The Coconut Ride, Brazil
Big dunes, large canters, stunning beaches, typical fishing villages, Caipirinha and a lot of fun in the sun!
itinerary
day 1: Arrival in Maceió
There is no required arrival hour. You can arrive in Maceio when it suits you best. Late afternoon Meet & Greet at the hotel in Maceió to brief the riding group about the coming days. Dinner and overnight at a comfortable hotel in Maceió.
day 2 : Maceió – Beach of Jequiá
After a delicious breakfast, we leave early to meet the horses at the paradisiacal beach of Jequiá. We will choose horses, make adjustments to the stirrups and take off for the ride. We immediately start on one of the deserted beaches, dotted with cliffs of multicolored sands and coconut trees. Our destination today is breathtaking! The Marapé Dunes are lying between the river and the sea. In the middle of preserved mangroves, we will leave the horses to delight us with a boat trip along the mangroves, we take a refreshing bath river and the sea. The Sunset here is stunning. Overnight at Pousada - Dunes de Marapé.
day 3 : Jequiá Beach – Pontal do Coruripe
We will wake up with great disposition and an incredible view of the natural beauty of this place. Our horses are saddled and ready to take us for another day full of beautiful scenery and pristine nature. We will ride along deserted beaches, lined with coconut trees and appreciate the lush vegetation of the Atlantic forest. Barrier reefs are visible from the saddle. Our destination is the Pontal do Coruripe beach with its omnipresent lighthouse. The warm seawater is just perfect for a swim. Late lunch and overnight stay at Pousada - Pontal do Coruripe.
day 4 : Pontal do Coruripe - Feliz Deserto
We will depart on the beach towards the south in direction to Feliz Deserto. Feliz Deserto means Happy Desert so we decided to have 2 happy nights at Feliz Deserto. Shortly after taking the trail to the sea, we will find the mouth of the river Coruripe that gives name to the location. Ready for some adventure? We will cross the river with horses. Soon after the river crossing, we will stop to refresh ourselves in the sea and meet our back up team waiting for us with coconut water and tropical fruits. We continue along deserted beaches, here and there we will ride along a beach village and see artisanal fishermen. Just before we reach our overnight spot, we find at the beach the Swiss Cargo shipwreck "The Stockholm". Our exclusive Beach House awaits us in Feliz Deserto. Overnight a the Beach House.
day 5 : Feliz Deserto – Marituba Lagoon – Feliz Deserto
Right after breakfast, which is special as usual, we mount the horses and ride inland, away from the beach, towards the Marituba wetlands, a protected area with a unique ecosystem. We will have time to wade or swim in the clear waters. We will have lunch and have a little siesta before heading back to our lodgings. This time we go along the beach and end today the ride with a gallop. Overnight stay at the Beach house.
day 6 : Feliz Deserto – Pontal do Peba (Fishing Village)
Today we will have time to enjoy the best of the region, deserted beaches, coconut trees, small fishing village. Also, we will have time to bathe in the sea and enjoy the local cuisine with excellent fresh
seafood arriving all the time in small boats that dot the coast. Our foot in the sand hostel has a privileged location.
day 7 : Pontal do Peba – Bonito – Potengi
The Fisherman's Village of Pontal do Peba with its bars and restaurants specializing in seafood, here is the starting point of today's ride. From the saddle, we explore an area of dunes and environmental preservation. Between coconut groves and dunes some tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals can be spotted. We will end the ride today at a traditional coconut farm in the region. Overnight at the Pousada.
day 8 : Beach– Dunes – Mouth of the São Francisco River – Penedo
After a good breakfast, we mount our horses to start our last riding day. We ride through a coconut forest until we find the huge dune complex we cross the dunes and before reaching the mouth of the São Francisco River, we will ride along with the quilombola community of Pixaim. (a quilombo is a town of escaped slaves) In Foz, we will enjoy the river swim to refresh ourselves. We will drink from a fresh coconut and eat some snacks. We will leave the horses behind, and hop on a boat to sail the mighty river until arriving at the banks of the river where we will have lunch. Typical seafood of the region will be served in the shade. We will arrive at the end of the afternoon at the colonial town of Penedo. Overnight at the Hotel.
day 9 : Penedo – Maceió
No hurry to get out of bed today. After a nice breakfast we will walk around town and see the beautiful baroque-style churches, old houses, theater, and convent and all other Penedo’s architectural jewels. We will have lunch at a traditional restaurant overlooking the river. After lunch we depart to Maceió. End of the itinerary.
Do not book a return flight leaving Maceio before 8:00 PM (20:00hrs)
Staying an extra night In Maceio is sometimes the best / cheapest option (wide range of hotel choice) so you can leave whenever it suits you on day 10.
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions. The final route is always left up to the discretion of the trip leader in the field.
Download the full program in PDF, by clicking here