Things to do in Albuquerque, New Mexico (NM): The Best Day Trips from

This is a private tour for 1-3 people.   We can do as much as you like and can fit in 8 hours.  We can drive through historic Route 66-downtown Albuquerque; visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, museum, & store; Old Town-plaza, church, hidden patios, galleries/shops. We will drive north on Rio Grande Blvd, following the river through the valley occupied by Pueblo Indians, Spanish settlers and still is home to farms, and wine growers. We can visit historic Los Poblanos Lavender Farm/shop; the village of Corrales; and prehistoric Pueblo Indian village of Kuaua (Coronado State Monument-established during the Classic Period of Anasazi Culture). On our way back to Albuquerque we will see Sandia Pueblo's herds of cattle and Buffalo and ride the Sandia Peak Tram for magnificent views of the area. This is a perfect tour of the present and past filling you with beauty and delicious food. Lunch options are many depending on your cravings. Great Photo tour!

Inclusions: Bottled water, Beverages, Snacks, Local guide, Hotel pickup, Hotel drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Food and drinks, unless specified

Itinerary: Drive West from Albuquerque to the town of San Ysidro where we will start on the National Scenic Route NM 4 to the Pueblo of Jemez.  Visit the Walatowa Visitor Center & Museum.  We will walk to the Red Rocks Formations.  We will drive through the village of Jemez Springs – bubbling with soothing hot springs, brimming with outdoor adventure, and immersed in history and culture. We can have lunch at historic Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon in Jemez Springs  or at one of the other local cafes.  We will tour the Jemez State Monument, the Soda Dam formation, Battleship Rock,  and Jemez Falls before we drive back to Albuquerque.  ** Monument Closed Monday & Tuesdays

Inclusions: Hotel drop-off

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Food and drinks, Lunch, Gratuities

Private tour for 1 to 3 people.   Santa Fe, New Mexico is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!  There are so many shops, all full of stuff we really want to buy. From Indian Jewelry, trendy clothes, hand-tooled boots, OMG, hats, and art. The glass is full! Santa Fe truly captures the spirit and style of the Southwest with the adobe style of its buildings and architectural design. The oldest capital city in the United States, Santa Fe wows visitors with endless beauty. A walk through the streets around the historic plaza will lead you to shops and galleries, restaurants, museums, and historic churches. At the Palace of the Governors, you can admire the artwork and jewelry created by the Native Americans sitting under the portal. Walk up  scenic Canyon Road  with over eighty galleries, restaurants and shops. Santa Fe is an art lover’s and History Buffs’ paradise. From museums to galleries to restaurants, you will be awe struck!

Inclusions: Activities as per itinerary, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Drinks, Lunch

Our tour will take us north on the Camino Real, a road that connected Mexico's ancient cultures with the equally ancient cultures of the American Southwest. This Camino trail is a backdrop for countless Hollywood movies. The first stop will be at the Poeh Cultural Center in the native pueblo of Pojoaque, which translates to "water gathering place". We will visit the museum and see the hundreds of ancient pots returned to this pueblo from museums. Next we see the Nambe Pueblo and follow the trail of pilgrims to the village of Chimayo at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains Each year, more than 300,000 people of every culture visit the Santuario Shrine in hopes of miracle cures. The chapel for the Santo Niño de Atocha is on the grounds, receiving prayers for children. The famous New Mexico Red Chile served at the Rancho de Chimayó restaurant is where we will enjoy lunch. Returning to Santa Fe or Albuquerque, we see the Santa Fe Opera and it's amazing architecture.

Inclusions: Private transportation

Exclusions: lunch at Rancho de Chimayo

Acoma Pueblo is considered to be one of longest inhabited places in North America. The stunning old Pueblo, Sky City, lies atop a sheer-sided mesa 367 ft. (111 m) above the valley floor. October to April tours to the top are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. April through September tours to the top are available daily

Inclusions: Private transportation

Exclusions:

The historic Turquoise Trail, a National Scenic Byway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, is synonymous with Native American spirituality, Spanish explorers, adventurous mining, and brave pioneers. The blue-green turquoise, nationally recognized as a precious stone, was first mined by the early Pueblo people as early as 900 A.D. From the 1800s onward Spanish explorers, missionaries and prospectors followed the trail of the native American Indians already here. Today the National Scenic Byway is home to many modern day settlers and host to tens of thousands of visitors a year! The drive is approximately 50 miles along Highway 14. Enjoy breathtaking scenery while traveling back into history through the mining towns of Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos. These small towns are now alive with art, crafts, museums and restaurants. Drive, gawk, walk, and eat on this trail of history!

Inclusions: Snacks

Exclusions: Lunch

In addition to visits to the O'keeffe Museum, the Welcome Center and painting sites, we will be driving through the incredible Piedra Lumbre basin (or Valley of the Shining Stone) which stretches from Abiquiu to Chama along the Chama River. From there we will visit Ghost Ranch, a dramatic 21, 000-acre of New Mexican landscape, where the reclusive American artist Georgia O'Keeffe led a solitary life immersed in nature and art. O'Keeffe fell in love with the sculpted landscape of rivers, cliffs and buttes in an expanse of earthen formations which according to pueblo peoples are alive and imbued with spirits of the past. Ghost Ranch is also known for a remarkable concentration of fossils, most notably that of the theropod dinosaur Coelophysis, of which it has been estimated that nearly a thousand individuals have been preserved in a quarry at Ghost Ranch. By touring the formations, the Chama River Valley and Ghost Ranch we understand the love she felt for the ancient, sacred place.

Inclusions: Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities, A tour guided by O'Keeffe foundation - $45 per person advanced reservations are required.