Next rides is 2027
2 – 9 May
10 – 17 October
Riding Through the BioRia Reserve
Our 8-day riding experience takes you along the beach and into the BioRia nature reserve, a hidden gem of northern Portugal. This rich wetland area is home to an abundance of birdlife and water, offering a completely different rhythm and landscape to explore on horseback.
Each day brings peaceful trails and quiet moments, riding alongside canals, across small bridges, and through lush greenery. The pace is gentle, the air fresh, and the scenery constantly shifting.
At night, you’ll rest in a beautiful cottage farmhouse, full of charm and surrounded by nature. With delicious vegetarian meals and intimate group sizes, this escape is perfect for anyone looking for adventure, to reconnect with themselves, the horses, and the wild world around them.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrival & First Ride at Golden Hour
Guests arrive at Bonanza the Land, meet their horse, and settle in before the light turns gold. The first ride of the trip is a 2-hour sunset loop through pine forest and out onto the dunes, timed so the group reaches the beach as the sun drops toward the Atlantic.
Length of the ride: 12 km
Time in the saddle: 2 hours
Day 2
A 3-hour morning ride that shows off the full variety of the coastline around Bonanza the Land — cantering across open beach, weaving through shaded pine forest trails, and climbing soft dune tracks with sweeping views back over the Atlantic. Riders and horses settle into rhythm together before lunch at Bonanza the Ranch, sitting between the Aveiro lagoon and the ocean, with the herd grazing nearby.
After lunch, we will go for a boat trip at the Aveiro Lagoon to spot some flamingoes.
Length of the ride: 18 km
Time in the saddle: 3 hours
Day 3
A 5-hour journey tracing the northern edge of the Aveiro lagoon, the landscape slowly changing from coastal pine to open wetland as the group rides deeper into the BioRia. A picnic stop along the way lets both horses and riders rest before the final stretch. By late afternoon, the group arrives at a charming farmhouse on the edge of the reserve — horses turned loose to graze, dinner shared around an outdoor fire, the sky opening up over the water.
Length of the ride: 30 km
Time in the saddle: 5 hours
Day 4 – 6
Exploring the BioRia Nature Reserve
Three unhurried days exploring the maze of trails and canals that make the BioRia one of northern Portugal’s best-kept secrets. This is a different kind of riding — slow, quiet, immersive. Riders pass through reed beds and wetland paths where the only sounds are hooves on soft earth and birdsong overhead. Keep an eye out for buzzards, kites, herons, storks, and — if you’re lucky — a kingfisher flashing past, or an otter, badger, fox, or common genet slipping through the undergrowth. Cantering along farm lands and between the canopy of trees.
Evenings return to the farmhouse for dinner and a fire, horses free in the fields.
Length of the ride: 12 – 25 km
Time in the saddle: 2 – 4 hours
Day 7
Today we will go on our way back through beautiful trails along the Aveiro Lagoon. When we get back we will leave the horses free in the fields to enjoy a well deserved rest.
Lunch along the way.
Length of the ride: 30 km
Time in the saddle: 5 hours
Day 8
A relaxed final morning to say goodbye to the herd before heading home — with saddle-sore legs, sun on your skin, and a trip that’s hard to put into words to anyone who wasn’t there.
Next BioRia rides in 2027
2 – 9 May
10 – 17 October
Price:
€1850 (deposit €500)
Note: This ride is best suitable for fit intermediate or experienced riders that are comfortable in all gaits and can manoeuvre a horse confidently.
”I went on the first edition of the BioRia horse riding trip with Bonanza. A weekend full of adventure, lovely horses, nice conversations, beautiful and peaceful rides along the beach and the Aveiro lagoon while we got deeper into the nature reserve of the BioRia. It’s a perfect weekend to reconnect with yourself, horses and nature.”
~ Alisa (The Netherlands)
I went on a countryside horse riding trip with Bonanza and it was absolutely wonderful! The horses themselves were brilliant – well cared for, gentle and full of personality. We enjoyed delicious, healthy meals that perfectly complemented the fresh country air and long rides. Overall it was a truly refreshing and memorable experience – I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a mix of adventure, nature and great company!”
~ Kathryn (UK)
I went on the BioRia experience with Bonanza and it was truly amazing. The views throughout the trail were incredible, we were completely surrounded by nature, beautiful scenery, and got to see different breeds of birds along the way.
The horses were amazing and super well behaved. I got to live this experience with Nakila, a beautiful mare whom I connected with deeply. All the horses behaved incredibly well; given the nature of the trail, I thought they might get more scared, but they were mostly calm except for a few little scares that were easily managed.
The food was INCREDIBLE, healthy, mostly vegan and gluten free, with a couple of healthy sweet treats and some delicious cheeses.
Carine was amazing. She transmitted so much confidence and security, which is very much needed in an experience like this. Bea was also incredible, always there to help and with such a beautiful energy.
I do have to say that for this experience (BioRia), previous riding experience is important, and your body should already be somewhat used to horseback riding, as spending 5 – 6 hours on horseback can definitely be physically challenging.
Thank you to Carine, Bea and the beautiful herd of horses at Bonanza. It was a life changing experience and I truly can’t wait to come back.
~ Amanda (Spain)
