New Mexico

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New Mexico Trip Itinerary
7 days & 8 nights

*** PLEASE NOTE ***
The itinerary is still in progress,
but it gives you a pretty good idea of what we will be doing.
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We will have the unique experience of being guided by Eric Humbert, Sober World Travel’s founder and president. Eric was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico to American Parents. Eric has lived, worked and volunteered extensively in the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil. Eric holds permanent residency in Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico and the United States. He reads, writes and speaks fluent English, Spanish, Portuguese and Visaya (a dialect of the Southern Philippines). Please visit our website for more tours.

Eric’s home base is now Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is an experienced hiker, rafter and scuba diver. He has traveled all over the world and one of his favorite places is Chama, New Mexico, which is one of the highlights in our itinerary.

**Accommodations are alcohol free**
**Each evening Eric Humbert will lead recovery meetings**

DAY ONE

We will meet in Albuquerque then transfer to Taos, where we will check into our hotel.

The town of Taos is tucked into the Sangre de Christo Mountains has attracted artists since the late 1800s because of its beautiful setting and dramatic light. Today, it's still full of artists, galleries and travelers who want to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the relaxed, creative vibe. There is an interesting mixture of three cultures—Native American, Hispanic and Anglo.

We will then proceed to the History museum and a walking tour.

We will celebrate with a Welcome dinner in the evening, which will be followed by a Sobriety meeting. Only travelers will attend this meeting, not an AA group.

DAY TWO

After checking out of the hotel, we will travel to Taos Pueblo, a 15-minute drive. Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years

There we will check into the hotel and enjoy a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we will travel to the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge and Bridge. This 800-foot-deep gorge in northern New Mexico offers exciting whitewater rafting, hiking trails around the rim and observation platforms with spectacular views of the winding river below. The view from the bridge is breathtaking..

We will then hold an AA meeting at . . .

This will be followed by the Earthship Tours. Another fun and inspirational way to spend some time is visiting the EarthShip Biotecture community, about 15 miles outside Taos. It is a planned community of completely sustainable homes, built entirely from recycled materials, as designed by Michael Reynolds. The idea has caught on and EarthShips are built all over the world, but Taos has the largest community of the unique homes. The visitor's center allows you to learn all about these houses that provide their own electricity, heating/cooling systems, and even grow food in greenhouses watered by processed gray water used by the homeowners.

Visits to the local museums: Taos historic museums, many of which are National Historic Landmarks, offer a glimpse of how our early settlers lived. Blumenschein Home and Museum, Harwood Museum of Art , Taos Art Museum, La Hacienda de los Martinez , Millicent Rogers Museum

Free time to explore the wonders of the area.

DAY THREE

After breakfast, we will have an early departure at 7:30 am for our trip from Taos to Chama. This is our only early-departure day, but it will be worth it! We will take off on a scenic 2-hour drive to Chama. Chama is a small village, sitting at 7500 ft., in which all of the in-town points of interest are within walking distance of each other and the in-town lodging. It is best known as the starting point for the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. But Chama is not just a railroad junction . It offers fishing and hiking in the summer and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.

From 10:00 am to 4 pm, you will take the historic Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad train ride. Founded in 1880, this is America’s longest and highest steam railroad, which runs from Chama to Antonito, CO.

While you’re enjoying the train ride, Eric will check everyone into the hotel.

Eric will also guide an optional special moderate hike after the train ride.

We will enjoy dinner at . . . , then hold/attend a local A.A. meeting

DAY FOUR

From Chama, we will visit the famous Abiquiu Ghost Ranch. For most of the last century, this was a working ranch. Ghost Ranch now operates as a retreat, conference facility, and day-use center. It’s most famous visitor, Georgia O’Keefe, became its most famous resident. The ranch offers different Georgia O’Keefe tours and is known as an artists’ retreat. It also contains two museums: the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology and the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology.

We will then head to the Tierra Wool Cooperative. Nestled in the mountains and meadows of Northern New Mexico is the scenic village of Los Ojos. The artisans of the valley of Los Ojos continue a tradition of weaving and sheepherding that started 200 years ago. Here, we will visit the Tierra Wools Showroom and Workshop.

Tierra Wools evolved from cooperative programs throughout the years whose goals were to help people survive the harsh mountain isolation and ensure that weaving and sheepherding continued as a tradition. They saved the old Spanish Churro sheep line from extinction. To continue the traditions, Tierra Wools offers classes on weaving, spinning, and dyeing throughout the year.
When we visit the company, we will see a large selection of handwoven creations, wool, yarns and supplies. The tapestries and blankets are entirely original works of art. Weavers, spinners and dyers are usually working on-site, so we can appreciate the artisans in the process of creation.

Afterwards, we will visit the Echo Ampitheater.

We will check into either Ghost Ranch or the Inn at Abiquiu, then enjoy lunch.

After lunch, we will take the fascinating Napoleon Tour. We will be visiting the village of Abiquiu where a native Genizaro, Napoleon Garcia, will give us a tour of historic sites, show us his woodworking, and regale us with his storytelling. Napoleon Garcia grew up with Genizaro history, local Abiquiu customs, the Ghost Ranch, and his friendship with Georgia O’Keefe. Locally, he is known as an Abiquiu Elder.

The Genizaros were native peoples of nomadic tribes made slaves by the early Spanish settlers. The Spaniards were determined to erase all indigenous identity, so they baptized the natives into Christianity. Napoleon Garcia honors both his Spanish and his Indian ancestors through the customs and history passed on through him. He enjoys sharing tales of country living, of the practices of the curanderas, of the use of native plants, and many more fascinating tales.
Napoleon also relates many interesting interactions with one of the most famous residents of Abiquiu, the artist Georgia O’Keefe. She first became acquainted with the area through her summer visits to Ghost Ranch starting in 1929. Years later, she made her home in the village of Abiquiu for nearly 40 years, and Napoleon grew up as her neighbor, worker, and friend. He relates how she became a true “villager.”

Napoleon will tour local landmarks with us and share the mesas, the mountains, and the cliffs that inspired Georgia O’Keefe. Whatever your cultural, historical and artistic interests, his reminiscences will entertain us all.

The O’Keefe House Tour .

Dinner.

A meeting will follow dinner.

DAY FIVE

After breakfast, we will take off from Chama/Abiquiu and head to Santa Fe.

We will check in at the hotel: either Ghost Ranch or Old Santa Fe Inn.

Lunch

Walking tour guide

Free time

Dinner and meeting at Eric’s home in his serene patio and garden.

DAY SIX
Breakfast in Santa Fe

Rancho de las Golondrinas: El Rancho de las Golondrinas This historic rancho, now a living history museum, dates from the early 1700s and was an important stopping point along the famous Camino Real, the Royal Road from Mexico City to Santa Fe. This living history museum recreates 18th-century ranch life. Guides, dressed in period clothing, show how people lived in early New Mexico.

Museum of International Folk Art: The Museum opened to the public in 1953 and has gained national and international recognition as the home to the world’s largest collection of folk art». The collection of more than 135,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in four distinct wings: Bartlett, Girard, Hispanic Heritage, and Neutrogena.

Wheelright Museum: Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary and historic Native American art with an emphasis on the Southwest. Main gallery exhibitions change twice a year. Smaller galleries feature one-person shows by Native American artists and photographers, or items relating to the main gallery exhibition.

DAY SEVEN

Santa Fe: Kokopelli River Rafting
Try Santa Fe, New Mexico whitewater rafting, Rio Grande & Rio Chama River Tours & Whitewater Rafting with Kokopelli Rafting Adventures.

Raft and kayak the Rio Grande and Rio Chama rivers in New Mexico, experiencing thrills from Class IV whitewater rapids to serene Class I canyon floats. Kokopelli offers small custom trips, great food, personalized service, and exceptional guides.

Sobriety Meeting