Santa Fe–Taos

“All of the earth colors of the painter’s palette are out there.” — Georgia O’Keeffe

“Out there,” is the land around Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico.  The famous artist lived there, fascinated by the vivid colors of its landscape and its echoes of the past.  Ancient adobe pueblos.  Haunting music.  Fiery cuisine.  And all around, sweeping vistas of mountains, forests, and the red, red earth.

Our tour will meet in Santa Fe (public shuttle available from/to Albuquerque) on a Sunday morning (airport and hotel pickups complimentary).  Santa Fe is the third largest market in the United States for fine art.  Galleries and museums abound, as well as local artists peddling their jewelry and crafts in the city’s plaza.  We’ll go for a morning bicycle ride in the outskirts of Santa Fe.  In the afternoon, you’ll have a chance to explore its rich culture on your own.  Our lodging at the tranquil Inn on the Alameda is nestled between the historic Santa Fe Plaza and the gallery-filled art district of Canyon Road.  Santa Fe also is home to several superior dining experiences; we’ll dine at one and tell you about others you can enjoy after our trip is over.

Cliff Dwellings Dating Back 1,000 Years

On Monday we head to Bandelier National Monument and walk through the ancient cliff dwellings carved high on the canyon walls, where the Anasazi made their home nearly 1,000 years ago.  After lunch we cycle north through mesas and red hills to the town of Chimayo, famous for its weavings and its church.  We spend the night in nearby Espanola.

Acclaimed Casa Benavides Rewards Bicyclist After Day in Mountains

Tuesday finds us cycling the scenic High Road to Taos, through panoramas of endless pine forests, the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and remote cottonwood valleys.  We stop along the way for a weaving demonstration by local artisans.  We spend the next three nights at Casa Benavides Inn in Taos, a beautiful adobe inn ranked by Sunset magazine as one of the best in the Southwest.

Raft Rio Grande, Explore Taos Pueblo, or Just Relax

Wednesday is a layover day.  We offer a morning rafting trip down the nearby Rio Grande Canyon.  Bicycle Adventures has chartered a local rafting outfitter who will guide us through Class II and III rapids carved through the desert rock.  The afternoon is yours to visit Taos Pueblo, explore the shops and artists’ galleries in Taos, or get a massage at our inn.  Taos Pueblo is the largest existing multi-storied Pueblo structure in the United States.  It has been home to Taos Native Americans for more than 1,000 years.

85 Miles of Enchanted Riding

Thursday we ride the Enchanted Circle, a loop road north of Taos circling the ski area of Wheeler Peak.  The landscape is quite diverse: alpine forests, open range, cattle country, lakes, and interesting small towns.  You’ll have the option of riding a portion of it or the whole thing — an 85-mile challenging but rewarding ride.  The eastern half of the Enchanted Circle features long, gradual downhills through peaceful valleys of pastureland and forests as it returns us to Taos.

Great Finish to Marvelous Week

On Friday we cycle down a beautiful valley, following a creek on a quiet side road.  We descend a total of 3,000 feet today, a great finish to a marvelous week. After lunch it’s a short ride back to Santa Fe.  If you wish, we’ll van you to Albuquerque.

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