Mesa Verde National Park Highlights Tour

Embark on a historical archaeological exploration of Mesa Verde, the world’s first archaeological National Park. Discover the fascinating ruins and learn about the area’s flora, fauna, geology, native peoples, and its captivating historical archaeological record.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mesa Verde National Park - Join us for a half-day tour to explore the highlights of Mesa Verde National Park. In a 6-hour round trip (3 hours driving, 3 hours in the park), our expert guide will share 700 years of history with you. The tour includes visits to several iconic cliff dwellings, including the famous Cliff Palace, where you can opt for a 40-minute ranger-led tour (see our Immersive Tour for more details). Enjoy breathtaking views of the 4 Corners region as we journey through the park. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the cultures and landscapes of the Southwest. Included: Park fees, Cliff Palace tickets, transportation to and from Durango and within the park, and ample water and snacks. Please note: We cannot accommodate children under 4 or individuals with severe mobility issues.
What's Included
  • Complimentary transportation from Durango, Colorado
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Gratuity
Additional Information

Come take a half day tour and see the highlights of Mesa Verde National Park. We’ll squeeze 700 years of history into a 6-hour round trip tour (3 hours’ total drive time, 3 hours in the park) with a professional guide that is passionate about giving you the most informative experience possible. This tour will include a stop at several iconic cliff dwellings, including the park’s crown jewel, Cliff Palace, where you have the option of taking a 40 minute ranger led tour (see our Immersive Tour for details). We’ll also take in some of the most spectacular views of the 4 Corners region as we travel through the park. We guarantee that you’ll leave with a new found appreciation for the cultures and landscapes of the Southwest. Included: Park fees, Cliff Palace tickets, transportation to and from Durango and within the park, and plenty of water and snacks.

Location
Mountain Waters Rafting
West College Drive
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your listed departure time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(273 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Photographersabroad
Aug 1, 2024
Don’t Miss This World Heritage Site - We did not take the tour, but we did visit the park. We drove through the park and listened to their podcast. The park is amazing and totally worth a trip. The scenery is breathtaking, the roads are well maintained. You can stop into the visitors center and get a map and download the podcast if you haven’t already. Cell service is not always available in the park so download the podcast ahead of time. You have to drive into the park about 20 miles before you see the cave dwellings. Once you arrive, several sites are near each other. Some you can see with an easy walk or pull over, others you may have to walk a bit to see. Tours are available also. There is a museum, gift shops and a post office if you’d like to mail a post card from there. This is a World Heritage Site and wonderfully preserved example of Pueblo Cliff Dwellings. You could spend 1/2 day minimum or full day if you took your time. Plenty of bathrooms along the way. Don’t miss it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L7998nxmorgang
Jul 31, 2024
BOOK THIS TOUR! worth every penny! - This tour was the highlight of our trip to Colorado! Mesa Verde is incredible but without all the knowledge and background, we might not have appreciated it as much as we did. Our tour guide, Neil was informative, energetic, fun (and funny) and all around a great person to be around! One thing I hadn't thought of prior was that our guide would also be driving us all over on the mountain roads and Neil is a safe, careful driver who puts you at ease. His knowledge and passion around Mesa Verde made the whole experience that much more fun! Extra Bonus- Neil is also a photographer and tooks photos of our whole family and several locations, these are completely priceless to us - memories to last a lifetime! BOOK THIS TOUR, it's worth it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_m
Jul 28, 2024
Highly recommend this tour - This was an awesome excursion. Neil, our driver and tour guide, was so informative and friendly. He was also a fantastic photographer! Mesa Verde is beautiful and inspiring. The walking tour of Cliff Palace was a cool experience.
Review provided by Viator
Rosinaf199
Jul 28, 2024
Cliff Dwelling -bucklist item ✅! - This tour was awesome! Our tour guide Aaron was so passionate and knowledgeable! We learned so much!!! Aaron even communicated with us the night prior to let us know that our tour might be canceled because of a forest fire. Luckily the park was open and when our guide found out we were traveling from Moab even had us meet him closer to the park so we didn’t have to drive all the way to Durango. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
848janellr
Jul 27, 2024
A perfect day! - A perfect day! Neal was absolutely amazing and so knowledgeable about the history and the park! Seeing Mesa Verde this way was so much fun and definitely the way to go! I would definitely recommend this tour company and most definitely Neal as the tour guide!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nellis303
Jul 21, 2024
Mountain Waters Rafting Mesa Verde Half Day Tour - Highly recommend! Our tour guide Aaron had studied the ruins and was very knowledgeable. We learned a lot during his narration on the drive. The van was comfortable and Aaron timed the stops with our park ranger tour. We were lucky enough to experience a thunderstorm while at the Cliff Palace! Such a cool experience. The company makes everything easy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M7322cunancyg
Jul 20, 2024
Great tour of Mesa Verde - We toured the Mesa with Neil yesterday. It was amazing. Neil is full of interesting information, stories and anecdotes. We learned so much and were very well cared for. Ask for Neil when you go.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura_h
Jul 10, 2024
Fun tour! - Great trip. Neil was an awesome guide with lots of information. The Cliff Palace and other cliff dwellings were interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Mitcheverett
Jul 23, 2024
Mesa Verde Pueblo Cliff Dwellings - We had a great guide, Neil!! He was very informative and took great care of us. Told us all sorts of travel trips. The Pueblo Cliff Dewllings were grand. I highly recommend Neil and Mesa Verde!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
1996aapman
Jul 23, 2024
Worth the drive - just do it. - I admit I went into this park (our 7th in 6 days), just wanting to get done. I was pleasantly pleased with the history and the coolness of the houses. We spent a couple ours on the driving loop and headed out, glad we stopped.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today