experience hopi

With blue corn pancakes for breakfast how could you have a bad day? The petroglyph tour with Bertram from Ancient Pathways Tours was awesome and the selection of Katsinas at Tsakurshovi Arts and Crafts was great. Paul was working there and was really great. He pulled out a map to show me a back way to Navajo National Mont. that shaved off an hour of driving time. I've been to the mesas numerous times in the last 25 years and always enjoy myself. The culture is something to see and experience.

In my opinion, you need a guide to learn about hopi life. We contacted Bertram who was recommended at la posada hotel in Winslow. He did an outstanding job of educating us and showing us around. He took us to ancient petroglyphs that you can only see with permission (and would never find without a guide.) and also to his own village, which is old oraibi ( the oldest continually occupied village in the U s.)He is a "hop on" guide, which means that he meets you at the cultural center and gets in your car.Great tour!

Second time staying at the HCC. Rooms are clean and spacious, but not fancy, in keeping with the Hopi culture. The restaurant has several authentic Hopi entrees (noqkwivi is very tasty). Service is always great. But the best part of staying there is visiting with the artists that set up shop in the parking lot. You get to meet and talk with the carvers, potters, and jewelers. Prices are fantastic, much better than any of the galleries. All the carvers I met want to you tell them if there is something in particular you want, and if they can carve it (because of clan relationships or beliefs), they will carve to order.

We drove from Sedona to Hopi Cultural Center to meet Gary. We liked him a lot and he is so knowledgeable. I really learned a lot from him. We had 3 Children with us there ages were 6,9 and 10. Being from Pa they don't know to much about the Native Americans and I wanted them to understand the culture. They enjoyed everything they could hear. They sat in the third seat of Gary's vehicle and since Gary does not use a microphone they could not hear what he was telling us. When we got out of the vehicle Gary was good with them and answered many questions. Gary told me on the phone when I booked trip that we were going to see Hopi inlay jewelrybeing made and be able to buy it. That is what I most wanted to do and he did not go there. We did go to see how Kachina's were made and the children got some education from him. They were very happy with that. He took us to see the Petroglyphs which everyone loved. When you walk through Old Oribe check out the out-houses on the edge of the village. Only a helicopter could see you in one. Good trip except don't sit in 3rd seat unless Gary now has a microphone. Try the fry bread in the Cultural Center.

We Wanted a tour of the Hopi villages and Gary was just starting a tour. His vehicle was large and comfortable, he is Hopi, was educated in white man schools and is a Marine. He related part of his past and how he and the the Hopi related to current culture. He was entertaining, knowledgeable grew up on Second Mesa. The Hopi have a lot to offer current people's. one of their villages has been occupied continuously for almost a thousand years. Visited the three Mesas, pictographs and walked around.

A friend and I spent the day visiting Hopi Second Mesa pueblos and sites with a wonderful guide, Gary Tso, of touchthesouthwest.com. Gary's broad knowledge and perspective on the Hopi past and present gave us a respectful and enlightening glimpse of a culture and place occupied for a hundred generations. We stayed over at the Hopi Cultural Center Inn, simple but comfortable accommodations. The restaurant served a delicious blue fry bread.

Contracted with Gary Tso for a full day tour on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Picked that date during Powamu, hoping to see a dance or ceremony. Also indicated to Gary that we would like to tour the ancient village of Walpi and meet some kachina carvers. Told him we weren't particularly interested in the petroglyphs as they are a bit remote and we have seen similar near Peterborough ON.Accomplished none of our objectives. On meeting with Gary at 9:00 a.m., he advised that Walpi was now closed on the weekends (which he apparently didn't realize), a number of carvers where in Tucson for the annual Native Art Fair and he hadn't been able to arrange anything. We did see Kachina Ogres in one of the villages as we drove through but Gary considered it "inappropriate" to stop to watch.Took us to the petroglyphs and dropped us off 11:00 a.m., no charge.Very disappointed - we drove all the way from Green Valley, spent two nights in hotels and got no tour at all. Can't recommend Gary.