Brazil’s Ultimate Canyon and Waterfalls Ride
Nestled along the southern Atlantic coasts of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul lie Brazil’s most expansive canyons. This seven day, six night ride takes place in a 28,000 hectare conservation area comprised of two parks, Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral.
Trip Highlights
-
Explore Brazil’s largest canyon system within a vast 28,000-hectare conservation area spanning two national parks.
-
Ride along dramatic mountain ranges, world-famous canyons, and the wild Atlantic coastline.
-
Stay in traditional southern Brazilian ranches for an authentic gaucho cultural experience.
-
Savour regional culinary specialties and immerse yourself in the flavours of gaucho hospitality.
-
Discover why this best-selling itinerary is Brazil’s top horseback adventure, showcasing stunning scenery, rich wildlife, and vibrant local culture.
Details
-
Riding levels
Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Traditional gaucho saddles with sheepskins. They are composed of multiple layers of blankets and pieces of leather, placed on the horse’s back in a particular order. The last layer of sheepskin serves as a seat for the rider, making it very comfortable to ride in.
- Horse breed
Purebred Criollo.
- Accommodation
Lodge accomodation shared between traditional family-owned Pousada and Fazenda.
- Pace
The pace can vary from a walk right through to a gallop, depending on the terrain.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 100kg / 220lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average, 5 to 6 hours in the saddle per day.
- When to go
All year round.
- Languages
Portuguse and English
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- Transfers to and from Porto Alegre Airport
- Twin share accommodation
- All riding activities outlined in the itinerary
- Meals
- One welcome drink every day before dinner (local liqueur made with cachaca), soft drinks and water
Excluded
- International or regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Staff tips
- Additional alcohol aside from the 1x welcome drink before dinner each day
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)
Riding level
Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
March 10 to 16, 2026
April 7 to 13, 2026
May 12 to 18, 2026
June 9 to 15, 2026
July 7 to 13, 2026
August 11 to 17, 2026
September 15 to 21, 2026
October 6 to 12, 2026
November 3 to 9, 2026
November 24 to 30, 2026
December 8 to 14, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Itinerary
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
-
Day 1: Arrival
Non-riding dayYou’ll be greeted at Porto Alegre Airport by your guide and transferred (approximately five hours) to Fazenda Potreirinhos, a traditional working farm in São José dos Ausentes. Known for its hospitality and generous regional cuising, you’ll enjoy a warm gaucho welcome, a fitting introduction to life in the Campos de Cima da Serra. Dinner and overnight at Fazenda Potreirinhos.
-
Day 2: Cachoeirão
5 hours in the saddleAfter breakfast, you meet your Criollo horse and set out across gently undulating grasslands. The day’s ride leads to Cachoeirão, an impressive broad waterfall formed by a series of cascading falls. Later, you reach the ‘Rivers Gap’, a curious natural feature where two rivers run side by side at different levels. Riding continues through open fields stretching to the horizon, offering a real sense of space and scale. Dinner and overnight at Fazenda Potreirinhos.
-
Day 3: Tio Tonho Farm
5 to 6 hours in the saddleA long and rewarding day in the saddle unfolds after breakfast, taking you deeper into the highland landscapes of the Campos de Cima da Serra. The route showcases rolling hills and the striking Araucaria forests that define this region. Lunch is enjoyed at the Lopes family ranch, a traditional old-style fazenda, where you taste locally produced Serrano cheese and gain insight into the enduring gaucho way of life. A shorter afternoon ride brings you to Tio Tonho Farm, your home for the next three nights.
-
Day 4: Pico do Monte Negro
4 to 5 hours in the saddleToday brings a truly special highlight. Riding out after breakfast, you ascend towards Pico do Monte Negro, the highest point in Rio Grande do Sul at 1,403 metres. From the summit, sweeping views open up in every direction, creating a powerful sense of freedom and remoteness. Lunch, weather permitting, is a countryside barbecue enjoyed with expansive views. The afternoon returns you to Tio Tonho Farm for the evening.
-
Day 5: Canyons and Stone Corridors
4 hours in the saddleThe ride today explores a dramatic change in scenery, moving through open fields and forest before the land suddenly drops away into vast canyons. Towering rock walls plunge up to 1,000 metres, forming a natural corridor stretching from Rio Grande do Sul towards Santa Catarina. Lunch is taken at a typical local farm before a relaxed return ride to Tio Tonho Farm.
-
Day 6: Tropeiro Trail
5 hours in the saddleAfter breakfast, you set off across classic coxilhas – soft, rolling hills crossed by clear rivers and shaded by ancient Araucaria trees. The route follows sections of the historic Tropeiro trail, a more than 200-year-old trading route once used to move cattle, mules and goods across southern Brazil. Lunch is enjoyed beside the river before riding on past the small village of Silveiras. The final stretch leads back to Fazenda Potreirinhos for your last night on the ride.
-
Day 7: Departure
Non-riding dayToday you’ll enjoy one last delicious breakfast before your transfer back to Porto Alegre Airport, bringing your journey through Brazil’s southern highlands to a close.
Transfer information
Please fly into Porto Alegre Airport mid-morning on day one of your ride, where you’ll be picked up by your guide. Departing flights can be booked from 3pm onwards on the final day.
Accommodation
Lodge accommodation shared between traditional family-owned Pousada and Fazenda.
Fazenda Tio Tonho
Fazenda Potreirinho
Fazenda Potreirinho
Food
Guests can expect hearty, home-cooked southern Brazilian farm cuisine—think slow-roasted gaucho barbecue, steaming beans and rice, fresh breads, garden vegetables and rustic stews—served with the warm, traditional hospitality of the region.
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
Meet Our Brazil Guide: Paulo Junqueira Arantes
Meet Our Brazil Guide: Paulo Junqueira Arantes At the heart of Globetrotting’s Canyons & Waterfalls horse riding holiday in Brazil is Paulo Junqueira Arantes, an exceptional horseman with decades of experience guiding riders across South America. While Paulo offers and
