Tumacácori National Historical Park Offers Tours to Calabazas and Guevavi Missions

Date: December 3, 2012
Contact: Anita Badertscher, [phone]

Tumacácori National Historical Park is again offering tours to the historic mission sites of Guevavi and Calabazas. These fragile ruins, protected within the national park, are normally closed to the public and can be visited only as part of these special, reserved tours.

Tours are scheduled every Tuesday, January through March, 2013, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and returning to Tumacácori at 1:00 p.m. The cost for the tour is $20 per person and includes transportation and admission to the park. To make reservations, which are required, visit www.recreation.gov. For information about the tours, call the Tumacácori visitor center at [phone], extension 0.

The tour meets at the Tumacácori National Historical Park visitor center. Participants ride in a 15-passenger van to both Guevavi and Calabazas. During the guided tour, there is some walking on unpaved trails to reach the mission ruin at each site, including one section of uphill trail at Calabazas. There is very little shade, and no seating along the trails. Participants will need to bring water, and to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and comfortable walking shoes. These tours are not wheelchair accessible. There will be only one opportunity to visit restroom facilities during the four-hour tour.

After the tour returns to Tumacácori, participants are invited to visit the Tumacácori Mission church and grounds, visitor center, and museum on their own, at no additional charge. A self-guided tour booklet is available. Guided tours of Tumacácori are scheduled eachday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., January through March. Additional tours may be available; inquire at the visitor center.