Quality of Life Tours

Introductory 2- hour van tour of Las Cruces & Old Mesilla. 

Are you new to the greater Las Cruces, Old Mesilla area?

Are you thinking of relocating your business here? Buying a home? Relocating for work?

 If you are wanting to get to know the area better and be more confidant getting around our beautiful and unique city & town, look no further!

Southwest Expeditions has put together a series of specially designed tours just for you!

Our Quality of Life tours on this page consists of two types of tours, chosen so that you can experience, in a short amount of time, the wonderful area many of us call home!

Take the "Get to know Las Cruces" 2-hour van tour if you want to know where the locals go!

The 2-hour van tour will drive you to point out up to; 5 locations/businesses from each of the following categories:

• Local Restaurants (no big franchise chains)
• Local Breweries (great crafted on-site brews!) 
• Local Wineries (we have some of the Best in the State!)
• Museums/ Art Galleries (Fantastic local history and beautiful artwork)
• Medical services/hospitals/clinics
• Government offices/services    

 Your friendly, professional guide will talk about each of the locations as they take you by the different types of businesses.

We can also customize your van tour to include "Schools" or "Parks" if you want to see other types of businesses or activity areas in lieu of of the listed categories.

Take the other tours listed on this page to experience the majestic beauty and ruggedness of the gorgeous outdoors surrounding our city!

Van tour includes:

2 guides, pickup/drop-off from your hotel/B& B in Las Cruces/Mesilla. 

Cold bottled water, hot coffee, hot water for teas, condiments. Light snacks

Custom tour package with a 15% Discount certificate for future selected SWE Tours.

Allow up to 3 total hours for tour.

Please give us at least 72 hours notice to book your custom tour.

Price for tour:

1 person $270.00

2 persons $345.00 ($172.50 ea.)

3 persons $395.00 ($131.66 ea.)

4 persons $445.00 ($ 111.25 ea.)

Do you want to explore just outside Las Cruces and take in the incredible scenic views?

This approx. 2-hour easy hike will take you on a trail along some huge outcropping of volcanic rock. This is a popular sport climbing area.

 Elevation is 5,135 feet and you get a fantastic view over the Rio Grande Valley all the way to El Paso's Franklin Mountains. The trail is south of the larger Sierra De Las Uvas mountains.

We will provide; a hiking day pack, and hiking poles, water & light fruit /cheese/ cracker snack at the top. Great scenic picture opportunity!

Tour includes: 2 guides, pickup/drop-off from your hotel/B& B in Las Cruces/Mesilla, and trail snacks/bottled water.

We provide Hiking pack & Poles.

Total tour time: Allow 4-hours.

Please give us at least 72 hours' notice to book your custom tour.

Cost per person:

1 person $295.00

2 persons $395.00 ($197.50 ea.)

 3 persons $495.00 ($165.00 ea.) 

4 persons $595.00 ($148.75 ea.)

Looking to get out on the water?

We have a beautiful stretch of the Rio Grande in our own backyard of Mesilla/Las Cruces!

Our kayak/ tubing season on the Rio Grande near Mesilla starts from May 1st. to approx. September 20th., depending on water releases from Caballo Lake.

Relax with a lazy float or paddle down the Rio!

On this tour, we offer either a 4-mile tube float with complementary cooler floater, OR a 9-mile kayak paddle down the Rio Grande.

All persons receive life jackets, paddles, tube or kayak, waterproof dry bag and safety talk/instructions.

We meet you at the river behind historic, old Mesilla. You park your vehicle and we shuttle you by van to the put in point. (depending on whether you choose kayak or tube, we pick you up at different take-outs)

We put you in and will wait and pick you up down river when you finish.

We provide cold bottled water, sunscreen, head cover if needed, tubes/boats, paddles, life jackets, paddle instructions, dry box.

Tube float takes approx. 2 hours.

Kayak paddle takes approx. 3 hours.

Allow total 4 hours of time for activity and shuttle time.

Please give us at least 72 hours' notice to book your custom tour.

Ticket Prices: 

1 person   $230.00

2-persons $295.00 ($147.50 each.)

3-persons $355.00 ($118.33 each)

       4-persons $410.00 ($111.25 each)        

Additional persons after 4 is $65.00 per person.

White Sands Bike Ride

Come play in the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world! 

Covering 227 square miles, the beautiful gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park, some as high as 60 feet, stretch out before you in the Tularosa Basin. 

Your adventure begins when we pick you up at your hotel, have a steaming hot cup of coffee, hot chocolate or teas, grab one of our fresh baked muffins and relax in the van as your guides drive you out to the Dunes. 

We will talk about the history of the dunes at White Sands National Park during the drive out.

 Once at the Dunes, we will stop at the visitor center and gift store for a look around, use the restroom, and unload the bikes.

You will start your leisurely fun bike ride through the Dunes, enjoying the pristine sands of time. You will bike ride 9 easy  miles into the park.

 We will follow in the shuttle and stop you at the break area. 

Play on the Dunes with our sand sleds while we prepare lunch. 

Sit back and relax in your camp chair and enjoy your lunch surrounded by the glistening white, New Mexico Sand Dunes. after lunch we will pack everything up and drive back out and head to your hotel or B&B. 

What is included:

2 professional guides, shuttle van pick-up/drop-off, all park fees, Mountain bikes or beach bikes will be provided, helmets, cold water bottles, sand sleds, A delicious box lunch from Jason's Deli, (you choose your custom lunch!)

Allow 4-5 hours total hours for this adventure.

Please give us at least 72 hours' notice to book your custom tour.

Tickets:

1 person $316.00

2 persons $402.00 ($201.00 each)

3 persons $491.00 ($163.66 each)

4 persons $583.00 ($145.75 each)

Additional persons after 4 is $126.00 ea. 

Slot Canyon/Leasburg Dam

Have you ever explored a winding desert slot canyon?

Now's your chance!

Fun, easy hike through one of our Slot Canyons near Las Cruces, nestled in the Robledo Mountains, along the Rio Grande River valley. 

We will pick you up at your hotel/B&B and drive you out to the slot canyon entrance.

We will provide day packs for your use, walking/hiking poles, cold bottled water and 2 professional guides. This fun Slot canyon hike is an approx. 2.5-mile loop with a elevation gain of about 324 feet. Bring your camera for some cool shots!

After the hike we will head up to Leasburg Dam State Park, (Just up the road!) and have a delicious box lunch at the river Day use area. 

Gorgeous views await you at the elevated river site over-looking the valley. 

We can do a stop over to Fort Seldon Winery next door as well for their great wine selection!

What is included:

2 professional guides,

 Shuttle to and from your hotel/B&B

Custom box lunch, (your Choice!) from Jason's Deli

Hike Slot Canyon, lunch at Leasburg Dam

Visit to Fort Seldon Winery, Cold bottled water, use of SWE day packs and hiking poles. 

Allow 4.5 total hours for your adventure.

Please give us at least 72 hours' notice to book your custom tour.

Tickets:

1 person $266.00

2 persons $343.00 ($171.50 each)

3 persons $420.00 ($ 140.00 each)

4 persons $497.00 ($124.25 each)

Additional persons after 4 persons: $120.00 each. 

Want to Explore the Las Cruces/Rio Grande Valley's history and culture?

Take our relaxing tour through 3 of the fascinating galleries that house some of the most beautiful and intriguing pieces of art and history in our area.

We will pick you up at your hotel/B&B and drive you to each of the museums listed.

 Your guide will set up special, private tours through each of the locations so you can experience and enjoy the local, diverse heritage, culture, and old west history that Las Cruces has to offer! 

We will provide a delicious box lunch, (you pick your custom lunch from Jason's Deli)

We will have lunch at the Farm & Ranch Museum.

Museum of Fine Arts & Culture

 Representing the vibrant art scene of the Mesilla Valley as well as a host of traveling exhibits, this contemporary art museum operated is one of the city's important artistic fixtures. 

Although small, this gem of a museum hosts diverse artworks and exhibits that run the gamut from lithographs and Japanese pottery to contemporary exhibitions by homegrown artists 

The Zuhl Museum @NMSU

 Part art gallery, part natural history museum, the Zuhl Museum at NMSU is the home of the Zuhl Collection containing over 1,800 beautiful specimens of petrified wood, fossils and minerals.  

New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum

 The premise of New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is spread across 47 acre (19.02 hectare) and is dedicated to showcase the history of farming and ranch in an interactive exhibit. 

Among the museums attractions includes the dairy barn where you can learn about animal husbandry and about the state's milk industry. 

A tour to the gardens will take you through apple orchards, cactus plants and the Discovery garden.

 The indoor exhibits are housed inside the state-of-the-art Bruce King Building that houses permanent and temporary art and craft collections as well as those that depict life and local culture. 

A perfect place to spend the day with family and participate in fun-filled events such as the Harvest Festival, Cowboy Days and Ice Cream Sunday that takes place every year. 

Included in tour:

Professional guide, pick-up & drop-off from your hotel/B&B, shuttle van to 3 museums.

Private tours in each museum, delicious box lunch and drinks. 

Allow 4 hours total time for this fun, informative tour.

Please give us at least 72 hours' notice to book your custom tour.

Ticket price:

1 person $266.00

2 persons $ 243.00 ($121.50 each)

3 persons $320.00 ($106.66 each)

4 persons $397.00 ($99.25 each)

Additional persons after 4: $95.00 each