Day 2   Thursday, Nov. 7th ~ JEMEZ PUEBLO FEAST DAY OF SAN DIEGO
The day begins with an orientation of Santa Fe and a walking tour of the historic plaza. Our knowledgeable guide from the New Mexico Foundation, Friends of History, will lead us through the plaza highlighting areas of interest as we explore 400 years of history, culture, and architecture. Afterwards, we visit Jemez Pueblo to attend their Feast Day of San Diego.  Led by second-generation Indian arts trader Mark Bahti, we participate in this celebration where the Jemez Plaza comes alive with hundreds of local Puebloan dancers as well as unique vendors selling a variety of crafts, folk art and local food. (B)

Day 3   Friday, Nov. 8th ~ FREE DAY, CANYON RD, PLAZA MUSEUMS
Today we offer a guided tour of El Zaguán.  This historic property is an architectural example of the Spanish-Pueblo revival style, dating back to the 1850’s.  Afterwards, we explore Canyon Road and some of the fine museums surrounding the plaza, including the New Mexico History Museum, New Mexico Museum of Art, and IAIA-NM Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. (B)
 
Day 4   Saturday, Nov. 9th ~ LOS LUCEROS, CHIMAYO, EMBUDO, DIXON  
Our day begins with a visit to Los Luceros, a three-hundred-year-old ranch located on the bank of the Río Grande. The centerpiece of Los Luceros is a magnificent territorial-style hacienda. The property also includes an 18th Century capilla (chapel), Victorian cottage, carriage house, guesthouse, and vast farmlands that still utilize agricultural techniques such as acequia irrigation. Afterwards, we depart for lunch to the iconic Rancho Chimayo. We then visit the mystical village of El Santuario de Chimayó, situated in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Located in the chapel is El Pocito, a shallow pit where the earthen floor is reputed to have healing powers. We have an opportunity to scoop tierra bendita (sacred earth) and pour small amounts into bags and vials to take home. The afternoon drive along the scenic road to Taos winds through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the high desert, forests, small farms, and tiny Spanish land grant villages.  Jesús will enlighten us on the deep history of New Mexico as we pass the towns of Trampas, Dixon and Embudo. We trace the struggle of New Mexico’s conversos and Crypto-Jews and take into consideration how their traditions have managed to survive against the odds. (Did you know eleven of Santa Fe’s founding families were Jewish?) (B, L)

Day 7   Tuesday, Nov. 12th ~ MUSEUM HILL AND GALLERY RECEPTION
Today’s schedule offers a free morning to plan as you wish.  We provide a departure and pickup to and from Museum Hill.  Later in the afternoon, we meet in the front lobby and walk to Bahti Indian Arts Gallery where owner and curator Mark Bahti greets us for a hosted cocktail reception.  Considered an expert in Native American art, Mark has authored several books on Indian art and jewelry.  He is also a long-time member on several museum and association boards.  You might also be familiar with Mark’s Indian Art gallery in downtown Tucson located in Barrio Viejo. Our farewell dinner is at a local favorite. (B, D)

Day 8   Wednesday, Nov. 13th ~ RETURN TO TUCSON
After breakfast, we make the journey back to Tucson and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Stop in Hatch, NM for lunch at the Pepper Pot.
Estimated return time is 6:00 p.m. (B, L)

YOUR LEADERS
Jesús García is a Cultural Conservation Research Associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Jesús was born and raised in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, México. He eventually moved to Tucson and earned a bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Arizona. He began his career with ASDM in 1991 and has taught natural history and cultural programs in southern Arizona and northern Sonora. His many interests include conservation biology, art, cultural ecology, regional languages, music, and gardening. Jesús is a master storyteller and an expert at identifying plant species, describing their preferred growing or breeding habits and explaining their environmental connections to one another and to us.

Stephen Bernier runs logistics and is the owner of South of the Border Tours. Stephen has organized and produced tours throughout the American Southwest and Mexico since 1993. Clients include the University of Arizona, Elderhostel/Road Scholar Program, Arizona Historical Society, Scottsdale Sister City, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul, Portland Art Museum, Heard Museum Guild, Tucson Museum of Art, as well as various other museums and universities. Stephen is also a volunteer with Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists.

INCLUDED SERVICES
Transportation by luxury motor coach, 7 nights’ accommodations, all meals as listed on itinerary, guide fees, and entrance fees.

MEETING PLACE  
We will meet and leave cars at the Museum.

GROUP SIZE
This trip is limited to 24 guests.

ACTIVITY LEVEL
Guests must be able to walk unassisted at a moderate pace up to one mile over varied terrain, at elevations from 7,000 up to 9,700 feet. This tour is best suited for those that like to walk and can spend much of the day exploring. Please contact the South of the Border Tours at 520-760-4000 or southofthebordertours@msn.com prior to registering should you have physical limitation concerns.

FEES
This special travel opportunity is offered exclusively to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum members. If you currently are not a member, but would like to join us, you may do so by following this link. The trip price is $3625, and the single supplement is an additional $785.

ROOMING
The listed price is for double occupancy. For those with no traveling companion, we will attempt to make a roommate match. If one cannot be found, then the single supplement will need to be paid.

COVID PRECAUTIONS
We strongly recommend that participants be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19. If there is an underlying health condition which prevents vaccination, we will need to be informed.
 
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be in writing or email. Our policy is as follows:  Cancellations made 45 days prior to departure will result in refunded payments less a $100 per person handling fee. Cancellations made 44-31 days prior to departure will result in a 50% forfeiture of payment. Cancellations made 30 days or less prior to departure are non-refundable.

QUESTIONS  
This trip is jointly run by South of the Border Tours and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Should you have any questions about the itinerary or logistics, please contact Debby Bernier, Office Manager at 760-4000 or at southofthebordertours@msn.com. For questions about payment, please contact the Reservation Coordinator at 883-3025 or at education@desertmuseum.org.