Cortez Tours

02/03/2025

Happy National Hedgehog Day! 🦔

February 2nd is national hedgehog day in the United States. Unfortunately, here in southwest Colorado, hedgehogs 🦔 (the animal) are not native, but hedgehog cactuses 🌵 are!! So, just for fun - check out this blog article on 4 ways the two are similar!

Link 🔗in bio! ⬆️

11/04/2024

It’s been a great few days for DuWest Wines! We had a blast at our launch party, graciously hosted by the wonderful where we got to share some very hard won progress on the winery! Thank you all that came! Then yesterday, my Dad (thanks, Dad!) helped me to get the 2024 Syrah-Viognier into the barrels! Only a few minor spills, so my beautiful-new barrels are now simply beautiful-stained barrels from the incredible color of the wine! These barrels are specially made from French oak for Rhône-style blends so I’m excited to see how the wine evolves over the next year or two before release! A reminder that we have a Kickstarter going to help fund needed equipment and materials to get this wine (and some other very exciting wines) into the bottle, then into your glass! You can find the link to the Kickstarter in our bio. Many thanks to everyone that has shared the Kickstarter and for those that have backed the project!

10/30/2024

🎃Ghost stories can be such a fun way to share history! Underneath most ghost stories lie a local legend, a community fear, a secret story….and I LOVE finding those!

There are many other haunted locations around Montezuma County and just one more Wild West Ghost Tour to hear those stories!

The ghost 👻 final tour of the year will be Saturday, November 2nd from 5:30-7 PM in downtown Cortez, Colorado. If you want to learn the local folklore and tell some spooky stories - book your tickets today at corteztours.com!

10/25/2024

🕵️‍♀️ Colleen came on the Mesa Verde Sunrise Tour in July of 2023! ⁣
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“A gorgeous start to my day. The hike is in a beautiful area and the view was spectacular. Helen shares interesting facts and her love for her community. 𝓘 𝓱𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓵𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓽.
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🧡 Thanks Colleen!⁣⁣⁣

10/21/2024

Excited to be leading a tour with Cortez Ghost Tours!

Join our Friday night tour this week on October 25th at 6pm led by .tours . This tour ends at 👻 A 5oz pour of beer is included with each ticket in addition to our 3 popsicle tasters! We will have apple juice as a non-alcoholic option.

Proceeds benefit so purchase your tickets today on our website, link in bio.

10/21/2024

🍇 Exciting News! DuWest Wines Launched a Kickstarter! 🍷

I’m thrilled to announce that my husband is launching a Kickstarter to support his newest venture: DuWest Wines! The newest winery in Colorado, DuWest Wines celebrates the landscape and viticulture of Southwest Colorado. 🌵🍷

The goal of DuWest Wines is to focus on creative and accessible wines, predominantly sparkling wines, and celebrate the expression of place as conveyed through a bottle of wine. (If you didn’t know, Casey is a geologist, so you know his wines will be rooted in place!)

As a Kickstarter backer, you are eligible for exclusive one-of-a-kind DuWest branded merchandise and wine paraphernalia. There are also several options for wine classes, wine education handouts, and guided tasting notes on Colorado wines!

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a wine newbie, DuWest Wines offers something to explore. And, if you enjoy sparkling, rosé, amber, or adventurous wines I highly suggest your support DuWest Wines!

📅 Check out the Kickstarter Here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helentwest/duwest-wines

👉 Every share helps us reach more wine lovers and makes a huge difference in getting us closer to our goal. Let's raise a glass to this exciting new adventure! Cheers! 🍇🍷

Creative wines made by a local geologist to embody “Joi de Vino,” and celebrate the landscape and viticulture of southwest Colorado.

10/17/2024

10/14/2024

🍇 Exciting News! DuWest Wines is Launching a Kickstarter! 🍷

I’m thrilled to announce that DuWest Wines is launching a Kickstarter! The newest winery in Colorado, DuWest Wines celebrates the landscape and viticulture of the Southwest. 🌵🍷

If you’ve never heard of DuWest Wines - let me tell you about it! DuWest Wines was created by two Cortez-locals: Casey Duncan, a geologist, and his wife, Helen (the owner of Cortez Tours. Casey has been making wine since 2020, and wanted to bring his love of great wine, and understanding of geology to the wider public. Through his leadership, DuWest Wines is bringing creative and accessible wines, predominantly sparkling wines, to southwest Colorado. These wines celebrate the expression of place as conveyed by a bottle of wine. And here in southwest Colorado - we have quite the landscape to celebrate!

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a wine newbie, DuWest Wines offers something to explore. And, if you enjoy sparkling, rosé, amber, or adventurous wines make sure to follow DuWest Wines on social media and support the Kickstarter!

📅 Check out the Kickstarter Here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helentwest/duwest-wines and click the “Notify Me on Launch”! The Kickstarter will go live next week!

And, if you are in Cortez - come to the DuWest Wines Kickstarter Launch! on November 1st! The event is free and is sure to be a lot of fun!

👉 Help us reach more wine lovers by sharing this post, or tagging your fellow wine-drinkers in the comments! After all - good wine is best enjoyed with good friends! Cheers! 🍇🍷

Creative wines made by a local geologist to embody “Joi de Vino,” and celebrate the landscape and viticulture of southwest Colorado.

10/09/2024

Colorado is so beautiful.

10/08/2024

There are many ways to support sustainable Colorado businesses when you visit, especially in Cortez!

1. Head to our local farm-to-table restaurants, like The Farm Bistro and Pueblo Seed & Food Company

2. Support local farmers directly by shopping at the Cortez Farmers Market on Saturday mornings through October

3. Buy local products from local vendors like Merriweather Home + Market

4. Even our local brewery WildEdge Brewing Collective uses local Colorado grown wheat and hops, and DuWest Wines uses Colorado-grown grapes and sustainable vineyard practices.

While traveling in southwest Colorado, it’s easy to support the local economy while also protecting the environment!

Visit Colorado Mesa Verde Country, Colorado Cortez Retail Enhancement Association

10/07/2024

Take a fun tour that supports local nonprofits! Cortez Ghost Tours

Our ghost tour on Friday, October 25th ends at 👻 Your tour will include a 5oz pour of a brew of your choice or apple juice for a non-alcoholic option.

This tour will also be run by our fellow history buff .tours 🤠

More information and tickets are available on our website, link in bio.

10/06/2024

I didn't know the home brewers association was started in Colorado! Did you?

10/03/2024

Happy Thursday!

Could I take a moment of your time and ask you to review Cortez Tours on TripAdvisor? I started Cortez Tours in 2018 with the dream of building a sustainable, locally focused, and community driven company that could support the growing experiential tourism industry in Cortez, Colorado. Cortez is surrounded by incredible natural beauty and a vast amount of deep cultural heritage. Let’s support local economy by building strong, community focused local businesses!

Cortez Tours just needs THREE reviews to make it onto the "Top 15 Things To Do in Cortez" list. Will you help a small business out by providing a review?

You can review at:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/UserReviewEdit-g60857-d24166301-Cortez_Tours-Cortez_Colorado.html

If you haven’t been on a tour yet - there are SEVERAL ghost tours this month and a mural tour tomorrow! You can book a tour at: www.corteztours.com

If you live in Montezuma County use code MONTEZUMA for a local discount!

09/24/2024

Fall 🍁is bike season! 🚴

Remember to share the trails: A basic rule of trail etiquette is “wheels yield to heels.” Bicyclists and skaters should yield to walkers and trail runners, but remember that equestrians always have the right of way🐴🏃‍♂️🚵‍♂️.

09/24/2024

Have you downloaded the Ultimate Guide to Mesa Verde Country? Whether you are new to the area, planning a trip to southwest Colorado, or looking for a new local spot - this is the guide for you!

Download now to plan your trip to Cortez, Mancos, and Dolores, Colorado! Find local favorites and tips on visiting the local area.

Get your copy today at this link: https://www.corteztours.com/mesa-verde-guide

09/19/2024

Gotta love those large sun beams across the entire frame! ☀️

Sunrise is probably one of my favorite times of day. It’s early, and sometimes it’s cold, but it is always beautiful. 🌅

September and early October are wonderful times to visit - the days are warm, nights are chilly, and the fall colors are popping! I also like that the “shoulder season” has less people and less tourists in popular locations like Mesa Verde National Park.

08/02/2024

The August Mural Tour starts in a little less than an hour! Thanks for everyone who came on the tour last month!

Rebecca left this receive last month:

“A very, very pleasant afternoon well spent. Super impressive to discover, in this carefully guided mural tour, such beauty in history – hidden mostly unnoticed by the majority of us who actually live here in Cortez, Colorado.” 🧡