Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Cliff Palace and Lunch
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Durango, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit Mesa Verde National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site — on this full-day tour from Durango. With a guide, xplore the park's preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and other archaeological sites, learning about the history and culture of this ancient Native American community. Lunch is included.
- Full-day tour from Durango to Mesa Verde National Park
- Explore the ancient cliff dwellings of this World Heritage site
- Learn about the Ancestral Puebloan Native American culture
- Lunch, entrance fee, and transportation to the park included
What's Included
- Knowledgeable Mesa Verde guide / driver
- Shuttle to, through and from the park
- Entry pass to Mesa Verde National Park
- Ranger guided tour into Cliff Palace
- Local Deli Lunch and Beverages
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
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End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.8:15 am
Itinerary
Your day trip begins in the morning at the tour office in Durango, where you'll hop aboard an air-conditioned vehicle for the ride to Mesa Verde National Park.
Upon arrival, head first to the visitor center for an orientation to the park's features, and then visit Cliff Palace, which is thought to have held special meaning to the Ancestral Puebloans. A box lunch catered by a local bakery is provided, after which you'll explore Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dwelling inside the park.
Throughout your tour, enjoy insightful commentary from your guide about the culture, architecture, and history of these dwellings and the people who lived in them. Your tour ends with the drive back to the tour office in Durango, where you'll arrive in the early evening.
Upon arrival, head first to the visitor center for an orientation to the park's features, and then visit Cliff Palace, which is thought to have held special meaning to the Ancestral Puebloans. A box lunch catered by a local bakery is provided, after which you'll explore Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dwelling inside the park.
Throughout your tour, enjoy insightful commentary from your guide about the culture, architecture, and history of these dwellings and the people who lived in them. Your tour ends with the drive back to the tour office in Durango, where you'll arrive in the early evening.
1
Mesa Verde National Park
6 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- You must bring your own car seats for children who require them. CO Car Seat Law states that children up to 8 years old must be in an appropriate car seat.
- Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, and water are recommended.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Dress in layers. Summer is cool in the morning and hot by the afternoon. Bring a warm coat, hat, and gloves for fall, winter, and spring.
- Most travelers can participate
- Part of the tour may include climbing 10 ft. ladders made of Tree Trunks. Not all travelers are required to participate in this part but this is required in order to exit Cliff Palace
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 29 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 345 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Our guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating! Even though we weren't able to go down into the palace it was absolutely worth it! There was so much to see and learn. Great experience!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Cristi! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and found our guide knowledgeable and accommodating. It's wonderful that you still had a great experience, even without going into the palace!
A fabulous day hosted by our delightful tour guide/driver Tim, & wonderful to not have had to drive ourselves. Tim was very engaging, very informed & with good humor. SO many fascinating facts we'd never have gotten from guidebooks alone, great pointers & occasional stops along the way for breathtaking vistas & leg stretches. A generous lunch spread for us & delivered us into the capable National Park Service host for our Palace tour section. Stunning views, reasonable pitstops, thoughtful provision of photo ops, water & rain ponchos we needed. Worked with a day of clouds, rain, sleet , snow & sun most capably & with alacrity. 10 Star review!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Kyle! We're thrilled to hear that Tim made your Mesa Verde tour such a memorable experience with his knowledge and engaging personality. Your kind words about the lunch and the careful planning of the day truly mean a lot to us!
the guide was very knowledgeable and it was a much better way to see the park and learn about its history.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Kathleen! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and found your guide knowledgeable, enhancing your experience of the park's rich history.
What a great day !! Our guide Tim was very fun. Mesa Verde is so interesting and it was amazing to BE there. Definitely recommend it !!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Kari! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great day with Tim and found Mesa Verde so interesting. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Considerate, knowledgeable and caring guide, Anne, enriched the experience for people on the invigorating tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you, Albert, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Anne's knowledge and care made your Mesa Verde experience memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Miles was our driver to Mesa Verde. He was amazing!! So incredibky knowledgeable, friendly and helpful! We were lucky and the only two guests on this trip (perhaps Miles doesn’t think that was so lucky haha) and the entire experience from stops to information to talking about the area and everything! Highly highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Kim_B! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with Miles on the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour. His knowledge and friendliness truly enhance the journey, and we're glad you felt lucky to have a personalized adventure!
Our trip with Mild to Wild Rafting was incredible. The guide was professional and knowledgeable and also helped to make the experience enjoyable. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone with an interest in Native American history. Note that the tour at the National Park does require climbing ladders and taking many stairs both up and down the canyon.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your glowing review, Christian! We're thrilled to hear that you had an incredible experience on the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and found our guide to be both professional and knowledgeable.
Learned a lot about Pueblo tribe. Great experience. Beautiful scenery. Cliff dwellings were just amazing.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed learning about the Pueblo tribe and found the cliff dwellings so amazing. Your positive feedback about the beautiful scenery truly makes our day!
Our Guide Ann was very knowledgeable and entertaining, We truly enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend booking with this company. We plan on doing a different tour in the future.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Michael! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Ann—she truly has a knack for making history come alive. We can't wait to have you book another adventure with us in the future!
Alex was our guide. He was awesome! He was passionate about the park and ensuring we learned lots, experienced the best of the park, etc. He could not have done a better job!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Terri! We're thrilled to hear that Alex made your tour of Mesa Verde exceptional with his passion and knowledge.
A very full one-day tour of a very large park, nut schedule and pace was reasonable. Guide (Ann) was great and the whole group expierence was pleasant and informative.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Thomas! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your full day tour of Mesa Verde and that Ann made your experience informative and pleasant.
Be prepared for climbing on sandstone uneven steps and going up and down on ladders. Otherwise our guide Tim was super great!! He was informative, took us to a great spot for a picnic lunch. He made sure we had everything we needed-ice cold water, electrolytes and treats. At the end he gave us each a small momento of this adventure!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Patty! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Tim as your guide. It's great to know that you appreciated the details like the picnic lunch and the momentos - we strive to make every adventure special!
Alex was AWESOME!! Everything started on time (big plus) and he shared local geography and native American lore on the drive to Mesa Verde. Plenty of time for photos and a really well organized tour taking in many of the cliff dwelling sites, wrapping up with the main event which was the tour of Cliff Palace. Alex shared other tips and tricks for local restaurants and legit locations for native American goods that weren’t “touristy”. Highly recommended
and Alex was awesome!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Scott! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience with Alex during your Mesa Verde tour.
Bring plenty of water during summer months. Our guide did have water for anyone that needed it. We had a great time, and felt like we got to see the best parts of the park.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your great review, Allyson! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time on the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and appreciated our guide's support with water. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures soon!
Just amazing experience. Meeting at the office was easy. The ride in the van comfortable. Our guide, Ann was AMAZING!!!!! We stopped for bathroom breaks. We stopped and got out to look and take pictures and hear the history. We then at lunch and then hiked down to Cliff Palace. This was not “easy” but also not too much even being “somewhat” in shape. We had plenty of opportunities for pictures and small hikes down to see other areas. Planning was so easy and actually talking to a person when we planned was much appreciated. I would highly recommend using this friendly and convenient company. We will plan with them again. Thank you, Ann! We had a great time with you and all of our other van mates. It felt like we had known everyone forever. You made it so comfortable.
Julie and Scott Falconer
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Julie and Scott! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience on the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Ann. It's fantastic to know that the comfort of the ride and the friendly atmosphere made the day special for you.
Very interesting and very fun. It was amazing. Cannot imagine going into this park without a guide. You would miss 99% of the fabulous points of interest. Truly awesome
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much, Rita, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you found the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour both interesting and fun. Our guides are passionate about sharing the park's hidden gems, and it's great to know you enjoyed the experience.
We had an amazing guide who was super knowledgeable. The ruins were amazing! It was as if we stepped back in time. The climb back out of the canyon was strenuous but I am a senior. I made it and was so so glad I went. Would highly recommend it as an exemplar example of early Pueblo culture and history.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words, Lanita! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and found our guide knowledgeable. It's wonderful to know that you appreciated the rich history and the experience of stepping back in time!
Last visited 54 years ago. Glad we chose to take the 8 hour tour. Beautiful day not too hot and not too busy. Our guide was Cat who was celebrating her birthday (who works on their birthday!). She made the trip interesting without being boring and didn’t seem like 8 hours. Communication after booking was excellent actually spoke to a person not just text or email. Wish we had more time would have loved to have taken another tour. Next time, hopefully sooner than 54 years !!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Sondra! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Cat and that the experience exceeded your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back sooner than 54 years!
The experience was great. Cat was very knowledgeable. We had a really great time as she gave the tour a real personal feel. I learned a lot from the general knowledge quiz.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words, Melanie! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience on the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour with Cat. It's great to know that her knowledge and personal touch made your visit memorable!
This is a tour what I highly recommend to everyone. You can encounter sophisticated building structures of indigenous people of this country. They deserve to be known by newcomers.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful recommendation! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Mesa Verde Full Day Tour and appreciated the incredible history of the indigenous builders.
We were taken great care of from pillar to post by PAT. She had so much info, good stories, and we had interesting conversations. Since we were staying in Durango, we meet up there & didn’t have to drive ourselves. We got to see most of the park, with narration the whole way. Lunch was good. The Cliff Dwelling Tour was amazing, and Pat was nice enough to take pictures from afar of us down there. The tour finished @ museum (exhibits temporarily closed), but we got to see an interesting video. I enjoyed the day very much even w/ the crazy weather. It snowed during lunch, but sun came back out & warmed up for for tour!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Lydia Ann! We're thrilled to hear that Pat took such great care of you, bringing the history of Mesa Verde to life with her stories. It sounds like you had quite the adventure with that unpredictable weather, and we're glad you enjoyed the tour despite the snow!
It was a pleasure to have Miles give us the tour. Gave us detailed information about the cliff dwellings and we stopped at all of the sites. We had a stunning time
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Melinda! We're thrilled to hear that Miles provided you with an enriching experience and that you enjoyed the stunning views and detailed insights about the cliff dwellings during the Mesa Verde tour. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures soon!
Cat- our tour guide was excellent so none of this reflects on her part.
Overall - this tour was disappointing for the price and expectations.
1. Government shutdown - passengers should’ve been warned in advance that this tour would be cut short significantly.
2. Food - clearly the tour operators did not communicate with their staff about food preferences. Multiple people in the group did not have their food accommodated even with pre-requests so this is extremely poor service for those with dietary restrictions and allergies.
Overall - this tour was not impressive - we missed out on the entire national park without warning, still charged, no food requests.
Instead of wasting time at multiple gas station stops this tour company should add Four Corners to the itinerary if there are known issues.
Again this is nothing against the tour guide - she was excellent and did her job the best she could. The tour company should seriously be considerate for those who traveled far a national park tour.
-Hamish and Kinal Patel
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Hamish and Kinal,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we appreciate your kind words about Cat—we will be sure to pass along your praise to her!
We take dietary restrictions and allergies very seriously, as guest safety and comfort are top priorities for us. Guests are asked to submit all dietary preferences directly through our registration process prior to the tour. If this information is not fully completed or transmitted during registration, our team may not be made aware of specific needs in advance. That said, we are actively examining our internal lunch preparation processes to ensure dietary restrictions and allergies are accommodated.
Unforeseen federal government shutdowns severely impact access to National Parks with little notice, but we appreciate your feedback on our contingency routing. Please feel free to reach out to us directly if you would like to discuss your experience further.
Our tour guide, Jay was very knowledgeable and personable. He took the time to get to know us and made sure we were comfortable and taken care of throughout the day. Would definitely book with this company again.
Government shutdown means NO Cliff Palace :( Guide and vehicle were great. Mild to Wild did not provide itinerary update when they knew well in advance the intended sites of the tour were not accessible
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Andrew,
Thank you for taking the time to share your review, and we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your vehicle and that your guide did a great job!
We completely share your disappointment regarding Cliff Palace. Unforeseen federal government shutdowns severely impact access to National Parks, and official updates regarding site closures and ranger led areas often change on short notice right up until the morning of departure. We hope you still enjoyed seeing Cliff Palace from the overlook. We hear your feedback regarding advance notifications and are actively reviewing our emergency communication protocols to ensure guests are updated as quickly and clearly as possible when federal closures affect itineraries.
Thank you again for your input, and please feel free to reach out to us directly if you would like to discuss your trip further.
Guide was tremendous value
The trip was very worthwhile
We saw all the sights we wanted to see
It was great
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you, Gregory, for your fantastic review! We're so glad your trip to Mesa Verde met your expectations and that our guide made a significant impact on your experience. It means a lot to us to hear that you felt the tour was worthwhile and complete. We hope you think of us for future adventures—thanks again for choosing Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours!
Bella was awesome! Lots of knowledge about the site, the peoples and the Colorado/Four Corners region. Visiting this important cultural area is not the same without a passionate, knowledgeable guide. Be prepared to explore, learn and interact.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great visit and that Bella made your experience in the Colorado/Four Corners region memorable. Our guides are passionate about sharing their knowledge, and it's fantastic to hear that Bella's enthusiasm came through on your tour. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon! –The Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours Team
Our guide Miles was excellent!! Very knowledgeable. He made the experience educational and very enjoyable. Answered many questions and told us a lot about the area on the drive from Durango. Highly recommend this tour it was amazing!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Melissa! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience at Mesa Verde with our guide, Miles. It’s fantastic to know that his knowledge and enthusiasm helped make your day both educational and enjoyable. We appreciate your high recommendation, and hope to welcome you on another Mild to Wild adventure soon!
Beautiful country. Great and pleasant company to work with, kind, informative, make you feel very worth their time.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much, Kathleen, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and had a great time exploring such a beautiful country. Our team strives to make every guest feel valued and ensure a memorable adventure. We hope to welcome you back on another journey with Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours soon!
Be prepared to listen
Show respect for a different culture
Enjoy yourself
Our guide Bella was great massive amounts of information
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for choosing Mild to Wild for your Mesa Verde all day tour! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your adventure and that Bella made your experience informative and memorable. We’re also glad you appreciated the opportunity to learn about and respect the area’s unique history and culture. We hope to see you again on your next adventure!
Best regards,
The Mild to Wild Team
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$195.70
per personWas $206.01(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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