Eight days and seven nights, (six on horseback) to discover legends, medieval villages and natural landscapes in Castile along the Camino del Cid route.

Number of Nights: 7

Difficulty: Intermediate

Price: 3450 EUR

Location: Castile

Riding & Terrain

The journey is rated Moderate to Challenging with High Scenic Value and comprises 6 dedicated riding days. Riders traverse a variety of terrains, including juniper and oak woodlands, riversides, meadow slopes, pine forests, and hilly landscapes. Notable segments include crossings of the Arlanza valley, climbs through the Peñacoba Valley, the Río Lobos canyon and pine-beech beech woodlands near Quintanar de la Sierra. Expect occasional long overlooks, with opportunities to pause for picnics and to enjoy the horses’ pace and rhythm.

Riding pace is designed to allow immersion in the surroundings, with wildlife sightings such as vultures and the chance to observe free-roaming cattle and horses along the way. The experience emphasizes connection with the horses and the scenery rather than high-speed travel.

Overview

El Cid, "Ride the Legend" offers an eight-day horseback journey through medieval Castile, from Covarrubias to Quintanar de la Sierra. Over six days of riding, guests follow the Camino del Cid through forests, rivers and mountains, guided by the companionship of noble horses and comfortable Spanish saddles. The route invites reflection on history and landscape, with iconic sights such as the Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park and the Sad Hill Cemetery, a nod to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Guests will experience a land of legends, medieval villages and timeless heritage, all from the saddle.

Key context includes starting in Covarrubias, finishing in Quintanar de la Sierra, and daily endings in charming rural accommodations with shared meals that foster a slower pace and connection with Castile.

Logistics & Accommodations

Logistics include transfers to and from Madrid Airport, a start in Covarrubias and a finish in Quintanar de la Sierra. Accommodations are charming rural properties, selected to reflect Castilian character, with dinners on arrival and daily meals during the stay. The schedule includes structured daily rides, picnic lunches, and opportunities for sightseeing in the evenings. The trip includes seven nights of lodging and meals as specified, with a final day returning to Madrid.

Dates, pricing and capacity are published for planning purposes: dates include mid-June 2027, with a price of €3,450 and a single supplement of €190. Minimum and maximum rider counts are 6–12. Booking terms require a 35% deposit and a 65% balance by 1 April 2027.

Cultural & Historical Highlights

The itinerary traces historical paths linked to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the legendary El Cid, offering a chance to feel the cadence of medieval Castile. Highlights include Santo Domingo de Silos’ Romanesque monastery, the 10th-century Mozarabic chapel of Santa Cecilia, the Sad Hill Cemetery (featured in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), and other sites that preserve centuries of heritage. The route crosses landscapes that inspired legends and cinema, connecting natural grandeur with cultural memory.

Evening cultural immersion occurs as riders arrive at towns such as Covarrubias, renowned for its medieval charm, and Durand stays in local rural hotels where stories of the land and its people are shared over meals.

Summary

Riding - 6 days - approx. 6 to 8 hours per day

Terrain Difficulty - Moderate

Pace - Steady

Saddle Type - Spanish Saddle

Max. Weight - 95 kg

Accommodation - Other

Horses - Andalusian

Group Size - 6 min. - 12 max.

Season - Spring

Riding Level - Intermediate

Min. Age - 18 years, unless accompanied by an adult.

Included Items:

Dinner on the first day

Breakfast on the final day

Three meals a day on the intervening days

Itinerary

Arrival in Covarrubias

Pick-up at 17:00 at Madrid Airport and transfer to Covarrubias, where our first hotel awaits and the adventure begins. Dinner together at the hotel and an introduction to the story of El Cid.

Accommodation: Hotel Covarrubias or similar. The first two nights are planned here.

Day 2: Santo Domingo de Silos to Covarrubias

Our day begins in Santo Domingo de Silos, where its renowned Romanesque monastery introduces us to the medieval heritage of Castile. From here, we set out on horseback along the Camino del Cid, through the landscapes of the Sabinares del Arlanza y La Yecla Natural Park.

At the pace of our horses, we enter a landscape of juniper trees, hills and open trails that invites us to savour every stretch. We will pass near the Merandilla Valley, associated with the filming of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Nestled among the hills is the iconic Sad Hill Cemetery, recreated as it appears in the film: a setting that stirs the imagination and connects us with the magic of cinema.

Picnic beside the river in Retuerta. Afternoon riding along country paths and farmland to Covarrubias. Dinner in the village and accommodation: Hotel Covarrubias.

Note: On one of the days, after our ride, we will also have the opportunity to visit La Yecla Gorge.

Day 3: Covarrubias to Santo Domingo de Silos

We leave Covarrubias along the Camino del Cid towards the Arlanza Valley, through open fields and oak and juniper woods. Today reveals a different route from the previous day, crossing the lower valleys and passing through Santibáñez del Val amid gentle hills and rural landscapes.

Beside the river, the 10th-century Mozarabic chapel of Santa Cecilia provides a beautiful setting for our picnic. We will enjoy our meal and a rest in the shade while the horses graze peacefully. In the afternoon, we will ride through valleys and meadows to Santo Domingo de Silos, where dinner and a well-earned rest await after another day of nature and history.

Dinner and accommodation: Hotel Tres Coronas or similar.

Day 4: Santo Domingo de Silos to Navas del Pinar

We depart from Santo Domingo de Silos and climb through the mountains to the Peñacoba Valley, as holm oak and juniper woods give way to meadows and pine forests. We will ride through Pinarejos and pastures where free-roaming cattle and horses form part of the landscape, enjoying the peace of our surroundings.

We will pause to share a picnic among pines and oaks, with time to rest before continuing to Navas del Pinar, where a comfortable night’s rest awaits.

Dinner and accommodation: a charming rural hotel.

Day 5: Navas del Pinar to San Leonardo de Yagüe

We will ride towards the Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park, following the river between imposing rock walls as vultures soar overhead. Along the way, we may encounter flocks of sheep and free-roaming horses, on a day that invites us to feel part of the landscape.

We will enjoy a picnic in the park, surrounded by nature, before continuing through the forests to San Leonardo de Yagüe, where we can unwind after a memorable day on horseback.

Accommodation: Hotel Manrique de Lara or similar.

Day 6: San Leonardo de Yagüe to Quintanar de la Sierra

We ride into a land of extensive pine forests, where the woodland has shaped the lives and traditions of its villages. The scent of pine and the rhythm of our horses invite us to enjoy the journey with all our senses. We will share lunch in an oak grove beside the Romanesque chapel of the Virgen de Carrascal, with time to rest and admire the views of the village from above.

In the afternoon, we will continue towards Quintanar de la Sierra, crossing green meadows where horses and cattle graze. A day to breathe deeply, leave the rush behind and enjoy the freedom of travelling on horseback.

Accommodation: Hotel Las Mayas or similar.

Day 7: Quintanar de la Sierra to Fuente Sanza

We leave Quintanar de la Sierra for our final day on horseback, climbing through lush pine forests and beech and oak woods. The trail leads us to a meadow surrounded by mountains, where the River Arlanza rises: a beautiful place to bring our adventure to a close.

Before our picnic, we will lead the horses to the river so they can cool and soothe their legs. It will be a special moment to stroke them and thank them for the trails we have shared over these days.

We will enjoy our final picnic among the mountains, with time to reflect on our experiences and savour the satisfaction of having explored Castile on horseback.

Accommodation: Hotel Covarrubias or similar.

Day 8: Return to Madrid Airport

Breakfast and transfer back to Madrid Airport.

A group of people on horseback are wading through a shallow stream surrounded by lush greenery under a clear blue sky.

A brown horse grazes peacefully under a large pine tree in a sunlit field.

A group of riders on horses stands at the edge of a shallow river, surrounded by lush green trees and grassy banks.

A horseback rider on a grassy field with trees and a large rock in the background.

A small stone chapel with three horses stands on a hill under a clear blue sky, with trees surrounding it.

A white horse stands by a calm body of water, wearing a bridle and adorned with a black tassel.

A horse's head and shadow cast on a dirt path, with a clear blue sky and sparse vegetation in the background.

A group of horses grazing in a field surrounded by tall trees under a clear blue sky.

A woman in a cowboy hat rides a horse along a dirt path, with other riders further down the trail, set against a backdrop of dry grassy hills and distant mountains under a clear sky.

A group of people gathered around a table under a green canopy, enjoying a meal outdoors with horses and trees in the background.

A group of riders on horseback traverses a dirt path through a natural landscape under a clear blue sky.

A horse stands near a fence in a field with trees and hills in the background.

A picnic table set with various food items including cheese, bread, and meats arranged on a green and white checkered tablecloth.

Two people ride horses along a dirt path through a field of tall grass, with a small building and dense trees lining the horizon under a clear blue sky.

A brown horse with a saddle sits near a stone table adorned with plates and glasses, surrounded by trees in a natural setting.

Two horses stand in shallow water near a forested riverbank, with one horse having a blanket on its back.

A person rides a horse across a grassy field with trees and large rocks in the background under a clear blue sky.

A person wearing a helmet rides a brown horse through shallow water near a forested riverbank under a clear blue sky.

Three people riding horses in shallow water near a forested riverbank.

A white horse stands on a rocky hillside overlooking a lush valley under a clear sky.

A small stone chapel with three horses stands on a hill under a clear blue sky.

A group of riders on horses, including a woman in a white shirt and black helmet, are walking along a dirt path surrounded by trees.