TumacÁCori National Historical Park Tours
TumacÁCori National Historical Park
These historic desert structures are set against a backdrop of rolling mountains in the historic Pimería Alta or "Land of the Upper Pimas," an area that includes much of present-day southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.
The Tumacácori and Guevavi missions were first established by famous Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in the late 1600s, and were later expanded upon by Franciscan missionaries. The ruins of the Tumacácori mission are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, entrance fees apply for persons 16 years of age and older. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Tumacácori mission grounds (booklets and audio tours available). Guided tours are available January through March.
Guevavi and Calabazas missions can only be visited while on a ranger guided tour. Participants in these special tours learn about the history of the structures and the lives of those who lived there centuries ago.
A 4.5 mile (7.2 km) stretch of the famous Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, also known as the Anza Trail, extends from Tumacácori to the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. The trail follows the river through the shade of Mesquite, Hackberry, Elderberry, Cottonwood and Willow trees.
The riparian environment (wetlands adjacent to rivers or streams) along the Santa Cruz River , the mesquite bosque and surrounding desert scrub environments within the park provide shelter for more than 200 species of birds, making birding a popular activity for visitors.
Other animals take refuge in the park including coyotes, javelina and raccoons, twenty-four documented species of reptiles and amphibians and notable insects such as the giant mesquite bug, tarantula, tarantula hawk and velvet ant.
Tumacácori is in the upper regions of the Sonoran Desert. It is warm and dry most of the year. Temperatures will reach the high 90s and low 100s during some days in the summer months.
These historic desert structures are set against a backdrop of rolling mountains in the historic Pimería Alta or "Land of the Upper Pimas," an area that includes much of present-day southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.
The Tumacácori and Guevavi missions were first established by famous Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in the late 1600s, and were later expanded upon by Franciscan missionaries. The ruins of the Tumacácori mission are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, entrance fees apply for persons 16 years of age and older. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Tumacácori mission grounds (booklets and audio tours available). Guided tours are available January through March.
Guevavi and Calabazas missions can only be visited while on a ranger guided tour. Participants in these special tours learn about the history of the structures and the lives of those who lived there centuries ago.
A 4.5 mile (7.2 km) stretch of the famous Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, also known as the Anza Trail, extends from Tumacácori to the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. The trail follows the river through the shade of Mesquite, Hackberry, Elderberry, Cottonwood and Willow trees.
The riparian environment (wetlands adjacent to rivers or streams) along the Santa Cruz River , the mesquite bosque and surrounding desert scrub environments within the park provide shelter for more than 200 species of birds, making birding a popular activity for visitors.
Other animals take refuge in the park including coyotes, javelina and raccoons, twenty-four documented species of reptiles and amphibians and notable insects such as the giant mesquite bug, tarantula, tarantula hawk and velvet ant.
Tumacácori is in the upper regions of the Sonoran Desert. It is warm and dry most of the year. Temperatures will reach the high 90s and low 100s during some days in the summer months.
Need to Know
- Plan and Prepare
- Visitors must bring drinking water
- Visitors are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for desert weather
- The tours are not universally accessible standards
- There is no shade or shelter at the sites
- Tumacácori Visitor Center physical address: 1891 East Frontage Road, Tumacácori, AZ 85640
- limited number of tours
"We strongly recommend you book your tickets as early as possible after they go on sale on October 1 for tours offered the following winter (Jan-Mar). The Calabazas and Guevavi tours are very popular and often sell out within a few days after tickets are released and available for purchsase on rec.gov."
Booking Windows
Reservations must be made in advance on Recreation.gov (tickets will not be available at the park). Please call the Tumacacori visitor center to inquire about upcoming tour dates.
Changes and Cancellations
Customers may cancel reservations up to 2 days prior to the date of the scheduled tour and receive a refund minus a $1.00 cancellation fee per ticket.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
PO Box 8067 Tumacacori AZ 85640
Phone Number
(520) 377-5060
