Northern New Mexico guided tours and adventures

Enjoy these guided tours and outdoor adventures in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico

Dennis Ziemienski     DC3     Oil on Canvas     18 x 24
Dennis Ziemienski, DC3, oil on canvas, 18″ x 24″

Santa Fe has such a long and fascinating history, and there’s so much to see and do, that getting acquainted with our ancient town can be a little daunting. Guided tours are an excellent way to learn the basics and decide which sites and activities to pursue in depth.

Guided out-of-town excursions also can help maximize your experience of the remote cultural sites and natural wonders of Northern New Mexico.

The list below includes only local tour operators and guides who have deep knowledge of the region. Tours of cultural sites include downtown Santa Fe as well as visits to historic Spanish settlements, active Indian Pueblos, and pre-historic Pueblo ruins.

Northern New Mexico also is a vast and beautiful outdoor playground with activities that range from rafting the Rio Grande to llama pack trips in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Many tour operators will customize the trip just for you, ensuring many lasting memories of your visit to Santa Fe.

Howard Post     Roadside     Oil on Canvas     42 x 42
Howard Post Roadside, oil on canvas, 42″ x 42″

List of Tours by Category

Canyon Road Gallery Tours

  • Historic Walks of Santa Fe, 505.986.8388, www.historicwalksofsantafe.com
  • Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, www.sevendirections.net
  • Stefanie Beninato, 505.988.8022, www.swguides.com
  • Walking Tours of Downtown Santa Fe
  • Fiesta Tours, 505.204.9704
  • Historic Walks of Santa Fe, 505.986.8388, www.historicwalksofsantafe.com
  • New Mexico History Museum / Palace of the Governors, 505.476.1141, media.museumofnewmexico.org
  • Pathways Customized Tours, 505.982.5382, www.santafepathways.com
  • Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, www.sfdetours.com
  • Santa Fe Mad Hatters, 505.466.2091
  • Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, 505.988.4000, www.sfmadv.com
  • Stefanie Beninato, 505.988.8022, www.swguides.com
  • Travel Heart, 505.989.1919, www.travelheart.net

Tram Tours of Santa Fe

  • Custom Tours by Clarice, 505.438.7116, www.santafecustomtours.com
  • Loretto Line, 505.983.3701, www.toursofsantafe.com
  • Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, www.sfdetours.com
  • Segway NM, www.segwaynm.com

Artist Studio Tours

  • Custom Tours by Clarice, 505.438.7116, www.santafecustomtours.com
  • Emily’s Artists Studio Tour, 505.984.8687, www.emilysarttour.com
  • Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, www.sevendirections.net
  • Studio Passport, 505.204.6034, www.studiopassport.com
  • Santa Fe Specialty Tours (Food, Shopping, Ghosts, etc.)
  • Historic Walks of Santa Fe, 505.986.8388, www.historicwalksofsantafe.com
  • Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, www.sevendirections.net
  • Stefanie Beninato, 505.988.8022, www.swguides.com
  • Cultural Sightseeing Tours in Northern New Mexico
  • Custom Tours by Clarice, 505.438.7116, www.santafecustomtours.com
  • Great Southwest Adventures, 505.455.2700, www.swadventures.com
  • Historic Walks of Santa Fe, 505.986.8388, www.historicwalksofsantafe.com
  • Pathways Customized Tours, 505.982.5382, www.santafepathways.com
  • Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, www.sfdetours.com
  • Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, www.santafeguidingco.com
  • Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, 505.988.4000, www.sfmadv.com
  • Santa Fe Walkabouts, 505.216.9161, www.santafewalkabouts.com
  • Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, www.sevendirections.net
  • Stefanie Beninato, 505.988.8022, www.swguides.com
  • Travel Heart, 505.989.1919, www.travelheart.net

Air Tours

  • Southwest Safaris, 505.988.4246, www.southwestsafaris.com
  • Photography Tours
  • Outspire, 505.660.0394, www.outspire.com
  • Patricia Leigh Photography, www.patricialeigh.com
  • Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, www.santafeguidingco.com
  • Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, www.sevendirections.net
  • Guided Hiking
  • Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, 505.983.3734, www.kokopelliraft.com
  • Outspire, 505.660.0394, www.outspire.com
  • Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, www.sfdetours.com
  • Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, www.santafeguidingco.com
  • Santa Fe Hiking Guide, 505.917.6280, www.santafehikingguide.com
  • Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, 505.988.4000, www.sfmadv.com
  • Santa Fe Walkabouts, 505.216.9161, www.santafewalkabouts.com
Bicycling on Canyon Road     Courtesy Canyon Road Arts
Bicycling on Canyon Road, Courtesy Canyon Road Arts

Guided Mountain Biking

  • Known World Guides, 800.983.7756, www.knownworldguides.com
  • Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, 505.983.3734, www.kokopelliraft.com
  • Mellow Velo, 505.995.8356, www.mellowvelo.com
  • Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, www.sfdetours.com
  • Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, 505.988.4000, www.sfmadv.com
  • Santa Fe Walkabouts, 505.216.9161, www.santafewalkabouts.com
Brad Teare     River Rocks
Brad Teare, River Rocks, woodcut, edition of 38, 11″ x 15″

Guided Rafting

  • Known World Guides, 800.983.7756, www.knownworldguides.com
  • Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, 505.983.3734, www.kokopelliraft.com
  • Los Rios River Runners, 575.776.8854, www.losriosriverrunners.com
  • New Wave Rafting, 800.984.144, www.newwaverafting.com
  • Santa Fe Rafting, 505.988.4914, www.santaferafting.com
Veryl Goodnight     Ready to Ride     fig. 147
Veryl Goodnight, Ready to Ride, bronze edition of 30, 22″ x 6″ x 6″

 

Horseback Tours and Trail Rides

  • Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa, 505.983.6377, www.bishopslodge.com
  • Broken Saddle Riding Company, 505.424.7774, www.brokensaddle.com
  • Santa Fe Stables, 505.231.7113, www.santafestables.com
  • Santa Fe Western Adventures, 505.473.9384, www.santafewest.com
  • Wild Vista Adventures, 505.474.3452, www.wildvistasadventures.com

Birding and Wildlife Viewing

  • Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, www.santafeguidingco.com
  • Wings West Birding, www.wingswestnm.com

Guided Fly Fishing

  • High Desert Angler, 505.988.7688, www.highdesertangler.com
  • Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, www.santafeguidingco.com
  • The Reel Life, 505.995.8114, www.thereellife.com

Geocaching

  • Geocaching Challenge, 505.955.6200, info@sfmadv.com
    supported by www.santafe.org and www.santafemountainadventures.com
  • Outspire, 505.660.0394, www.outspire.com
Deborah Copenhaver-Fellows, NSS
Deborah Copenhaver-Fellows, NSS,
I Saddle My Own Horse,
bronze edition of 50, 34″ x 20″ x 14.5″

List of Tours by Company

Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa, 505.983.6377, www.bishopslodge.com

  • Horseback trail rides

Broken Saddle Riding Company, 505.424.7774, info@brokensaddle.com, www.brokensaddle.com

  • Horseback trail rides

Custom Tours By Clarice, 505.438.7116, clarice1@santafe-newmexico.com, www.santafecustomtours.com

  • Open-Air tram tours of Santa Fe’s Historic District
  • Tours to Taos, Pecos and Bandelier National Monument
  • Artist studios
  • Mountain touring in Santa Fe in the fall

Emily’s Artists Studio Tour, 505.984.8687, emily@emilysarttour.com
www.emilysarttour.com

  • Custom tours to artist studios

Fiesta Tours, Northwest corner of the Historic Plaza, 505.204.9704

  • Historical and sightseeing tours

Great Southwest Adventures, 505.455.2700, swadventures@hotmail.com, www.swadventures.com

  • Bandelier National Monument
  • Abiquiu and the Georgia O’Keeffe Country
  • Taos New Mexico sampler
  • Tent Rocks National Monument
  • Chaco National Historic Park
Francis Livingston     Fly Colors
Francis Livingston, Fly Colors, oil on panel 17″ x 8.75″

High Desert Angler, 505.988.7688 or 888.988.7688
hda@highdesertangler.com, www.highdesertangler.com

  • Fly fishing

Historic Walks of Santa Fe, 505.986.8388
historicwalksofsf@earthlink.net, www.historicwalksofsantafe.com

  • Prestige shopping tour
  • Ghostwalker
  • Canyon Road
  • Art galleries
  • Historic/Cultural tours
  • Taos
  • Chimayo
  • Bandelier

Known World Guides, 800.983.7756, www.knownworldguides.com

  • River rafting tours
  • Mountain biking

 

Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, 505.983.3734, 800.879.9035
kokopelli@santafeadventure.com, www.kokopelliraft.com

  • Rafting
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
Loretto Line, City Bus Tours     Courtesy Canyon Road Arts
Loretto Line, City Bus Tours, Courtesy Canyon Road Arts

Loretto Line, 505.983.3701, contactus@toursofsantafe.com
www.toursofsantafe.com

  • Historical and sightseeing tours

Los Rios River Runners, 575.776.8854, whitewater@newmex.com
www.losriosriverrunners.com

  • River rafting tours

Mellow Velo, 505.995.8356, www.mellowvelo.com

  • Mountain bike tours

New Mexico History Museum / Palace of the Governors, 505.476.1141, media.museumofnewmexico.org

  • Historial and cultural tours

New Wave Rafting, 800.984.1444, sales@newwaverafting.com
www.newwaverafting.com

  • River rafting tours

Outspire, 505.660.0394, www.outspire.com

  • Hiking
  • Geocaching
  • Photography
Merrill Mahaffey     Saddle Canyon Afternoon     Acrylic on Canvas     30 x 40
Merrill Mahaffey, Saddle Canyon Afternoon,
acrylic on canvas 30″ x 40″

Pathways Customized Tours, 505.982.5382, don@santafepathways.com, www.santafepathways.com

  • Cliff dwellings and Indian Pueblos
  • Taos adventure
  • Georgia O’Keeffe country
  • Santa Fe tour

Patricia Leigh Photography, patricia@patricialeigh.com
www.patricialeigh.com

  • Photography tours

Ride the Dream, 505.603.2547, www.ridethedream.com

  • Motorcycle tours

Santa Fe Detours, 505.983.6565, sfd@sfdetours.com, www.sfdetours.com

  • The Walking Tour of Santa Fe
  • City tours (van)
  • Taos
  • Bandelier
  • Puye
  • Hiking, biking and private guides
Glenn Renell     Dark Woods
Glenn Renell, Dark Woods, oil on panel, 9.75″ x 11″

Santa Fe Guiding Co., 505.466.7964, bob@santafeguidingco.com
www.santafeguidingco.com

  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Hiking
  • Skiing
  • Sightseeing (cultural)
  • Photography
  • Birding
  • Wildlife

 

Santa Fe Hiking Guide, 505.917.6280, doug@santafehikingguide.com
www.santafehikingguide.com

  • Day hikes

Santa Fe Mad Hatters, 505.466.2091, 505.795.3009
marilynasusanbanthony@msn.com

  • Group walking tours
  • Holiday shopping tours in December

 

Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, 505.988.4000, www.sfmadv.com

  • Geocoaching Challenge
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
  • Walking tours
  • Culture

Santa Fe Rafting, 505.988.4914, info@santaferafting.com
www.santaferafting.com

  • River rafting tours
Jan Mapes     Gettin’ the Kinks Out
Jan Mapes, Gettin’ the Kinks Out, bronze edition of 15, 8″ x 8″ x 2″

Santa Fe Stables, 505.231.7113, www.santafestables.com

  • Horseback trail rides

Santa Fe Walkabouts, 505.216.9161, info@santafewalkabouts.com
www.santafewalkabouts.com

  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
  • Cultural sightseeing

Santa Fe Western Adventures, 505.473.9384, sfwa@santafewest.com
www.santafewest.com

  •  Horseback trail rides

Segway NM, www.segwaynm.com

  • Santa Fe tour

Seven Directions, 877.992.6128, info@sevendirections.net
www.sevendirections.net

  • Cultural
  • Astronomy
  • Artist Studios
  • Canyon Road
  • Photography
  • Shopping

Southwest Safaris, 505.988.4246, swsafaris@qwest.net
www.southwestsafaris.com

  • Air tours
Josh Elliott     Ranch Road     fig. 153
Josh Elliott, Ranch Road, oil on panel 14″ x 14″

Stefanie Beninato, 505.988.8022, info@swguides.com, www.swguides.com

  • Bread and Chocolate: An Artisanal Epicurean Delight! New!
  • Women in NM History: A Different Downtown Tour
  • Jewish Legacy and Overview Tour: New combo tour!
  • A History Different: A Look at the Jewish Legacy in New Mexico
  • Artists and Acequias: A Cultural and Artistic Tour of Canyon Rd and the Eastside
  • Bars and Brothels in Santa Fe: A Red Light Tour
  • A Spirits Different Tour: New combo tour
  • The Dark Side of Santa Fe: Ghosts, Mysteries and Legends
  •  Garden Tour: Past and Present
  • An Outpost of Civilization: Pecos National Monument
  • O’Keeffe Country and Beyond
  • Wine Country: North or South
  • A Real Indian Detour: Gallup and More
  •  Other tours, such as Bandelier National Monument, the Jemez, and Salinas National Monument, and Chimayo are available as well as custom tours.

Studio Passport, 505.204.6034, james@studiopassport.com
www.studiopassport.com

  • Artist studios

The Reel Life, 505.995.8114, www.thereellife.com

  • Fly fishing

Travel Heart, 505.989.1919, www.travelheart.net

  • Santa Fe walking
  • Culture

Wings West Birding, www.wingswestnm.com

  • Birding

Wild Vista Adventures, 505.474.3452, wildvistasadventures@gmail.com
www.wildvistasadventures.com

  •   Horseback
This article was excerpted from Canyon Road Arts: The Complete Visitors Guide to Arts, Dining and Santa Fe Lifestyle, Vol 6, 2011-2012, pages 92-100. Canyon Road Arts is published by Medicine Man Gallery. All rights reserved.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *