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Spellbound in Big Bend National Park
At-A-Glance
Trip Dates:
April 6, 2014 through April 12, 2014
NPCA Member Price From
$2,695 - $3,095 per person double occupancy; $715 single supplement.
Deposit
$500 per person
Note: The itinerary for the days in the park may vary based on weather conditions and wildlife behavior.
Contact ParkScapes at 800.628.7275 or travel@npca.org
April 6-12, 2014
This departure is now full. Alternate departure dates are available.
Big Bend is known for its hauntingly beautiful landscapes and intriguing wildlife. One of the largest of America’s national parks, Big Bend National Park is also one of the least visited, giving our small-group unique access to the landscape and its wildlife. Each day of this alluring tour focuses on different aspects of the region: geology, natural history, and cultural history. We spend a morning at the notable Fort Davis National Historic Site, which is one of the best preserved frontier military posts remaining in the southwest. Then it’s on to walk the breathtaking trails in a land of massive canyons, desert expanses, and the Chisos Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Explore one of the wildest corners of America—with all its unforgettable sights and solitude—in the comfort of an NPCA small-group tour.
For details about this trip, download the brochure (pdf)
Trip Details:
Tour Highlights
Desert Wildlife
The Chihuahuan Desert is strikingly diverse. You might see black bears, javelina, roadrunners, collared lizards, golden eagles, and more. The April departure coincides with spring bird migration—a “river of birds” which includes neotropical migrants.
Walking & Hiking
Skirt canyon walls, stroll sandy washes, walk cottonwood-lined riverbanks, hike mountain trails.
Buffalo Soliders
Visit the restored cavalry post where the African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” were stationed after the Civil War.
Night Sky Watching
Venture into the desert at night to star gaze and listen for howling coyotes.
TopTour Details
Arrive/Depart
El Paso, Texas
Length of Tour
7 days/6 nights
Pace
Moderately active, offering a choice of activities each day to suit different activity levels and interests. Be prepared for a variety of hikes and walks on uneven trails.
Price Includes
All accommodations, meals as noted (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner), ground transportation, entrance fees, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses.
Price Does Not Include
Roundtrip airfare to and from destination, gratuities for naturalist guides, alcoholic beverages, or personal expenses.
Payments/Cancellations
Space is confirmed by calling the NPCA at 800.628.7275. A $500 per person deposit is due at registration. Final payment will be invoiced separately and is due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellation notice must be submitted in writing and is effective upon date of receipt. Cancellations up to 90 days prior receive a refund, less the $250 per person handling fee. Cancellations 90-61 days prior to departure, 25% of the tour cost is forfeited; 60-31 days prior to departure, 50% of the tour cost is forfeited; 30 days or fewer prior to departure result in the loss of 100% of your total cost.
Travel Insurance
To protect yourself from the loss of deposit and cancellation fees, you are encouraged to purchase travel insurance. If you need assistance, NPCA recommends contacting Travel Insurance Services.
TopDaily Itinerary
April 6: Meet in El Paso, Texas
Get to know your guide and traveling companions on the 200-mile drive from El Paso to Fort Davis. The route travels through the wide-open ranching country of West Texas. We’ll stop for lunch in the town of Alpine, then a bit farther on visit the McDonald Observatory, one of the world’s leading centers for astronomical research, teaching, and public education and outreach. (And producer of the “StarDate” radio program heard on National Public Radio.) Hotel Limpia (L,D)
Aoril 7: Fort Davis National Historic Site
This morning visit the Fort Davis National Historic Site, a restored cavalry post where African-American soldiers were stationed. Named “Buffalo Soldiers” by the Cheyenne and Comanche Indians, the soldiers played a critical role in western history, and constituted nearly 20 percent of all cavalry forces on the American Frontier. This afternoon, travel through Persimmon Gap into the hauntingly beautiful Big Bend National Park, with its rugged mountains, deep river canyons, and stretching desert vista. It’s hard to find a quieter place on the planet. Stop at the Panther Junction Visitor Center for an overview, then settle into your accommodations in the heart of the park. Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)
April 8: Rio Grande Village and Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park
Venture out to Big Bend’s legendary Rio Grande Village area this morning to walk amid the huge cottonwood trees lining the river corridor. The group has a chance to meet with the park's Chief of Interpretation to talk about the issues facing Big Bend National Park. A nice picnic lunch and little siesta in a shaded campground refreshes your senses for a visit to the dramatic limestone cliffs of Boquillas Canyon. Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)
April 9: Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your morning walk in the Chisos Basin. The Chisos Mountains are an “island” mountain range, rising above the landscape. Extensive shrubs at these higher elevations shelter Sierra del Carmen white-tailed deer, as well as mountain lions and bobcats. Watch for other wildlife uniquely adapted to the region, including mule deer, coyotes, javelina, Big Bend geckos, and Texas horned lizards. Tonight stroll out into the desert to star gaze and listen for coyotes and common poorwills. Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)
April 10: Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park
A variety of experiences await today, beginning with a walk along the massive walls of Santa Elena Canyon, a magnificent limestone gorge carved by the Rio Grande. This afternoon we take an easy-going “guide’s choice” hike, possibly to Cattail Falls. This trail leads to a surprise waterfall, which sometimes is only a trickle, but nevertheless forms a pool, with ferns growing from rocks. For a special treat this evening, dinner is at the Starlight Theatre, a lively restaurant and bar at the edge of the park. Enjoy the subtle evening desert colors or first stars on the way back to the hotel. Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)
April 11: Big Bend National Park to Marfa, Texas
A final early morning walk in the Chisos Basin sets the panoramic views of the Chihuahuan Desert into your memory. Bidding adios to Big Bend, we make the 2.5-hour drive to our historic hotel in Marfa. The afternoon is yours to relax by the pool or explore the many galleries in this fun little art community. Tonight, celebrate the trip with a festive farewell dinner. Hotel Paisano (B, L, D)
April 12: Departure from El Paso, Texas
After breakfast at the hotel, we make our way back to El Paso for afternoon connections. (B)
TopPricing Details
NPCA Member Price From
$2,695 - $3,095 per person double occupancy; $715 single supplement.
Deposit
$500 per person
Note: The itinerary for the days in the park may vary based on weather conditions and wildlife behavior.
Map
Alternate Departures
Unable to join us for this trip? NPCA’s travel partner, Off the Beaten Path, is offering additional naturalist led journeys to Big Bend National Park in the spring and fall. Schedule of alternate departures:
- April 13-19, 2014
- September 21-27, 2014
Off the Beaten Path shares NPCA’s love of national parks and our philosophy of engaged, small group travel. For more information on alternate departures, contact contact us at 800-628-7275 or email us at travel@npca.org
TopOur Travel Partner
The National Parks Conservation association is delighted to be partnering with Off the Beaten Path (OBP) to bring you excellent, insider experiences in our cherished national parks. This well-respected travel company shares our love of national parks, and understands the significant role they play in safeguarding America’s most majestic landscapes. Off the Beaten Path also shares our travel philosophy of small group sizes and unique itineraries.
NPCA’s collaboration with Off the Beaten Path allows us to open up an even broader range of opportunities through which you can appreciate and enjoy your national parks. Off the Beaten Path is offering additional dates with similar kinds of experiences to the trip described in this official ParkScapes departure.
TopLodging Info
TopBooking Info
To contact NPCA's ParkScapes program for questions or reservations please call 800-628-7275 or email travel@npca.org. You may also book directly online.
