Join us on our discovery ride in Brazil, hosted by Stine, and be among the very first to experience our brand-new destination! The discovery trip will take place from 21 to 28 February 2026. During this week, you'll experience authentic Brazilian gaucho culture from the back of incredible Criollo horses. The ride will be led by Felipe Silvera, who has been working and living in the countryside his entire life. A man of many talents, Felipe is a lawyer, businessman, musician and a cattle rancher.
His journey began with friends, organising horseback rides in Campo dos Padres, and has since grown into a full-time operation due to the high demand for horse riding holidays throughout the Serra Catarinense.
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During the journey, we will visit places that can only be reached on horseback, riding along historic trails once travelled by generations of gauchos. We will ride through Campo dos Padres, Pico Bela Vista (our highest point at 1,827 meters), and the edges of the Campo Comprido canyons. We'll also ride our horses and mules to the Canoas River waterfalls, alongside four rivers: Pulpito, Bau, Contas and Bugres, and six stunning canyons: Espraiado, Laranjeiras, Portal, Funil, Rondinha, and Montenegro. We'll also be able to explore the century-old cemeteries of Campanha, Atlantic Forest and Araucaria Forest, and expansive grasslands perfect for canters and letting loose!
We're able to see so many different and varied places because the ride is itinerant, always moving towards the next Fazenda. We ride 6-9 hours a day on a point-to-point route. Throughout the week, we stay in 5-7 different Fazendas and pousadas, depending on the route. We will have electricity and good facilities every night except one, when we will be staying in Campo dos Padres.
We will only bring what we need for the day when we ride out, as we have a vehicle transporting our luggage.
The “horses” we will be riding are Brazilian criollo horses, mixed breed between Camperio and Mangalarga and mules.
The Criollo horse is widely spread all over South America. You can’t travel to Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Uruguay without crossing paths with this breed.
In Portuguese the criollo is pronounced “Crioulo”. The Criollo is the most important companion for the gauchos. Being a tough, hardy and headstrong horse, it is suited for both ranch work and mountain trail riding. The majority of us will be riding a Criollo.
The Campeiro horse is a rare breed of Brazil, great for ranch work and transportation. Another name for the breed is Marchador das Araucarias as they are native to the Araucaria forests of Southern Brazil. They are gaited and will “trot” faster than a normal trot and for a longer period of time.
Mangalarga is a Brazilian riding horse breed. Being the national horse breed of Brazil with more than half a million of them. They are gaited, so they walk, marcha batida, marcha picada and canter. They don’t trot as we know it from a non-gaited horse, instead they run with three hooves on the ground at once.
They are great for endurance riding and in 1994 they set a Guinness World Record for the longest endurance trip covering 8,594km (5,402 miles) in just over a year and a half! So no need to be worried about the long distances we will be covering over the week.
Mules are very common in South America. They are great for both trail riding and packing out. All the horses and mules are well-trained and experienced on the trails.
On the first day of the trip, the 21st of February, you'll be picked up from Florianópolis airport is at 12pm. From there, it is a 3–4 hour drive to the estancia depending on traffic. We arrive at the estancia in the afternoon, where we will be welcomed by Felipe and his team, spend time getting to know each other, and meet the horses.
The following morning, we begin our week-long ride, filled with breathtaking landscapes: high-altitude open fields, canyons, waterfalls, river crossings, Atlantic and Araucaria forests, and remote, secluded fazendas and pousadas.
Expect hearty home-cooked meals, shared evenings, wine, and cachaça.
On the final day, 28 February, we return to the estancia for lunch. After lunch (around 2:00 pm), we depart for Florianópolis, arriving at approximately 6:00 pm. You may either stay in the city to enjoy the beach or head directly to the airport.
The general cuisine is Serrano style, originating from the Campos de Cima da Serra region. The food is hearty and rustic, with strong European influences (especially Italian and German). Expect comforting stews as well as traditional Brazilian churrasco (barbecue). We can cater to vegetarians, vegans, and most allergies—just let us know in advance.
Price: 2750 USD
Included: Horses and tack, all meals and drinks, saddlebags, rain ponchos, shared accommodation in rural fazendas and local pousadas, English-speaking host.
Excluded: Flights, insurance (including rescue coverage), airport pick-up and drop-off in Florianopolis airport (USD 70–90 per person, depending on group size).
It is important that you are comfortable and confident riding at walk, trot, and canter in open terrain. We will be riding in open fields and near canyons. Some days are long due to the distances between fazendas, and because we are riding in remote areas, there is no option to shorten the ride if you are not comfortable with longer distances.
If you have any questions about the ride, don’t hesitate to send an email to stine@hoovesaroundtheworld.com!
