplement Applies
Single rooms cannot be guaranteed, so you should be willing to share.
Services: Included with trip
-
7 nights’ accommodation in shared rooms (fazendas)
-
All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
-
6 full days of riding
-
All drinks at fazendas
-
Group airport transfers from/to Florianópolis (FLN)
Services: not Included with trip
-
International flights
-
Personal travel insurance
-
Tips and gratuities
-
Personal expenses
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
-
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is a mandatory requirement to have travel insurance in place for this trip, we recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against any emergency during the trip. This information must be sent before arrival.
-
Required Riding Experience - Intermediate or above
Suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be confident on a horse at all paces. The pace is varied to include walk, trot and canter.
