The Southwest is home to 2 of only 20 World Heritage sites in all of the United States and some of the most rich and fascinating cultural history in the world. This 3-night, 3-day vacation package will give you a unique and in-depth understanding of the exceptional and distinctive cultural heritage of the Southwest Four Corners Region - home to the ancient Puebloan people (formerly known as the Anasazi).
The ancient Puebloan people were a thriving culture of creative people who lived in magnificent cliff dwellings of hand-hewn stone -over six centuries ago!
On Day 1 of this tour, gain an in-depth understanding of the ancestral Puebloan people by experiencing a rare opportunity to visit an active archaeological investigation at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center (Seasonal - Wed. or Thurs. only) or a ride on the scenic and historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. On Day 2, you will take a tour of your first World Heritage site, Mesa Verde National Park, to witness the amazing remnants of this ancient culture and home of the largest cliff dwellings in North America. Finally on Day 3, you will visit your second World Heritage site, Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, which was a major center of Puebloan culture between AD 850 and 1250.
(3) Nights in Durango at your choice of available partner lodging options (although 4 nights is highly recommended to enjoy 3 full day activities).
A full day, guided tour to Mesa Verde National Park with entrance to the park, all park fees, lunch and hotel pick up and drop off included.
A full day, guided tour to Chaco Canyon with entrance to the park, all park fees, lunch and hotel pick up and drop off included.
A full day, guided tour to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center including a hot lunch (Available in the summer months on Wednesday and Thursday only - we suggest substituting a scenic and historic ride on the Durango & Silverton Railroad when Crow Canyon is not available).
Additional Options:
Add extra nights to your trip (in Durango, Cortez, Silverton, and/or Ouray).
Add additional activities to your itinerary: a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, stagecoach tours, Evening entertainment, river trips, jeep tours, horseback rides, and more!
First Night: After a beautiful and scenic drive or flight from any direction, check into your selected hotel and kick your feet up, grab a bite at one of our world-class dining options and rest up for 3 days of cultural and historical exploration!
Day 1: In the summer months (available Wednesday and Thursday only)**, you will drive to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and tour alongside professional archaeologists at a current excavation site and laboratory to view ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) artifacts that have been unseen and recently unearthed after more than 800 years.
Examine artifacts in a hands-on activity designed to help you understand the basics of Southwestern archaeology and ancestral Pueblo history. You will tour an active archaeology laboratory and learn how discoveries are made through careful analysis of artifacts. You will then enjoy a delicious hot lunch on the campus where you can relax and take in stunning views or take a stroll along the nature trail. You will then head out to tour Goodman Point Pueblo, Crow Canyon's current excavation site, and witness first-hand what an excavation in progress looks like. When the day is over, head into Durango and check into your Durango hotel. If you would like more out of your day, try an authentic stage coach dinner ride in Mancos or take in an evening of frontier style fun with a show at the Henry Strater Theater in Durango.
**In the off season, enjoy a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which winds through the spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two million acre San Juan National Forest. You will relive history with the sights and sounds of yesteryear on this 1882 adventure from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. The coal-fired, steam-operated locomotives are maintained in their original 1923-1925 vintage condition.
Day 2: Enjoy the perfect compliment to your first day's learning journey with a full-day tour of Mesa Verde National Park. A professional and knowledgeable tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you out to spend a full day exploring the ancient culture and architecture of Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde National Park offers some of the most notable and best-preserved archaeological sites in the United States. You will experience southwestern cultural heritage and comparisons between the Ancestral Puebloan people and their contemporary indigenous descendants who still live in the Southwest today.
During their last century, some Pueblo Natives of Mesa Verde left the mesa tops and built their homes in the alcoves that abound in the many canyon walls, commonly referred to as
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