Trip Overview

Experience the great outdoors by exploring Big Bend National Park in Texas. Take in stunning sunrises in the Chisos Mountains, explore the Rio Grande by canoe, take a dip in the hot springs, and visit a ghost town. Hiking outings will weave you through contrasting deserts and canyons followed by star-blanketed night skies. 

Meet your fellow AdventureWomen guest and embark on a week exploring Big Bend National Park! You are accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges uniquely.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Get to know the frontier of West Texas with a hike and picnic lunch in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Move your legs and start to take in the vast beauty of Texas.

Stop at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit where you will see the astonishing Quetzalcoatlus northropi, the world’s largest known flying creature which had a 36-foot wingspan and weighed over 500 pounds!

Participate in a famed ‘star party’ at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas, Austin. Take a tour of the constellations and observe an assortment of planets and stars through various telescopes. See for yourself if the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas

Big Bend National Park

Head out to hike in the Santa Elena Canyon – the most majestic within Big Bend National Park. The towering stone walls can be seen for miles as the Rio Grande abruptly changes direction. On another hike, head into the Chisos Mountains, the only mountain range in the United States that is completely contained within one national park. With the highest peaks stretching to about 7,800 feet above sea level, the Chisos Mountains offer a great setting for rewarding day hikes with great views.

The adventure isn’t all on your feet – time to paddle! After an orientation about the gear and safe paddling, launch your canoe (or raft if the water is higher) and paddle down the Rio Grande! It’s a gentle paddle with some faster sections and some stunning scenery. You will stop at the ruins of the Hot Springs Motel to explore the area on foot, eat a packed lunch, and enjoy a soak in the hot spring at the riverside pool. Then hop back in your boat and head down the river through the most dramatic part of the canyon.

Art, fossils, canoeing, hiking, stars, and a ghost town create a quintessential old-west feel by the ages in one of America’s prized national parks. Enjoy a farewell dinner as you share stories about the highlights of your time in Big Bend before heading off home.

Main Attractions

  • Attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory
  • Take in stunning sunrises in the Chisos Mountains within Big Bend National Park
  • Explore the Rio Grande by canoe and take a dip in the hot springs
  • See the fossils of the world's largest known flying dinosaur and visit a ghost town

What You'll See and Do

  • Astronomy
  • Canoeing
  • Hiking
  • Hot Springs
  • National Parks

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive El Paso, Texas 

Arrive in El Paso, Texas (ELP) at any time today and make your way to the Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso Airport Hotel on your own. You will have the day and night to get some rest or explore El Paso on your own.

Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso Airport

Day 2

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Following breakfast buffet at the hotel, meet your guide at 7:30AM Mountain Time in the hotel lobby and set off on a 2-hour drive to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which is just over the time zone into Central Time.

Following lunch, you’ll head out on a scenic 2-hour drive with expansive views of West Texas en route to the historic town of Fort Davis. Established in 1854, Fort Davis is the highest elevation town in the state of Texas at 5,050 feet above sea level.

After making sure your watch is set one hour ahead for Central Time, you will set off from the visitor center at Guadaupe Mountains National Park for a hike around the trails before enjoying a picnic lunch.

After arriving at the hotel, check in and relax a little before enjoying dinner with the group.

Later this evening, you will take a quick drive to the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas, Austin where you will participate in one of their famed star parties along with the general public. Take a tour of the constellations and observe an assortment of planets and stars through various telescopes before heading back to the hotel.

Today’s total hiking will be 4 miles with 600 feet of elevation gain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: Hotel Limpia

Day 3

Guadalupe Mountains National Park to Fort Davis

Get a glimpse of life in the frontier of West Texas and learn more about the native plants of the area as you explore the Fort Davis Historical Site.

Drive south as you make your way toward Big Bend. About 2 hours into your journey, you will stop at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit where you will see the astonishing Quetzalcoatlus northropi, the world’s largest known flying creature which had a 36-foot wingspan and weighed over 500 pounds!

After a picnic lunch, drive another hour to Terlingua, a former mercury mining town that became a ghost town when the price of mercury collapsed in 1947 and the mines closed. In the 1960s, it experienced a renaissance when artists, musicians, naturalists, and river guides moved there and tourism reshaped the local economy.

Check into your hotel and then head to the nearby Starlight Theater Restaurant, and adobe structure built in the 1930s as the Chisos Movie Theater. When the mines went bust, the roof materials were sold for scrap, leaving only the adobe walls intact. The roofless adobe building became a gathering place for open-air parties, concerts, and plays, thus the Starlight Theater was named. In 1990, the building was restored – including a new roof – but the adobe walls still remain.

Today’s total hiking will be 2 miles with 500 feet of elevation gain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: Big Bend Holiday Hotel

Day 4

Fort Davis to Big Bend National Park

After breakfast this morning, drive an hour to Santa Elena Canyon, one of the most dramatically beautiful locations within Big Bend National Park with cliffs of up to 1,500 feet forming the canyon walls. Enjoy a short hike here before driving an hour to the Panther Junction Visitor Center to get oriented within the park that stretches from the shores of the Rio Grande to the top of the Chisos Mountains.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at the hotel which will be home for the next two nights or setting off on a hike along the Basin Loop Trail before enjoying dinner with the group at the lodge.

Today’s total hiking will be 4 total miles with 200-500 feet of elevation gain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: Chisos Mountains Lodge

Day 5

Big Bend National Park

Today is all about the Chisos Mountains, as you’ll start the day with a hike to the Lost Mine which offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains stretching as far as the Sierra Maderas del Carmen mountains in Mexico. After your morning hike, head back to the lodge for lunch. Then head back to the trail for an optional hike on the Laguna Meadow Trail before sitting down with the group for dinner back at the lodge.

After a full day of hiking and a wonderful dinner, try to save some energy to do some informal stargazing in some of the darkest night skies in the country. See if you can find the constellations that you learned about a few nights earlier at the McDonald Observatory.

Today’s total hiking will be 5 miles with 1,100 feet of elevation gain and an optional hike of another 8 miles with 1,800 feet of elevation gain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: Chisos Mountains Lodge

Day 6

Big Bend National Park to Marfa

Take in another gorgeous sunrise in the Chisos Mountains before driving 45-minutes to meet your local river guide. After an orientation about the gear and safe paddling, you will launch your canoe (or raft if the water is higher) and paddle down the Rio Grande. It’s a gentle paddle with some faster sections and some stunning scenery. You will stop at the ruins of the Hot Springs Motel to explore the area on foot, eat a simple pack lunch, and enjoy a soak in the hot spring at the riverside pool. Then hop back in your boat and head down the river through the most dramatic part of the canyon. After your paddle, you can change clothes before driving 2 and a half hours to the quirky, art-centric community of Marfa.

After settling into your historic hotel in Marfa, enjoy an animated farewell dinner as you share stories about the highlights of your time in Big Bend.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: Hotel Paisano

Day 7

Depart

After breakfast, begin the 3-hour drive back to El Paso. You’ll stop at the famed Prada Marfa art installation along the way.

Depart from El Paso, Texas (ELP) after 2:30PM or plan to extend your trip a day or two to continue exploring on your own.

Breakfast

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686

Traveling to Big Bend



Arrival and Departure Information

November 10, 2023 Departure

Arrive: Arrive in El Paso, Texas (ELP) at any time on November 10, 2023 and make your way to the Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso Airport Hotel on your own.

Depart: Depart from El Paso, Texas (ELP) after 2:30PM pm November 16, 2023 or plan to extend your trip a day or two to continue exploring on your own.

November 8, 2024 Departure

Arrive: Arrive in El Paso, Texas (ELP) at any time on November 8, 2024 and make your way to the Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso Airport Hotel on your own.

Depart: Depart from El Paso, Texas (ELP) after 2:30PM pm November 14, 2024 or plan to extend your trip a day or two to continue exploring on your own.

We are happy to help you make your flight and travel arrangements. If you’d like to do anything prior to or following the AdventureWomen trip, we’d be delighted to help you arrange any trip extensions you’re interested in.

Note: The recent trend in travel is for travelers to finalize their plans much closer to departure time than was customary in the past. While we try to be as flexible as possible booking last-minute registrants, we must release hotel rooms two to three months prior to departure! Please keep this in mind when making your travel plans.

Preparation and Packing  

Please use the following guides as a reference when preparing for your adventure. We also encourage you to adapt the guides to your travel style as well as the destination’s forecasted weather.  

Gratuities  

Gratuities are a personal decision and are at your own discretion based on your level of satisfaction with the service provided. Gratuities are dependent upon the number of guests on your departure, and they vary greatly from trip to trip. As a general reference, AdventureWomen suggests you plan for $125-$175 (or more) worth of gratuities for this adventure. Specific tipping recommendations for your trip will be provided to you closer to your departure date and may fluctuate due to inflation, exchange rates, and the number of travelers on your trip.

Activity Level

We rate this trip as High Energy. Our High Energy adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing. Please note that this is a general description of what you might encounter; for specific details about your trip, please consult the itinerary.

We recommend training before your trip (with your doctor’s permission) to make the most of your adventure. With this itinerary in mind, we have a partnership with Trailblazer Wellness, a woman-owned, women-run company that will design an individualized fitness plan just for you! Best of all, AdventureWomen guests get a 10% discount with the code AVW. Learn more on the Trailblazer Wellness website.

How to Register

Call the AdventureWomen office at (800) 804-8686 to determine space availability and register for this trip. We can complete your registration, including taking your credit card deposit over the phone.

If you prefer, you can register online by clicking “Sign Up for this Trip” on the trip page.

Please be sure to read the AdventureWomen policies before registering!

Forms and Final Payment

The deposit for this trip is $800 and is nonrefundable and nontransferable. Once you book, you will need to fill out and return to AdventureWomen:

  • Information Form
  • Booking Conditions Form
  • Copy of Flight Information
  • Supplemental Release for COVID
  • Additional supplemental whitewater rafting release form

Final payment is due to AdventureWomen in a cash form (check, money order, or wire transfer). A maximum of $1,500 per person can be put on a credit card, which includes your deposit.

November 10, 2023 Departure Final Payment Due Date: August 12, 2023

November 8, 2024 Departure Final Payment Due Date: August 10, 2024

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686

What's Included

Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Guided sightseeing and activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • Ample snacks throughout the trip
  • All park fees
  • All gratuities except for guides

 

Not Included

  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for guides

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686

Accommodations

Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso Airport

Conveniently located just five minutes from the El Paso International Airport, the Hampton Inn & Suites is a comfortable accommodation in which to spend the night after a day of traveling.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer, air conditioning, WiFi

Hotel Limpia

The Hotel Limpia is centrally located in Fort Davis, Texas and has proudly been welcoming guests for over 100 years. Enjoy a peaceful stay in this historic building nestled in the Davis Mountains.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer, air conditioning, WiFi

Big Bend Holiday Hotel

Step back in time as you spend the night in the heart of a ghost town. With comfortable rooms, vintage decor, and a rustic backdrop, the Big Bend Holiday Hotel is the perfect place to spend a night in West Texas.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, air conditioning

Chisos Mountains Lodge

Chisos Mountain Lodge is the only lodging within Big Bend National Park. Enjoy the peace and scenery from your comfortable accommodation.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, air conditioning, WiFi in public areas

Hotel Paisano

A charming and historic hotel located in the middle of Marfa, the Hotel Paisano was built in the 1930s and has been the social hub of the quirky town of Marfa.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, air conditioning, WiFi

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686