nvkhkhr
Prime VIP
Cowboys and Aliens, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Easy Rider, The Missing, Employee of the Month/ are just a few of the movies filmed in New Mexico
With North America's world-famous Route 66 slicing through New Mexico, it's no wonder that the state has long attracted visitors keen to get a taste of the ‘real' America - the US of cowboys and Indians, scenic hiking trails, deserted mining towns and the legendary winding Rio Grande.
And Jon Favreau's latest flick, the Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford-starring Cowboys and Aliens, is the latest in a long line of films to use the incredible landscape of New Mexico as a movie backdrop, joining the likes of Young Guns, City Slickers and 3:10 To Yuma in bringing ye olde wild, wild west to modern audiences.
For visitors, the Plaza Blanca in Rio Arriba should be number one on your must-visit list. ‘The White Place', a natural wonder of sandstone cliffs, spires and Mother Nature-twisted rocks, provides an otherwordly experience, with the best time to visit being the late afternoon, when the rocks give off a golden glow. Here, rather surprisingly, you'll also find the stunning Dar al Islam mosque, built in 1981 by Egyptian architect, Hassan Fathi, adding further majesty to the awe-inspiring surroundings.
A trip down the Rio Grande is another peaceful way to take in your surroundings, with both day and overnight trips available. Drift through the Boquillas and Mariscal canyons, where the canyon walls rise up to 365 metres above you, and you'll find yourself stumbling across relics of the past at every twist and turn, including the remains of the Candelilla wax mining camps; a word of warning though, check with Park Rangers if you're not planning your Rio Grande trip through a tour guide, as driving and canoeing restrictions apply.
The scenery's the star
Scenic highways and byways abound across New Mexico, both for hikers and drivers alike. Try the Abo Pass Trail, a unique route through the Salt Missions with incredible views across the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, where, if you're lucky, you'll catch sight of mountain lions, bears and bald eagles. Alternatively, the beautifully named, Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, takes you through the ghost town that is Elizabethtown, past the author D.H. Lawrence's former ranch at Questa, and up into the high alpine Moreno Valley, which boasts some of the most spectacular peaks in the state.
Finally, pick up the ‘Trail of the Ancients', a series of treks that will take you to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, past centuries-old petroglyphs, Aztec ruins, and the ‘Cities of Gold' as sought by Coronado.
Destination New Mexico
Filmed there Cowboys and Aliens, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Easy Rider, The Missing, Employee of the Month
Celeb fans Christian Bale, Jessica Simpson, Russell Crowe
Fly there…Etihad flies to NYC. Then connect to Albuquerque with American Airlines. Visit etihadairways.com and aa.com for schedules.
Stay here…
Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa
Set amid 450 acres of the Tesuque Valley in northern New Mexico, nestles the century-old Bishop's Lodge, from which you'll be perfectly placed to immerse yourself in a traditional outdoors lifestyle. Enjoy horse-riding, hiking and mountain biking along the many trails, before spending your afternoons relaxing at the spa, which features Native American-inspired treatments, before settling down for an evening in front of the traditional kiva fireplace under the stars, whilst tucking into the Nuevo Ranchero cuisine.
