We are a Norwegian family with 2 children ages 8 and 11 who has never really had much experience with horseback riding or horses for that matter. But after reading Raoul’s amazing reviews, we decided to try this new experience as a family, and what a great decision that was! We loved every second of it! The horses was just amazing, well trained and patient. Raoul was just wonderful teacher with so much knowledge about the horses and the wildlife surroundings. Horseback riding up the mountains was one of the most breathtaking experiences I had ever had in my life ( I even shed a tear by the beauty of my surroundings!). My children still mentions how much they miss their horses Universe and Chocolate. I cannot recommend Raoul and his beautiful horses enough, plus he speaks good English! This is a memory for life that we as a family will cherish forever❤️ Thank you Raoul for this amazing experience.

This was an amazing experience with beautiful views! Our guide was extremely helpful and friendly. Lunch was amazing as well.

I can’t recommend Raul highly enough, we enjoyed every minute of it! The drive up from Paraty with our driver, Alex, gave us some amazing views and the chance to spot some wildlife. When we arrived, Raul was on hand to give us a warm welcome, he introduced us to our lovely horses. As it had been a while since my wife or I had ridden, Raul took the time to give us a few reminders until we both felt comfortable enough to begin our ride. Raul took us through some beautiful scenery, and took the time to describe all sorts of different trees, plants, wildlife around the farm that has been in his family for generations. After, we were treated to a great picnic with really fresh produce, and an amazing view! I’d thoroughly recommend this trip to all, no matter your riding ability! Obrigado, Raul!

My husband and I can’t rate this experience highly enough. Raul was a wonderfully patient tutor. He clearly loves and takes great care of his horses. The provided picnic was excellent and we were provided with bags to take anything uneaten home. The location has been beautifully maintained.

We had a wonderful experience, riding with Raul in the stunning mountain landscape. Raul was lovely and extremely welcoming. He was very attentive and made sure that we both felt comfortable and safe on the horses. The picnic was a lovely little break. We highly recommend this tour.

A wonderful experience! Raul has a great love for his horses evident in their gentle nature. As a first time horse rider Raul was very patient, ensuring I was comfortable and consistently keeping a watchful eye to make sure all was well. The picnic was a lovely touch too. Raul had great English.

Wow--this place! Unbelievably beautiful! We're a family of four from Seattle with two adult daughters and had a GREAT day with Raul and four of his excellent, very well cared for horses in their native home in the mountains west of Paraty. He hooked us up with a ride to and from our pousada in the center of Paraty, matched us up with a horse, and led us through a breathtaking four-hour experience, including a picturesque picnic lunch. Throughout the ride he made everyone comfortable and safe, and he shared his knowledge of horses, riding, and the nature around us. I was mainly struck by the excellent care Raul takes of his horses, and the thought and care he puts into the experience. This was the highlight of our trip to Brazil.

Our experience with Raul was amazing. He is a passionate and knowledgeable farmer/rancher who has lived on this beautiful land since he was born. His horses are well kept and they are a joy to ride. The picnic was sorted with local fruit and veggies that his brother grows next door and his wife put together an assortment of cheeses, drinks and breads for us to enjoy at the top of a hill with mountain views. The farm is located in a dream location, beautiful mountains and super serene. We drove from Paraty, crossing a rainforest and the drive is about 45 minutes. I highly recommend visiting Raul, the experience is totally worth it.

My sister and I had took the horse riding tour in January of this year and it was an amazing experience. Raul has a really deep love for his horses and nature. I really enjoyed his explanation of how he trains his horses. It felt like he works with them in such a humane and understanding way. But he is also great with people. I am a complete novice at riding but he is was very patient with me. I highly recommend this tour.

My partner & I had a fantastic experience with Raul and his work troup of horses, California, Universe and Chocolat. For my partner it was the first time on a horse for him, but he had such a great first experience and felt comfortable throughout - and was off the leading reign in no time! Raul shared his own experiences and his families’ in the mountains and would talk about the land which we took the tour on (all part of his farm). I even got to have a canter/gallop at the end (as a slightly more experienced rider) which was thrilling! The picnic was the icing on the cake. Beautiful food (most handmade) and what a view to feast before. Our horses were beautifully behaved and Raul exhumed a really relaxed way, which made the whole experience calm and fun. I saw an ant eater and we even got to sample the local (rather sour) oranges. Memories we’ll hold dear for a long time. Thanks Raul!

Raul is a very friendly man and a patient teacher. My partner and I went (along with one other girl we didn't know) and none of us had any experience horse riding. Raul was able to give us some instruction on how to bond with the horse, mount, and of course control the horse. Things went well and we had a lot of fun. Note that the terrain is quite steep (the views were beautiful), which may be a little bit intimidating for some when you're on the back of a horse. However, this was not 'vigourous' exercise since we were at walking speed the whole way but you need to be attentive and it would help to be in decent shape. The communication with me via email and whatsapp was very fast and clear. The pickup was easy. We finished our delicious snacks (really, it was enough fruit, cake and snacks to be lunch) a little late at about 1.30 which suited us just fine, we got back to Paraty about 2.30. Would recommend.

If you are anywhere near the Rio de Janeiro-São paulo border you have do go do it!!! The horses are very friendly and there is a variety of horses to everyone and every level, the instructor, Raul, speaks fluent English and Portuguese but the main thing about him is how good he is in explaining everything related to the horses and also the plantes around. His wife made us a beautiful picnic in the top of the mountain with an amazing view and what a tasty cheese and chocolate! I mostly enjoy learning from Raul and from the horses itself, it seems like horses are very smart and sensitive, they will indicate that they are comfortable with you and if they are, they are super friendly! ❤️

We had an absolutely amazing time. The tour operator was very experienced, kind and funny. He told us a lot about the horses and the nature. The picknick was wonderful, the food was very fresh and everything tasted great. The sunset was also thrilling! Absolutely recommend. 10 out of 10!

A totally suspended moment! After 1 hour of cab, we arrived in the mountains of Raul to begin the ride. Raul is passionate and shares his knowledge with all his heart. It's a real human moment, which feels good. Then, he had prepared us a picnic at sunset in a fabulous setting. I strongly recommend this activity! Thanks again for everything Raul!

Amazing experience with Raul! We couldn't have been happier with this tour. Raul made it easy to set up, flexible when we needed to change, picked us up at our place and then provided an awesome time. Educated us on the horses and the area, provided a wonderful meal and couldn't have been nicer, friendlier or more fun. Can't recommend this enough.

A taxi picked us up from our hotel. It was a 45 min drive from Paraty. The tour was amazing. The view spectacular and the guide was very friendly. The tour is personal because of the small groups, we were lucky to be the only ones at the time. So you get to know the tourguide very well. The guide really takes time to teach you everything you need to know about the horses. In the small amount of time you have, you really connect with your horse and get to know him. Raul, our tour guide, and his family has an amazing project going on. Would recommend this over any other tour here!!!

Location - A+ Experience - A+ Value - A+ The drive from Paraty into the highlands for our horse riding is a FABULOUS experience in its own right. It is an understatement to say that the location is amazingly SPECIAL and that it provides SPECTACULAR panoramic vistas while riding high in the hills. Raul Sampaio is - without exaggeration - a consummate multi-lingual instructor and truly humble range owner. He taught us how to ride his horses in just a few minutes ... and we soon found ourselves riding on horseback in the picturesque wide open hillside. Our communications with Raul were done entirely in English ... a rare treat for us, considering that most Brazilians we meet typically do not speak any other language other than Portuguese. Outstanding hospitality. Expert instruction. Attentive supervision. Exceptional value. 5-stars * * * * * For us, this is one of the TOP 3 experiences in Brazil to date. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

After an interesting drive from Paraty to the Ranch, we were wellcome by the owner of the horses. He had all them ready for us and we rode for some two ours on different trails. The horses were kind and willing and can be riden also by persons that have almost no experience. Raul is a very good host and takes very good care of his horses. Thanks Rauls!

We have done several horseback rides on this trip and this was the best by far. Advertised as 2.5 hours, we expected an hour of travel, 30 min getting ready and maybe an hour ride. Nope, it was a full 2.5 hours riding. It wasn't fast, but the scenery was varied and amazing and the time flew. Heck, the ride in the cab was better than some of the "scenic tours" we've taken. Raul was a great guide, the horses fit the riders, and the equipment was in good repair. The value for the price far exceeds any tour we have had on any trip recently. I felt safe and was comfortable for the entire ride. If we are in Paraty again, we will gladly do this again.

We had an absolutely, fantastic time riding horses with Raul. We were on an Oceania cruise and booked this independent tour with another couple from the same ship. Raul was very friendly and easy going, as were his horses. We went on some small trails through the forest as well as some of the dirt roads. The beautiful scenery reminded us of New Zealand. The driver who picked us up from the port was also kind enough to stop at a couple waterfalls on the way back, by request, which made a great trip, even better. We highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in horseback riding in the Parati area.