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Mesa Verde National Park Tour

(15804)
Colorado
 
4.9
15804 ratings
$14.99
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Mesa Verde National Park Tour

Colorado
4.9
15804 ratings
$14.99

About The Tour

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde National Park is a treasure trove of culture and history. The park is home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in North America, including the iconic Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Spruce Tree House. These ancient dwellings, built into the cliffs over 700 years ago, provide a unique window into the daily lives of the area’s first permanent settlers. While the park is a marvel in itself, exploring the park with context is a must for making the most of your experience.

Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on the tour!

• Explore Cliff Palace, the largest and most iconic cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde, showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of the Ancestral Puebloan people.

• Experience the adventure of Balcony House, a cliff dwelling accessible by ladders and tunnels, offering a glimpse into ancient Puebloan life and architecture.

• Visit Step House, a well-preserved cliff dwelling and pithouse that offers a unique opportunity to explore two distinct periods of Puebloan history.

• Spruce House: Marvel at Spruce House, one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, nestled into a naturally sheltered alcove with easy trail access.

• Long House: Discover Long House, the second-largest cliff dwelling in the park, featuring fascinating archaeological sites and expansive views of Wetherill Mesa.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Recommended Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
Tour Starting Point(s): Cortez, CO and Mancos, CO
Time to complete: 6-8 Hours

All Shaka Guide tours include customer support and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Tours never expire.

Sample Tour Audio

If Walls Could Talk Part 1
Where There's a Wetherill There's a Way
Table Of Plenty

Tour Stops

Tour Route

Purchase Bundle & Save

Monument Valley Tour Bundle

$19.99 $28.15 29% off

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Monument Valley & Mesa Verde Tour Bundle

$24.99 $43.09 42% off

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National Parks & Scenic Drives Bundle

$149.99 $937.44 84% off

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What is there to see and do in Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde National Park is famous for its well-preserved cliff dwellings – ancient homes built by the Ancestral Pueblo people. Visitors can explore several of these fascinating archaeological sites, including the most iconic, Cliff Palace, as...

How do you visit the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde?

To visit the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, you will need to book a ranger-guided tour of sites like Cliff Palace and Balcony House, as these are only accessible with a guide. Tickets can be purchased in advance at recreation.gov and are required ...

When is the best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park?

The best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. These months offer comfortable temperatures for exploring the cliff dwell...

What is an Audio Tour Guide?

Think of us as your personal tour guide in an app. Our tours provide everything a guided tour does, but with the freedom to explore on your terms. Here’s how it works:

  • GPS triggers audio narration to play automatically as you drive or walk.
  • Listen to stories, get local insights, visit must-see stops and get turn-by-turn navigation.
Self guided audio tour

Tour FAQs

This tour has 47 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.

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

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  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tour
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  • New River Gorge National Park Tour
  • Redwood National Park Tour
  • Sequoia National Park Tour
  • Kings Canyon National Park Tour
  • Big Bend National Park Tour
  • Overseas Highway & Florida Keys Tour
  • Everglades National Park Tour
  • White Sands National Park Tour
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  • Crater Lake National Park Tour
  • Acadia National Park Tour
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park Tour
  • North Cascades National Park Tour
  • Badlands National Park Tour
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Park Tour
  • Mesa Verde National Park Tour
  • Monument Valley Tour
  • The Road to Monument Valley Tour
  • Grand Staircase-Escalante & Scenic Byway 12 Tour

3 Steps to Buy & Redeem:

1
Add to Cart & Checkout
2
Create Account during checkout
3
Download App & Login
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