Rochelle Gerratt has more than 15 years of experience developing and leading natural history trips in the United States, Central and South America, and the Mideast. She currently guides trips for Nature Treks and Passages and for Sierra Club International and National Outings... more
Accompany Nature Treks & Passages to the "City Different" - Santa Fe in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment." Treat your senses to a rich array of colors, sounds, and tastes. Santa Fe offers us a smorgasbord of enchanting experiences and vistas, both inside its picturesque buildings and outside in the colorful surroundings of beautiful mountains and endless sky.
The arts have been very important to New Mexicans from the 
time that the local Amerindians created ancient petroglyph art carved onto rocks, to the Spanish Colonial art of the early European settlers, to the art colonies that thrived in Santa Fe and Taos in the early part ofthe twentieth century. Today Santa Fe is a world class art destination for both artists and collectors. This city of just 70,000 residents has over 250 galleries and fifteen museums. One of Santa Fe's greatest treats is strolling its historic streets and looking at art. Santa Fe was honored to be the first American city named to the presigious UNESCO Creative Cities Global Network because of its role as an instrumental center of art and culture.
Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is also known for its history, being the oldest capital city in the nation. It offers many unique shopping opportunities, especially along its historic Plaza area. You'll find locally made jewelry of silver and semi-precious stones, pottery, and other crafts made by Native American artisans who live in the pueblos nearby, and many other "Southwestern" items. Santa Fe is a wonderful place to sample the special flavors of New Mexican cuisine. Many of the restaurants offer a patio or courtyard often filled with flowers.
Or trip will feature private tours of two museums with 
opportunities to visit more museums on your own, plenty of time to shop and browse in galleries, and a trip to the nearby pueblo of Taos. We stay at a comfortable lodge just five minutes walk from the Plaza and sample several different styles of New Mexican and international cuisine at some of Santa Fe's most famous restaurants.
Day One: We leave Tucson at 8AM and drive to Santa Fe, stopping for lunch in Deming. We taste our first New Mexican food there. We expect to arrive at our lodge in Santa Fe by 4PM. After settling in and relaxing a bit, we will have dinner at a restaurant that serves excellent Northern New Mexican food.
Day Two: After breakfast we get introduced to Santa Fe by taking a slow walking tour of the Plaza area that includes touring three churches and other historical buildings. After lunch we take a guided tour of the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Dinner at another fine restaurant.
Day Three: Today we visit the Native American peublo of Taos, a World Heritage Site, continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years. It is just one hour's drive north of Santa Fe. On our guided tour we will learn about the history and culture of the Taos Pueblo. Dinner at another fine restaurant.
Day Four: On our last full day in Santa Fe we will take a guided tour 
of the Palace of the Governors on the Plaza. You will have the whole afternoon on your own to shop, visit more museums or galleries, or just relax. Tonight we will celebrate at a special restaurant.
Day Five: We leave Santa Fe after breakfast and expect to return to Tucson by 6PM.
Itinerary is subject to change, based on weather or other factors.
The trip price is $1399 based on double occupancy and a minimum of 8 people. The single supplement is $200. This includes van transportation from Tucson, all accomodations, all meals, guides, fees for all activities, trips, emergency medical trip insurance. The following are not included: alcoholic beverages, tips for the guide, and costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation, program changes, and delays beyond control.
To register for this tour, contact Debra Tranberg at info@naturetreks.net or call (781) 789-8127 for a registration packet. A deposit of $200 per person is required to reserve a spot on the trip.
Full payment of the tour fee is due ninety days prior to the tour departure. If you have any questions, please contact us at (781) 789-8127 or info@naturetreks.net.
