Horse ride through Las Médulas from Salas de la Ribera

The rides leave from a ranch in Salas de la Ribera, in the Puente de Domingo Flórez part of the Natural Monument, between the River Sil and the old gold-washing sites. They are run by Turismo Bierzo Rural and are a different way of seeing Las Médulas, at a horse's pace and with a guide.

The rides

The one-hour ride, for €35 per person, is a relaxed outing along tracks and paths around the ranch, within the Natural Monument, with no previous experience needed. The two-hour ride, for €60, also needs no experience and reaches the La Palombeira cave and the El Valgón spillway, where the gold-washing took place.

There are also half-day or full-day outings, from €85 and from three and a half hours, that climb through the mine's waste zones, passing the La Palombeira cave, the Sumido lake and the abandoned hamlet of La Balouta. They are not for beginners: they require previous riding experience.

Requirements and what is included

The minimum age is 9 and the maximum weight 95 kg, because of the type of horses. There are at most six riders with one guide; the group may be smaller if a horse needs rest. The price includes helmet, insurance and a professional guide.

Wear long trousers, which are compulsory to avoid chafing, and high-ankle footwear. In summer, a cap and water.

Booking

Book by appointment, by phone or with the form on the website, or by writing to [email protected]. The company does not publish a fixed calendar: the date and time are agreed when booking. Its website links its cancellation policy; read it beforehand, especially if you depend on the weather.

The context

Las Médulas was a Roman gold mine, now a World Heritage Site. The washing sites you see from the rides were at the end of the process: that was where the gold was separated from the earth carried down by the water. To understand the whole before getting on a horse, call in at the Visitor Reception Centre in the village of Las Médulas or at the Park House in Carucedo.

For the rest of the day, the Sumido lake trail is short and flat, and the Orellán viewpoint gives the full view of the mine. If you come with children under 9, who cannot ride, Carucedo lake and its accessible path are a good alternative.