Mesa Verde National Park Day Trip
Day Trip Details
Spanning over 207 sq km (80 sq mi) and protecting over 5,000 archeological sites, Mesa Verde National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Colorado. Explore the ancestral lands of the Ancient Puebloans and visit the largest cliff dwelling in North America!
When booking, choose from two tour options: the first one focuses exclusively on the cliff dwellings, and the other delves deeper into the park's key features. Due to limited ticket availability, the Cliff Palace tour offers a unique experience.
Below you'll find a brief description of each tour. Both options start and finish at a central meeting point in Durango, include transport to Mesa Verde National Park, admission to the sites mentioned, and a guided experience.
Cliff Palace Tour (5 hours)
When opting for this tour, our main focus will be touring the exclusive cliff dwellings throughout the park grounds. Following a short, 1-hour drive, we'll arrive at Mesa Verde National Park Visitors Center, ready to begin our adventure.
Our main destination is Cliff Palace, a dwelling that dates back to 1260 CE. Made primarily of sandstone, mortar and wooden beams, this site is beautiful and vulnerable, leading to a very limited number of visits per day. This tour includes tickets to the Cliff Palace and an exclusive guided tour by an expert ranger guide, who will teach us fascinating insights about how this ancient community once thrived while preserving artifacts inside.
Most of our tour will focus on exploring the cliff dwellings, with time to visit other hidden gems in the park as well. Depending on your interests, we can explore the highlights of the Mesa Top Loop, taking short walks to overlooks with breathtaking views of Cliff Palace and the surrounding landscape.
Then, we'll make our way back to Durango after an exciting day at Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde Complete Tour (6 hours)
On this tour, we'll delve deeper into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who thrived in Mesa Verde over 700 years ago! Within this National Park are the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the United States. Alongside our guide, we'll explore the archeological landscape and learn about its rich history.
First up, we'll visit Park Point, where a breathtaking view at the Four Corners viewpoint awaits us. From this unique vantage point, we can see where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado meet! Next, we'll visit the Far View Village complex, once the most densely populated area of the mesa. Archeologists estimate hundreds of people lived here in this once bustling hub.
Following this, we'll head over to the Spruce Canyon Tree House and, with the help of our guide, we'll be able to spot the 3rd largest cave dwelling in the park!
Then, we'll do a driving tour on the Mesa Top Loop and get stunning views of the major cliff dwellings in the park including Cliff Palace. You'll be able to walk around and explore for a bit, time permitting, but please note that this tour doesn't include tickets to the Cliff Palace.
After soaking up the views, we'll begin our return to Durango after an enriching experience at Mesa Verde National Park.
More Information
Duration
5 - 6h.
Language
The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.
Included
Transport by bus or minibus
English–speaking guide
Admission to Mesa Verde National Park
Admission to Cliff Palace (depending on selection)
Not included
Food or drinks
When to book?
You can book up to the tour start time subject to availability. Book now to guarantee your spot.
Type of voucher
Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible.
Sustainability
All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code.
Our providers commit to:
- Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
- Uphold fair employment standards.
- Foster the growth of local communities.
- Preserve the integrity of local culture.
- Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
- Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
- Operate with honesty and transparency.
- Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.
This particular activity contributes as follows:
- No printing of documentation required.
Provider
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Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours
Corporate name: Durango Rivertrippers LLC
Pets
Not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
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Q - Is there anything else we need to know when booking?
A - To fully enjoy this activity, you must be in good physical condition as parts of the tour include climbing ladders and walking through narrow pathways. This activity is not recommended to those who have heart or back issues.
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Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?
A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.
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Q - How to book?
A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.
If you have any other questions please contact us.
Free cancellation
360 S Camino Del Rio
