And we hope you will join us on a leisurely tour through historic areas surrounding the Sonora River in Mexico on March 15th – 17th, 2022.

Please join us for a leisurely and flexible 3 day, 2-night tour by South of the Border Tours motorcoach through historic areas surrounding the Sonora River in Mexico. Overnight stays are in the best hotels in Banamichi (Opata word for “ where the river turns”). Two expert guides: Bill Steen and Gary Nabhan will comment on the history of this area. The trio of Bobby Ronstadt, Liz Cerepanya and Don Armstrong will accompany us on our tour providing musical entertainment as we go. Museum staff will accompany our guides to assist with arrangements as the trip progresses.

We depart from Patagonia, in front of the Patagonia Trading Post, 317 Mckeown Avenue, at 8 am Tuesday, March 15th. From Patagonia we proceed to Nogales, stopping in the Magdalena church plaza and Cucurpe for lunch. We then arrive at Banamichi where we stay, enjoying most of our meals at La Posada del Rio Sonora, the former residence of General Padilla. Wednesday morning we explore the local towns on the Rio Sonora and visit a local ranch for lunch. Wednesday evening we enjoy local entertainment by Danza Xunutzi at an open-air plaza. On Thursday, we depart Banamichi for Arizpe, Sonora’s first capitol, and then proceed to Bacoachi for lunch, returning to Patagonia via Naco late Thursday afternoon on March 17th.

The price ($650, double occupancy, museum member) includes transportation via USA licensed motor coach, meals, meal gratuities and lodging for one person. Additional beverages will be your responsibility. There is a $50 non-member fee and a $250 single occupant surcharge due to the limited lodging available.

There are 24 seats available for this tour with double occupancy at the hotels in Banamichi. Full payment secures your seat on a first-come, first-served basis. 100% of your payment will be refunded if requested or required.

Note: You will need a current passport to enter Mexico and return to the United States. Some extended walking on uneven surfaces may be required. For additional information contact: German Quiroga at 520-343-5641 or email him at patagoniamuseumpresident@gmail.com.

Right click on this form to save it and register for the trip. Banamichi Bus Tour Registration Form March 2022

Good news! The Patagonia Museum will host our fifth fundraising and educational tour to the Rio Sonora Valley on February 18, 19 and 20. Our expert guides are Dr. Deni Seymour and Bill Steen. You can read more about their very impressive backgrounds here.  Musical entertainment will be provided by P.D. Ronstadt and The Company.

Our chartered motor coach will depart from Patagonia on Tuesday, February 18, at 8 am and will return to Patagonia on Thursday, February 20, in the late afternoon.

The price per person which includes transportation, lodging, meals and meal gratuities is $600 (double occupancy) per museum members and $650 for non-members. (As an FYI, membership into the Patagonia Museum is open to anyone who supports our work. The fee starts as low as $5 for students, $35 for individuals and $50 for households so if you are planning to go to Banamichi, it’s worth becoming a member….for that reason and a lot more.)

There is limited seating for this tour so please let us know if you plan to go  as soon as convenient. Proceeds from this fundraising event support our programs and projects.  For more info, see the Banamichi Bus Tour Flyer March 2020.

If you would like to join us, please print off the registration form and return it along with a check to PO Box 919, Patagonia, AZ 85624.

Banamichi Bus Tour Registration Form March 2020

Questions should be directed to German Quiroga at 520.343.5641 or via email: german@thepatagoniamuseum.org.

The official word: the Patagonia Museum enjoyed another educational and entertaining bus tour to Mexico. On November 9, 10 and 11, museum guests traveled to Casa Grandes, Chihuahua and Mata Ortiz.

Highlights of the tour included a picnic lunch at Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, New Mexico, a guided tour of Paquime and El Museo de las Culturas de el Norte, a pottery making demonstration in Mata Ortiz and a visit to the plaza at Viejo Casas Grandes .

Don’t take it from us…here’s what one of the participants had to say:

“Just wanted to thank you again for a great tour with wonderful people! You did a super job of getting everything organized and making adjustments when needed! Having Bobby Ronstadt along was an added bonus. Becky was also an excellent guide…..we learned so much!

The Patagonia Museum invites you to join us for our second fund-raising bus tour to Mata Ortiz on November 9, 10 and 11, 2019. We depart from Patagonia on Saturday, November 9, at 8 am. By mid-afternoon we arrive in Paquime and tour the Museo de las Culturas del Norte. We lodge and dine at the Hotel Hacienda in Nuevo Casas Grandes for 2 nights. On Sunday, we proceed to Mata Ortiz and view a pottery making demonstration, visit with several pottery makers and enjoy lunch provided by our Mata Ortiz hosts.Rebecca Orozco, a history and anthropology instructor at Cochise College and the University of Arizona, will provide commentary throughout our tour. Peter Dalton Ronstadt and Company will provide the musical entertainment during the tour. On Monday, we return through  Puerto Palomas and dine and shop at the Pink Store. We return to Patagonia by 6 pm that day.

The fee for Museum members is $550 per person (with double occupancy) and includes your transportation, lodging, entertainment and meals. There is a $50 per person surcharge for nonmembers of the museum. Membership to the museum is available to anyone interested in supporting our work and begins at $5 for students, $35 for individuals and $50 for families.

Please click on the link below to download the Tour Registration form that needs to be returned along with your check.