The Casas Grandes world Friends of Archaeology

Come join us for a visit to the ancient town of Paquimé, heart of the Casas Grandes world.

This unique center displays many elements associated with Mesoamerican societies to the south—ball courts, public platform mounds, effigy mounds, an advanced water delivery system, macaw breeding and a beautiful museum.

A visit to Mata Ortiz, the famous pottery-making village is also on the itinerary. Home of famed potter, Juan Quezada, the village has become a vibrant center of beautiful pottery production. Based on ancient Casas Grandes designs, today’s potters have taken design to a new level of sophistication.

Archaeologist Rafael Cruz, of Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, will join us for visits to other backcountry sites, ball courts, and rock art panels.

A new road into the Sierra Madre Occidental will also allow us to travel to the famous La Cueva de la Olla. Formerly, a bone-jarring ride of three hours, the new road should make the trip much more enjoyable.

The trip will be self-motored and we will caravan from Santa Fe to Nuevo Casas Grandes; a trip of 8-10 hours depending upon time needed to cross the border into Mexico. That includes time for a lunch break.

We will stay at the Hotel Hacienda in Nuevo Casas Grandes, which has a restaurant and a pool.

Group size is limited to 20 people.

A valid passport is required for this trip!

You will also need to purchase Mexican car insurance. Mexican law does not allow coverage with a U.S. insurance company. We will supply names of vendors who offer reasonable policies and prices.

We will be traveling backroads, so a high clearance vehicle is needed. Four-wheel drive is not necessary, just good clearance. We will compress ourselves into as few cars as possible for going into the backcountry.

A visit to La Cueva de la Olla requires a brief ascent of perhaps 50 feet. It is not particularly difficult, but footing can be slippery. There is no trail. Persons with physical disabilities may not be able to make the ascent.

Price for the excursion will be $300.00/FOA members, $375.00/non-members.

If you are interested in the trip, please sign up and we will contact you by email about hotel pricing and other details.  Please call the FOA Hotline starting 7:00am on Tuesday July 12 at 505-982-7799 x6