What a great experience on our Far Flung jeep tour. Our three hours was led by Reed who provided us…read moreexceptional information. He was knowledgeable and engaging throughout. I highly recommend this experience!

Such a great experience. All the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Can't wait to make it a…read more2 day overnight trip!!

Really fun trip cruising 19miles down the Santa Elena canyon. Our trip was only confirmed a day…read moreprior because this particular trip has water dependency, since the water had been low so they couldn't tell if we were able to do it. But there was a heavy rain two days before our trip so we were very lucky to be able to do this. The booking is very easy, receptionist always returns your call. And our tour guy is so funny and kept us entertained all day. We didn't have to do anything just sit back and enjoy the view, he does all the work for us. There are small rapids but nothing would rock the boat. Highly recommend this route since you are cruising through international river and one side is Mexico one side of the canyon is America. It's just amazing to see the canyon from the water and with changing scenery throughout the whole trip.

Just finished our canoe trip down the Rio Grande with our guide Therese - she was very…read moreprofessional, knowledgeable and a joy to have as our guide. Great afternoon float, river was low but very enjoyable.

Erin and Eric were great guides! The whole experience was a joy. The guides were knowledgeable and…read morefunny, and experts in shepherding a group of people who varied wildly in their boating experience. You could tell the owners and guides had a passion for what they do! Eric told great and humorous stories on the drive to the put-in, and we learned a lot about the area. Ditto on the return trip. The float was a hoot, and the scenery incredible. We did a half-day trip, but we felt that the time just flew by. Next time we'll do a whole-day trip for sure. They also gave great recommendations on food and other trips in the Terlingua/Big Bend area. This is a well-run operation, and everything went smoothly. We give our strongest possible recommendations! Don't miss this adventure!

We had an amazing time!! All our guides did an outstanding job and were exceptionally…read moreknowledgeable. You can truly tell they love their jobs and their excitement rubs off on you. It was a treasure to experience this beautiful landscape. Highly, highly recommend. If you come all the way to Big Bend, please do the river trip.

Well I have to throw my hat in as number seven that gives Marcos, and Rio Aviation top marks. We…read morewere a bit late, due to bad GPS guidance. A quick call to Marcos and we were back on track. When we got to the airport Marcos was waiting for us and waved us in. After exchanging salutations and going over the regulations, we were off. With great information, and amazing views the one hour flight was pure delight for my family, and I. We are already talking about doing it again when we come back to this area.

Definitely a "must do" if you're in Study Butte/Terlingua!!! Weather is always a factor when…read moreflying, and Marcos was so accommodating to make sure the conditions were just right for the flight. Had to switch days, which we had flexibility to do. Marcos Paredes definitely puts his knowledge as a former park ranger to use. Very professional, knowledgeable, and a fount of information about the area. And a great pilot on top of that. An hour flight would be fun, but so glad we opted for two hours.

It was a long shot, but I dropped by because I'd broken my front brake hours before leaving for a…read moretrip where I planned to MTB for several days in Lajitas and the State Park. The owner found a used 4 piston brake in the back that got the job done and sold it to me for more than a fair price. But tangent to that, he volunteered a wealth of knowledge about the local trails. A true enthusiast of his trade.

Knowledgeable steady source of equipment for the adventures of a lifetime. Kind good humored chill…read morefolks.

It was really cool! The landscape was beautiful and the narrative was very informative! Would…read morehighly recommend!

Our guide Marcos was so knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area. He is a retired…read morepark ranger, a pilot, paramedic, trail rider and search & rescuer. He had some great stories to tell that made the day even better. Fascinating guy, we were so lucky to meet him!

My husband and I made a trip out to Big Bend National Park before the Texas summer heat.....but it…read morewas unfortunately unseasonably hot this year. The dessert was beautiful and the park as a whole was very well taken care of! Old Mine Trail: Since we went around "Spring Break", the parking lot was very busy and spaces were limited. I would recommend downloading the "All Trails" app to gauge how busy the trails are. By 7:30, all the spots in the small parking lot were already taken. The trail itself was very well managed. Although the parking lot was busy, the trail was not bad! We were pretty spaced out between hikers! Take lots of water and snacks! The views up top are spectacular. Star Gazing: We were at Sotol Vista (for panoramic stars). The stars were especially beautiful inside the park because there was no light pollution (aside from the headlights from passing cars down below us).

I once hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and spent a few nights camping down there. While…read moredown there, an elderly man easily every bit of 70 years old asked me if it was my 1st time down at the bottom. I told him that it was and asked him if it was his 1st time. He chuckled and said, "No this is my Sanctuary". After my 3rd visit to Big Bend in 12 years, I think Big Bend may be my sanctuary. Big Bend is in the middle of nowhere. You do not just stumble upon Big Bend; it is a planned destination. You won't find a Gatlinburg like town next to it or an exit sign off the interstate saying 8 miles from here. It's miles from anything. The type of place you don't pass a gas station, and you carry a case of water in the vehicle. We have hiked various trails before and canoed Santa Elena Canyon, but I will focus on the trails we hiked this visit. Note: I have only done day hiking here, so no Insite in this review about backpacking although I would love to at some point. We started off at the visitor's center at Panther Junction as everyone should do in my opinion. Rangers can give you up to the minute updates like telling us the Hot Springs road was still closed because of a flood this past July (2025). She said we could still hike it but it would add an additional 4 miles (2 each way) to our trip. Good Insite. Our 1st hike was a short one in Boquillas Canyon. It was a short 1.4-mile round trip up a small cliff and back down to the Rio Grande river. It was an extremely easy hike that anyone who can walk can do. we then did a forementioned Hot Springs hike. This is a very cool spot with old, abandoned buildings from a time when the area was a resort. There is still a hot spring alongside the river that had people soaking as we walked past. The only downfall of the area was it still hadn't been repaired since the flood, so picnic tables were under sand, and I don't want to tell you what the bathroom looked like. The next day we did the Window Trail and it's a 5.6 miles hike right in the middle of the Chisos Basin. This one was I guess I would call moderate, but I am also an overweight old fart. It's really not bad except if it's hot out because you will be in the direct sun and the small number of switchbacks on your return trip. Other than that, the views are gorgeous. Just don't slide off the rocks at the "window", it's a long way down. The last hike we did was the Grapevine Hill's Trail aka The Balanced Rock. This one is a little more challenging to get to as you have to drive miles down a dirt road that is a little rocky. You don't need a 4-wheel drive, just don't be a speed demon. The hike itself is short, 2.2 miles each way and 95 percent of it is easy. The last little bit is a rock scramble up to see the balanced rock. It is worth it. Amazing views. We had the whole area to ourselves for most of the hike but saw lots of people on the way back so go early. Big Bend is amazing but requires some planning. Don't wing it. Bring lots of water and be smart. Cell service is limited but a lot better than 13 years ago.

A great way to spend a day in Big Bend! Our original goal…read morewas rafting but due to the low level of the Rio Grande, we ended up in canoes instead. John was our guide down the river and we had so much fun! We stopped by the hot springs for a swim before eating lunch. Then John took us on a short walk to see the remains of an old resort and hieroglyphics on the walls of the cliffs. Our trip then continued down the river through a series of rapids and into the canyons. John was great at pointing out wildlife and other points of interest along the way. We also enjoyed seeing the horses that come up on the side of the river that borders Mexico. If you have more than one day to spend in Big Bend, I highly recommend taking a trip down the Rio Grande with Big Bend River Tours. If you are lucky enough to get John for your tour guide, then you are guaranteed to have a great float!