Star-shaped itinerary on the virgin beaches

Arrival at Sotillo hotel (or Doña Pakyta), in San José. At 8 p.m. , welcome and briefing by guide.

San José - Escullos - San José The Pirates' Route. Ride along the impressive cliffs of Escullos and its surroundings. The route serpentines the coast lined with 18th century watchtowers, with magnificent views. This route gave the military, who was in charge of protecting the coast from pirate attacks, access to the most secluded coves, hence its name.

Thank you and see you soon! Breakfast and check out of the hotel by 12 noon.

San José - Genoveses - San José. Genoveses beach. Assignment and preparation of the horses after breakfast, at 9.30 a.m., in our stables in San José (5 minutes walk from the Sotillo hotel, 5 minutes drive from Pakyta hotel). Brief explanation about equipment and safety. The route begins in the direction of Genoveses beach, one of the most famous and appreciated beaches of Almería´s coastline. Its name comes from the invasion of an army of two hundred Genoese ships, a Christian alliance who supported Alfonso VII and was led by the Republic of Genoa. This group landed in the area in 1147 to take part in the Berber conquest of the city of Almería, which was under Andalusian rule at that time. It is for this reason that Almeria´s flag bears a similarity to that of Genoa´s. With the kilometre-long stretch of this beach, one can have the opportunity to gallop and experience the wonderful sensation of freedom.

Los cortijos. Today's itinerary takes us to some of the most emblematic constructions in Andalusia: the "cortijos", some of which date back to Arab times. In the past, these isolated dwellings housed families who were dedicated to farming the land. Over time, some of these cortijos evolved into small self-sufficient villages, equipped with rainwater collection and storage systems called "aljibes", areas for threshing grain called "eras", and windmills for the production of flour.

Valley of volcanoes. To the north of the park, in the Sierra de Gata, are the calderas of ancient volcanoes, creating a moon-like landscape. These volcanoes were active between 15 and 16 million years ago. Today, traces of fodder plantations and rain-fed crops can be seen in this region. Faced with the aridity of Cabo de Gata, its inhabitants took the initiative to use this huge volcanic cone to collect rainwater, essential for irrigating crops in the lower areas. We will walk through the hills of these ancient volcanoes and ride along the paths that wind from the summit to the sea, following the course of the water from the scarce rainfall.

Mónsul. Today's route to Mónsul beach follows the coast south along paths and a track that allows long trots and cantering. Mónsul's 400-metre-long beach is framed on the sides by rock formations of volcanic origin and at the back by a large sand dune. In the middle is an imposing rock that has become the symbol of Mónsul and the Natural Park: "La Peineta de Mónsul. This rock formation has the appearance of an enormous wave that seems to want to return to the sea. Steven Spielberg chose this beach and other locations in Almería to shoot "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", a film starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.