Tours/Santa Fe/Rio Grande Gorge Full Day

Rio Grande Gorge Full Day

4.9(207)Santa Fe6h 30min
VIATOR5.0(7)TRIPADVISOR4.9(200)
Rio Grande Gorge Full Day
Rio Grande Gorge Full Day

At a glance

Duration
6h 30min
Price from
$42 / person
Location
Santa Fe
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 207 reviews
Languages
EN, ES
Group
Small group, up to 24
Cancellation
See policy below
Confirmation
Within 24h
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
New Mexico River Adventures
Meeting point
Our physical address is 2273 Hwy 68, Embudo NM 87531Please NoteUsing your GPS will get you close to us, however, due to our rural location, it won’t usually lead you all the way to our headquarters so please follow the written directions below and call with any questions.

Description

The Lower Gorge of the Rio Grande is a broad canyon with lush riparian habitat along the banks of the Rio. A fantastic full day adventure for families, first time rafters and groups. The first half of the day is beautiful float through the Orilla Verde section of the Rio Grande with incredible scenery, gorgeous riverside lunch stops and ample opportunity to work on your paddling in preparation for the exciting whitewater of the Racecourse to come in the afternoon. The Rio Grande Gorge full day trip meets at our headquarters at 8:30 a.m. daily and the minimum age during most of the year is 5 years old

Tour Options

Rio Grande Gorge Full Day

Itinerary

Rio Grande Gorge
360 min

Starting Out We start at our headquarters where you’ll meet your guides for the day who will outfit you with all the gear necessary for the day on the river. At the headquarters, you will find safe secure parking, clean restrooms, changing rooms, shaded picnic tables on our patio rooms, and any last minute items you might have forgotten including sunscreen, water shoes, hats and much more. This is the perfect place to start your adventure.  Craft choices are dependent on water levels. The large majority of our guests like to participate and paddle along with the guide in the back of the boat giving paddling commands, however, you may also choose to sit back and let the guide do the work on an oar boat.  And for the adrenaline junkies, ask about an inflatable kayak at no extra charge. Floating the Rio Grande Gorge After the short drive to the starting point in our vans, your river trip begins with a placid morning float through one of the most scenic parts of the canyon with great opportunities to see a variety of wildlife including mule deer, river otter, beaver and many different birds of prey. This section also affords us time to practice paddling techniques, swimming and simply enjoying the Rio Grande. Somewhere in this stretch, we’ll stop on the side of the river for a nice lunch put together by your guides. After lunch, we run the Class III rapids of the “Racecourse.” The Lower Gorge of the Rio Grande is a broad canyon with lush riparian habitat along the banks of the Rio. As we enter the “Racecourse” section the geology radically changes as we pass onto the Rio Grande fault line, one of the largest intercontinental fault lines in North America. But let’s not forget the whitewater! The Racecourse is 6 miles of action-packed class 2-3 rapids. Perfect for everyone from beginners to intermediate/experts. There is something for everyone to enjoy on this section. With rapids like the Maze, Albert’s Falls, The Narrows, and The Thunderdome make sure you are braced in and ready to get wet! Listen to your guides as they negotiate these rapids and don’t forget to ask them to surf when the water levels are lower. Guides for the Rio Grande Gorge Full Day Our guides are the best in the business, focusing on safety and guest service as a top priority. All are extremely knowledgeable about the area’s geology, ecology and history and just love being on the river. Our Guides have experience on rivers all over the country and across the globe, I know you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.   They will certainly help to make your day on the river the best possible. Full Day Rio Grande rafting trips available EVERY DAY starting in March through September. Our minimum age at most water levels is 5, however, at the higher flows, that minimum age rises to 13. Book online or call us anytime, 1-800-983-7756, to reserve your space.

What's included

Included
World Class Guides
Safe, Secure Parking,
Full Service Headquarters
All rafting Equipment
Lunch
Signature, Hot Chicken Fajita Lunch
Not included
Gratuities

Traveller Ratings

4.9
207 reviews
5
197
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

0+ days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Rio Grande Gorge Full Day take?

Rio Grande Gorge Full Day lasts about 6h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.

How much does Rio Grande Gorge Full Day cost?

Prices start at $42 per person for this Santa Fe experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

Can I cancel Rio Grande Gorge Full Day for free?

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Our physical address is 2273 Hwy 68, Embudo NM 87531. Please Note: Using your GPS will get you close to us, however, due to our rural location, it won’t usually lead you all the way to our headquarters so please follow the written directions below and call with any questions. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is Rio Grande Gorge Full Day offered in?

The experience is available in EN, ES.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 24 participants.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children must be accompanied by an adult

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Reviews(207)

N
Natasha_B
September 6, 2026
It was a great experience...

It was a great experience breathtaking reviews! Our tour guide was laidback and encouraging. The water was lower this year leading to the rapids not being to challenging… but, definitely worth a visit/trip !

S
scottsS2953HD
August 15, 2026
Be Careful what you wish for

This review is directed to the ownership. Our guide were pleasant and knowledgeable. They both tried to make a disappointing trip pleasant. Here is the question… At what point or at water level of the river do you ask yourselves as business owners do you close up because the water level is so low that a raft can not make it down through the river without getting stuck in rocks every 25 feet. If a ski lodge does not have enough snow to cover their trails they shut down. But if a raft can still float even though there was less than a foot of water in many places you still charge people $120 each but the guide has to get out in knee high water and drag to raft off the rocks. Great decision management team. Let’s just keep charging those unsuspected out of state visitors. Never coming back!!!

A
Alexandra_G
August 7, 2026
Great day on the Rio Grande

Absolutely incredible experience rafting the Rio Grande! We did the full-day trip and I highly recommend it. Our guides were fantastic, funny, knowledgeable, engaging, and wonderful with the kids. They kept us laughing with their cheesy jokes, taught us about the history of the Rio Grande, Indigenous cultures, and native plants, and even made us a delicious fajita lunch along the way. It was the perfect mix of adventure, scenery, history, and fun. Truly a memorable day and one of the highlights of our trip

O
olga_r
July 11, 2026
Very enjoyable,...

Very enjoyable, fun,Austin our guide was knowledgeable about the route, history and nature, and knows his craft. Lunch was homemade and very tasty.Rapids and surrounding nature was beautiful and peaceful.

G
G1642TOmargaretr
June 22, 2026
A great rafting adventure just outside of Santa Fe

This group is a well oiled machine and we had a great trip. Highly recommended. We had Riley as our guide and he was fun and told us a ton about the river and plant life, as well as history that we were passing along the river. He is a skilled river guide and kept us safe while making sure we all had a great time.

P
paulaoL6085CC
June 14, 2026
Youth Trip Fun Day 2026

We took a youth group of 20 high school students after a local mission trip as a fun day and we couldn't have been more pleased. Staff was courteous, welcoming, and very knowledgeable. This would be a very good experience as a team building exercise for corporate teammates.

S
Steve3212013
June 3, 2026
Fun Time on the Rio Grande

My wife and I did the full day Rio Grande tour. That day we were the only ones doing the full day as two other families were doing the half day. NMRA was very easy to deal with and has very nice facility and equipment and a well-organized operation. Tas was a great guide sharing information about New Mexico and was very knowledgeable about the river and navigating the rapids. Our trip included a fajita lunch and treats. We had a great time and would highly recommend NMRA.

A
Amanda_S
April 2, 2026
Outstanding

Phenomenal experience with Alfred as our pilot he answered all of our groups questions and loves what he does. Highly recommend!

S
Suzanne R
September 26, 2025
Anniversary Trip

⸻ This ended up being the perfect anniversary treat—just my husband and me on what felt like our own private guided boat trip! From the moment we arrived, Sarah greeted us with her warm, bubbly personality—you can tell she truly loves what she does. Our guide, Jordan, was amazing—so knowledgeable about the area and made the whole experience fun and easy. Do yourself a favor and book a boat ride with this crew—you won’t be disappointed!

1 people found this helpful
D
danielaK9181EZ
September 12, 2025
Fun Trip!

We had a great time! Our tour guide was Phoebe, and she was the best! Very knowledgeable about New Mexico, and she took great care of our group. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a fun river trip!

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