Wild Earth Llama Adventures
Wild Earth Llama Adventures
5
Multi-day ToursEco ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
Llama Trekking Adventures in New Mexico's Pristine Wilderness! "Take a Llama to Lunch!" Wilderness Day Hikes • Multi-Day Wilderness Adventures • Custom Wilderness Events Explore New Mexico's Pristine Wilderness, with our team of eco-friendly trail llamas, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Rio Grande Gorege, near Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. On the trail, our gentle surefooted llamas carry the gear, leaving you unburdened to experience the natural beauty and inspiring solitude of the New Mexico wilderness. Experienced Naturalist Guides share information about local ecology, natural history, regional folklore, and wilderness skills. Backcountry Gourmet Meals are served on all of our New Mexico wilderness trips. All ages and fitness levels are welcome! Call us to answer any questions of to make reservations!
Taos, New Mexico
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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.
5.0
508 reviews
Excellent
503
Very good
4
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0
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Terrible
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ATB_NYC
New York, NY4 contributions
I went on a "Take a Llama to Lunch" day hike in October 2006 just outside of Red River, NM. It was the best guided day hike I have ever been on. Anywhere. In the world.
Stuart is an amazing guide. He is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about the plants and creatures of northern New Mexico. And especially about llamas! His enthusiasm about and respect for nature made the day special and unforgetable. We learned so much! And he makes a delicious lunch. Yum!
The llamas are AWESOME. We had the pleasure of spending the day with K2 and Azul. (I miss my llama friends!) They are clearly very well cared for. And K2 is the most beautiful llama that I have ever seen.
I recommend Wild Earth without hesitation and plan to go on another trek when I am next in northern NM. (Special request for the majestic K2!) Maybe even a multi-day wilderness adventure --- strong talk from an urbanite. I can think of no better way to appreciate this part of the country.
Stuart is an amazing guide. He is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about the plants and creatures of northern New Mexico. And especially about llamas! His enthusiasm about and respect for nature made the day special and unforgetable. We learned so much! And he makes a delicious lunch. Yum!
The llamas are AWESOME. We had the pleasure of spending the day with K2 and Azul. (I miss my llama friends!) They are clearly very well cared for. And K2 is the most beautiful llama that I have ever seen.
I recommend Wild Earth without hesitation and plan to go on another trek when I am next in northern NM. (Special request for the majestic K2!) Maybe even a multi-day wilderness adventure --- strong talk from an urbanite. I can think of no better way to appreciate this part of the country.
Written March 21, 2009
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.
Trish L
Albuquerque, NM186 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
We had such a fabulous time during our Lunch with a Llama adventure! We started by helping Stuart to brush the llamas and give them locally grown treats. There were probably 12 people on our hike and the little children got their very own llama. The adults shared one along the mile long hike up Columbine Trail. Our llama was Bucky, who had the very best personality of them all. He was the sweetest guy, and communicated very clearly with his humming. One look in his eyes had me hooked right at the start. His eyelashes!!! Bucky carried our small backpacks and extra water bottles with grace and sweetness. There were two places where we crossed the river. We went across a bridge and the llamas went through the water and we met them on the other side. Stuart told us all kinds of interesting things about the llamas and the forest. At the top of the trail, he fixed us a delicious sandwich lunch with every possible thing you might enjoy. He was very generous to offer gluten-free items and also careful with a little girl with nut allergies. Stuart has a great sense of humor, so the whole experience was delightful and WELL worth the money. I'd go again tomorrow if somebody wanted to go with me!
Written June 29, 2015
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 the great review. You can come any time, you don't need anyone else. We'll look forward to it!
Written August 11, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rpb437
Baltimore, MD1 contribution
May 2015 • Friends
OK first to be clear here: Everyone gets their own Llama to help haul their gear and to keep them company on the trip. The day starts with Stuart briefing you about Llamas and the hike ahead. As our group worked along planned route Stuart would stop to point out features of the forest or the wild herbs growing along the route. A true wealth of knowledge regarding both the biology and physics of the forest.
Bored with other members of your group? No problem, you have your very own Llama to keep you company and carry your stuff. If you have never interacted with a Llama, they are beautiful, gentle and very intelligent creatures and yes, they all have their personalities. Don't worry about having to share your actual lunch with the Llama, they are pretty content to snack on the forest during breaks and during the hike.
On the topic of lunch,, that was pretty good too, featuring salad, fresh baked bread with deli meats and cheeses.
I consider this adventure the highlight of my week in New Mexico and would love to go back for a multi day trip.
Bored with other members of your group? No problem, you have your very own Llama to keep you company and carry your stuff. If you have never interacted with a Llama, they are beautiful, gentle and very intelligent creatures and yes, they all have their personalities. Don't worry about having to share your actual lunch with the Llama, they are pretty content to snack on the forest during breaks and during the hike.
On the topic of lunch,, that was pretty good too, featuring salad, fresh baked bread with deli meats and cheeses.
I consider this adventure the highlight of my week in New Mexico and would love to go back for a multi day trip.
Written June 3, 2015
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 the awesome review. We are looking forward to seeing you again for that multi day!
Written August 11, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maryeriepa
erie pa5 contributions
My husband and I are in our late 40's and travel frequently for work and pleasure. We are reasonable and easy going people. We booked our trip to New Mexico about 6 months in advance and also booked the Take a Llama to Lunch Hike approximately 3 months in advance. We supplied Leah with our Credit card info and she emailed us all the details of the trip and what we needed to bring. Two weeks prior to the our vacation, she called and verified the credit card number and said the full charge would be applied and that there are no refunds if we need to cancel at this point. My husband and I packed and purchased special items for the Llama adventure. We were to meet Stewart at 10:30AM on a Tuesday morning for our adventure. He called us on our cell phone at 7:30AM on Tuesday morning and said he needed to cancel our excursion due to lack of participation and asked if we could reschedule. Since we were leaving Taos the next day that was impossible. He said he would be more than glad to refund our credit card??? Well I should hope so.??? Needless to say, we were very disappointed and would have made alternate plans if we would have know sooner. This was handled very unprofessionally and this tour group is not reliable. We have never been treated like this in all our years of travel. We just want to warn you this could happen to you so please beware. Vacations are much too precious!
Written September 24, 2010
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.
Fellow Adventure Travelers,
Our most sincere apologies. Yours was the only hike this season we had to cancel, due to lack of participants. We are often asked to work with our our guests' last minute requests for schedule changes, and once in a blue moon, we ask our guests to be flexible with ours.
We are listed as a 5 Star Reviewed Attraction on Trip Advisor with no bad reviews, because we offer a high quality, fun and educational wilderness experience. We pride ourselves on our personalized customer service and are truly sorry for your experience. I trust that your full refund was applied that same day.
You are right, I should have offered you more than just a refund. Please accept our offer for a complimentary wilderness adventure for two, anytime you return to the area. Or as an Adventure Certificate that you could give as a gift this holiday season.
We hope that you take us up on our offer, and give us a chance to make it up to you.
Please feel free to contact us anytime, to discuss this in person.
Again, our apologies.
Stuart and Leah Wilde,
Wild Earth Llama Adventures
1-800-758-5262
Written October 4, 2010
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
VsaVsa
NJ3 contributions
Stuart and Leah were very helpful in setting up our reservation and provided tips about Taos, etc. Unfortunately, the day we planned to take our trek, it was cold and rainy. We were not able to re-schedule to the next day because the forecast was still gloomy and after that we were heading back to the airport. Our deposit was returned 100%, hassle-free. I thought that was great customer service.
The Agarwals from New Jersey
The Agarwals from New Jersey
Written March 21, 2009
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.
Jonathan J
Albuquerque, NM169 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
I took the three day trip. This is a very top notch organization. Leiah runs the front office and is very smart, knowledgeable and friendly. So right up front they are excellent. The directions they send you "work" in a manner of speaking but they don't quite account for the distances. The Wildes are respectful of social and ethnic differences.
Anyway the trip was well-planned and Stuart is extremely well-organized (they send you a very good list of supplies, which needs a tweak or two, pack MORE socks for instance).
I came alone and the group was very small (5) and I didn't feel much like a stranger after about a half hour. Stuart is very people-oriented and interesting to talk to and extremely knowledgeable. The llamas are very sweet, aloof like cats and they warm up to you and start trusting you.
We had the worst weather possible-- driving rain and hail unfortunately. The hiking for me was extremely strenuous. I am in my late 60s, in excellent health, but still this is 3-6 hours of hiking per day up and down the mountain at 10 to 11K. (I live in Albuquerque, big difference from hiking in Albuquerque at 5-6K.) Staying in Questa a couple days might have helped but alas not many places to stay there. I still had a great adventure with this fantastic organization.
Anyway the trip was well-planned and Stuart is extremely well-organized (they send you a very good list of supplies, which needs a tweak or two, pack MORE socks for instance).
I came alone and the group was very small (5) and I didn't feel much like a stranger after about a half hour. Stuart is very people-oriented and interesting to talk to and extremely knowledgeable. The llamas are very sweet, aloof like cats and they warm up to you and start trusting you.
We had the worst weather possible-- driving rain and hail unfortunately. The hiking for me was extremely strenuous. I am in my late 60s, in excellent health, but still this is 3-6 hours of hiking per day up and down the mountain at 10 to 11K. (I live in Albuquerque, big difference from hiking in Albuquerque at 5-6K.) Staying in Questa a couple days might have helped but alas not many places to stay there. I still had a great adventure with this fantastic organization.
Written July 7, 2015
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 your awesome and honest review! We've actually taken all your suggestions to heart, and have tweaked things a bit to make sure everything is up to date and understandable. Come on back for a day hike, Stuart will take it easy on you;).
Written August 10, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amy C
Wichita, KS12 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
My husband and two daughters (ages 15 and 17) went on the day hike and lunch with Stuart and a group of 9 hilarious, sassy, mellow llamas (pronounced YA-mas, FYI). From the moment we pulled up to the trailhead we were in love with the beautiful animals. Stuart quickly won us over too. We didn't know what to expect, how many other hikers, or what kind of experience it would be. There were 9 llamas and my two daughters each got to lead one on a rope (Thor and Loki!). Stuart spent quite a bit of time before the hike making sure everyone was comfortable with the llamas, aware of potential hazards on the hike, and doing a great job breaking the ice and getting to know everyone. It was just a wonderful experience that my seasoned traveler teenagers are still talking about. The hike was beautiful and a good workout without being too strenuous. Stuart had endless interesting stories about the natural world around us and his experiences guiding hikes. This is something I would do every time I am in the area. It was such a highlight of our vacation and we are so thankful for the experience!
Written September 2, 2018
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.
Cannot thank you enough for such a great review! I love that your traveled teenagers had a great time, that's definitely a bonus! We look forward to hearing from you next time you're in the are! Hope the rest of your trip, and your summer are fantastic!
Written September 3, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JO ANN M
New Jersey26 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This three hour plus trek was the highlight of our adventures traveling around Arizona and New Mexico visiting various national parks and monuments. The llamas were absolutely beautiful animals, friendly and sweet. Stuart, our guide and the owner of these llamas, was very well-informed and informative about all the flora and fauna in the region. Most importantly, you know that he loves his animals and takes excellent care of them.
Plus, he served us a delicious lunch in a small clearing in the forest. This is a day not to be missed if you like animals and forests.
Plus, he served us a delicious lunch in a small clearing in the forest. This is a day not to be missed if you like animals and forests.
Written May 25, 2018
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 your wonderful review. Great to hear that the trek was the highlight of your tour! Thank you also for noticing the bond Stuart has with the llamas. He, like you loves the animals and the forest! Have a great summer!
Written May 26, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ahousey3
Troy, Michigan49 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
We all had a great day hiking with the llamas and Stuart. It was myself, my husband and our three kids (9, 11, 12). The kids told me multiple times how much fun they were having. They each got a llama to walk up the mountain. It is not a strenuous activity. We wore tennis shoes. Bring layers of clothes just in case. You can bring whatever you want because the llamas carry it for you. He encourages warm clothes and rain gear though we needed none of it. It was perfect. We hiked a couple of miles in and Stuart shared his wealth of knowledge of the llamas and the nature. He has a true love for the outdoors and his llamas. We stopped at a river for a lunch of sandwiches, salad and dessert. It was delish. He sent my daughter and I into the woods to gather wild parsley and rose petals for the lunch. So cool. I highly recommend it. My whole family loved it even though they thought I was a little crazy when I told them we were doing it. Thanks Stuart for a fun and unique experience.
Written July 3, 2015
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 the great review. We are so happy to hear we that we could be instrumental in fostering a love for the wilderness in your children. And, for the animals. That's what it's all about. Join us on a multi day sometime and they'll learn some amazing wilderness skills!
Written August 10, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WinstonWWolf
Denver57 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
We just finished the 3-day llama trek into the Valle Vidal area of the
New Mexico Sangre de Christo mountains.
We were with a total of 10 people including the guide. The group included four 12 and 13 year olds. We had 9 llamas and were able to hike back into the wilderness to be completely away from civilization. We saw absolutely no one else on the trip.
The llamas allowed us to take many creature comforts for eating, sleeping and staying dry and warm. Llamas are friendly and docile animals to the city slickers and old salts alike could feel safe.
The outfitter/guide was also the owner of the business. He rescues all his llamas from bad situations so that makes it a little more special, in our opinion.
During the trip, Stuart managed the work around camp by teaching the kids and newby adults many skills such as first aid, fire starting and setting up a functional camp. He also knew the history of the region and the environment. He taught us all some interesting and useful things.
This was a fabulous trip for novice and expert outdoor people. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This was our second trip with Stuart. We will likely do it again.
New Mexico Sangre de Christo mountains.
We were with a total of 10 people including the guide. The group included four 12 and 13 year olds. We had 9 llamas and were able to hike back into the wilderness to be completely away from civilization. We saw absolutely no one else on the trip.
The llamas allowed us to take many creature comforts for eating, sleeping and staying dry and warm. Llamas are friendly and docile animals to the city slickers and old salts alike could feel safe.
The outfitter/guide was also the owner of the business. He rescues all his llamas from bad situations so that makes it a little more special, in our opinion.
During the trip, Stuart managed the work around camp by teaching the kids and newby adults many skills such as first aid, fire starting and setting up a functional camp. He also knew the history of the region and the environment. He taught us all some interesting and useful things.
This was a fabulous trip for novice and expert outdoor people. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This was our second trip with Stuart. We will likely do it again.
Written June 26, 2015
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.
Thanks so much for the detailed awesome review. Come back, and we'll take you somewhere else that's fantastic!!
Written August 11, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Are you still open for business? The number for your business is going to a life alert company.
Written June 1, 2024
Are there two locations or just one. We are staying in Sante Fe and want to book a trip for next week.
Written August 4, 2019
Thank you for your interest in Wild Earth Llama Adventures. All of our trail locations are in the Taos area. We meet at 10:30am, giving folks plenty of time to get there from Santa Fe, we get off the trail at 3:30-4:00pm.
Written August 5, 2019
We are traveling by plane and are not able to pack a lot of stuff. What do we need to Bring for the Lunch Hike?
Written May 1, 2018
HI! You need to bring layers of cloths, and comfortable shoes. Please drop me an email to check on dates. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Written May 8, 2018
We are traveling by plane and are not able to pack a lot of stuff. What do we need to Bring for the Lunch Hike?
Written May 1, 2018
Hi, Lisa:
Could you estimate how long this hike took, and how physically demanding it was? Oh, and if you know where, roughly, it took place in the gorge (this is so I can estimate travel time), I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!
Written April 6, 2018
Hi there! All our day hikes run from about 10:30 to 3:30. We operate our hiking and camping trips throughout the region. Our day hikes in the Rio Grande Gorge can be a bit challenging for some folks, on the way out of the canyon. Our trailheads for our Gorge trips are about 45 min from Taos. Feel free to give us a call to answer any questions, so we can help you choose the right experience for you and your group.
Written May 11, 2018
We are visiting Taos in April and were wondering how long the "take a llama to lunch hike was" time-wise. What time do you meet and what time are you back?
Written January 24, 2017
HI, thank you for your interest in Wild Earth Llama Adventures. We meet at the trailhead at 10:30am, after a full day of hiking and exploring at a relaxed pace, we get you back to your car around 3:30-4:00pm.
Please give me a call with any more questions, and to make a reservation. Thanks!
Leah Wilde
1.800.758.5262
Written January 24, 2017
My sister and I are coming to Taos next week with my mom and aunt. My mom is 82, but very active. My aunt is a little less active. Is there any way they could participate in this? They love animals, nature, and the mountains, so I know they'd enjoy it if they were able to do it.
Thank you!
Written June 21, 2015
I am in my late 60s and took the multi-day excursion. I wouldn't recommend that at all (for someone not active-- they have had older adults). It's quite strenuous. OTOH, the Lunch trip is 5 miles (2+ miles in, eat, and 2+ miles out). Keep in mind this is as elevation. Not sure how much elevation in the Lunch trips. I would NOT do this the first day. Make sure you are in Taos a couple days. Drink as much water as they tell you. And call the office, they are super helpful. They are not in this for the buck, they really care about providing a quality experience.
Written July 8, 2015
Has anyone ever taken a small child on these excursions? i regularly go about 2 miles with my daughter in the forest (mostly flat) but am wondering about the average of the 5 mile trip… thanks!
Written March 10, 2015
Hi and Thanks for your question. We see many families with small children each year, and the kiddos just love it. In our experience, llamas give kids super hiking powers. Kids bond and feel a sense of responsibility for their animals, and as a result are engaged and an active part of the experience. We see families with young children on both our day hikes and our multi-day adventures.
All of our adventures are custom designed in the field, to meet the needs of the group. When we have families with young children on our wilderness adventures, we gear the trips to be young hiker friendly.
While our day hikes average about 5 miles, that's a couple mile hike in, and a couple mile hike out. We've found that even a 4 or 5 year old child will hike 4-5 miles no problem, as long as they have their llama…
Please give us a call at 800-758-5262 to answer any questions, and to make reservations.
Hope to see you on the trail!
Stuart Wilde
Director, Head Wilderness Guide
Wild Earth Llama Adventures
Taos, New Mexico
Written March 11, 2015
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