Ask a Question

Check Availability

Pipa Beach

Overview

The state of Rio Grande do Norte is situated on the north-eastern coast of Brazil and has one of the country's most spectacular coastlines. It hosts 310 miles (500km) of tropical, paradise beaches, many of them fronted by reefs with natural pools and backed by tall dunes or cliffs. The capital, Nat…

Highlights

  • Ride on some of the best beaches in Brazil
  • Experience the unique paces of the Mangalarga Marchador
  • Stay in a wonderful beachside hotel with pool
  • Ride through rainforests and sugar cane plantations
  • Dine on delicious local produce and seafood

Essential Facts

  • 1 itinerary available
  • Max 10 riders per group
  • Average of 21 kilometres riding per day
  • Weight limit: 100kg / 220 lbs / 15 stone 10 lbs

Description

The state of Rio Grande do Norte is situated on the north-eastern coast of Brazil and has one of the country's most spectacular coastlines. It hosts 310 miles (500km) of tropical, paradise beaches, many of them fronted by reefs with natural pools and backed by tall dunes or cliffs. The capital, Natal, is on the eastern edge of the state and the beaches you visit on this ride - Tibau do Sol and Pipa - are located to the south of Natal.

Tibau do Sol has been rated one of the best beaches in the world according to Trip Advisor in 2021, and Pipa is known to be one of Brazil's premier beach destinations with dramatic landscapes, so you can be certain of glorious coastal views on this new ride from our partner in Brazil.

Spending all your nights in the same comfortable beachside hotel, you ride wonderful gaited Mangalarga Marchador horses through the varied landscapes, including sugar cane plantations, Atlantic rainforest, sand dunes and, of course, the fabulous beaches. The horses you ride are provided by an award-winning breeder who has been in the top three of the country for the last ten years.

Horses & Riding

Tack

Typical Brazilian tack. Saddles are deep seated and padded for long hours in the saddle.

Horses

You ride Mangalarga Marchador horses which originate from cross-breeding between Portuguese Alter-Real Lusitano horses and Berber horses. Mangalarga Marchadors are gaited - they have a normal walk and canter but then two ambling gaits instead of the trot - the marcha batida and marcha picada - both are very comfortable. They are fit, forward going, well mannered and a pleasure to ride.

Riding

There is 1 itinerary:

  • Pipa Beach Ride is a based ride

Ages

8 years or older

Health

General good health

Weight

100kg / 220 lbs / 15 stone 10 lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

Meals are taken either at the hotel restaurant or other local restaurants - during the rides these are often beachside restaurants.

There is a wide range of quality gastronomy on offer, with an obvious emphasis on fresh seafood, but there are options for all palates. It is possible to choose different dishes each day with a host of incredible flavours. One night includes a barbecue at the stables.

Either lunch or dinner is included each day, with the other being payable locally, so you can choose to eat as much or as little as you like.

Accommodation

All nights are spent in the 3* Marinas hotel in Tibau do Sol. The hotel is on the cliffs overlooking the sea and has a great view of the sunsets. It's just a few minutes walk from the beaches and town centre of Tibau do Sol, where there are markets, a pharmacy, restaurants and bars to explore. The hotel itself has a swimming pool, a cafe bar, a sunset terrace and a creperie.

Itineraries

Pipa Beach Ride Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

Your accommodation is located on a typical beach resort and so there is plenty of beach and water-based activities on offer for guests to book and take part in. These include activities such as windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, tennis, volleyball and fishing, to name a few. Activities are, of course, at an extra cost and will likely need to be arranged in advance - you can speak to the hotel reception staff if you would like ideas or help in booking any additional activities.

Travel

The nearest airport to the resort is in Natal, which is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte. The airport is approximately 90 km from the resort but transfers from the airport on arrival and departure are included in the cost of the trip.

You are unlikely to find direct international flights from Europe to Natal and so should plan to take a connecting flight through the major hub airports of Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.

Testimonials

Yvonne M., Feb. 8, 2023

We had a great time riding on the most beautiful beaches in Brazil. We mastered the marchador gait and also had a few fast canters on the sand. The people of Brazil could not be friendlier and the scenery was gorgeous. Rogerio is a real character, very amusing! He is very proud of his marchador horses and prefers to ride at that pace. We enjoyed experiencing it but also wanted to go for a bit of a blast on the beaches. He is fine with that once you have made it clear.


Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1 - Arrival

Riding: No riding.

Transfer from Natal airport to your beach hotel, the Marinas in Tibau do Sul. Settle into your room and meet your guide who will take you to the stables to meet the owner of this stud farm. He will give you information about his award winning breeding programme - this stud is one of the top in the country, with approximately 280 horses on-site and 50-60 foals born each year.

Day 2

Riding: 25 kilometres

After breakfast you will be introduced to your Mangalarga horse and after a riding orientation you set off on your first day of riding. You start with a ferry crossing with the horses at Lagoa de Guaraíras, a few meters from your hotel. On the other side you will find the beautiful beach of Malembá, a deserted beach with an open sea, with reefs, gentle waves, clear and soft sand.

Our route today takes us over the beach, dunes, Atlantic Forest and lagoons. During the trail you will have the opportunity to glimpse one of the most beautiful views over the Potiguar coast. You will enjoy lunch on the edge of the lagoon with the option to eat authentic Potiguar shrimp in a typical beach restaurant. After lunch you will head towards Lagoa do Carcará, passing through the Mata Redonda ecological reserve where you will make a stop. On the way you will also the visit the store at Fazenda Brasileira August, producer of the famous Papary and Vila Imperial de Papary, cachaças (Brazil's most typical drink made of sugar cane). It was created in the slave quarters of colonial Brazil and centuries later its origins remains in the region of Nísia Floresta. This area is famous for its sugar cane mills and artisanal production of good cachaça. The end of the ride is at Lago do Carcará. The horses return by truck to the Haras and you will return to the hotel by car.

Malembá beach is bordered by dunes and has a long strip of sand. It is one of the kitesurfing points in the region, due to the constant winds and the waves. Lagoa Guarairas is famous for shrimp farming which is of economic importance to the region.
Fishing here is done in canoes. The lagoon has a mangrove area and is a source of food, rich in fauna and flora.

Day 3

Riding: 25 kilometres

Depart your hotel after breakfast to transfer to the horses (c. 50mins) at Baia Formosa and start riding towards Sibaúna and the southern beaches, crossing rivers, coconut trees, natural viewpoints, imposing cliffs, stretches of Atlantic forest, dunes and coves. At Barra do Cunhau, there is another picturesque ferry crossing with the horses. At the end of the ride you will enjoy a beautiful view from the top of the cliffs, a stop before arriving in Pipa with the best view of the entire region.

Baía Formosa, which is on the border of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba, has the atmosphere of a fishing village with its beautiful beaches, cliffs and the curious "Lagoa da Coca-Cola" with its dark water that the natives believe to have medical rejuvenating powers. Mata da Estrela in Baía Formosa, is the largest reserve of Atlantic Forest in the Riio Grande do Norte - a natural heritage reserve, covering an area of 2000 hectares. Sibaúma is located in the mouth of the Catú River, an old quilombo village with a beautiful landscape. Pipa was elected as one of the most ten beautiful beaches in Brazil.

Day 4

Riding: 25 kilometres

After breakfast you will transfer c. 10 mins to the horses at Haras. You will start riding through Atlantic rainforest until reaching trails to the beaches of Tibau do Sul, Cacimbinhas and Madeiro,

Praia de Cacimbinhas has a beach with deep water and with its constant wind is ideal for kite surfing. The beach is surrounded by the dunes of Cacimbinhas. From the top you have a privileged view of the entire coastline beween Tibau do Sol and Pipa. Praia do Madeiro has an emerald green sea. In the early morning you may see dolphins swimming in its warm and calm waters.

Day 5

Riding: 20 kilometres

Today you leave the hotel towards Praia do Giz, where you ride along the seafront with the sea on your left and the cliffs on the right, crossing the fishing boats close by. In Pipa you enter the city and follow the streets until you reach the chapadão, where you stop to drink coconut water, with its beautiful view of Praia do Amor and a general panorama of the sea and other beaches.

You head towards Praia do Amor and a general panorama of the sea and other beaches. You head towards Praia das Minas and through there the horses gait and gallop until reaching Sibaúna. There you will stop for a snack and head to the canal which we cross with the horses. The horses return by truck and you some time in the water before returning by car. The end of another special day.

Day 6

Riding: 10 kilometres

You leave the hotel for the stables where you get to learn more about its origin and its award winning stud. Then you will set off for the last ride through the pastures where the mares and foals craze and by the sugar cane fields.

Every day you will have time to enjoy the pool at the hotel and the beaches.

Day 7 - Departure

Riding: No riding.

After breakfast transfer to the airport.

Experience Intermediate / Experienced

You should be an intermediate to experienced rider who is comfortable in all paces outdoors.

Minimum group size 4
Maximum group size 10
Departure windows

Jan. 22, 2023 - Jan. 28, 2023

March 5, 2023 - March 11, 2023

May 7, 2023 - May 13, 2023

June 4, 2023 - June 10, 2023

July 2, 2023 - July 8, 2023

Aug. 27, 2023 - Sept. 2, 2023

Sept. 24, 2023 - Sept. 30, 2023

Oct. 29, 2023 - Nov. 4, 2023

Nov. 26, 2023 - Dec. 2, 2023

Pricing

2023
Rider; Sharing
£1845 $2325 €2160
Included 6 nights accommodation with breakfast, one other meal each day (lunch or dinner), riding as per itinerary, ferry crossings and internal transfers, airport transfers from Natal.
Not included Flights, insurance, one meal each day (lunch or dinner), drinks, tips, personal expenses.

Extras

2023 - Single Supplement £435 $550 €510
Paid to Far and Ride
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.