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Blue Sky Adventures

New Mexico Ultimate Adventure
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Volcano Views, Desert Culture, and River Thrills Before Philmont

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The Ultimate Adventure in New Mexico blends natural wonders, regional heritage, and Scout-ready excitement into one unforgettable pre-Philmont journey. Start with a hike among ancient volcanic cones in Albuquerque’s West Mesa, then explore frontier history, atomic science, and panoramic mountain vistas. Follow it with an immersive Native American-led experience at Puye Cliffs and whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande. With great food, hotel fun, and time to acclimate to elevation, this tour is a perfect launchpad for your trek!

Overview

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Overview

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Map

1. Albuquerque International Sunport

2200 Sunport Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA

2. Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown

2600 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA

3. Volcano Ranch Park

Volcano Ranch Park, Albuquerque, NM 87121, USA

4. Old Town

Old Town, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA

5. Frontier Restaurant

2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA

6. National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

601 Eubank Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA

7. Sandia Peak Tramway

30 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122, USA

8. Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM, USA

9. Puye Cliff Dwellings

NM 30 and NM 5, Santa Clara Canyon Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

10. Rio Grande River Trail

Unnamed Road, Albuquerque, NM 87105, USA

11. Philmont Scout Ranch

Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico 87714, USA

Arrival Day

Acclimation
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Arrive in Albuquerque, relax at the hotel, explore nearby shops and entertainment, and enjoy dinner at your own pace.

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Flight

  • Arrive by 5 PM to begin your stay in Albuquerque! Welcome to New Mexico!

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Transport

  • Pick up at the Albuquerque International Airport and transport to the hotel. Get your custom Blue Sky Adventures water bottle!

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Lunch

  • Lunch – A Scout is Hungry! We will have a bag lunch waiting for you on the vehicle. This gives you the flexibility to overcome potential travel delays and helps ensure ample time for sightseeing on your arrival day.

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Sheraton Uptown

  • Check in at the hotel where there’s lots to do (pool, gift shop, computer center, fitness center, ping pong, and basketball).

  • Spend the afternoon poolside or play board games, ping-pong or basketball with your crew and other Scouts from all over the country--this is some Scout trip!

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Dinner

  • To give you maximum flexibility on your arrival day, we will provide $10 cash per person for your group to have dinner at your own pace. Choose from Chipotle, Five Guys, Jimmy Johns, Blaze Pizza or any number of other restaurants nearby. All within a 5 minute walk of the hotel!

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Quiet Evening

  • Enjoy some free time! Walk to the movie theatre, Dave & Busters, or pick up any last minute items you need for the trail. This is a terrific location!

Explore New Mexico

Day 2
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Hike Albuquerque’s volcanoes, explore the Atomic Museum, ride the Sandia tram, and take in views from the mountaintop Stone Hut.

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Breakfast

  • Rise and Shine! Your tour with Blue Sky Adventures starts early!

  • Hot, all you can eat breakfast buffet at hotel-waffles, eggs, sausage, bacon, Danish, juice, cereal, fresh fruit and more!

  • Early morning rendezvous with your Blue Sky Adventures tour guide at the hotel. Your tour guide will be with you all day to make sure everything is fun and happens as it is supposed to and will bring New Mexico “alive” with stories of local legends, history and culture. Your tour guide is the difference maker on a Blue Sky tour compared to anything you can do yourself!

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Volcano Park

  • Start the day with a 2.5-mile hike at Volcano Park, part of Petroglyph National Monument on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. This park is home to three ancient cinder cone volcanoes formed over 150,000 years ago. The scenic trail loops around the volcanic peaks, offering sweeping views of the Rio Grande Valley, the Sandia Mountains, and the city below. Along the way, Scouts can explore fascinating lava rock formations and learn about the powerful geological forces that shaped this unique landscape—a true hands-on Scout adventure!

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Rio Grande Hike

  • Followed by a trip to the Rio Grande, where you’ll take a one-mile hike through the shaded bosque—a lush riverside forest teeming with cottonwood trees, wildlife, and serene views of the river.

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Breaking Bad

  • Head to the Country Club neighborhood for a fun TV and movie tour, with a special focus on Breaking Bad—a favorite among both leaders and scouts.

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Old Town

  • Continue to Old Town for a guided 30-minute walking tour, where you’ll discover its historic adobe buildings, charming plaza, and rich Southwestern heritage. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to browse the unique shops, galleries, and local boutiques.

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Lunch

  • Lunch at the world-famous Frontier Restaurant just across from the University of New Mexico. Try the green chile cheeseburger or the Frontier Burrito. Be sure to add a Sweet Roll to share with your fellow Scouts. They are delicious!!

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National Atomic Museum

  • A visit to the National Atomic Museum. Learn about the Manhattan Project and see replicas of the bombs that ended World War II. See the plane that dropped the bomb and climb into the control tower of the first nuclear submarine. This is a cool place for sure!!

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Sandia Peak

  • Trip to the top of Sandia Peak; a breath-taking ride on the world’s longest aerial cable car to the 11,000-foot mountain peak.

  • At the summit of Sandia Peak, we will hike about a mile along the mountain ridge to the “Stone Hut” built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This is a fantastic hike with unparalleled vistas of the Rio Grande Valley and it provides a great way to quickly acclimate to the affects of higher elevations. What a great way to help get ready for the rigors of your Philmont trek!

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Relax at the Hotel

  • Return to the hotel in Albuquerque where there’s lots to do (pool, gift shop, computer center, fitness center, ping pong, and basketball).

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Dinner

  • Dinner is good food and lots of it! An “all you can eat” buffet.

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Sheraton Uptown

  • Spend the evening poolside or play board games, ping-pong or basketball with your crew and other Scouts from all over the country--this is some Scout trip!

Explore New Mexico (Part II)

Day 3
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Discover Santa Fe’s heritage and climb Puye Cliffs with a Native American guide before whitewater rafting the Rio Grande.

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Breakfast

  • Hot, all you can eat full breakfast buffet - eggs, sausage, fresh fruit and more!

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Santa Fe

  • Walking tour of Santa Fe, the second oldest city in the US. See the historic State Capitol, Santa Fe Plaza and the Santa Fe Trail Journeys End memorial.

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Puye Cliffs

  • Experience Native American culture first hand as you climb up the ancient trails of Puye Cliffs and visit the 900 year old ruins at the top of the mesa. Led by a Native American guide this is a truly unique and hands on experience!

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Lunch

  • Box lunch at scenic Puye on the porch of the historic Harvey House.

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White Water Rafting

  • Hold on tight for whitewater rafting on the “Racecourse” section of the Rio Grande River! Conditions permitting, scouts will raft in one and two-man rubber “fun yaks”!

  • After rafting it’s time for snacks and cold drinks for all!

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Dinner

  • Dinner! A Scout is Hungry!

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Sheraton Uptown

  • Return to hotel in Albuquerque where the fun doesn’t stop!

  • Spend the evening poolside or play board games, pingpong or basketball with your crew and other Scouts from all over the country--this is some Scout trip!

Off to Philmont

Day 4
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Refuel with a hearty breakfast and travel to Philmont aboard the Blue Sky Express.

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Breakfast

  • Hot, all you can eat full breakfast buffet - eggs, sausage, fresh fruit and more!

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Before You Go

  • Review your homebound departure day pick up procedures and get your Blue Sky Adventures “give-a-ways and advisor tips” to make your trek even better.

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Scout Me In

  • All aboard the Blue Sky Express! You will be at Philmont by 10:00 AM.

Departure Day

Back Home
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Leave Philmont early and arrive at Albuquerque International Airport in time for afternoon flights.

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Scout Me Out

  • Depart Philmont on the 7:30 AM Blue Sky Express. Exact departure time may change based on our transportation schedule. We will confirm exact time once your flight is finalized.

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Flight

  • Arrive Albuquerque International by 11:30 AM. Departure flight must leave after 1 PM.

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