Product Description
Highlights
Explore the charming streets of historic Santa Fe, famous for its Pueblo-style architecture and vibrant arts scene.. Browse Native American art markets and visit 11,000-year-old ruins to uncover the rich history and ancestral heritage of the US Southwest.. Climb high above the canyon floor of Bandelier National Monument as you scale wooden ladders that lead to ancient cliff dwellings.. Visit a world-renowned tapestry gallery for an intimate, expert demonstration of traditional weaving technique and artistry.
Overview
Packed with plenty of history, art, adventure and chili peppers, New Mexico is a destination that covers all the bases. On this 6-day discovery of the American Southwest, you’ll see firsthand why the state is known as the “Land of Enchantment.” Learn how local art, culture and cuisine have been shaped by Indigenous American and Spanish influences as you wander the Pueblo streets of Santa Fe and Taos. Then, explore the ancient Bandelier cliff dwellings and pictographs, marvel at an otherworldly desert landscape shaped over millions of years.
Breakfast Included: 5 Lunches Included: Dinner Included: 1
Santa Fe
Welcome to Santa Fe, the oldest state capital in the USA. If you arrive early, feel free to spend the day exploring the city’s iconic Pueblo-style architecture and abundance of art galleries – there are more than 250 for you to find! Your tour kicks off with a group meeting at 6pm, followed by a welcome dinner in which you’ll get to sample some of Santa Fe’s delicious (and often chili-infused) local cuisine. After dinner, the evening is all yours to explore. Maybe wander the plaza or head to the Bell Tower Bar at the historic La Fonda hotel for a cocktail.
Santa Fe
This morning, take in the historic sites of Santa Fe with a walking tour led by your expert guide. See the historic Palace of the Governors, St. Francis Cathedral and the local Native American art markets – and maybe pick up a few unique souvenirs to bring back home. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore at your leisure. We highly recommend the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, celebrating one of the country’s most significant artists of the 20th century. If visual art is your passion, check out fellow B-Corp business Meow Wolf, which creates fantastical, immersive experiences.
Santa Fe
Today is a free day to further explore Santa Fe. Maybe check out the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum or Loretto Chapel. In the afternoon meet back up with your group and leader for a cocktail making class at a local distillery that focuses on their mission to become the Southwest’s pre-eminent artisan distillery. Afterwards you’ll have the option for a group dinner (at your expense)
Bandelier National Monument
Get ready because we have a full day planned for you today! After breakfast, head out of town to Bandelier National Monument. Our local guide used to be a ranger at Bandelier and has written two books on the history of New Mexico and Georgia O'Keeffe. You will discover some of the most unusual ancient ruins in the Southwest, including petroglyphs, pictographs and cave dwellings tucked away in the cliffside.If you’re feeling brave, climb the ladders to these alcoves, high above the canyon floor. From here, continue north to the historic town of Taos, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.
Taos
Your morning is free to explore Taos at your own pace. Cruise riverside in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument through wine and apple country. Make a pit stop at the quirky Classical Gas Museum before visiting the historic town of Chimayo to learn traditional rug weaving and make your own pilgrimage for holy dirt at the El Sanctuario de Chimayo. Re-group after lunch and head to Chimayo for a rug-weaving demonstration and a visit to a tapestry gallery that specialises in handwoven wool products using natural dyes and traditional weaving styles. The gallery is owned by award-winning weavers whose work has been shown in museums around the world, including the Smithsonian.
Taos – Santa Fe
Today you make uour way back to Santa Fe, with a stop at the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. These fascinating formations are the result of volcanic eruptions that occurred over 6 million years ago and show off the incredible geological processes that shape our landscapes over time. We plan to arrive back in Santa Fe around 5 pm, at which point your New Mexico Discovery comes to an end.
