The Borderlands Ride: Spain & Portugal

We will dedicate the first part of the day to sightseeing. After breakfast, we set out on foot to Entrimo, where we will visit the Baroque Church of Our Lady the Queen, dating back to the 18th century. We’ll then stroll through the charming streets of the town and stop at a local bar for a delicious coffee – we highly recommend trying a carajillo con ron.

After a short rest, we drive to the Rio Caldo thermal baths in Lobios to warm up our bodies and prepare our muscles for the evening ride. Although the pools may look modest at first glance, in some spots the water is truly hot!
From there, we will continue to the workshop of Antonio “Toño” Monteiro, a Galician sculptor whose art often draws inspiration from the nature and landscapes of the Xurés region. The artist will share the sources of his inspiration, show us some of his works, and, alongside a feast for the soul, also prepare something for the body – local tapas and his own homemade drinks.

We return to the villa for a late lunch, and after the meal it’s time to saddle up. A magical moonlit journey awaits! Around 5:00 PM we head to the stables to meet our horses. Once saddled, we begin a 3–4 hour ride. Dinner will be served halfway along the trail – at sunset, in a picturesque spot by a stream.

After nightfall we continue, guided only by the moonlight reflecting on the surface of the lake. Around midnight, in silence and with only the rhythmic sound of hooves accompanying us, we will arrive at Maus de Salas. There, we will unsaddle and feed the horses, enjoy a light supper, and head for a well-deserved rest.

After a leisurely breakfast, we saddle up and set off on the trail. But first, we’ll water the horses at the lake – though be warned, some of them may suddenly decide to go for a swim, without giving much thought to the rider in the saddle
Today’s distance is about 12 km, so we will ride straight through without a lunch stop. The route leads us along Galician paths hidden among trees and shrubs. Many sections are lined with moss-covered stone walls and ancient fences, giving the trail a truly unique character.
We arrive in Porqueirós, where our horses will stay overnight. After unsaddling, we’ll head to lunch – a real feast prepared by the owner of a local guesthouse. Food lovers will not be disappointed: we’ll taste regional specialties, including the famous scallops, or shells of St. James. These large, fan-shaped mollusks are the symbol of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the most renowned city in Galicia. The meal will, of course, be accompanied by excellent wine and fragrant coffee – which may even attract a few curious locals intrigued by our equestrian feast.
After lunch, we return by bus to the villa. The afternoon is yours to enjoy – whether strolling through the winding, steep streets of Feira Vella or simply relaxing by the pool. In the evening, a dinner awaits us back at the villa.

After breakfast at the villa, we return by bus to our horses in Porqueirós. Today’s ride covers about 16 km. The route begins along quiet stretches of asphalt, passing through sleepy, mostly deserted Galician villages and small towns. Soon, we leave civilization behind once more and ride into the forests, eventually reaching the shores of the As Conchas reservoir and the village of Porto Quintela, where we will stop for lunch.

After the meal and some rest, we set out to explore the fascinating history of this region. We will visit Aquis Querquennis, a Roman military camp most likely founded in the 1st century AD. The site was discovered in the 20th century, when the waters of the artificial As Conchas reservoir – created on the Limia River – receded, revealing the remains of the camp. Today, it is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, offering remarkable insights into the Roman expansion across the Iberian Peninsula.

Aquis Querquennis was a temporary camp that housed legionaries and also served as a base for builders working on the Via Nova (now known as Vía XVIII). Excavations have so far uncovered the principia (headquarters), horrea (granaries), valetudinarium (military hospital), centurion barracks, as well as a system of roads and drains, defensive walls with towers, gates (porta principalis sinistra, porta decumana), latrines, a moat, and the perimeter road (via sagularis).

Nearby, we also find natural hot springs known as the Baños de Bande. Just like the Romans almost two thousand years ago, we will enjoy their soothing waters before returning by bus to the villa for dinner.

Today we set out for Portugal, with about 25 km to cover. Today’s route will delight us with the vast landscapes of the borderlands, but there will be other attractions, too! Along the way we have a good chance to encounter wild-living, native Garrano horses – an endangered breed of Portuguese ponies. They are rather calm and quite curious, nosy even, so if they come too close to us we will escape them cantering.
Halfway through the trail, in a beautiful spot, we’ll stop for lunch – quite possibly the best paella you will ever taste. After a well-deserved rest for both riders and horses, we continue our journey.
On the other side of the border the surrounding landscape will change and we will once again follow bushy paths of the old smugglers. By afternoon, we arrive at the picturesque mountain village of Castro Laboreiro – the birthplace of the shepherd dog breed of the same name.
After unsaddling the horses and settling into a local hotel, we invite you for a walk through the area, where we will discover the ruins of a medieval castle and a Roman bridge. In the evening, a true culinary feast awaits – over dinner we will savor traditional dishes of Portuguese cuisine.

After breakfast, we saddle up and set off on the trail. It is the last day of our horseback adventure – the return to Spain, this time along a different route of about 29 km. At first, the path will lead us through charming, sleepy Portuguese villages, before leaving the asphalt behind and once again immersing us in nature and endless open spaces. With a bit of luck, we may encounter the wild Garrano ponies one more time, and along the way there will be plenty of spots perfect for joyful, free-spirited gallops. We will stop for a break in the shade of ancient oaks at the hermitage of San Bieito de Grou. After lunch, we continue, this time riding through picturesque forests and among rocky formations. After about an hour, we will reach the finish line of the ride – our villa in Feira Vella. We will unsaddle the horses and bid them farewell, preparing for the farewell dinner. A delicious feast awaits us, this time full of Galician delicacies. Over a glass of fine wine, we will share impressions and memories from the entire week of the ride.

It’s time to say goodbye to the beautiful borderlands of Spain and Portugal. All riders will be transferred to the airport to begin their journey home. For those with later flights, the organizer may arrange sightseeing along the way to Porto.