Group Tours

Your tour group will love Las Cruces! Rich in history, culture and hospitality, our city is nestled in the Mesilla Valley against the dramatic backdrop of the Organ Mountains. 320 days of sunshine a year means your group can enjoy our local activities, attractions and festivals no matter when you visit.

Las Cruces’ colorful past blends with its beautiful scenery of wide open spaces and breathtaking sunsets in a relaxing atmosphere and culture. Visit Historic Old Mesilla, the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum or the sparkling white dunes of White Sands National Park. Our valley is located along the Rio Grande River, which also is the lifeblood of a rapidly growing wine industry. Of course, southern New Mexico is the chile capital of the world and boasts some of the best Mexican food in the country.

Easily accessible from two major interstates and less than an hour from the El Paso, Texas International Airport, you won’t waste any time reaching our oasis in the desert. Las Cruces’ boasts hundreds of restaurants to satisfy any palate and comfortable accommodations range from full to limited service for a good night’s rest.

Las Cruces is the best choice for your next tour! Our Tourism Sales and Services Managers are here to provide all the tools necessary to plan your next successful trip.

Click here to find suggested itineraries and visual assets.

Please help yourself to any and all materials that will assist you in creating the perfect Las Cruces experience! Please reach out directly to Visit Las Cruces for the most up-to-date information.

Contact Me

Hilary Dutcher
Destination Experience Sales Manager
Visit Las Cruces
336 S. Main Street
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
Office: (575)-541-274
hdutcher@las-cruces.org

Group Tour Services

Visit Las Cruces can provide you with any and all materials needed such as the official Las Cruces Visitor’s Guide and images of area attractions. We can also customize local and area tours.

Promotional Materials
Images, attraction brochures, postcards and posters to get people excited about their upcoming tour.

Familiarization Tours/Site Inspections
Experience our sunny dispositions while visiting attractions, restaurants, shops and prospective hotels.

Local Maps
Provided to help direct drivers from your hotel to local attractions and restaurants.

Local Liaison
We are your liaison to local attractions, private tours, restaurants, hotels, and other visitor services.

Tour Itinerary Planning
Let us help you plan your tour itinerary.

Step on Guides

Preciliana Sandoval

As the owner of La Morena Walking Tours, Preciliana is a seventh generation Mesilla Valley native, born in El Paso City, attended NMSU and completed her degree in history, education, and anthropology.  She proudly shares her colorful hometown history on tours of Historic Mesilla during which visitors hear romantic ghost stories, find out what Billy the Kid’s last words were, see where Mesilla’s bloodiest battle happened, our food, our traditions, folklore, what pink flamingos love about New Mexico and the tour ends with a guaranteed scare! Recommended by Fodor’s and Frommer’s International Guide Books for over a decade. Preciliana is also an accomplished artist; her vibrant murals grace the walls in a number of local establishments. Tour options include the Mesilla Valley, Ft. Selden, the Rio Grande and El Camino Real. For availability and pricing: Preciliana Sandoval, (575) 647-2639 | Email

Denise Chávez

is a writer from Las Cruces/Mesilla, New Mexico with roots in southern New Mexico, Far West Texas and Northern México. She is the author of a number of books and plays and is the Director of the Border Book Festival the longest running book festival in New Mexico, for over 20 years. Denise offers presentations, talks and workshops on a variety of topics from Billy the Kid to the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. She speaks about native foods followed by tastings. Her cultural center offers special event activities during holidays like Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in early November and Christmas. Denise leads walking and windshield tours of Las Cruces and Mesilla’s historic neighborhoods and El Paso’s Mission Trail. For availability and pricing: Denise Chávez, (575) 523-3988, bbf@borderbookfestival.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I route my itinerary through Las Cruces?
Las Cruces is conveniently located on both Interstates 10 and 25 so whether your itinerary includes points like Albuquerque, Phoenix or San Antonio, you can easily include a night or two in our city.

What will my tour do while we’re there?
There are a variety of things to see and do during your visit to Las Cruces. Many of our museums are free and they highlight areas of interest like history, art, natural science, agriculture, geology and the railroad.

What will the weather be like?
With 320 days of sunshine every year, Las Cruces enjoys a comfortable climate all year round. Spring and Fall range from temperatures in the low 40’s to the upper 70’s while summer temps run from 67 – 95 degrees and winter can be between 28 and 58 degrees. Seasonal cloudbursts are most likely in July and August.

Are there things that don’t require too much walking?
Activity level for many of our attractions can be customized for the group. For example, you can see White Sands National Park by foot or by windshield tour. You can experience the outdoor exhibits at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum by trolley. Shopping in Mesilla is only as strenuous as you make it!

Are there opportunities for “soft adventure”?
Visit Dripping Springs Natural Area and hike to a historic resort and sanatorium, charter a pontoon boat at nearby Elephant Butte on the largest lake in New Mexico or float down the Rio Grande in the summer.

What if I’m traveling on a multi-generational tour?
Our events and attractions are all family-friendly (OK, maybe not the wine tasting) with entertainment for visitors of any age.

What do you mean by ‘culture’?
Our city’s cultural makeup includes Caucasian, Hispanic, Native-, Mexican-, African- and Asian-Americans. This diversity creates a unique and welcoming environment with colorful festivals, delicious cuisine and more.

Do you have non-spicy dining options?
In addition to our New Mexican and Mexican dining options (all of which serve spicy and non-spicy dishes), we have Continental, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, and a wide variety of other cuisines, including vegan and vegetarian options.

What can we do to experience your chile culture?
Start by visiting the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University, an organization dedicated to research, education and all things chile. It’s a special treat to be here during harvest season when the smell of roasting chiles fills the air.

How far is Las Cruces from the airport?
Las Cruces is 50 miles or approximately one hour from the El Paso, Texas International Airport.

Are there motor coach companies nearby?
Several motor coach companies lease buses to tour groups coming from out-of-state.

Do I have to make special arrangements to drive my motor coach into New Mexico?
No special plates nor permits are required. You will want to check the New Mexico Department of Transportation website as well as the Motor Transportation Division in your home state.

Where else can we go while we’re in the area?
Las Cruces is an excellent place for a hub-and-spoke tour. Be sure to take day trips to nearby White Sands National Park. Don’t miss a tour of Spaceport America. Enjoy a getaway to the charming mountain communities of Ruidoso and Silver City.

Who will help me plan our tour?   
Our Tourism Sales and Services Managers are available to assist your planning including lodging and activity arrangements. We can customize itineraries, and provide planner guides, brochures, and promotional items. Call today to schedule a site visit or for help with your next tour.

Motorcoach Regulation

New Mexico does not require that motor coach and commercial bus operators display New Mexico plates when entering the state on a chartered trip. For information on certain fuel and prorated agreements now in force between New Mexico and other states, operators should check with the Motor Transportation Division of the state in which their vehicles are domiciled.

For information on requirements for liability statements and ICC regulations, contact the New Mexico Public Regulations Commission, Transportation Division, P.O. Box 1269, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1269; (505) 827-4519. www.nmprc.state.nm.us/transportation/index.html

For information on motor carrier safety regulations, contact the New Mexico Motor Transportation Division, P.O. Box 1028, Santa Fe, NM  87504; (505) 827-0321. Information about highway and fuel taxes and permits is also available. WWW.NM-PRC.ORG

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