Texas and New Mexico Bundle 4 day Self Guided National Park Tours

Texas and New Mexico Bundle 4 day Self Guided National Park Tours

By Shaka Guide Apps

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
4d
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Overview

Embark on an unforgettable adventure through the wild beauty of Texas and New Mexico with our Texas & New Mexico Tour Bundle, featuring self-guided audio tours of Big Bend National Park, White Sands National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park!

Explore Big Bend's vast canyons and the winding Rio Grande, wander through the surreal white dunes of White Sands, hike the rugged peaks of Guadalupe Mountains, and delve into the subterranean wonders of Carlsbad Caverns—all at your own pace.

A GPS-triggered narration provides expert insights, local legends, and hidden gems, enhancing your journey without the constraints of group tours.

Join thousands of travellers who have transformed their road trips into enriching experiences—download now and let the landscapes of Texas and New Mexico captivate you!

Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours

Activity location

Mule Ears Viewpoint
- 79834, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

El Paso
- El Paso, Texas, United States

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Texas and New Mexico Bundle 4 day Self Guided National Park Tours in English

4d
Opening hours: Tue 00:00-23:30
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

€34.43 x 1 Traveller€34.43

Total

What's included, what's not

Tours NEVER expire
Freedom to explore at your own pace
Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
Private transport
National Park Entrance Fee
Parking Fees
Meals and Refreshments

Know before you book

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
Private and Personalised: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customisable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Big Bend National Park

20 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Sam Nail Ranch

In 1916, Sam Nail built a two-room house here, and together with his wife Nena, raised livestock, planted pecan, walnut, and fig trees, and raised a family. The trail from the road is really easy, about a half-mile return, and it takes you to what’s left of these orchards, and of the house.

Sotol Vista

This incredible view just off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive takes in a 360-degree view of much of the western half of the park, including Santa Elena Canyon out in the distance.

Mule Ears Viewpoint

A car park provides an easy view of the unusual Mul Ears mountain, a volanic rock formation that looks like a pair of mule ears.

Tuff Canyon Overlook

Three overlooks offer a glimpse into this small canyon. A trail from the southern car park descends into the canyon. The hike is less than a mile return and takes about an hour. At the time of writing, this stop was temporarily indefinitely after some rock slides.

Castolon

Explore the remnants of this early 20th-century community near the US/Mexico border. Buildings like the Alvino House and La Harmonia store interpret what life was like for the multicultural community that lived here 100 years ago. While you're here, check out the visitor centre to learn more about the area, and stock up on snacks and supplies at the store.

Santa Elena Canyon Overlook

This easily accessible viewpoint offers a stunning view of Santa Elena Canyon's mouth.

Santa Elena Canyon

Enjoy the mouth of the imposing Santa Elena Canyon, with walls 1500 feet high, just a few dozen steps away from the car park. There is a trail into the canyon, but reaching the trailhead requires a water crossing that may not be advisable in high water or heavy mud. If you do reach the trail on the other side, it's a 1.6-mile return and considered easy, aside from a couple of places with steps.

Dorgan Sublett Trail

This easy, 1-mile return hike takes you to the remnants of two pioneer homes belonging to the Dorgan and Sublett families. The Dorgan family's adobe house provides an interesting playground for photographers, with a stunning background vista of rock formations and the Chisos Mountains.

Homer Wilson Ranch

A pulloff along the scenic drive provides access to a small observation deck to see the old Homer Wilson Ranch, what's left of a rancher's home from the early to mid-20th century. You can see the house from the observation deck, or take a 1-mile return hike to the house. The trail takes about 30 minutes and is considered easy, though it crosses two drainages that may flood.

Chisos Mountains

You could easily spend the day up in Chisos Basin, where the higher altitude means consistently cooler temperatures than the rest of the park. Start at the visitor centre for a trail map, or the store to gear up on snacks and supplies. Grab a meal at the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Or take any of the several hiking trails. Everyone ought to take the 0.3-mile Window View Trail, a paved walkway that leads to a view of "The Window" in the Chisos Mountains. The 5-mile return, moderately difficult Lost Mine Trail is also popular.

Panther Junction Visitor Center

This is the primary visitor centre in the park. Watch the park video, browse the gift shop, or check out the displays on the area's geography and ecosystems. You can also stroll through a garden of local plant life outside near the car park.

Fossil Discovery Exhibit

This unique outdoor museum showcases the diverse fossil collection that has been discovered in Big Bend. Browse the real and replicated fossils that span over 65 million years of history.

Dugout Wells

This oasis was once home to a school for the area's children. Today, you can take the half-mile Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail loop that explores the oasis as well as the surrounding desert plant life. It's a bumpy dirt road off the park road to reach Dugout Wells.

Hot Springs Trailhead

Along the Rio Grande is what remains of a hot springs resort from the early 20th century. The hot springs are still there, along with the foundations of the bathhouse, accessible about a half mile down the trail. There are also some buildings left from the community, creating a small historic district. Additionally, along the trail is a spot with some old pictographs. The historic district, and trailhead, are accessible down a two-mile gravel road.

Rio Grande Overlook

This overlook stands above the Rio Grande Village area, with the greenery surrounding the river in plain sight.

Rio Grande Village Visitor Center

Learn about the Rio Grande at this visitor centre just a quarter mile from the campground. You can also get information about the Boquillas Crossing and the area's trails from a park ranger.

Rio Grande Village Nature Trail

Located in the back of the Rio Grande Village campground, this 0.75-mile nature trail starts with a series of boardwalks through wetlands and then leads to the Rio Grande itself. This is an easy trail and a good one for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.

Boquillas Crossing

This official port of entry allows you to legally cross the Rio Grande and enter Mexico to visit the remote town of Boquillas del Carmen. There, you can experience a small sample of Mexican culture, eat a meal, and do a little souvenir shopping. Make sure to bring your passport!

Boquillas Canyon Overlook

Get a sneak preview of the Boquillas Canyon from this overlook that stands right over the Rio Grande. You can also look into Mexico and catch a glimpse of the town of Boquillas del Carmen.

Boquillas Canyon

Hike into Boquillas Canyon, with walls over 1300 feet tall, and stand on the border between the United States and Mexico. The 1.5-mile return trail is easy, save for the small hill at the very beginning. The trail leads into the canyon, with the Rio Grande in the middle, the United States on one side, and Mexico on the other.

Day 2: White Sands National Park

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

White Sands

The visitor centre is part of the White Sands Historic District, a group of adobe buildings constructed during the Great Depression that adheres to the Pueblo Revival style. At the visitor centre, you can visit the small museum, watch the park film, browse through two gift shops, and purchase sleighs if you'd like to try sledding on the sand dunes.

Playa Trail

This short and very easy trail takes you to a dried lakebed or a playa. Informational panels interpret what the playa looks like, and what kinds of animals it attracts, throughout the seasons. The trail is about a half-mile return and flat.

Dune Life Nature Trailhead

This one-mile loop takes about an hour and goes up and down the dunes through the interdunal area, or the transition zone between the desert scrubland and the sand dunes. Because of a few steep climbs and the general difficulty of hiking through sand, this hike is rated as moderate. But the reward is walking through a unique ecosystem.

Interdune Boardwalk

This is a must-stop for everyone. The Interdune Boardwalk is an ADA-accessible elevated path through the interdunal area. If you're not able to try the Dune Life Nature Trail, this one's a great alternative. A couple of covered seating areas offer shade on this half-mile return walk.

Backcountry Camping Trailhead

1h 30m

White Sands features a backcountry camping area, with remote campsites out among the dunes. However, the trail to the campsites is open to anyone. It's a two-mile loop and rated moderate because of the difficulty of hiking up and down sand dunes. However, this trail is a good alternative if you want to experience being out in the dunes without attempting the more difficult Alkali Flat trail.

Alkali Flat Trail

Alkali Flat is the dried lakebed of the ancient Lake Otero, where the white sands are formed. To reach the edge of the flat, hike this five-mile return hike through the sand dunes. Because of the length, and the continued challenge of hiking through sand, this is rated as a difficult hike.

Day 3: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

El Capitan Viewpoint

This picnic area right off Route 62 provides a stellar view of El Capitan, a prominent peak in the Guadalupe Mountains standing just over 8,000 feet tall.

Pine Springs Visitor Center

This small visitor centre includes exhibits on the park's geological and natural features. There's also a small gift shop. This is where you'll need to pay your park fee.

Pine Springs Trailhead

One of the primary trailheads in the park, Pine Springs is the starting point for several trails. The two most popular are the trails to Guadalupe Peak, and Devil's Hall. Guadalupe Peak is the highest mountain in Texas. The hike to the summit is 8.4 miles return, with 3,000 feet of elevation change, and is considered difficult. Devil's Hall is about 4 miles return and is moderate to difficult. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for either trail.

Pinery Butterfield Stage Station Ruins

What remains of an overland post route station called the Pinery sits at the foot of the Guadalupe Mountains. Post used to cross the country by carriage, stopping at stations like this for a new driver and a fresh team of horses.

Frijoles Canyon

Explore a historic homestead at the Frijole Ranch. The farmhouse has been converted into a small museum displaying artefacts from the area's human history. You can also walk beyond the ranch to reach the Smith Spring Loop Trail, which heads a small ways into the mountain forest to a spring. The whole trail is 2.3 miles return and is considered moderate. You can also just stop at the Manzanita Spring, which is only 0.5 miles return.

McKittrick Canyon

McKittrick Canyon is an easier alternative to hike into the mountains than the hikes at the Pine Springs trailhead. There are a few hiking choices here, but the most recommended is the hike to Pratt Cabin. The hike is 4.8 miles return and is considered moderately difficult, mainly for the length. This area is known for colourful trees during the autumn. Next to the trailhead is a small visitor centre that's intermittenly staffed.

Day 4: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

3 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Walnut Canyon Nature Trail

This little trail is just a few hundred feet long, but you can explore a small patch of Chihuahuan Desert, with some possible shade provided by the cliffs of Walnut Canyon. Interpretive signs identify plant life found along the trail and throughout the park.

Walnut Canyon Nature Trail

An easy, paved trail less than half a mile return leads to a vista point overlooking Walnut Canyon. Not much of a hike, but a decent view.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center

1h
Admission ticket not included

Here's where you'll pay for your entrance to the park, as well as purchase any additional tours you might want to do. You can also explore the exhibits, get a bite to eat in the cafeteria (open 8am-4pm), and do your souvenir shopping in the gift shop. Lastly, this is also where you access the cave, either using the lift or the back door for the trail to the natural entrance.

Location

Activity location

Mule Ears Viewpoint
- 79834, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

El Paso
- El Paso, Texas, United States

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