This tour has 25 stops. Check out the itinerary here for a complete list of stops and if you’re looking for more information to help plan your trip, here’s what you need to Know Before You Go!

• Car charger 
• Phone mount
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Plenty of refillable water bottles (and water)
• A camera with a zoom
• Binoculars- If you have one, a camera with great zoom or binoculars is great for looking at the many cross-canyon cliff houses.

What you spend depends on the activities you do, but here’s a list of entry fees for the tour: 

• Standard Fee: $15/person
• Balcony House - $8/person
• Cliff Palace - $8/person
• Square Tower House - $25/person



• Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center: 8:30 A.M to 4 P.M. daily.
• Far View Visitor's Area: open seasonally, café open from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
• Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. reduced seasonal hours
• Mesa Verde Assoc. Bookstore: seasonally open, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
• Cliff Palace: Open seasonally, by ticketed tour only
• Balcony House: open seasonally, by ticketed tour only
• Long House: open seasonally, by ticketed tour only
• Wetherill Mesa Kiosk:
• May 19 to May 24: Kiosk open daily from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
• May 25 to September 14: Kiosk open daily from 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM.
• September 15 to October 19: Kiosk open daily from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
• Snack Service: Available 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM through September 2 at Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk.

Yes! The tour has two starting points: Cortez, CO and Mancos, CO. Just make sure that you follow the numbers in chronological order from where you are starting. 

If you don’t begin at one of the tour starting points you’ll miss a few stories, but you’ll still have a great experience.

The primary tour route at Mesa Verde National Park is a straightforward out-and-back path. During the tour, you'll encounter three side roads—Wetherill Mesa Road, Mesa Top Loop Road, and the final section of Mesa Top Ruins Road. While the Shaka Guide tour provides recommendations on the optimal order for these roads, you're free to decide when and how to explore these side routes at your own pace.

Yes! For nearly all the cliff houses, you will need to book a ranger-guided tour. To purchase your tickets, go to recreation.gov. Tickets are purchased 14 days in advance, so try to plan your trip early.



Shaka Guide isn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it’s like having a local tour guide in your pocket.

As you walk, the app shares stories, history, local insights, and directions based on where you are. We’ve planned the route for you, but you can still explore at your own pace, pause the tour, skip stops, or spend more time wherever you like.

It’s not just about getting there—it’s about discovering the stories behind the places you’re visiting.

Still have questions? Send us an email at aloha@shakaguide.com or give us a call at (808) 201-8138.