Itinerary

Day 1

After settling into your hotel steps from the Santa Fe Plaza, your Global Descents trip leader will meet you and go over the details of the following morning’s start to our adventure.

 
Day 2

Your trip leader will meet you this morning at 9 a.m. at your hotel.  After a brief orientation, its time to start our week of history, culture and adventure with a walking tour of historic Santa Fe.  Our local Santa Fe guides will provide you with a unique glimpse into the rich history of this beautiful city.  After lunch in one of the many acclaimed restaurants in Santa Fe, it will be time to travel the short distance to nearby Chimayo where we will stop to visit El Santuario de Chimayo.  This is quite possibly the most significant shrine in New Mexico, built between 1814 and 1816. Next we will meet some of the local artists known for their beautiful textile weaving before we head to a beautiful bed and breakfast for the night.   For dinner we will visit the famous Rancho de Chimayo restaurant for some of the finest New Mexican cuisine in an historic adobe setting.

 
Day 3

After breakfast we will travel to Abiquiu to see Ghost Ranch, the former home of famed artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, and the spectacular landscape that she painted so passionately.  We will explore the canyons surrounding Ghost Ranch to discover the magic that lures so many there.

 
Days 4-5

River trip!  This morning we will meet our guides at the put-in of the Wild and Scenic Rio Chama.  All of the gear will be assembled and ready, and after a detailed safety orientation, we will begin our journey downstream. The upper reaches of the river are well known for fantastic trout fishing and gorgeous pine trees lining the banks of the river. This stretch of river has many hidden treasures within the high reaching walls, including hot springs and dinosaur tracks. We will spend two nights at camps that are right on the river’s edge with excellent opportunities for hiking and exploring numerous side canyons and vistas. For our more adventurous guests we highly recommend navigating the river in one of our inflatable kayaks.

 
Day 6

After we reach the take-out of the Rio Chama in the morning, we will say goodbye to our river guides and drive 40 minutes to our next destination, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, for a leisurely afternoon of soaking in the therapeutic mineral pools and reflecting on the adventures of the past few days.  Lodging and meals will be at the mineral springs lodge.

 
Day 7

After breakfast, we will drive toward Santa Fe Bandelier National Monument where we will immerse ourselves in Ancestral Pueblo culture for a day, learning first-hand about the people of New Mexico who have continuously lived in this region for thousands of years.  The 1.5 mile loop trail in Friojoles Canyon provides easy access to pueblo cliff dwellings where you can climb ladders into several of the small carved rooms (cavates). After our tour, we will drive the short distance back to Santa Fe and the your deluxe accommodations near the historic plaza.  We will conclude with a farewell dinner at one of the many favorite New Mexican restaurants and celebrate an incredible week of culture, history and adventure!

 
Day 8

This morning we will say our goodbyes and see you   to off to your next destination.  If you choose to extend your stay in Santa Fe please let us know as we will be happy to assist in your hotel reservation.

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