Rio Chama Gourmet Wine Pairing with Chef Jerry Dakan and Vivac Winery

River

Rio Chama

Duration

Multi Day

Minimum Age 21

Meals

yes

Price

$795

About the trip

A trip down one of the world’s great summer wilderness rivers combined with artisan meals straight from Northern New Mexico farms. Four courses prepared each evening by award winning chefs. Each course will be paired with the award winning wines from Vivac Winery. This is one of our most sought after trips each year and not to be missed!

Trip Highlights

31 miles through the Wild and Scenic Rio Chama Wilderness
Four course dinners prepared by world class chefs
Each dinner course paired and presented by award winning wine makers
A variety of crafts available to best suit your group

Where to Meet

This trip meets at Bode’s General Store, an iconic landmark in Northern New Mexico. Bode’s has offered safe parking for Rio Chama rafters for decades. Bode’s is in the heart of the artists village of Abiquiu, NM which is a mere 1 hour drive from Santa Fe and 1.25 hour drive from Taos. Plan on arriving early to enjoy their famous breakfast burritos and grab any last minute items you may be missing including beer and drinks.

For directions to Bode’s General Store click here!

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to swim?
It is recommended but not mandatory that all our guests know how to swim. All guests are given Type V, US Coast Guard approved flotation devices (lifejackets) that are designed to float you on your back, nice and high in the water. For all our class 3 and above sections on the Rio Grande, you will also be issued a helmet.

What do I need to wear?
We have packing lists for you to review for each of our different trip types. Remember that the weather changes dramatically throughout the New Mexico rafting season. It can be significantly colder during March-May we encourage our guests to always be prepared.

What if it’s my first time, do I need experience?
There is no experience required for any of our river trips. However, we encourage experience for our more difficult, Taos Box and Razorblades trips. Please feel free to call us with any concerns or questions about appropriate trips for your group.

Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, we cannot bring our furry friends on our river trips. We ask that you leave your pets at home before heading to our headquarters.

Can I leave my dog with you?
We do not have a secure area to keep your dog at our headquarters. Moreover, the temperatures get extremely hot during our season, because of this, you will NOT be able to leave your pets in your car. We ask that you leave your pets at home before heading to our headquarters.

» Read all Rafting FAQ

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REVIEWS

Fun in the Sun on the Chama! We did the three day float down the Rio Chama. We loved being out on the water with a great crew! The food was great, the scenery was spectacular. Our crew made our trip memorable as well as educational. They were the consummate professionals yet personable. Luke, Rachael, Eric and Austin worked together seamlessly. We worked like a well oiled machine. Luke was our trip leader and had a wealth of information of the area and history to share with us. He handled any situation that arose with care and diplomacy. He led us on a short hike through sagebrush and desert plant life. We had a NM folk band along with us that provided midday and evening entertainment. I was impressed with the helpful community we developed over the course of the trip where everyone pitched in to pack and unpack each day. I can't wait to take another trip with NMRA!!

Palma H
3 Day Rio Chama The 3 Day Rio Chama trip was stunning. Our guides Brenden and Jack were next level. The food was exquisite, the views were spectacular, and the people were phenomenal. I can’t wait to return to this beautiful river. If you love friends, good food, kayaking, tent camping, and a cold beer after a day in the water this is the perfect trip for you. Thank you for providing us an adventurous outlet after a long quarantine in a safe but fun manner. I highly suggest this trip to anyone looking. This is my second trip with this company and I continue to be beyond impressed with the organization, professionals, and overall experience. Also, I don’t think I ever saw my guides without a smile on their faces. What an amazing time.

Kristina W
I was looking for a "family rafting" experience for my daughter's first time rafting and New Mexico River Adventures came up in the search. We decided to go on the three day Rio Chama trip and it was fantastic. The staff was very helpful, attentive, and quick to answer any and all questions from the booking, to the COVID-19 procedures, to the day of rafting and the return. Our guides, Luke Stacy, and Eric, did an excellent job making sure we were safe, entertained, and well cared for during our time on and off the river. We had wonderful views, several hiking opportunities, and delicious meals provided and we all wouldn't hesitate to recommend New Mexico River Adventures to anyone and everyone.

Paul Uribe

WHAT TO EXPECT

Join us on the Rio Chama for the most scenic multiple day river trip in New Mexico. The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Rio Grande, in Northern New Mexico, flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls grow to 1,500 feet. This trip is a unique and amazing way to experience the world famous Rio Chama, experience remarkable artisan meals featuring food and wine from the Northern New Mexico region, and support local farming. The river runs through areas that are designated as wilderness or as wilderness study areas.

We begin the 33 mile river trip outside of the alpine town of Chama, NM and float down into a stunning and colorful sandstone and limestone canyon finishing up near the renowned artist village of Abiquiu. The upper reaches of the river are well known for the fantastic trout fishing and gorgeous pine trees lining the banks of the river. This stretch of river hides many treasures within the high reaching walls from hot springs to homesteads to ancient dinosaur tracks. We will spend two nights at camps that are right on the river’s edge and backed up by excellent opportunities for hiking and the exploration of numerous side canyons and vistas.

Each night we will experience a gourmet 4-course meal prepared by the one and only, Chef Jerry Dakan of Santa Fe . Chef Dakan is an acclaimed chef with experience in some of the most well known culinary destinations in the country. He now calls Santa Fe his home where is the lead faculty at the Santa Fe Community College Culinary School. The dinners will be paired with the wines of Vivac Winery. In November of 1998 Jesse and Chris embarked on a new mission “to make the best wine possible and have a good time doing it!” This meant professionally crafted, world-ranked, dry red wines, a first for New Mexico and are now the Highest Rated Reds in New Mexico’s History (Wine Enthusiast Magazine ratings)! Focused on complex reds, the Professional at Vivac Winery have a commitment to excellence. Using only French oak barriques and state of the art stainless steel tanks, brothers Chris and Jesse Padberg lovingly create their wines. Fresh and Young, edgy and sophisticated, Vivac offers you something out of the ordinary!

The trip includes:

World-Class guides leading trips around the globe
All river equipment
All camping gear (including ultra-comfortable, inflatable sleeping pads)
A rare peak into the beautiful canyon’s Georgia O’Keefe made famous years ago
All meals beginning with lunch on day one and ending with lunch on day 3, including gourmet 4-course Farm to Fork dinners prepared by Chef Jerry Dakan
Wine pairings from Northern New Mexico’s award winning Vivac Winery

Gallery