Chaco Canyon Day Tour: Explore Ancestral Puebloan Civilization

Guided

Duration: 10.5 hours

Albuquerque

Features

Free Cancellation

Beginner Friendly

Small Group Sizes

Instant Book

Shuttle Included

Locally Owned

$350 Per Person

$325 Per Person (Hotel Chaco Discount)

(Per Person)

Description

Full-Day Cultural Tour of Chaco Canyon

Did you know the U.S. has a pre-historic Puebloan place of mystery that has been likened to Macchu Picchu, which is little seen or visited? And did you know that like Stonehenge, these ancient structures mark the passage of the sun with precise solar rays aligning along relief figures, doorways, and petroglyphs on stone slab walls?

Transport yourself into another world at Chaco Canyon! This UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park lies on top of the southeastern Colorado Plateau’s physiographic province in the San Juan Basin and had a diverse thriving culture from 830 A.D. to 1250 A.D. It served as the heart of spiritual and ceremonial practices for the Chacoan people. Experience this major ancestral Puebloan center of migration, grand construction, and cultural integration and see why Chaco is a fascinating place of mystery.

Chaco distinguished itself within the regional ancestral Puebloan culture and dominated the area for more than four centuries. Their structures weren’t farming villages, they were public buildings used by communities and regions for ceremonies, trading, and civic events. Take a journey with us back in time to experience these highly organized large-scale structures, featuring multi-story construction and sophisticated coursed masonry, which illustrate the increasing complexity of Chaco social structure.

More than 150 distant communities emulated Chacoan architectural designs, layouts, and construction of their public buildings. Linking the sites, there was an elaborate system within the canyon of carefully engineered roadways, stairways, and ramps to sites far beyond, that can still be traced. Yet, with their high level of complex infrastructure, architectural development, economic reach, and social organization, no one knows what caused their sudden collapse in the 13th century. Quickly, villages were permanently abandoned, never to be revisited or revived again.

So here is your opportunity, beneath the expansive skies of northern New Mexico, to soak in this ancestral corridor that paints an expansive story.

Day Tour Overview

Our journey begins with a visit to Una Vida, an L-shaped Great House where you can explore a petroglyph panel etched in the canyon’s cliffside sandstone. These petroglyph panels are pecked, incised, and abraded into the sandstone and their significance is still recognizable today by Puebloan and Navajo peoples because they symbolize specific clans or story elements.

If the short steep climb seems too much for you, the other option is to visit Chaco Canyon’s Visitors’ Center museum and watch the 20-minute interpretive film. After either excursion, you will enjoy a picnic lunch.

Following lunch, we will explore the largest Great House, Pueblo Bonito, a Spanish word for “pretty village.” This important epicenter of the ancestral homeland showcases the core-and-veneer walls that distinguish Chacoan great-house construction. Pueblo Bonito is the most thoroughly investigated and celebrated cultural site in Chaco Canyon. The term “great house” is an archeologist term to describe the large sites in Chaco. These great houses shared many architectural features such as planned layouts, multi-storied construction, distinctive masonry, very large rooms, plazas, and huge subterranean ceremonial chambers called “great kivas.”

You will learn about the first excavators and their findings as you explore the important Room 28 where 111-cylinder jars, a tall and narrow form of pottery, were found. These cylinder jars were used for drinking a chocolate beverage made from the cacao tree brought from Central Mexico, believed to be drunk by high-ranking people during rituals. This journey would have been nearly 1200 miles away from Chaco!

You will conclude your visit to the greatest kiva, Casa Rinconada. Casa Rinconada is a large round building complex. The symmetry of the axes creates a perfect circle and some speculate it physically represents the Ancestral Puebloan cosmos and served as an important religious center.

Throughout the day, you’ll be dismayed at the obvious societal advances and ponder what created their sudden failure and destruction. Join us for an authentic, culturally vivid encounter with the mystery of Chaco Canyon.

Duration of Adventure

10.5 Hours (7:15 AM - 5:45 PM)

Offered Saturdays, March through November, excluding July & August

Location / Where to Meet

Hotel Chaco in Old Town Albuquerque

2000 Bellamah Ave NW,

Albuquerque, NM 87104

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time.

Ages

Ages 15+

What's Included

Breakfast Snack
Transportation
Snacks and water to enjoy on the drive
Interpretive pamphlets about Chaco Canyon
Entry into Chaco Canyon
Guided Interpretive Exploration of Pueblo Bonito
Picnic lunch provided by Hotel Chaco

Not Included

Gratuity for your inspired guide.

What to Bring / Wear

Chaco Canyon is a very remote, open, and exposed landscape, at high elevations and in a high desert environment. Proper hydration and sun protection is a necessity. New Mexico weather can change without much notice. We recommend:

Lightweight, breathable laters and a long-sleeve shirt for sun protection
Hat and Sunglasses
Broken-in sneakers or hiking boots. If you are accustomed to wearing hiking boots, you are welcome to wear them, but sneakers are also appropriate for this hike.
Day pack
Reusable water bottle or hydration bladder
Camera or smartphone for incredible photos

FAQ

Is there a minimum or maximum number of guests?

This is a small group tour for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 guests.

What do you serve for breakfast snacks and lunch?

Our meals are provided by Hotel Chaco. For breakfast, you'll be able to choose either a freshly baked pastry or yogurt parfait. For lunch, your options are a Honey Cured Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Oven Roasted Chicken Breast & Cheese Sandwich, Grilled Veggie Wrap, or Tossed Salad with Grilled Chicken. You'll be able to select your meals at checkout.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes, we can accommodate most dietary restrictions. You'll be able to let us know of any restrictions at checkout.

How far away is the tour from the meeting point?

It's about half an hour's drive from the meeting point.

How physically demanding is the tour?

This tour is considered moderate. You should have an average fitness level and be comfortable hiking around 6 miles, with moderate inclines and declines and over potentially uneven terrain.

Are there restrooms throughout the day?

Yes, there will be opportunities to use the restroom throughout the day.

ADVENTURE PROVIDED BY Heritage Inspirations

Cancellation Policy

Due to the intimate size of our trips, we will refund cancellations when informing our team up to 14 days in advance. Any cancellations not within a 14 day notice will be non-refundable. We regret that exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early.

Availability

April 2025

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Location

Address

2000 Bellamah Avenue NW

Albuquerque, NM, 87104

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