Progressive rides in Colombia: AERC member offer
Colombia is a truly beautiful country: these tours are done in safe areas of the country, mostly unspoiled, fascinating and with a strong horse culture. What better way to experience the country than riding fit, forward, Arabian and Arabian crosses in the Andes with a former endurance rider who breeds his own horses and leads expeditions through the Andes.
Julio Pardo is a Colombian with a long history in Endurance (more than 17 years) who also played polo for ten years. For the last 30 years he has been offering multi-day progressive rides, to some of the most beautiful destinations in the Colombian departments of Cundinamarca, Tolima, Quindio, Boyacá, Casanare and Santander. Trot and canter along back country wild trails, village roads, and Caminos Reales, through remote villages and over mountains. These are not rides for arena riders, they are most suited to people who are used to many hours in the saddle, lots of extended trots and spirited horses. Julio has helpers who follow with luggage and take care of the horses, you don’t saddle or groom at all!
Current members of the AERC can receive a 10% discount on all rides in 2024 and 2025 when booking direct with Julio.
Contact at [email protected] and letting him know you are an AERC member – with your number in the email.
Pricing and dates for all rides available upon request. Don’t forget your AERC membership when emailing or calling.
Summarizing the 3 rides I have done
- Oiba to Villa de Leyva: I completed this ride in July 2023 as an exploratory ride to check the trail with Julio. See Listo, Claro, Perfecto.
- Heading south, this is probably the most beautiful of the itineraries I have completed, passing over multiple mountains, through wild areas that do not see tourism, with lots of chances to interact with farmers and see authentic rural life plus lots of flowers everywhere. This ride was also the easiest, spread over 5 1/2 days of riding with stops at waterfalls and natural pools (Las Gachas) The food was the most rustic/basic and all the accommodations were good. The ride ends in Villa de Leyva, a fascinating and quite famous town.
- Oiba to Barichara: This ride heads north and is one of the most popular rides. See Cantering through North East Colombia
- After leaving Oiba you ride through beautiful landscapes, lush and fertile: sugar cane, bananas, cacao and coffee, to corn, fruit trees, pineapple, papaya, tobacco and custard apple. The ride ends in Barichara one of the best preserved towns in Northern Colombia and you get to ride to/visit Chichamocha canyon:a remarkable and beautiful natural wonder to rival the Grand Canyon. The second largest canyon in the world, a staggering 6,000 feet deep.You can learn more about this remarkable canyon at https://lacgeo.com/chicamocha-canyon-national-park-colombia. A faster ride owing to good footing plus lots of interesting villages to stop at for drinks, lunch and exploration. It’s a long drive back to Barichara, for 4 people I’d seriously consider chartering a plane back to Bogota Airport – Julio can arrange.
- The Ranch to Villa de Leyva: This ride is a northern route from Julio’s horse ranch north of Bogota. See Five Days to Villa de Leyva
- This is definitely the fasted paced of the rides – a lot of long trots and canters – through farm land and dairy country and then passing through the high desert (La Candalaria) Fascinating villages, artisans making pottery, lots of exposure to Colombian history and culture. The last day is a chance to explore Villa de Leyva and visit a museum.
There is one more itinerary – Casanare – which goes to the plains, I haven’t done it so cannot tell you anything in detail, other than Julio puts on great rides for experienced and fit riders.
