Adult Classes and Trips

Adult Classes and Trips
In-person and Virtual

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Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon

$2200 Museum members only / $275 single supplement
Come explore the most significant archeological geography in the United States. Our tour will focus on Puebloan archeological sites of the southwest. On this 5-day tour we’ll explore southwest Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Highlights include time at the seldom visited sites of Hovenweep and Lowry house ruins; a full day exploring Mesa Verde - the largest archaeological preserve in the U.S. and an opportunity to walk the ruins of iconic Pueblo Bonito cliff dwelling. Our tour culminates with a full day exploring Chaco Canyon, the center of Ancestral Puebloan culture. The magnificent masonry ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage site encompass six large Pueblos containing over 1600 multi-story rooms, more than 90 Kivas and numerous Great Kivas. Ancestral Puebloans blended work and worship; they were master artisans, farmers, astronomers, traders, and skilled engineers, creating an extensive trade network of Pueblos with connecting roads throughout the San Juan Basin and beyond. Our personal guides are naturalist Jesus Garcia and geomorphologist Fred Nials, a world class educated geologist, Native American historian, and an authority in the fields of archaeology and anthropology. This will be a unique opportunity to visit an incredibly rich archeological region with expert interpretation, excellent dining experiences and accommodations.

Itinerary and Trip Details

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Río Sonora Heritage Tour

Coming up in 2022
This agrarian region is still very much as it was hundreds of years ago, with farmers and ranchers thriving in the fertile valley. We’ll follow in the footsteps of legendary Jesuit missionary, explorer, cartographer, and agriculturist Father Eusebio Francisco Kino and explore the Pimería Alta where we’ll spend three adventurous days enjoying local cuisine, a mezcal tasting, a performance by a folklorico dance group and spending quality time with wonderful people that share gracious hospitality. Highlights include visits to the missions: San Ignacio, Magdalena de Kino, Banámichi, Huépac, Aconchi and Baviácora.

Black Lava White Sand

Coming up in 2022
Explore El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage site, with geologist Bob Scarborough and cultural ecologist Jesús Garcia. The volcanic landscape of the Pinacates includes huge maar craters, two varieties of lava flows, cinder cones, and majestic shifting dunes hosting their own specialized ecosystems. This young volcanic field is adjacent to the Sea of Cortez which, because of extreme low tides, allows viewing of its marvelous intertidal marine life at CEDO, the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. For a special cultural experience, we visit the Sonoran Tohono O'odham community of Quitovac, an important oasis along the ancient salt pilgrimage trail to the sea.

Prehistory of Northern Mexico

Coming up in 2022
Northern Sonora Mexico encompasses prehistoric sites ranging from desert to conifer forest in a diversified environmental landscape. Learn about the people of Trincheras, an ancient culture that lived on volcanic hills as we explore excavation sites filled with artifacts still present today. Amidst the desert climate sits the Pueblo Magico of Magdalena, native to Tohono O'odham and Pima Alto Indians. Monument Square, the heart of the town, houses the crypt of Father Kino who founded many missions in the Pimería Alta.

If you have any difficulty finding a class/trip that you are looking for or need assistance in completing your online registration, please contact the Reservations Coordinator at bmacfarlane@desertmuseum.org or 520/883-3025 Monday through Friday.

Registration Deadline

Registrations submitted after 3 pm on Friday will not be processed until the following Monday.

Cancellations

If cancellation is made more than 15 days from scheduled date, a $25 administrative fee will apply. No refunds can be made within 15 days. For overnight tours a separate cancellation policy applies.