Explore the culture and scenery of the Land of Enchantment

Welcome to Santa Fe! We meet our fellow travelers and local guide for a welcome lunch and a preview of our activities in the days to come.

This afternoon, we explore the capital city on a walking tour with our guide. Founded by the Spanish in the early 1600s, the city has a traditional Plaza at its center surrounded by winding streets, historic buildings, and numerous art galleries. Hear colorful stories about unique characters and places that make Santa Fe "The City Different." Our tour concludes at a chocolate shop that infuses local ingredients, such as chile pinon nuts and lavender, into their treats.

This evening, we walk up Canyon Road, a historic, tree-lined street where artists show their works inside and outside more than 100 art galleries. Once just a trail used by local Pueblo people, the first adobe houses on this road were built by Spanish settlers in 1610. The street remained quiet and mainly residential until the late 1970s, when many of the homes were converted to galleries. An easy mile-long stroll, Canyon Road is one of the most picturesque areas in Santa Fe.

At the top of Canyon Road, we dine together at one of the oldest restaurants in the city, famous for its innovative Spanish tapas and live music.

After breakfast, we enjoy a scenic drive up Hyde Park Road to the start of the Aspen Vista trail, one of the best places to experience Santa Fe's forested Sangre de Cristo mountains. As the name suggests, this trail winds through an aspen forest, shimmering in a spectacular shade of gold in autumn. Our planned hike is 2 miles each way, however, there may be an opportunity for those who want to explore further if time allows.

After lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants, we head to the nearby village of Tesuque for a visit to an outdoor sculpture garden and glass blowing studio.

This evening, we enjoy dinner at a cozy and colorful restaurant featuring handmade, organic food.

Today, we head north to the Jemez Mountains for a day of exploration. Our first stop is Frijoles Canyon and Bandelier National Monument, one of the largest and most accessible cliff dwellings in New Mexico. Our trail leads us to caves, alcoves, and homes of Ancestral Puebloans, some only reachable by wooden ladders. We also see petroglyphs and pictographs telling the story of the region's evolution.

Afterwards, we discover Valles Caldera National Preserve, where a spectacular volcanic eruption created a thirteen-mile-wide circular depression. Known for mountain meadows and meandering streams, this preserve is home to abundant wildlife, such as elk, coyotes, prairie dogs, black bears, bald and golden eagles, wild turkeys, and other migratory birds.

Later, we arrive at our enchanting home for the next two nights, the Abiquiu Inn, tucked along the ancient Rio Chama.

This morning, we visit Ghost Ranch, made famous by painter Georgia O'Keeffe and encompassing 21,000 acres of towering rock walls, vivid colors, and vast skies. People from all over the world come here to paint, write, hike, ride horses, research, and to rest and renew their spirits. O'Keeffe instantly fell in love with the Southwestern scenery. "As soon as I saw it, I knew I must have it," she said of the adobe house at Ghost Ranch. Here, she often climbed a hand-hewn wooden ladder to the roof to entertain guests or sleep under the stars. O'Keeffe's artwork, inspired by the high-desert landscape, led to her popularity and acclaim during the 1940s. In 1949, she moved to New Mexico permanently, spending most of her time at Ghost Ranch.

Our hike takes us to the top of a mesa, where we have an eye-level view of the impressive Chimney Rock and a stunning vista of the Piedra Lumbre basin with Abiquiu Lake in the distance. As a bonus, we can see O'Keeffe's home from our lofty perch.

Later today, we drive to a restricted area of the ranch where O'Keeffe lived and painted many of her best known landscapes. Along the way, we hear stories about her life there and stop to take in the beauty and perspectives that she found so inspiring.

This evening, we return to our tranquil accommodations for dinner and relaxation beside your personal kiva fireplace.

We begin our day with a short hike in a more remote area known for its immense white rock formations. The terrain is almost otherworldly and the views are breathtaking. From here, we head north to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. This historic spa, with its sulfur-free geothermal healing waters, traces its roots back thousands of years to pilgrimages by Native American tribes and the area's first Spanish settlers. In 1868, a bathhouse at Ojo Caliente ("warm eye" in Spanish) was built, establishing the place as one of the country's first natural health resorts.

Upon our arrival, we dine at the on-site farm-to-table restaurant with herbs and produce sourced directly from the property's two-acre farm. This afternoon, you may choose to relax in the restorative waters of the twelve mineral baths and perhaps enjoy a spa treatment, or hike on the surrounding trails overlooking the river valley and high desert mesas.

As the day wanes, we continue our drive to Taos, a relaxed and eccentric town nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

This morning, we visit the historic Taos Pueblo - the only living Native American community designated as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Taos Pueblo is home to impressive multi-story adobe buildings that have been continuously inhabited for over a 1,000 years. We also find art galleries and artisan shops, and our visit here offers a glimpse into traditional life of a Southwestern Native American society. Tourism is an important part of the Pueblo's economy, and visitors are welcome.

As the day begins to warm up, we head out for a hike in Carson National Forest or Rio Grande del Norte National Park depending on the group's interest. One hike takes us to an alpine lake, and the other to a deep river gorge. We take some time to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings and a picnic lunch before heading back to town.

This evening, you are free to explore Taos and enjoy dinner on your own at one of the town's many restaurants. Our guides are happy to make recommendations for you.

Today, we make our way to the historic weaving center of Chimayo. In this small village, families still maintain the tradition of creating hand-woven textiles initiated by their ancestors in the early 1800s. We visit one of the weaving shops in town and the historic El Santuario de Chimayo church, ascribed with miraculous powers of healing. The church has attracted thousands of pilgrims since its completion in 1816. Up to 30,000 people participate in the annual Good Friday pilgrimage, many walking from as far away as Albuquerque (almost 100 miles).

Lunch in town is followed by our return drive to Santa Fe, where we arrive in time to meander town and shop before reconvening for dinner this evening.

On our final night together, we celebrate our week with a memorable meal at one of the most lauded restaurants in town. You may be asked one last time, "Red or green?" - referring to which chile you prefer - as we raise a glass to our adventures in this uniquely beautiful and historically rich region.

After breakfast, join our group departure to the airport or arrange your own transfer at your leisure.