Why South American Horse Safaris

We’re horse safari and travel specialists

South American Horse Safaris is run by experienced horse riders and travel experts who understand both sides of the journey. We know horses, we know riding and we know what goes into creating an unforgettable adventure, but we also understand that booking a riding holiday involves much more than choosing a horse and a trail.

We know what makes accommodation special, how important the right guide can be, what makes an itinerary flow and how much the little details can affect your experience. Most importantly, we know what riders want from a horse riding holiday because we are riders ourselves. Our experience in Africa has taught us to look beyond the glossy photographs and ask the questions that really matter, and we’re bringing that same approach to South America.

We know what makes a great riding adventure

A spectacular landscape is a good start, but it is only one part of the experience. For us, an unforgettable riding adventure brings together exceptional horses, exciting and varied riding, extraordinary landscapes, genuine local connections and people who care deeply about what they do.

It is the horse that surprises you with just how sure-footed and willing it is. It is the guide who knows every bend in the trail and understands exactly when to let you open up into a canter and when you need to concentrate. It is the technical climb that makes you work for the view, the river crossing that leaves your boots soaked and the moment you reach the top of a mountain and realise just how far you and your horse have come. It is also the estancia where you are welcomed into a way of life rather than simply checking into accommodation for the night.

After 10 years of specialising in horse travel, we have learnt to look beyond the obvious. We know that the details, the horses, the people and the feeling you have at the end of a long day in the saddle are what turn a good riding holiday into an extraordinary one.

We can offer impartial, unbiased and knowledgeable advice across a wide range of horse experiences

Choosing the right riding holiday can be a surprisingly personal decision. You might be an experienced rider looking for a serious challenge but want to know exactly how technical the terrain really is. Perhaps you are dreaming of long open canters but do not want several days of steep mountain riding. You might be travelling with a friend who has a different riding ability, or simply want to understand what the horses, accommodation, climate and remoteness will actually be like.

These are the questions we understand because we are riders ourselves. We know that “challenging” can mean very different things to different people and that a description such as “long days in the saddle” can hide a lot of detail. We also understand the excitement, nerves and anticipation that come with booking an adventure that might take you well outside your normal riding routine.

Our role as horse riding travel specialists is to listen to what you want from your trip and match you with an experience that genuinely suits you. We’ll give you honest advice about the riding, horses, accommodation and overall experience, even if that means telling you that a particular ride is not the right one for you. The goal is not simply to sell you a holiday; it is to find you an adventure you’re going to love.

We offer a price match guarantee

We understand that a horse riding holiday in South America is a significant investment, and you want to know that you’re getting good value as well as an exceptional experience. That’s why we offer a price match guarantee on our riding holidays.

If you find the same trip available elsewhere at a lower price, get in touch and we’ll look into it. We want you to book with confidence, knowing that you’re getting the benefit of our specialist knowledge and personal service without paying more for the privilege.

We believe in the horses

You can’t have an extraordinary horse riding adventure without extraordinary horses. The horses are at the heart of everything we do, and their welfare is something we take seriously when choosing the people and experiences we work with.

We want to understand how the horses live, how they are cared for, how they are trained, how often they work and how their workload is managed. We look for operators who share our belief that horses are partners in the experience rather than simply a means of getting riders from one place to another.

Because that partnership is one of the most incredible parts of riding adventure travel. It is the feeling of trusting a horse as they pick their way confidently over rocky terrain, cross a river or climb a steep mountain trail. It is discovering just how capable, brave and sure-footed they can be, and developing a connection that can stay with you long after the ride is over.

We’ve curated the best of South America

We are not trying to offer every riding holiday available across the continent. Instead, we are carefully building a collection of the experiences that genuinely excite us. Our portfolio brings together adventurous mountain rides, traditional estancia stays, tropical riding holidays, cultural experiences and remote expeditions, each chosen because it offers something we believe is truly special.

We look for rides where the horses are exceptional, the riding is rewarding and the experience feels authentic. We want you to meet the people who know these landscapes from the saddle, experience places that you could not reach in quite the same way by vehicle and come home with stories that go far beyond where you stayed and what you saw.

As we continue exploring South America, we will keep adding new experiences, but only when they meet the standards we have developed over more than a decade of horse travel. We would rather offer you a smaller collection of exceptional adventures than fill a website with rides we would not choose for ourselves.

We know the people behind the rides

Great riding adventures are built on great relationships, and getting to know the people behind each experience is a huge part of what we do. We work closely with the people running the estancias, the guides leading the trails and the horsemen and women who understand their horses and landscapes better than anyone.

One of those people is Paul from Entre Orejas, who brings more than a decade of experience riding and working with horses across South America. Paul is already part of the African Horse Safaris family, with many of our riders having ridden alongside him on adventures in Mexico and Brazil. That existing relationship gives us a level of trust and understanding that goes far beyond a standard supplier relationship.

We are also working with Jakob von Plessen, who spent years guiding horse safaris in Kenya before returning to his native Argentina. Isabel first rode alongside Jakob in the Masai Mara, and hearing about his life and adventures in Argentina sparked her own curiosity about the continent. Years later, she followed that trail to Patagonia and climbed back into the saddle with him.

These relationships matter because they give us insight into the people, horses and places behind the rides. We can talk to them, ask the questions that matter to riders and understand what makes each experience different. When we recommend somewhere, we know the people behind it, not just the itinerary.

We’re riders, just like you

When you contact South American Horse Safaris, you’re talking to people who understand horses and riding, not simply someone selling travel. Our team are experienced riders who know the excitement of finding a new adventure, but also the questions and hesitations that can come with it.

We’ve wondered whether we’re fit enough for a particular ride, whether the horses will suit us, what the terrain will really be like and whether we can manage several hours in the saddle day after day. We know that riders want honest answers before committing to a trip, particularly when it is an experience that might take them well outside their comfort zone.

So ask us the questions. Tell us what you love about riding, what you’re looking for and what you’re unsure about. We can share our own experiences, talk horses and help you work out which South American riding adventure is going to suit you best.

We’re here because we love riding, we love adventure and we love sharing that feeling with other riders.