Sangre de Cristo Mountains
The Santa Fe & Durango getaway offers an eight day journey through the northern part of New Mexico and southwestern part of Colorado for a revealing look into the ancient culture, natural beauty and modern cities. From staying over night in Mesa Verde National Park and meeting with an authentic tribe of Pueblo to exploring the sights of Albuquerque, you’ll find a wide range of experiences throughout the journey, each offering its own unique look at the southwest.
Day 1 – Santa Fe, NM
You’ll arrive in Santa Fe, at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, to begin your eight day trek through northern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. Once you’ve arrived in town, check-in at the Hilton of Santa Fe with time to settle in and prepare for the journey ahead.
Day 2 – Santa Fe, NM
Meet with the rest of your group for a sightseeing tour of Santa Fe. The rich culture of the area is sure to stand out as you visit sites including the Loretto Chapel (famed for its spiral staircase), St. Francis Cathedral, historic Town Plaza, and even the modern capitol building. Come afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to spend your time as you’d like, re-visiting the sites seen earlier that hold particular interest to you, hitting the shopping districts, or even just returning to the hotel for rest and relaxation.
Day 3 – Santa Fe & Taos, NM and Mesa Verde, CO
Taos is the destination for today as you travel along the Rio Grande River and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You’ll have the opportunity to visit Taos Pueblo for an immersive, historic experience of the area. Taos Pueblo is a Pueblo community that has been comprised of the same tribe of Native Americans for over 1,000 years, and is a truly unique look into the history of New Mexico’s culture. After visiting the Pueblo, travel to Mesa Verde National Park to explore various cliff dwellings and other ancient sites. Tonight’s lodging will be at the Fair View Lodge, located directly within the park.
Day 4 – Mesa Verde & Durango, CO
Awake early for a thorough exploration of Mesa Verde National Park! You’ll have the chance to view the many plants and wildlife that inhabit the park and visit the popular Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling. After exploring Mesa Verde National Park, you’ll traverse mountains and deserts on your way to Durango. Tonight’s lodging will be at the Holiday Inn Durango.
Day 5 – Durango & Silverton, CO
The highlight of day five will be the chance to ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. You’ll travel the course between Silverton and Durango, and even have the opportunity to stop in the mining town of Silverton to admire both its small town charm and Victorian architecture. Tonight, share in the entertainment of the area as you experience a time of traditional cowboy food and entertainment.
Day 6 – Durango, CO & Albuquerque, NM
You’ll have free time throughout the first half of the day to ensure you are able to explore as you’d like. Then, it will be time to head towards your next destination – Albuquerque. Lodging for the night will be at the Albuquerque Marriott.
Day 7 – Albuquerque, NM
Today’s sightseeing will center around Albuquerque and historic Old Town as you take in the unique combination of southwestern natural beauty and the modern city sights of Albuquerque. As for the Old Town portion of the tour, it will be by foot to help truly immerse you in its history.
Day 8 – Albuquerque, NM
And just like that it will be time to return home. Of course, the past seven days will have provided you with enough special moments so as you’ll never forget your time exploring the natural lay of Colorado and New Mexico.
