Worth a Journey

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The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins

Mesa Verde

Cortez, United States

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST RUINS & SITES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 91 2026
Mesa Verde

Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in southwest Colorado, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, set on a mesa above canyons. Visitors take ranger-led tours through cliff houses such as Cliff Palace and Balcony House, climbing ladders and walking the mesa-top loop.

Highlights

  • Cliff Palace
  • Balcony House
  • Spruce Tree House

Good to know

  • Tours book up fast on recreation.gov
  • Bring water, hat and sunscreen, as altitude causes thirst
  • Balcony House has ladders and a narrow crawlspace

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