Albuquerque
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Operated by the nineteen Pueblos of New Mexico, the IPCC is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Pueblo culture, highlighting the accomplishments and evolving history of the Pueblo people.
Walking Tour of Old town: he oldest part of Albuquerque during a walking exploration of the plaza and surrounding area. Old Town has been the focal point of community life since Albuquerque was founded in 1706. About ten blocks of historical adobe buildings surround the central plaza, including San Felipe de Neri Church, which dates back to 1793. The city's settlers built their homes, shops, and government offices here; many of these historical structures have been converted into the restaurants, art galleries, and shops that we see today.
Nearby museums include the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science across from Old Town on Mountain Road and the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History adjacent to Old Town.
Chaco Canyon
2c) Via route 40 160 miles 3:07 ( two cinstructons near Laguna Pueblo)
we’ll set out on a full-day field trip to Chaco Canyon within Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which preserves one of America's most significant and fascinating cultural and historic areas. As it was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between 850 and 1150 C.E., it functioned as a central hub for ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area – unlike anything before or since. While here, our knowledgeable local expert will lead us on a walking field trip to Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl, two of the park’s “Great Houses.” First, we’ll see Pueblo Bonito which represents the zenith of Ancestral Puebloan culture as it is the largest and most famous ruin in Chaco Canyon. At 5 stories in height with as many as 700 rooms, Pueblo Bonito was the largest standing structure in North America until the 1800s
Next, we’ll continue on foot and visit the 500 room Chetro Ketl Great House. Chetro Ketl contains an abundance of unique and stylish architectural features that belies its sophisticated design and its connections to Meso-American cultures to the south. An elegant great kiva, a tower kiva, 900-year-old interior plastered and painted walls, colonnade archways, T shaped doorways and a 500-foot-long back wall are just a few of the features that makes this “old house” an engineering marvel. Our local expert will provide commentary while exploring the site, pointing out these impressive features. Then, with a stop at Casa Rinconada, we will see the largest “Great Kiva” that stands in the southwest! Casa Rinconada is believed to be the impressive venue for ceremonial activities of old. Once having a look at Casa Rinconada, we’ll independently check out the park’s visitor center museum and various exhibits. We’ll then return to the hotel in the late afternoon with some time to freshen up before dinner.
Driving approx. 21 miles each way to Chaco Canyon on a bumpy dirt road; about 1 hour. The Road to Chaco Canyon becomes impassable during heavy rain. In this rare instance, we will substitute Chaco Canyon with another interesting destination. Walking up to 2 miles total throughout the day; periods of standing; gravel paths with minor elevation changes to Great House ruins. Be sure to bring sun protection; wear comfortable walking shoes.There is no fuel available in the park. $20 per vehicel
Durango Day 3
via Purgatory Resort, 1 Skier Pl, Durango, CO
In the state of Colorado of the United States of America there’s a special highway built in the late 1880's: the Million Dollar Highway, part of the San Juan Skyway. It's one of the nation’s most spectacular drives. You'll be on the "outside" for a while with a hell of a view to your right (let the passenger look. You'll want to watch the road). Forget standard driving safety measures like guardrails and shoulders, there aren't any on this stretch, so swerving off the road is not advised! | Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn |
| 400 E 2nd Ave, Durango, CO, 81301 United States of America |
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
50 Los Banos Drive, Ojo Caliente, NM 87549, USA
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Taos Pueblo
El Monte Sagrado
317 Kit Carson Road, Taos, New Mexico 87571, United States
Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos
Walking up to 3 miles over varied, uneven terrain with inclines at elevation of 6000 – 7500'. Some elevation gains via stairs and optional ladders at Bandelier.hich is fascinating both for its geology and archaeology. After stopping at the visitor center, we'll explore some of the trails in Frijoles Canyon where we can see "cavates," the cave-like dwellings used by the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here 400 to 800 years ago.
Take a short drive to Los Alamos, where we will visit the Los Alamos History Museum and the Bradbury Museum of Science for two self-led explorations. The Los Alamos History Museum is located next to Fuller Lodge, which was once the dining hall for the Los Alamos Ranch School. Its mission is to preserve and share the history of Los Alamos through award-winning exhibits that include the geology and archaeology of the area, as well as exhibits dedicated to various aspects of the Manhattan Project. The Bradbury Museum of Science has wonderful exhibits about the history of Los Alamos National Laboratory, its national security mission, and the broad range of science, engineering, and technology research programs including the lab's focus on Stockpile Stewardship.
Itinerary references
