New Mexico - Land of Enchantment
Escorted Coach Tour
This stunningly beautiful Land of Enchantment lies before you on Tauck's educational New Mexico travel experience. The rugged beauty of the American Southwest and the fascinating cultural influences that have shaped New Mexico combine to paint an intriguing portrait of an area like no other. Enjoy two nights at a luxurious resort in the mountains and three nights in fabulous Santa Fe. Have lunch aboard a cruise on the Pecos River. Attend a private cocktail party and dinner at the El Paso Museum of Art, and explore Santa Fe's Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Discover Albuquerque's 300-year old Old Town, and 1,000-year old Taos Pueblo. Wonder at nature's handiwork among the snow-white dunes of White Sands National Monument, and deep under the desert at Carlsbad Caverns National Park; a lecture by a conservationist sheds new light on the cavern's nocturnal residents. It's New Mexico travel at its best!
1. Arrive El Paso, Texas
. Tour departs: El Paso is your gateway to this enchanting New Mexico adventure.
Tour begins: 3.45pm at El Paso Marriott. A transfer is included from El Paso International Airport to the El Paso Marriott. Attend a fascinating presentation on the bats of Carlsbad Caverns, given by a conservationist who has dedicated his life to the preservation of nature's endangered species. Your week of New Mexico travel kicks off with a private evening at the El Paso Museum of Art, a fine arts museum housing more than 5,000 works of art from around the world; enjoy a welcome cocktail party and dinner, as well as a private showing.Meals: D
2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Your first stop on a full day's drive in New Mexico is a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where hundreds of limestone caves lie in a fossel reef 250 million years old. Explore gigantic Carlsbad Cavern itself, which humorist Will Rogers called "the Grand Canyon with a roof on it". After lunch head out across the Chihuahuan Desrt to the Inn of the Mountain Resort Gods & Casino surrounded by snow-capped peaks, for a two-night stay. Dinner is at your leisure tonight at a choice of restaurants. Meals: BLD
3. White Sands and a touch of resort pleasure. Spend the day, your way, taking advantage of the resort's many recreational activities, including bird-watching, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, golf, boating and more (additional costs may apply), or exploring nearby sights on Tauck's optional sightseeing excursions. Looking like great, glistening waves, a sea of snow-white sand rises from the heart ofNew Mexico's Tularosa Basin. Get a close up look at this unique natural wonder, part of the world's largest gypsum sand dune field covering 275 square miles of desert, at the White Sands National Monument, reserving the ever-changing dune fields and the plant and animal species that live in this harsh environment. This afternoon, you may want to join us for a visit to the Hubbard Museum in nearby Ruidoso, chronicling the cultural and environmental history of the American West. Fine a la carte dining is on the menu tonight at the resort's signature restaurant, Wendell's, amidst spectacular views. Meals: BD
4. Discover Albuquerque / Santa Fe. Journey to Albuquerque's 300-year old Old Town today to explore its delightful mix of historic Pueblo and Spanish Colonial architecture. Continue on to Santa Fe for three nights at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, located in the heart of historic Santa Fe. Meals: BD
5. The many cultures of Santa Fe. Native American, Spanish and Old West influences blend to form a unique cultural mixture in Santa Fe, crossroads of the historic Southwest. Discover the community's heart on a walking tour of the Plaza, terminus of the Old Santa Fe Trail, and get a good sense of Southwestern cuisine at a lunch highlighting the city's diverse cultures. Dinner is on your own tonight. Meals: BL
6. Ancient ruins and artistic creativity in Taos. Taos' deserts and forests have long attracted artists seeking inspiration. After a stop at Ranchos de Taos to see the iconic and much photographed 18th-Century San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, visit Taos Pueblo. As you view the only living Native American community designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark, you'll discover a culture that has inhabited these adobe structures for more than 1,000 years. Return to Santa Fe for an evening at leisure with an included a la carte dinner at the Old House Restaurant. Meals: BD
7. Santa Fe / Albuquerque. American painter Georgia O'Keeffe fell in love with New Mexico's red rocks and canyons in the 1920's, and moved here permanently in the 1940's. View her sensuous landscapes and other works at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum during your private visit. (note: on departures when the museum is closed you'll visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Research Center instead of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum). Return to Albuquerque this afternoon, stopping for a guided tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The museum is run by the 19 Native American pueblos of the Rio Grande Valley as a showcse of puebloan history and culture. Your accommodations continue to entice with a look at local life; the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa celebrates the traditions of the Tamayame people in design and decor. Join us this evening for a farewell dinner tongith. Meals: BD
8. Journey Home. Tour ends: Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort to Albuquerque International Airport Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Persons departing at other times should secure their own transportation to the airport. Meals: B
Departure Dates 2010
8 Days / 7 Nights
Begins El Paso
Apr: 25
May: 02, 09, 16, 23, 30
Jun: 06, 20
Sep: 05, 12, 19, 26
Oct: 03, 10, 17
Additional departure dates may become available as these sell out.
Prices 2010
Price Per Person
Twin £1299
Single £1635
Triple £1189
Price includes all sightseeing in the itinerary plus choices as specified; choices are not transferable to other days unless indicated.
15 Meals Included
Special Airfares: Airfare to El Paso from Albuquerque is additional. Just America offers special airfares, subject to availability; enquire at time of booking.
Night 1 El Paso Marriott, El Paso, TX
Night 2 & 3 Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Mescalero, NM
Night 4,5 & 6 Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Santa Fe NM
Nights 7 Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, Albuquerque, NM