Experience the land of wolves and wild horses

Friday, 18 September 2009 17:23

Horse riding tour takes visitors through the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês National Park is the only national park in country’s Norte region, offering a unique opportunity tosee the wide array of wildlife along the Spanish-Portuguese border. A new nine-day trek offered by Ecotura horse riding tours aims to introduce visitors to the region while also educating the public about the Iberian wolves, a threatened species in the region. The tour takes visitors across the three known wolf territories in hopes of catching a glimpse of these mysterious animals. Promoted as an eco-tourism adventure, guests travel on Garrano horses, a breed of small wild horse that originates from the region. For six of the nine days, the horses amble over grassy rolling hills and through dense oak forests, seeing parks of the national park inaccessible by vehicle. Nights alternate between camping and cooking by the fire and dining at local restaurants and staying at hotels.Some of the wildlife people can expect to see includes wild boars, otters, martens, falcons, and water snakes. Guests will also visit small villages often overlooked by tourists, opening access to the traditions and the way of life of ancestral Portugal.  Local cuisine will be served whenever possible. Tours are given in English and are never larger than eight people.