Day Trips
6–7 hours
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$145
per adult
New Mexico River Adventures - Day Tours
New Mexico River Adventures - Day Tours
5
River Rafting & TubingClimbing ToursWater SportsStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Come rafting with New Mexico River Adventures through the Rio Grande Gorge or the exquisite Rio Chama canyon. NMRA offers everything from family floats to wild whitewater! We have top notch guides who are excited to share knowledge of New Mexico nature and history. NMRA is the only company offering private secure parking, photos right after your trip and riverside snack. Join us for a fantastic day on the river with New Mexico River Adventures!
Embudo, New Mexico
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,433 reviews
Excellent
1,384
Very good
35
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Robert C
La Jolla, CA4 contributions
Jul 2020
Luke was a great guide. He had excellent knowledge to share with us, and when a monsoon hit us for approx. :10 mid trip, he helped calm the young kids who were not overly stoked when the hail started :) Would definitely recommend this excursion while in the area!
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You said it, Luke is one cool cucumber! Thank you for rafting with us!
Written October 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mnelson0224
Lakeway, TX1 contribution
Jul 2021
We booked the Rock and Raft package where we rock climbed in the morning and rafted in the afternoon. Our guide was Michelle and she was simply amazing. She was so friendly and patient. She took the time to help us first time rock climbers with the ins and outs of climbing. My son was very interested and Michelle took the time to explain the names of the different types of cracks and how to approach them when climbing. After rock climbing, we stopped for lunch. I was expecting sandwiches or something easy, but we were treated with an actual meal of fajitas. After lunch, we hit the river. While the water was lower due to it being late July, Michelle still made the rapids fun. We had such a great time and it was the highlight of our trip to NM from TX. If you want to rock climb, Michelle is the guide you want. Thanks again Michelle for such a great day!
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda
Waco, TX1 contribution
Mar 2021
My husband, two young daughters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Orilla Verde Float. Our guide was very knowledgeable and very safety conscious. We had originally planned this trip for November of 2020 but had to reschedule to March of 2021. There were a lot of moving pieces up in the air with scheduling other parts of our trip. We inadvertently overlooked some specifics of planning our accomodations for the float. The owner of NMRA was so helpful after I went to her and explained our situation. I'm being intentionally vague so she's not bombarded with other people requesting the same treatment she extended to us. I'll just say she was extra helpful to a certain extra member of our family. And she didn't have to do that for us. We truly came to her with a ridiculous request and she helped us find a way to solve our issue. That meant a lot to us. It was a big endeavor trying to plan a safe road trip during Covid and NMRA helped make one section of the trip a lot less stressful. Thank you to the manager!
Written April 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are happy it all worked out and are so happy you all had such a great time on the Orilla Verde!! That section is beautiful and a perfect way to spend the afternoon! Every member of your family was a pleasure and we hope to see you all again in the future!
Written May 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Veronica Toya
1 contribution
Apr 2021
I planned and booked the half day racecourse as a surprise for my sons 11th birthday and I was not disappointed. My family had a great time thanks to Kim! He was a great guide with a good sense of humor and a lot of knowledge about the environment and history of the area. Our family of 6 had an amazing time and will definitely recommend NMRA to our family and friends that would like to have an unforgettable experience right in our beautiful home state.
Written April 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an awesome surprise for your kiddo!! Thank you for rafting with us and for your review, Kim is so amazing and an absolute wealth of knowledge!
Written April 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MsBear2u
Albuquerque, NM61 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
We took the half day Race Course trip with Rachel. We had a great time. Rachel is so smart; she knew so much and totally made things up when she didn’t know. She was so fun! Ask her about Einstein’s kayak and what language beavers speak....
She expertly guided us thru the technical pieces. We were not an athletic crew but we followed directions fairly well. There must have been some expert compensation going on from Rachel’s perch on the back of the raft. We didn’t get stuck in a rapid, flip over, miss a slot, or fail to thread a needle.
This was a great trip for a group of (essentially) beginners and a fairly risk adverse mom. NMRA provided equipment that was in excellent condition and fitted us well.
We went 2 weeks into the COVID opening up period. Everything was well executed. Masks at appropriate times, hand sanitizers and following state mandated protocols. I had felt like this was already a low risk activity but felt great about their follow through.
Just a few random thoughts to add -
The pictures are worth it. Don’t risk taking your own equipment on the raft.
The shop has reasonably priced water shoes. That comes in handy when you realize your kid thought that their brand new Nikes were fine to sacrifice to the river and wear wet for the rest of the day.
Don’t forget to tip your guide. They earn it.
She expertly guided us thru the technical pieces. We were not an athletic crew but we followed directions fairly well. There must have been some expert compensation going on from Rachel’s perch on the back of the raft. We didn’t get stuck in a rapid, flip over, miss a slot, or fail to thread a needle.
This was a great trip for a group of (essentially) beginners and a fairly risk adverse mom. NMRA provided equipment that was in excellent condition and fitted us well.
We went 2 weeks into the COVID opening up period. Everything was well executed. Masks at appropriate times, hand sanitizers and following state mandated protocols. I had felt like this was already a low risk activity but felt great about their follow through.
Just a few random thoughts to add -
The pictures are worth it. Don’t risk taking your own equipment on the raft.
The shop has reasonably priced water shoes. That comes in handy when you realize your kid thought that their brand new Nikes were fine to sacrifice to the river and wear wet for the rest of the day.
Don’t forget to tip your guide. They earn it.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We LOVE this review, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with other travelers. Rachel is all the things you said and some and we are thrilled you enjoyed your trip with her! We look forward to the opportunity to wow you again!
Written July 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jorge A
1 contribution
May 2021
Guides were knowledgeable, professional, good humored, disciplined, attentive. The camping on this 3-day trip was very well managed, the food was excellent and abundant. There was great camaraderie amongst the trip participants and care for each other and consideration was shown throughout the trip.
Rachel, the lead guide, was very personable and very much in control. Eric, our boat "captain" is the Yoda of the Chama River. Karissa was always encouraging, positive and very generous in sharing her knowledge of plants. Alec, the newest member of the staff, was a delight. Staff worked very well together and had things very well organized and very mindful of safety at all times.
I highly recommend this experience.
Rachel, the lead guide, was very personable and very much in control. Eric, our boat "captain" is the Yoda of the Chama River. Karissa was always encouraging, positive and very generous in sharing her knowledge of plants. Alec, the newest member of the staff, was a delight. Staff worked very well together and had things very well organized and very mindful of safety at all times.
I highly recommend this experience.
Written May 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a dream team you had!! The Rio Chama is one of the gems of New Mexico and we are so glad you enjoyed you trip. Thank you for the kind words!
Written June 20, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ana D
2 contributions
Jun 2020
On 6/29/20 my friend and I did the Half Day Race Course in the inflatable Kayaks. was such a blast, some thrills, some hard work, lots of fun, beautiful scenery. I can not say enough about the guides. Because we were in the yaks we were always in between the other rafts so we had a guide in front and one in back. I believe there were 5 or 6 rafts out with us. ALL of the guides were professional, knowlegable and friendly , we definitely felt well looked after.
I would be remiss not to mention the protocols put in place for COVID-19. Coming from out of state and in the medical field, I was very impressed with the actions they are taking to stop the spread AND that each and every employee followed AND enforced those policies . Thanks for the memories
I would be remiss not to mention the protocols put in place for COVID-19. Coming from out of state and in the medical field, I was very impressed with the actions they are taking to stop the spread AND that each and every employee followed AND enforced those policies . Thanks for the memories
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for recognizing how hard we are working to stop the spread while still staying open, it means A LOT to us!! We are also so glad you enjoyed your time on the river with NMRA!
Written July 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Palma H
4 contributions
Aug 2020
We did the three day float down the Rio Chama. We loved being out on the water with a great crew! The food was great, the scenery was spectacular. Our crew made our trip memorable as well as educational. They were the consummate professionals yet personable. Luke, Rachael, Eric and Austin worked together seamlessly. We worked like a well oiled machine. Luke was our trip leader and had a wealth of information of the area and history to share with us. He handled any situation that arose with care and diplomacy. He led us on a short hike through sagebrush and desert plant life. We had a NM folk band along with us that provided midday and evening entertainment. I was impressed with the helpful community we developed over the course of the trip where everyone pitched in to pack and unpack each day. I can't wait to take another trip with NMRA!!
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We can't wait either! Thank you so much for the amazing review!
Written October 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LuAnn W
Russell, Kansas, United States25 contributions
May 2022 • Family
This was a wonderful experience beginning to end. The company uses the internet to their advantage making sign up, completion of forms, payment and procurement of rafting pictures easy for their customers. The location of their building on Hwy 68 for meeting up is spacious for parking and waiting for the experience to begin. Staff is friendly and make sure you understand check-in process as well as all safety items before rafting. Accommodations are clean with multiple bathrooms and changing rooms. Our guide Devin was exceptional and entertaining. Particularly enjoyed being part of the safety team, ensuring other rafts made it through the rapids before we continued. Devin made us senior citizens feel competent and capable on this endeavor. Highly recommend NMRA to anyone wanting a fun, safe, educational and complete river rafting experience.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your amazing review lets us know we are getting the job done right! Thank you so much for the kind words and we hope to have the chance to take you rafting again!
Written May 31, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LMK101
Virginia Beach, VA422 contributions
Jul 2022
We signed up for the race Course half -day adventure. We were fitted with a vest and helmet first. Once all of the participants are outfitted properly, we then go through a list of with some safety rules for when we are out on the Rio Grande. Following that, the school bus takes us over to the rio grande where we meet our guide and get on our raft. The guides talk with one another and back each other up as needed. The kayakers also come with us as well and are supported by the guides. At no time did we feel unequipped or unsafe while in the raft. Our guide, James, is extremely informative about the river and the surrounding environment. At one point we had to help a kayaker who got stuck on a rock. We were able to paddle over to the kayaker while James gave assistance. We had a great time on rafting through the rocks and navigating our way down the rio grande. It was a great deal of fun! There were other companies who had their guides taking rafters down the river as well. One of the companies did not outfit their rafters with helmets or vests. The other only vests. We felt especially safe with our vests and helmets, especially since one of our rafters fell out of the raft! He was safely pulled in with no problem. Would definitely do it again!
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for much for leaving such a detailed and kind review! We hope to see you again for another trip down the Rio!
Written August 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It’s about 30-40 minute drive north of Santa Fe to the rafting center. Depending upon which raft trip you take, the put in spots are in different areas north of the rafting center.
Written May 28, 2019
We generally run through September, but that is water and weather dependent.
Written November 13, 2018
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