We had such an amazing time rafting with Kokopelli. Our guide, Judah, was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and how to move through all of the rapids. This was my first time rafting and I definitely want to go again. This company is very professional and I'd choose them over a lot of the others in the area. If you want a safe adventure, choose kokopelli! read more

Brooklyn was the best guide ever it was really fun and I can not wait to go rafting again soon and i recommend it to every one its fun for the family read more

Took the kids white water rafting down the Rio Grande Racecourse. Our 6 year old was scared at first, but our guide, Jack, talked to her and made her feel better. Both our kids ended up loving it and wanting to go more! Jack from Kokopelli Rafting Adventures was knowledgeable, experienced, safe, and fun... perfect for our family! He even brought a snorkel and blow up alligator so he could do a trick for the kids at the end. read more

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These guys are incredible. Safe. Professional. Equipped perfectly. I did trip w my children and it was perfect. I hope to make two trips this summer. I highly recommend Kokopelli. read more

We had a group of 11 scouts kelly the owner was one of our guides. It was an awesome trip class I,II and III rapids. We ran the rsce course good for beginners and novices kelly incorporsted some activities which made it fun for the scouts. Thanks kelly and team read more

We took our Scout Troop rafting with Kokopelli last summer. It was during our Epic Western Adventure, 3700 miles in 9 days. Most of our Troop had made Eagle and we were looking for something other than Summer Camp to keep the boys Scouting. Kokopelli was awesome, the boys were ready to go again when we got off the river, even though there was a short class V portion, they felt confident. The guides we had for the trip were great, gave good concise safety and rafting instructions before we hit the river, and had great attitudes. Would definitely recommend booking a trip with Kokopelli for a Scout Troop with older Scouts to keep them Scouting. If we make it out that way again, we will book the Taos Box full day trip. read more

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I usually have a great time whenever I get to explore the outdoors, particularly on the water, but this experience was not fun. I attended their half-day racecourse alone, hoping to meet some cool people and enjoy the Rio Grande. Instead, I was made to feel pretty isolated, not only by the other people on my raft but also by the guides. The other people in the raft were three members of a larger family on the trip and they actually vocalized that they would have preferred me not be on their boat. They would have rather had been put with the rest of the family, said Elizabeth. That really made me feel welcomed. They then proceeded to ignore me throughout the trip. The two guides shared information about the river and socialized with the group. But out of the two guides, one showed a lot of favoritism to the group of three in the boat with his eye contact and attention and brushed me off whenever I tried to participate meaningfully in the conversation. He kept giving me one-word answers to my questions and comments and then went back to socializing with the others as if I had not said anything. The other guide actually had some interesting stories and comments to make about the nature on the river, but mostly just told his stories as monologues. Overall, the two of them did very little to put me at ease or help me feel included in a group that I was already made the one-off in. I've been in ski classes and tennis classes where I had a lot of fun, felt like a part of the conversation, and got to be myself. It helped when the instructors had a good sense of people and knew how to include everyone. Not the case here. read more

I took my children, ages 17, 16, 15, 13, on Kokopelli's Half-Day Racecourse last month on the Rio Grande just north of Santa Fe. It was the kids first time rafting. Our guide was Billy. His knowledge, skill and sense of humor - and the breathtaking beauty - immediately set the tone for an afternoon of adventure and fun. In this season of pandemic, I highly recommend this outdoor experience your children will remember for years to come. read more

Kokopelli Rafting Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

We had a great rafting trip down the Rio Grande today. Our guide, Wren, was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable of the river and the rapids. He told great stories about the area, knew the names of all of the rocks, rapids, and was just a really pleasant young man. I would highly recommend Kokopelli for rafting and if you have a choice get Wren as your guide! read more

Had a great time on 8/1 rafting the RIo Grande with this crew. Every guide was super cool and knowledgeable, and the positive vibe between guides and groups created a great experience. Alexis, AKA "giggles" had a great time as our guide but also worked really hard as we did get stuck a few times. Overall a great experience with a great organization and a perfect outdoor activity to escape the current environment. read more

This was our first time rafting and needed something calmer for our 11 year old daughter. Found Kokopelli Rafting online and booked the family float before we came out from Illinois. The comments on the guides convinced me to book. We were not disappointed. They picked us up 10 minutes early. They were able to rearrange plans for another family with no hassles. Then we were on our way. Wren was our guide. He went over the safety guidelines. Made sure we knew what to do and was very patient with getting us started. He was extremely personable and very knowledgeable about rafting and the river. We couldn't of asked for a better guide. Thank you Wren for a fantastic experience and for the swim in the Rio Grande. Opportunity of a life time. read more

Well, the reviews from almost two full years ago still hold up. We went on the Taos Box trip yesterday and it was a blast. Obviously the rapids are fun, but more importantly, the guides are knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and incredibly capable of both guiding a novice team who may never have met before through class IV rapids, AND of handling potentially dangerous situations. One of the boats in front of us did get pinned to a rock, but with no hesitation, Ian, our guide, and Justin who was in the lead boat, got the worried rafters to safety and pulled the stuck raft off of the rock. They both showed incredible poise, and we were back on our way very quickly, and everyone got to the end safely, with smiles on their faces. They told me on the way out, that if you ask for a particular guide on the next trip, you save 10%! Ask for Ian, he was awesome. read more

The manager was extremely nice and helpful. They have had to make certain adjustments due to the New Mexico Covid related orders but are doing the very best they can. Would definitely recommend if you are in Santa Fe and have children over 4 years old read more

When in Santa Fe, it's a pretty good bet to spend as much time in nature as you possibly can. And when you get to the point where you want to see the Rio Grande, take a ride with the folks at Kokopelli. You'll have a really great time. We met the group and got completely equipped with helmets, life vests and paddles. Our guide was just a little shy but very knowledgeable about the area and the river. We got a brief description of what to expect, how to navigate and some safety tips and then we were off. Halfway down the river, we got out and took a quick swim, all the time slightly in awe that we were just swimming in the Rio Grande. They've got an awesome, friendly and informed staff who will show you a wonderful time. I can't recommend this experience enough! read more

"It's clean up here. Down by Albuquerque? I wouldn't swim in it." That was an assessment of the quality of the Rio Grande waters by our rafting instructor as I swam away from the raft, letting the late summer current carry me downstream. In late summer this river is a breeze, most points don't qualify for stage 3 rapids and few compete beyond total amateur. Not a problem for us, as the family was looking for an especially safe adventure. We found it, and the instructors at Kokopelli made the day a breeze. Rule number one about a rafting trip with these people: If you want a challenge, go during the spring and if you want to relax, aim for mid to late-summer. Kokopelli rafting will generally handle all of the basics: they have the rafts, vests and paddles. You should arrive sun-screened with a trusty pair of shoes that won't fall off in the water, and a water bottle or two might help. If you honestly put effort into the maneuvering of the craft over the three or so hours of your adventure, you'll be shot in the end, and this is where I choose to impart my critique. First off, and most importantly, good ride. Informational. Fun. Scenic, even. Second: At the end, feed me! I know, okay, I get it that some of the crew won't work very during the trip, but I did and by the end of the ride I was famished. As we rounded the final stretch we were told there would be a "snack"; it turned out to be tortilla chips, salsa, apple slices and Oreo cookies. Seriously? That's it? Essentially, my review hinges on the professionalism of the staff, which made the grade, and the sustenance provided when we finished--totally disappointed. So hey, Kokopelli, howbout a better lunch? read more

We booked a half day rafting trip and ended up having a family emergency at the last minute. Brandon from Kokopelli was extremely kind and helpful, and worked with us to find a great solution for all of us. We are so grateful and will ABSOLUTELY rebook with them the next time we are in Santa Fe. read more

Took the Taos Box trip yesterday, with Justin as our guide. The river was running at ~600 cfs. We had 6 people on one raft. The rapids were up to Class IV. The geology is basalt. The weather was mostly sunny and warm. There were 3 rapids, in particular, that provided some very memorable thrills. The trip was easy to book. The gear was in shape. The drive to the put-it location takes about 90 mins. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the region and the river. He covered all aspects of river safety and got us working together as a team on the water. Lunch was fresh and tasty. They store a big umbrella, hidden in the rocks along the shore, to provide a nice shade at the food table. A completely enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Highest recommendation. read more

An awesome adventure that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Our guide was great. He was full of information and put us at ease with his friendly personality and five years of experience. Be sure to ask for Richie. read more

I don't know how this owner Kelly gets away with treating his customers like trash. I brought back the rental sups 2 days earlier than planned. He said I couldn't return it on Sunday another $50 but I'll get a refund at least the guy renting the gear said that's not a problem just talk to the owner. I spoke to him and he said that even since I brought it back early that was in the allotted time so no refund. I asked about a credit? Nope this owner needs a lesson in customer service. Do yourself a favor and go to Embudo to a friendly rafting service. read more

Couldn't have asked for a better experience with my 9 and 11 year old! My kids keep telling everyone about the bridge we paddled under and the rock they got to jump off into the Rio Grande. So much fun for us novices to tackle the rapids. read more

Even with the river very low they made the morning trip so enjoyable for the family. Very professional and very polite Thanks for a good trip read more

We did the Taos Box trip with Kokopelli and were extremely happy with our overall experience. The guides were super friendly and knowledgable, the trip overall was very organized and the rapids exceeded my expectations (primarily class IV with a fair ammount of floating at the beginning but pretty much non-stop rapid action for the last 30 minutes). We hit the water in the end of May- and it was still cold enough that they provided us will full wet-suits and splash gear (which I was thankful for since we were definitly not prepared for the cold weather). I also really liked that they were flexible about the pick up and drop off point- since we were headed to Taos they picked us up halfway between Taos and Santa Fe. Totally professional from start to finish- from the tasty lunch to their huge number of combined years of experience on the river and the pictures we were able to order online when we got home. read more

Kokopelli Rafting Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

I always find it so overwhelming to decide on a rafting guide company with so many options. Each of the companies operated on various portions of the Taos River so I ended up basically drawing from a hat. I was really pleased that I chose Kokopelli Rafting. The team was very professional and accommodating. They kept the whole group entertained with a good sense of humor, a vault of good stories and tons of energy to motivate the group. The lower Taos Box trip provided a really great adventure - a solid portion at the end was consistent rapids, which is hard to come across. I would definitely book another trip with this company. read more

Kokopelli's overnight on the Rio Chama will forever be one of my best memories. The surroundings are gorgeous and Kokopelli's staff is terrific. I have taken this trip twice and plan to do it again next year. The staff is knowledgable, professional, flexible and fun. Our guide, Tori, deftly steered our raft even as we goofed off, while providing interesting insights into the geography and history of the area. They let us stop and hike even though their day was much longer than they planned. They cooked us some great meals while one of the rafters entertained us with his guitar by the fire. My sister came along even though she was afraid of nature's dangers. Tori and the rest of the staff made her feel so safe and comfortable, she wants to go again. read more

Amazing first trip river rafting. Family of four and a very weary wife had an amazing afternoon on the river. The entire staff was extremely professional and knowledgeable, I cannot wait to book Kokopelli again the next chance we get! I highly recommend it! read more

First time rafting with kokopelli. We previously used los Rios river runners. They were sold out for the box. We had a great time with Wren, our guide. The water was at a 10 year high at 4200 cfm. Wren navigated is beautifully through all the big rapids. Thanks for a great trip. Lunch was also great. Only thing we missed that we enjoy on los Rios trips was some watermelon slices! It was nice doing the river in a smaller and more intimate group. We had three boats in total. Will raft with kokopelli again! read more

My son and I had a great experience white water rafting with Kokopelli. Avery was a great guide and it was an amazing day. This was my third time to go rafting but definitely my favorite!! read more

We love river rafting..... actually anything water related. We can't fault them for the river being a little low. Our first impression went down the tube fast as they were about 45 minutes late than our scheduled meeting time. They kindly explained why they were late, so it wasn't so bad. The ride from the parking lot to the top of the river was really hot and bumpy. Not so easy to sign a waiver in a bumpy van. We had a really good guide (Elisha) and had a nice, enjoyable experience. Got kinda interesting when we had to rescue a duckie paddler, but everyone came out ok. read more

This was our first time rafting and we did the full day Lower Gorge trip with Chase. Kokopelli was very professional from booking through our return to Santa Fe. They answered all of our questions and maintained great communication with us. Even better was rafting with Chase! Sometimes you can tell when someone is passionate about what they do. Chase is that person. He has a wealth of knowledge about the area, the river, and of course rafting. It all comes through in his excitement to share knowledge with others and ensure a safe, fun trip for everyone. My husband and I were paired with two other couples we hadn't met, but we all worked great together and had fun under Chase's guidance. We can't wait to go back for the Taos Box with Chase! Thank you Kokopelli and especially to Chase. Keep the passion! read more

I rafted with these guys two weeks in a row--once with my 60 year old parents, and again with my 25 year old friends. I did the full-day trip and the half day trip, and both were fantastic. These guys were totally professional but also laid back and easy-going. They answered any questions we had on the phone and made the entire experience fool-proof. Our guide was Billy, who was full of amazing bad jokes and knowledge about the flora and fauna of our area. He was great at putting people at ease and made the trip lots of fun. The snacks and lunch weren't gourmet, but after a few hours of paddling on the river, even a cold-cut sandwich with chips and salsa is delicious. Go with Kokopelli! You won't be disappointed! read more

We did the all day Rio Chama rafting trip last week and it was fantastic! Our guide was Chase Leal and he was so fun and proficient. Safety came first and we all really appreciated that a lot. He had great knowledge of the river and wanted to make sure we had the best day we could have on the river. He is a real asset to that company and anyone that gets him as their guide will be very lucky! Such a great time and memory. Thanks Kokopelli Rafting and thank you Chase for making us want to do more rafting in the future. The Hensley`s read more

Awesome outfitter! We did the full day on the Chama. Gorgeous section of river with a few nice rapids. Relaxing, for sure. Guides Chase and Alexis were great! Alexis is the happiest person I've ever encountered. Chase made the class 2 rapids fun for the kids who were bummed the gorge trip was not an option for them. read more

We had a fantastic day of rafting today! Billy, Yates and Joe were awesome - they know their stuff and are super cool. We had a group of 14 made up of kids and adults for a full day including lunch. The lunch was great and they accommodated a few vegetarians that were in our group. Highly recommend Kokopelli Rafting!! read more

Wow my friends and I had a great time rafting Taos Box canyon on the Rio Grande. It was my first white water rafting experience. It seemed like it might be overwhelming at first, but our guide, Ren, gave clear, helpful instructions. His knowledge of the river made the challenging parts fun. read more

Took my 5 and 7 year olds on a float down the Rio Grande in a mellow part of the river. We had a good time. They were a bit scared, and my eldest freaked out when he jumped in and the water was so cold. The water was cold. My youngest enjoyed being the captain for a while. When we were done we had a snack of an apple, salsa and chips and Oreos. Andrea was a pleasant and tolerant guide. Beautiful setting. I want to know more about the river spirits. read more

We did the Taos Box guided tour over the weekend. The staff was super friendly and our guide, Billy, was extremely helpful. Before we started, the staff checked our equipment to make sure it fit properly and gave us instructions on what to do while in the boat. I had never been rafting before and was a little nervous but Billy gave very precise instructions on what to do which made me instantly feel more comfortable. He did a great job at keeping our boat's energy up, had a good sense of humor and was very knowledgable about the river and it's history. I would recommend this company (with Billy as a guide) to anyone in Santa Fe! read more

My whole family of five just went rafting here and it's fun. 3/5 family members fell out of the raft and we helped them back on the raft. My family survived our third rafting trip. When you get there you sign a waiver then drive one hour to the river. After that you put on your life vest and helmet. When that's done you learn how to row and catch people who fall in the water. Our tour guide Damon gave us pointers on how to row properly. The guide is the steering wheel and we are the engine. If you fall in the water your teammates help you not the guide. You have to be strong to go rafting. Damon is a great tour guide person so we gave him a good tip. Also you should bring towels and an extra set of clothes because you will be very wet. The best spot to sit is the middle right side because you are less likely to fall in the water. I sat there and didn't fall in. I would recommend you come here because you will have a great time. read more

This is the 3rd year we've gone rafting with Kokopelli. It was an incredible experience as always! Jesse was our guide and she did a phenomenal job! We will be recommending her when we make our next reservation! Great job! read more

I recently did the Taos Box day trip and let me tell you, it was quite the day! You are instructed to meet at their office at 1501 Maclovia at 7:45. Get there sharp as you don't want to delay the 2 hour (!) drive to the starting point. The two hour drive needs to be better advertised as most of my raft-mates were surprised to learn it would take that long to get there. Fortunately, we stop off along the way at a visitor center to stretch and get some air. The starting point is at Ojo Caliente. There are about 3 rafts per trip that fit 6-8 people. My guides this day were Tori and Avery. Tori was the senior guide and was terrific. She made everyone feel comfortable but also knew the 17 mile stretch like it was her backyard. So, the first 12 miles are generally Class 3 Rapids. Lots of floating, so much so that I was considering asking for a refund! After a nice shore lunch, we enter the Rio Bravo portion of the tour. The final 5 miles are simply incredible! Each rapid has a particular name which makes it even more fun. We didn't lose anyone and one of their competitors "dump-trucked" at the final "Sunset" rapid which is a beast. At the end, people are generally ready to head back home. On that note, they should consider having someone available to transport everyone home without having to wait for the guides to load all the gear, etc., which could easily take another 30 minutes. The drive home is still a good hour, so plan on arriving back at the office at 5:00PM. All in all, a great tour by a dedicated group of guides. Can't wait to do it again. read more

Be careful on booking this trip. We had to cancel 6 weeks prior to our reservation and they only refunded 80% of the fees. Their contract says 5 days prior to trip is a service fee of 20%. Nothing is written or mentioned about ALL CANCELLATIONS have a service fee. RIP OFF!!! read more