5 Archaeology Tours in Colorado That You Shouldn't Miss

Mesa Verde National Park provides an incredible look into the culture and history of the Southwest and the ancestral Pueblo people who lived in the area. There are over 40+ miles of road and thousands of archaeological sites in this unique park. The Mesa Verde Full Day Tour takes you to some of the lesser known sites at the park as well as the most popular attractions. All tours are limited to small groups to ensure personalized attention and a great experience all provided by your professional interpretive guide.

Inclusions: Complimentary transportation from Durango, Colorado, Professional Interpretive Tour Guide, Lunch, Water, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities

Mesa Verde National Park is expansive and would take days to see everything. This half day tour is meant to showcase a few of the highlights at Mesa Verde including the iconic Cliff Palace ranger-guided tour. Your guide will also take you for a customized tour of special sites around Chapin Mesa and other areas of the park based on your interests. Our guides know the park extremely well and will make your experience the best it can be in the time allotted. Consider the Mesa Verde Full Day Trip for a more comprehensive and thorough exploration. Cliff Palace tickets sell out regularly. On this tour we guarantee you get tickets! The Cliff Palace tour involves climbing some small ladders and is appropriate for most groups. The Cliff Palace ranger-guided tour is only a part of this half day excursion and participation is not required.

Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Guide gratuity

Mesa Verde was the worlds first archaeological National Park and one of the first UNESCO designations in the U.S. The sites and ruins are greatly enhanced by a tour guides passion and knowledge of the area including flora and fauna, geology, native peoples and its historical archaeological record. There is a story and mystery at Mesa Verde that can't be obtained through sight seeing alone.

Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuity

We all love Mesa Verde National Park: it represents the "tip of the iceberg" of the Ancestral Pueblo culture in Southwest Colorado. Increase the depth of your knowledge by visiting Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) with an experienced guide from SCCA (Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance)! CANM was dedicated by Presidential decree in 2000 to protect the estimated 30,000 cultural sites and spectacular scenery within its 176,000-acre boundary. This region is the ancestral homeland of today’s Hopi, Zuni, and Pueblo people in New Mexico and Arizona. Your guide will share little-known places within the Monument and a deep understanding the landscape and cultures that lived here. Group sizes are limited to 14, so your guide will be able to address any questions you have about the history, geology, plant and animal life, and archaeology of the region. As the Friends of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, SCCA guides know ALL the best places!

Inclusions: Museum entrance fee when tour includes museum.

Exclusions: No food, drink, or transportation included.

Your professional guide will customize the trip to your group offering choices from the park's ranger-guided tours as well as adding historical, cultural and archaeological insights on interpretive hikes and walking tours. Park entrance fees, ranger-guided tour tickets and a deli-style lunch are included. Discover Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978 and considered the largest archaeological preserve and first cultural National Park in the country. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Inclusions: National Park fees, Lunch, Driver/guide, Professional guide, Tour escort/host, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities