Details
- Departure: Roncesvalles
- Arrival: Santo Domingo de la Calzada
- Duration: 8 days - 7 nights - 6 riding days
- Number of persons per group: 6 to 9 persons
- Accommodation: Hotels and boutique hotels
- Time of the year: April - May
- Difficulty level: Medium
- Landscape rating: High
- Cultural experience rating: High
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday
Your transport will be from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) to Roncesvalles (4,5-hour drive) and the meeting time will be at 15:00.
Day 2: Sunday (Roncesvalles - Burlada)
Today will be one of the most beautiful days of the whole Camino with its alpine meadows and the picturesque forest closing above our heads. After breakfast, you will start your mountainous ride descending from Roncesvalles (950 meters) and climb up again to Alto de Mezkiritz (922 meters) and Erro (801 meters) over 22 kilometers until you will reach Zubiri (500 meters) with its gothic “Bridge Of Rabies” over the Arga River where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will ride 15 kilometers to the strategically important village of Trinidad de Arre or two kilometers more to Burlada where you will stop for dinner and night.
Day 3: Monday (Burlada - Puente la Reina)
After breakfast, you will ride for 4,5 kilometers to Pamplona - one of five province capitals on Camino de Santiago, entering the town through medieval Magdalena bridge, passing Cathedral, Portal de Francia, and Citadel. From 470 meters of Pamplona fertile basin, you will climb 13 kilometers to nearly 800 meters to Alto del Perdon where not careful pilgrim may be offered water for the exchange of his faith.
Please be aware of the local daemon. It would be better to ride down for next four kilometers to Uterga (500 meters) where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will continue descent for seven kilometers to Puente la Reina, the emblematic town where it has the two ways, the Camino from Navarra and Camino from Aragon, and you will stop for dinner and night.
Day 4: Tuesday (Puente la Reina - Villamayor de Monjardin)
After breakfast, you will start a short but steep climb and continue through the hills and bridges to Villatuerta (19 kilometers) where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will ride 13 kilometers more passing villages stopped in time you will arrive in the beautiful town of Estella with visible orient influence and numerous monuments. From here, you will slowly climb up, passing monastery of Irache and the only fountain in the world that sometimes flows down with wine. You will finish the day in Villamayor de Monjardin, the lovely village on the top of the hill where we have dinner and stay for the night.
Day 5: Wednesday (Villamayor de Monjardin – Viana)
After breakfast, you will start the day riding through quite open fields between the province of Navarra and Rioja where for nearly 20 kilometers, you will not cross a village until Torres del Rio where one of the most remarkable churches of Santo Sepulco is situated and this is where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will cross 11 kilometers of hills until you will reach Viana where you will stop for dinner and night.
Day 6: Thursday (Viana - Najera)
After breakfast, you will ride for 10 kilometers to Logrono - Capital of Rioja and continue through fertile hills and wine plantations for 13 kilometers to reach your lunch spot Navarrete famous for its ceramics and vineyards. After the lunch, you will just need to beat 17 kilometers over the last hill - Alto de San Anton - and descend to the old capital of Rioja Najera where you will stop for dinner and night.
Day 7: Friday (Najera - Santo Domingo de Calzada)
Today, you will only ride in the morning. After breakfast, you will start your 22 kilometers to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the town of the most important beneficient of Camino in the province of Rioja who marked the road, took care of pilgrims, and constructed churches, hospitals, etc. Here, you will end your ride allowing horses to rest and taking your time to visit this splendid town. Here, you will also stop for dinner and night.
Day 8: Saturday
You will depart from Santo Domingo de Calzada to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD). The transfer will take three hours.
Non-Riders
Non-riders are welcome to accompany the ride in the luggage transfer vehicle.
The Horses
The owner breeds Pure Spanish horses (PRE). The horses used for the trails are Spanish, Arab X and some Andalusian X, and there are 35 excellent riding horses to choose from. They range in height from 15hh-16.2hh with some ponies available. They are all in well-rounded condition and beautifully polished on a daily basis with traditional flowing manes, mainly kept stabled, shod all round and very well mannered. They are ridden in traditional deep-seated Spanish saddles with soft sheepskin covers and traditional big stirrups. The bridles are mainly curb bits and the horses are ridden loose-reined and respond easily to weight shifts and subtle signals. This is a very easy and relaxing style of riding similar to Western, some instruction will be given if wanted. The horses are all experienced and sure footed trail horses with temperaments that vary from quiet and reliable through responsive to fiery and showy. With 35 horses to choose from you are sure to find your ideal partner for the week.
The Ride and Terrain
The riding is mainly at a walk due to varying terrain, but there are plenty (4-6) of opportunities for long and fast canters every day. Vacero style does not include trotting although this is possible if requested! The riding starts late morning, after 2-3 hours a break is made for lunch followed by a siesta and a similar length afternoon session to arrive late afternoon at your destination. All saddling and grooming is done for you although you are welcome to assist with your own horse.
Riders need to be able to walk, trot and canter. These horses are trained in the Spanish style and are used to being ridden with a loose rein when at a walk and a light contact at the canter. Due to the long rides this ride is not suitable for children under 12 and all children should be competent riders. There is no need to saddle or clean your own horse on this ride unless you wish to. Assistance is available for mounting and dismounting and minimal walking next to your horses is required.
Weight Limit
The weight limit for this ride is 17 st/231 lb/105 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
