Santa Fe Walking Tours You Shouldn’t Miss: Culture, Ghouls and Food

Santa Fe’s compact downtown is one of the best places to do an organized walking tour. There’s virtually no humidity and the weather in the summer is near perfect. After a quick Google search, I learned that Santa Fe typically has over 300 days of sunshine a year. But really, Kevin and I were ready for some activity since we basically have been eating burritos non-stop since arriving here.

If you’re tight on time, downtown Santa Fe has great gift shops worth wandering. I know priorities, right? Maybe I found our new retirement spot? Though, something tells me that the continual wind flute soundtrack in nearly every store would drive me and Kevin to near insanity.

So pack those sneakers, sunglasses and the SPF 30. You won’t want to miss these 3 Santa Fe walking tours for your next vacation. Each offer something completely different — so you won’t hear the same story twice. Check out our top recommendations below.

Santa Fe Walking Tour: For Those Who Like it Spooky

Peter Sinclaire is no stranger to Santa Fe. He’s pretty much seen and heard it all since launching his signature ghost tour in 1993. Now, I was a little nervous that we were meeting in the lobby of the St. Francis Hotel — the same hotel that Kevin and I were staying. We learned the hotel has some spirits roaming its hallways and the bar, but they’re mostly a friendly bunch. Phew!

History Repeating Itself?

I could sense Kevin glaring in my direction as we waited for the tour to start. We stayed in a haunted hotel a few years ago in Arizona. And I MAY have freaked him out by waking up  and letting out a blood-curdling scream in the middle of the night. I really thought I saw something! But after a few minutes, I quickly fell right back to sleep…Leaving Kevin to fend off the possible poltergeist on his own as I snored away. Let’s just say…the lights remained on the rest of the night.

What Makes it the Best Ghost Tour in Santa Fe?

It comes down to one thing in our opinion. Peter is a great story teller. Trust us, we’ve taken some good tours and some pretty painful ones. He engages with all the guests and starts off every tour by asking how many of the participants are believers (our group was about 50/50). But there is no judgement. This tour is for the ghost enthusiast or just anyone who likes a good yarn.

What Does the Tour Cover?

We visited 3 different sites including La Fonda Hotel (where we stayed on our last trip… making me think, do I know how to pick the hotels, or what!?). And La Posada Hotel, which according to Peter, is one of the most spiritually active places in all of Santa Fe. Luckily, none of the stories were all that scary. So if you have kids (or are just scaredy cats like us), it won’t be overwhelming.

THE LOW DOWN:

• ​Price: $16 per person
• Duration: Roughly 2 hours
• Time/location: The tour departs from Hotel St. Francis Saturday evenings at 5:45 pm. It’s also offered March – November on Friday at 6 PM from La Fonda Hotel.
• To secure a reservation, email or call Peter directly at: pslight@gmail.com or 505-983-7774.
• Learn more by visiting the Original Santa Fe Ghost Tour website.

High Culture Walking Tour: Behind-the-Scenes at the Santa Fe Opera

The Santa Fe Opera‘s behind-the-scenes tour was one of our favorite activities we did during our 5 days in New Mexico. Neither Kevin or I were quite ready to commit to a 4-something hour opera performance. But you know what? We’re complete converts after this tour. We both agreed that on our next trip to Santa Fe, we’ll need to check out an actual show.

What if I’m not an Opera Nerd?

No problem. The Santa Fe Opera tour allows both opera aficionados or novices like us to witness what it takes to pull off these major productions. We joined the Opera Insiders Tour, a free event hosted by The Guilds of The Santa Fe Opera on Saturday morning. We met at 8:30 AM and enjoyed some free coffee, juice and pastries.

What Will You Get to See?

After the light breakfast, we followed the group into the opera building for a lively talk by one of the opera house staff members. From there, we were divided up into small groups (about 10-15 people) where we got to explore the backstage areas that normally only actors or crew would ever get to see. A major highlight was getting to walk through the costume designer room where we were shocked to see a flurry of activity so early on a weekend.

The open-air opera house sort of looks like a space ship landed in the middle of the desert. The views are truly incredible with an open space that looks into the Southwest valley.

When Should we Go?

The opera season runs annually typically from late June into the third week of August, with five operas that rotate each night. One of the more unique traditions here we learned is that opera goers actually do big tailgating parties before the performance — like you might expect at a football game. But okay, this version is a lot fancier and often involves formal gowns and tuxes.

Can Anyone do This Walking Tour?

You need to be at least 5 years old. But one important item to note is that the tour has many steps. Be sure to discuss alternate routes with your guide if you have issues climbing stairs. The building has an elevator (a very large one to move all those background props).

THE LOW DOWN:

• Behind-the-scenes tours allow visitors to explore the production and front-of-house areas. Tours are offered daily at 9:00 am, Monday through Friday. No advanced reservations required. Meet at the Box Office. $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and free for children and young adults (5-22 years old).
• We recommend timing your trip for their free tours, held on Saturdays at 8:30 AM. This is what we described and gives you an comprehensive look at the opera house.

Food Walking Tour: Eat Your Way Through Santa Fe

Now who doesn’t like to eat? And walking tours help burn off all those calories, right? Or at least that’s we tell ourselves. Kevin and I are no strangers to food walking tours. We love them. And you’ll find no shortage of options in Santa Fe, a city that is known for it’s delicious food.

What Makes This Santa Fe Walking Tour Different?

Wander New Mexico is the top-rated tour on TripAdvisor for a good reason. It goes beyond your standard food tour by introducing you to chefs and owners to hear the story behind the food. Basically, they want you to experience the restaurants and people who make Santa Fe so special.

You have a wide range of tour options to choose from including ‘Santa Fe Street Eats,’ ‘Sip and Savor’ (their most popular, that’s a mixture of classic food and drink spots) and even a ‘Women of the West’ tour about the pioneering women of New Mexico history. Besides tasting good food and beverages, Wander New Mexico hopes it doesn’t feel like you’re on a group tour. It’s like wandering with a small group of friends who are big foodies just like you.

THE LOW DOWN:

• Tours are offered daily, with most exploring spots near the main downtown plaza.
• All tours must be purchased in advance (and refundable or can be re-scheduled up to 24 hours in advance).
• Tours run year round, rain or shine. During the winter months, it can get quite cold in Santa Fe so they recommend that you wear warm layers since it is both an indoor and outdoor tour.
• To check out all their tours and make a booking, visit the Wander New Mexico walking tour website

And there you have it! You now have plenty of things to do in Santa Fe. If you’re more into biking tours, you’ll want to check out our review of Routes Bicycles Historic Santa Fe Tour. Have more time in New Mexico? Be sure to follow our day trip from Santa Fe to Taos, driving along the high road. Or if you’re really into getting off-the-grid, make the trek to the Very Large Array, the real-life inspiration for Contact, starring Jodie Foster.