Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Cliff Palace and Lunch
- 8 hours
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
Highlights
It’s no question that locals and past visitors consider Mesa Verde National Park a must-visit. It allows us a rare opportunity to experience preserved North American history before European contact. Joining a Mild to Wild guide ensures guests will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of authentic Southwestern culture. Our Full Day Discovery Tour will show off this outdoor museum with plenty of insight into the ancient indigenous culture, the history of the Park, and more. It’s the best way to get the most out of a day at Mesa Verde. Our tour vehicles are comfortable, air conditioned, and come with speakers to help you hear your guide's interp throughout the drive. *Please note that Cliff Palace tickets sell out quickly, we recommend booking at least two weeks in advance to ensure we have tickets.
Inclusions
What's included
- Entry pass to Mesa Verde National Park
- Ranger guided tour into Cliff Palace
- Shuttle to, through and from the park
- Knowledgeable Mesa Verde guide / driver
- Local Deli Lunch and Beverages
What's not
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Meet at our Durango Office to shuttle over to Mesa Verde with your guide! The drive is incredibly scenic and takes about 45 minutes while driving past the La Plata Mountains. Once there, you'll visit the top sites along the mesa before your expedition into Cliff Palace. This portion of the tour lasts about 45 minutes, and includes climbing a narrow staircase and series of ladders to reach the dwellings. The rangers will provide some interpretation, while giving you time to wander beneath the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Afterwards we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the sites or overlooks, before continuing to more ancient villages and sacred kivas to explore. Expect a lot of information along the way! Our guides offer far more insight and knowledge about the sites than visitors going on their own, as posted information and placards are limited throughout the Park. After a stop at a spectacular lookout of the Four Corners Region, we'll shuttle back to Durango!
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 5323
- 47
- 32
- 21
- 13
Ratings come from 336 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- If you choose this option, please meet us at the Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce no later than 9:00 am. Our drive will meet you in the parking lot.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 29 travellers
- Operated by
- Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You must bring your own car seats for children who require them. CO Car Seat Law states that children up to 8 years old must be in an appropriate car seat.
- Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, and water are recommended.
- Dress in layers. Summer is cool in the morning and hot by the afternoon. Bring a warm coat, hat, and gloves for fall, winter, and spring.
- Part of the tour may include climbing 10 ft. ladders made of Tree Trunks. Not all travelers are required to participate in this part but this is required in order to exit Cliff Palace
How it compares in Durango
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 11 day trips we list in Durango.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 11.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Durango
Durango is a Wild West railroad town in south-west Colorado, on the Animas River, known for its steam train, the San Juan Mountains and nearby Mesa Verde.
Durango was founded in 1880 as a railroad town for the silver mines of the San Juan Mountains, and its Main Avenue still has Victorian brick buildings, saloons and hotels from that time. A coal-fired narrow-gauge steam train, running since 1882, chugs up the Animas River canyon to the mining town of Silverton, through scenery of high peaks and gorges.
Top-ranked sights in Durango: Animas River, Historic Downtown Durango.
Special offers in Durango
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
