Boquillas is an historic mining town across the river from Big Bend Nationial Park. Passport required. Tours include a row boat across the Rio, a ride to town via burro or pick up truck and tasty food from a local restaurant. Shop for arts and crafts before returning to the USA. Next, tour Hot Springs Historic Area, once a resort/spa/trading post. Bring a bathing suit and towel!
TERLINGUA – Big Bend National Park Boquillas and Hot Springs
8:30 am – Meet our Guests
Meet guests at Terlingua area lodging. Take TX 170 east to Study Butte, then right 3 miles on TX 118 to enter Big Bend National Park.
9:30 am – Paleontology Exhibit
This open-air museum guides visitors through millions of years of geology, with displays and sculptures depicting habitats of these remote times, and the creatures who once inhabited them.
11:00 am – Boquillas Crossing
Boquillas Crossing is an official US Port of Entry. From the POE, a 200 yard walk brings one to the banks of the Rio Grande, where a row boat takes you into another country and perhaps another century. Take a burro, horse, or pick-up truck into town, have an authentic northern Mexican lunch, perhaps a cerveza. Explore the village of 300 souls where local artists create a variety of items out of native materials with local motifs of snakes, birds, scorpions, tarantulas, and of course, burros. PASSPORT or PASSPORT CARD required.
2:00 pm – Return to Texas, USA
Boquillas Port Of Entry is manned by Big Bend National Park law enforcement rangers. Passports or passport cards are scanned and relayed to US Immigration in El Paso. You are on camera; an agent asks you the basic questions via telephone; What was the reason for your trip to Mexico? What are you bringing back? It is a simple and fast process.
2:30pm – Hot Springs Historic Area
In 1906, J.O. Langford arrived in Alpine, Texas, and sight unseen contracted to homestead a property on the Rio Grande, in what is now Big Bend National Park. On this property was a natural thermal spring, flowing in to the Rio Grande at 105 F. Langford developed a spa resort and hotel, the remains of which today include the store, several hotel rooms, and the remains of the bath house where visitors can still soak in the healing waters on the shores of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo.
4:00pm – National Park Headquarters
We stop at Park HQ at Panther Junction to enjoy an excellent short video and shop for interpretive materials, maps and park related gifts.
5:00 pm – Return to Base
Drive through west side of Big Bend NP to Study Butte, then take TX 170 west to Lajitas.
6:00 pm – Arrive Lajitas
Drop guests off at Terlingua area lodging
Please note
Times are estimated. We are always happy to be flexible with the itinerary; as long as we get you back in time for dinner. We are happy to arrange custom itineraries and exclusive trips, as well as help plan your complete trip to the beautiful Big Bend.
Price
Originating in Terlingua area, 2-3 guests, $195 per guest. 4-5 guests, $170 per guest. For larger groups, please contact mike@gobigbend.com or call 432 386-5635. Prices do not include entrance to Big Bend National Park, which is $30 per carload, good for 7 days. There are a variety of different passes that are valid: America the Beautiful, Senior Lifetime, Active Military as well as Big Bend Annual Pass or National Park Annual Pass. If you don’t have one of those, we can save time by going to https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74331 and getting one in advance. It asks for vehicle information, simply list your own vehicle.