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Balloonists in Rio Grande Gorge.
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Taos Destination Connection Team
Top-Eleven Tour Picks
The Taos Destination Connection Team has assembled 11 tours as examples of the diversity of the Northern New Mexico attractions. Of course, these tours can be added to, combined, mixed and matched. The incredible offerings in the area guarantee something for everyone! Below we have listed the various highlights of each tour. At your request, we will be happy to provide more itinerary details. As always, don't hesitate to contact the Taos Destination Connection Team at 505-758-3670, or taos@destinationconnectionteam.com with any questions; or on the Net at www.destinationconnectionteam.com/.
Around the Enchanted Circle
Background for your tour: The Enchanted Circle contains many surprises. Not the least of these, for those unfamiliar with northern New Mexico, is the diversity of the landscape. This 86-mile trip through the Southern Rocky Mountains will dispel any thoughts of New Mexico being strictly a desert state. The circle is anchored by Wheeler Peak, which at 13,161 feet is the highest crest in New Mexico. Taos is the hub of the circle and has accommodations and dining options in a wide variety of styles and price ranges. You can start your journey heading east or north visiting villages with diverse cultures and landscapes. (The order of stops below is what you will encounter heading east from Taos.)
Note: For more information about events around the Enchanted Circle, visit the Taos Chamber of Commerce.
Exploration Time Summary
Note: These times exclude travel time, dining, special events or organized recreational activities such as nature hikes, or golf.
- Angel Fire (One Hour)
- Vietnam Veterans National Memorial State Park (One Hour)
- Eagle Nest (One hour)
- Elizabethtown (30 minutes)
- Red River (90 minutes)
- Questa and the Wild Rivers Recreation Area (30 minutes)
- Taos Ski Valley (90 minutes)
- Rio Grande Gorge (15 minutes)
High Road Scenery.
Ranchos de Taos Church.
Taking the High Road to Taos
Background for your tour: The High Road to Taos proves that the shortest way is not always the best way between two points. To travel from Santa Fe to Taos you can take the low road, which certainly has its charms or you can travel the high road, which allows you to encounter unexpected delights around practically every corner. The seasons are never more evident than when you travel the high road. The fall and spring bring bursts of color that can take your breath away. The winter brings a quite solitude that shifts life into slow motion. In the summer you feel as though you have traveled back a hundred years to a land of hay bails and grazing cattle and even buffalo. Take this trip with us, you won't be disappointed.
Note: For more information about the sights and events that make the High Road to Taos a special route, visit the Taos Chamber of Commerce.
Exploration Time Summary
Note: These times exclude travel time, dining, special events or organized recreational activities such as nature hikes, or golf.
- Ranchos de Taos (One Hour)
- Picuris Pueblo (One Hour)
- Las Trampas (30 Minutes)
- Truchas (Two Hours)
- Chimayo (90 minutes)
- Cordova (One Hour)
- Nambe Falls & Pueblo (Two Hours)
Blumenschein Museum.
In the Footsteps of Historic Taos Artists
Background for your tour: Taos has been synonymous with art and artists for more than 100 years. Even before the many 20th century artists flocked to Taos in search of light, landscape and inspiration, Taos was famous as a trading center and Hispanic folk art and before that Native American pottery and other crafts were some of the main commodities. Today, with over eighty galleries and seven museums, Taos is still a Mecca for artists looking to establish themselves and a home to many of the world's most famous artists as well. On this walking tour around the Taos historic district you will visit the homes of some of the artists that blazed the trail for the hundreds of artists that live and work in Taos today.
Notes: You may wish to combine this tour with In the Footsteps of Historic Taos. We will be happy to help you design your tour so it meets the needs of your guests. For more information on festivals and events highlighting the rich history of the Taos Valley, visit the Taos Chamber of Commerce.
Sample Itinerary
Note: These times exclude travel time, dining, special events or organized recreational activities such as nature hikes, or golf.
- Blumenschein House (One Hour)
- Harwood Museum (90 Minutes)
- Bert Phillips House (One Hour)
- Taos Art Museum & Fechin House (90 Minutes)
Other Popular Tours
Kit Carson House.
On the Trail with Kit Carson
Background for your tour: Kit Carson was one of the most important characters in the history of the west from the 1830s to 1860s. Carson called Taos home on his many travels as an early fur trapper and trader, a guide for John C. Fremont, an Indian Agent, livestock producer, military man, plus husband and father. Traveling the west you will find Kit's impact by the many towns bearing his name, including Nevada's State Capital, Carson City and Carson, California. His many exploits were chronicled in the "dime novels" of the day. These publications were called Blood and Thunders and gave rise to the title for a recent bestseller by Hampton Sides, also called Blood and Thunder, Dealing with Kit Carson's role in the Manifest Desinty. He went on three journeys with Fremont and trapped from Canada to Mexico. His ability to communicate with the Native Americans made his services in constant demand. In fact, he was Indian Agent in Taos for a time. No matter where he traveled his love for family always brought him home to Taos. Join us as we explore the Taos of the mid-1800s. For more information call us at 505-758-3670, or the Kit Carson Museum at 505-758-4945.
Martinez Hacienda.
In Search of Literary Taos
Background for your tour: Over the last century Taos has become known as a haven for those with an artistic flair. The combination of pristine blue skies, spectacularly varied landscape and diverse cultures have drawn visual artists who are anxious to capture the scenery and people on canvas, clay or other media. What is not as widely known is the influence of many literary giants who have used these same attributes to capture a unique lifestyle on the printed page. Come with us as we journey back through a sometimes raucous century of literature – Taos style.
Santario de Chimayo.
Pilgrimage to the Mission Churches
Background for your tour: The establishment of settlements by explorers and colonists from Europe via Mexico is inextricably tied to the conversion of the Native Americans to the Roman Catholic Church. Of course, the settlers themselves were in need of ministry, so priests were naturally a part of the first parties to explore the regions of Northern New Mexico. The early struggles of the church to convert the indigenous peoples sometimes lead to conflict and even outright revolt, such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Many examples of these early missions are still apparent as you travel around the countryside. Many of these churches do not keep regular hours, although most of the main churches can be toured. Consider taking this tour in conjunction with the High Road to Taos Tour. For more information, visit the Taos Chamber of Commerce.
Taos Plaza.
On the Set of Taos Movie Locations
Background for your tour: Over the years the variety of films shot in Taos reflects the range of terrain in the region. An entire tour could be done visiting the locations of scenes from the cult classic Easy Rider which was released in 1969. Dennis Hopper, who directed the movie that made him a star, was so taken with the Taos scenery and lifestyle that he spent another ten years living in Taos after the film was completed. In the fall of 2002 Taos hosted the independent feature film Off the Map. The movie, directed by Campbell Scott (son of George C. Scott) and starring Sam Elliot and Joan Allen, gave Scott just what he was looking for ...a forever view. More recently, Into the West a TBS mini-series, the remake of The Longest Yard and The Missing with Tommy Lee Jones had significant segments filmed in and around Taos.
Harwood Museum.
A Stroll Through Time in Taos Museums
Background for your tour: The history of the Taos Valley can be interpreted through artifacts left by the many diverse cultures that have called it home. Strong evidence suggests that as far back as 9,000 years, the ancestors of today's Pueblo Indians, known as the Anasazi or ancient ones, lived here. The Town of Taos itself is more than 400 years old, reaching back to the Spanish exploration and settlement of New Mexico. Taos is considered by many to be the ending point of El Camino Real (The Royal Road). More recently, the many ethnic groups that have populated the rest of the United States have also gained a foothold in North Central New Mexico, adding to the rich cultural heritage represented in the Taos Museums. Step back into the past as you tour these museums and experience the daily lives, history, art and culture of local residents ranging from nearly forgotten civilizations to recent arrivals.
Taos Pueblo.
In the Footsteps of the Original Residents
Background for your tour: There is evidence of inhabitants of the Taos Valley dating back approximately 9,000 years. The ancestors of today's Taos Pueblo Indians, known as the Anasazi, established cultures in Chaco Canyon, Salmon Ruins and Canyon de Chelly. There are many examples of Native American inhabitation as you travel throughout the Taos area. When we think of Taos as an art colony, we seldom think of the original artists who established Taos as a trading center long before Europeans set foot in the valley. In some areas you can still find pot shards and arrow heads left behind by the ancestors of today's residents of Taos and Picuris Pueblos. Join us as we visit a few of the sites where the history of the valley's original inhabitants is most evident. For more information, dates of feast days and celebrations, consult the Calendar at the Taos Chamber of Commerce.
Taos Solar Music Festival.
On the Trail of Sustainable Living in Taos
Background for your tour: Taos was known as the Solar Capital of the World long before New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson officially gave it the designation in 1997. The combination of an average of nearly 300 days of sunshine per year and the high desert altitude of over 7,000 feet make this the perfect place to practice sustainable living. Almost everywhere you look in Taos you see examples of the use of materials that can be reclaimed by the earth. The best and most prevalent examples are in the adobe architecture that abounds in Northern New Mexico. The materials used in adobe bricks, if left to the elements will eventually return to their original form – dirt and straw. Taos celebrates sustainable and renewable resources during the Taos Solar Music Festival in June each year. The festival has brought performances by music legends such as Harry Belafonte, Robert Cray, the Indigo Girls and many others over its eight year history. For more information, visit the Taos Solar Music Festival on the Net.
Bent Gallery.
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In the Footsteps of Historic Taos
Background for your tour: The Taos Valley can trace inhabitants back about 9,000 years. From the ancestral Pueblo Indians (known as the Anasazi), to the residents of the still inhabited Taos Pueblo, to the Conquistadores traveling north from Mexico, to the artists of the past century, Taos has been a place of sharing of goods and knowledge. The Taos Historic District gives us many reminders of this fascinating past and all within easy walking distance of the Taos Plaza. Join us as we walk in the tracks made over hundreds of years. For more information on art festivals and events highlighting the rich artistic history of the Taos Valley, consult the Calendar at the Taos Chamber of Commerce. Note: You may wish to combine this tour with In the Footsteps of Historic Taos Artists.
Photo Credits
Balloonists in Rio Grande Gorge: HARMONHOUSEtm Designs;
High Road Scenery: The Easy Traveler;
Ranchos de Taos Church: The Easy Traveler;
Blumenschein Museum: The Easy Traveler;
Kit Carson House: The Easy Traveler;
Martinez Hacienda: The Easy Traveler;
Santario de Chimayo: The Easy Traveler;
Taos Plaza: The Easy Traveler;
Harwood Museum: The Easy Traveler;
Taos Pueblo: Tim Benko Photography;
Taos Solar Fest: The Easy Traveler;
Bent Gallery: The Easy Traveler.
