Exploring New Mexico

Itinerary

• Day One: UK to Albuquerque - Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town

  Arrive in Albuquerque and check into your hotel for an overnight stay in a Traditional Room 1 King Bed. Walk Old Town Albuquerque’s brick pathways past historic adobe buildings, local art shops, and the 17th-century San Felipe de Neri Church. Escape to ABQ BioPark to meet the penguins, hippos, elephants, and snow leopards. End your day in style with a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway for panoramic sunset vistas over the city and beyond.

• Day Two: Albuquerque to Santa Fe - El Rey Court Santa Fe

  Hit the open road and drive towards Santa Fe and check into your Standard King Bed Room for the night. Santa Fe Plaza lets you relish enchiladas and margaritas, shop for artisan crafts, and visit Cathedral Basilica of St Francis Assisi and Loretto Chapel’s unique spiral staircase. Delve into Canyon Road’s art galleries and luxury boutiques, works by the iconic modernist painter at Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and Meow Wolf Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Rest’s immersive art and psychedelic rooms.

• Day Three: Santa Fe to Taos - The Historic Taos Inn

  Today’s drive takes you via the scenic route to Taos for a one-night stay in a Double King Room. Taos Pueblo leads to historic adobe dwellings and San Geronimo Chapel, shopping for authentic pottery and leatherware, and tucking into Indian tacos. Bask in canyon views from the 600-foot-high Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Or escape to Taos Plaza to sample wine at La Chiripade Tasting Room, buy handmade silver and turquoise jewellery, and see Hotel La Fonda de Taos’ DH Lawrence paintings.

• Day Four: Taos to Los Alamos - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Los Alamos Entrada Park

  Get back behind the wheel and drive to Los Alamos – via the scenic route of Rio Grande Gorge Bridge or the High Road and the Puye Cliff Dwellings - for an overnighter in a King Room. Learn how scientists built the first atomic bomb at Manhattan Project National Historical Park and get hands on with nuclear science at Bradbury Science Museum. Follow Bandelier National Monument’s canyon trails and see the Alcove House, the Long House, Tsankawi, Prehistoric Site, and ancient Pueblo homes.

• Day Five: Los Alamos to Farmington - Courtyard by Marriott Farmington

  Journey west to Farmington – stopping at the Aztec Ruins Monument with its unique Chacoan structures enroute - for a night in a King Bed Room. Explore Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness’ surreal sandstone hoodoos, petrified wood, and fossils. Stroll the Animas River Walk Trails, meet Riverside Nature Center’s local wildlife, or paddle or kayak at Animas River Water Park. Dip into Farmington Museum’s local heritage and Museum of Navajo Art & Culture’s historic Navajo textiles and fine arts.

• Day Six: Farmington to Gallup – Hilton Garden Inn Gallup

  Today’s trip leads to a stay in 2 Queen Beds Room in Gallup – choose between two routes – either spending most of the day enjoying Chaco Culture National Historical Park’s history and archaeology or a shorter scenic drive via Route 66. Go hiking at Red Rock Park’s Church Rock and Pyramid Rock trails or walk past Route 66 Corridor’s neon signs, vintage motels, and murals. Step back to Hollywood’s golden age at Hotel El Rancho or explore Gallup Cultural Center’s Native American history and art.

• Day Seven: Gallup to Albuquerque - Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town Albuquerque

  Today sees your return to Albuquerque for your final night in New Mexico in a Traditional Room 1 King Bed. Perhaps take a drive out to spend time at the native American community at Acoma Pueblo (Sky City) or to enjoy hiking through black lava fields and ice caves at El Malpais National Monument. Back in the city, why not head to dine on global cuisine and sip craft beer at the trendy Nob Hill district or tuck into traditional green chile dishes in the Historic Old Town’s Sawmill Market?

• Day Eight: Fly Back to the UK

  Fly back to London Heathrow via Denver with many happy memories to look back on of your Exploring New Mexico self-drive adventure