Farm Stays

Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions offers Farms and ranch stays for riders and non riders. Our trail riding guests may either want to stay after a trail ride a few more days with their host, or just want to spend some time on the Brazilian countryside, enjoying the rural lifestyle away from the hassle in the big cities. Our farm stays involve the same Fazendas that we use for our riding trails.

Visitors can always give a hand with the day to day work of the gauchos or peões (cowboys), riding out with them, trail or treat cattle and sharing new experiences in an natural and environment of great beauty. Those who do not ride have a great selection of hiking possibilities at hand. They can take on the cattle trails or some of the few dirt roads or may be they would prefer to hike straight across the land. If you are into fishing: the nearby river offers great fishing opportunities of mountain trout that can reach 4 kg! The food featured by the fazenda is regional, superb und very tasty.
In direct touch with owners and hands alike, guest will share personal experiences that are impossible to make elsewhere. Cultural differences are not a handicap but a highlight.

Salgado Ranch

The impressive mountain panorama of the Southern Brazilian High Sierra, with 1 National- and 2 State parks offers a variety of superb natural attractions. Visitors enjoy the hilly and open grass- bush- and woodlands, the lush patches of magnificent South American Araucária pine forest, countless rapids and clear rivers cut lovely green valleys before they cascade down the canyons of the Serra Geral Mountain Range.

Located within limits of the 49.300 ha São Joaquim National Park, the Salgado Mountain Ranch, is perfectly embedded in an environment of great natural beauty and historic importance. In fact, it has been part of it, for 5 generations. The owners and friends are Elvio and Rosy Antunes des Souza. About 400 cattle graze on 1,500 acres of land. The Salgado is, as all the other Ranches in the region, a small Ranch compared to Central Brazil or the Pantanal wetlands. It is family run and non touristy. Guests are treated like friends and have the rare opportunity to participate in the day to day live of a traditional southern Brazilian mountain ranch. Guests who stay at the Salgado Ranch will ride out every day with the gauchos to tend, round-up or trail cattle, or just undertake a fun-ride to neighboring ranches for a chat. And if they do not ride at all, they certainly will enjoy the hiking here as it is great fun, mainly because of the many contrasts in the landscape. They may also have a hike to visit other fazendas in the vicinity. There are not limits to the options. The accommodations at Salgado Ranch are rustic, clean and cozy, exactly as one would expect as being the case on a mountain ranch. The regional food, skillfully prepared by Rosy is variable , comes in generous portions and is absolutely delicious.

For extraordinary trail riding adventure at the São Joaquim National Park, please go to www.ridingbrazil.com