Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park is a perfect amalgamation of ancient history and pure natural beauty. In 1906, this American national park was established to protect and study the archaeological heritage of the land's ancient Pueblo inhabitants. The Pueblo civilization flourished between 600 CE and 1300 CE. Today, almost 5,000 archaeological sites are being preserved in this national park, including about 600 cliff residences.

Surrounded by meadows, forests, wildlife, and rugged hills, Mesa Verde National Park offers you the excellent taste of adventure. You can savor both historical wonders and natural beauty. Come to Mesa Verde National Park and witness America's best-preserved archaeological sites with your own eyes. This is no ordinary guide and contains everything you need to know before visiting Mesa Verde National Park, from fun activities to information about travel insurance plans.

Be a smart traveler, and purchase a visitors medical insurance or travel insurance so that you do not end up spending more than necessary on unexpected accidents, illnesses, injuries, or travel mishaps.

Visitors Medical Insurance for Travelers in Mesa Verde National Park - FAQs

Medical emergencies are probably the last thing on your mind while you are preparing for a trip. However, healthcare costs in the U.S. are too high to consider seeking treatment without adequate insurance. Even if you suffer from a minor problem like dehydration or a fever, a hospital will charge you heavily—your emergency room bill could amount to thousands at least. As the old saying goes, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Book a visitors medical insurance plan so that you do not have to worry about money when it comes to health concerns.

Why buy visitors medical insurance before traveling to Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde National Park is an ancient archaeological site. The roads and trails are not in the best of conditions. Even if you are very cautious, you might have an accident while hiking. The weather is usually hot and dry, but thunderstorms are frequent. You might suffer from dehydration or catch a cold. To be able to seek the best treatment without depleting your budget, book a visitors medical insurance plan.

What should I look for in my Mesa Verde National Park visitors medical insurance?

Look for the following benefits in your visitors health insurance plan:

• Coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Coverage for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest facility that can provide adequate treatment
• PPO Network participation
• Coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions

Instead of spending thousands at a private medical facility, buy a visitors medical insurance plan to help you with the costs of medical treatment in the U.S.

Trip Cancellation Insurance for Travelers in Mesa Verde National Park - FAQs

While traveling, most of your travel budget goes into transportation and lodging, expenses that are usually booked in advance and non-refundable. If an emergency occurs and you have to cancel your trip, you risk losing a fortune. To possibly prevent such a financial disaster, book a trip cancellation insurance plan.

Why should I get trip cancellation insurance for my Mesa Verde National Park travel?

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel your trip for a reason explicitly listed in your policy's certificate wording. Be sure to review the fine print of your plan (before purchase!) for a full understanding of what scenarios would and wouldn't be covered. Most standard plans do include coverage for the most common, likely reasons for cancelling a trip, like falling ill before departure or a work-related emergency.

What should I look for in my Mesa Verde National Park trip cancellation insurance?

Travel insurance offers many benefits beyond trip cancellation insurance, such as:

• Trip interruption coverage for a covered reason, in case you need to cut your vacation short once you're already there.
• Trip delay coverage
• Missed connection coverage
• Coverage for baggage loss

With travel insurance, you have a safety net against emergency expenditures. Check your plan's certificate wording to ensure that it meets all your needs.

Mesa Verde National Park's Most Popular Things to Do

Pay a Visit to the Museum

Do you want to get a glimpse of Mesa Verde National Park's fascinating history? If so, a visit to the Chaplin Mesa Archaeological Museum will be worth your effort. With dioramas and ancient artifacts (and air conditioning), the museum is a must-visit place if you want to receive in-depth knowledge of the Puebloan civilization.

Witness the Petroglyphs

The Petroglyph Point Trail will take you to the ancient petroglyphs of the park. This 2.4-mile (about 3.9-km) round trail begins at the Chaplin Mesa Archaeological Museum. The most suitable time to start the hike is in the morning to avoid the scorching heat of summer.

Experience a Campfire Program

The ranger-led campfire programs will not cost you a penny, but they will provide you detailed information about the history of Mesa Verde National Park. Since 1907, these campfire programs have been arranged every summer at the Morefield Amphitheater.

See Ancient Farming Terraces

You can witness the agricultural practices of ancient Pueblo people on the Framing Terrace Trail. This 0.5-mile (0.8-km) walk takes you through the arid Mesa Top, where terraces were made for farming. You can even see the primeval check dams which were used to build the terraces.

Make a Trip to One of the Cliff Dwellings

Your trip to the famous Mesa Verde National Park will remain incomplete if you don't attend a ranger-guided tour of one of those Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. It is advised to reserve a tour of Long House, Cliff Palace, or Balcony House if you want to indulge in the ancient aura of this site.

Key Guidelines for Travelers in Mesa Verde National Park

Follow the Instructions

In a sensitive, ancient, and preserved area like Mesa Verde National Park, you should not stand, sit, lean, or hike on ruined or fragile historical structures. This can be dangerous for you or other travelers. These ancient structures can break down any time. Also, try to avoid entering restricted areas or touching natural artifacts and objects without permission.

Don't Interact with the Wild Animals

Observing wild animals can be one of the most enthralling activities in Mesa Verde National Park. However, you should avoid close interaction with them for safety issues.

Only Stick to the Marked Trails

While walking through the national park area, you should always stick to the marked trails. Going beyond the marked routes can lead to crushing unnoticed archaeological features and small plants.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Travelers commonly fall sick in Mesa Verde National Park because of dehydration. The park area is dry and has elevations up to 8,000 feet (more than 2,400 meters). Therefore, you should carry and drink an adequate amount of water. All the park facilities offer portable water. During the summer months, drinking water is also available in the Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk and Cliff Palace.

Before You Travel to Mesa Verde National Park - Do This

You are almost ready for your trip to Mesa Verde National Park. Before setting on your journey, consider these suggestions.

1. Drive slowly. The roads of Mesa Verde National Park are narrow and twisted. Sometimes, it is impossible to tell if another vehicle is around the bend. To make sure you do not have an accident, drive slowly.
2. Cell phone service is very spotty in Mesa Verde National Park. If you need to make an urgent call, visit park facilities or visitor centers.
3. Prepare for the worst-case scenario. Make sure that you have adequate travel insurance or visitors medical insurance coverage so that you and your family and friends can spend a fun and carefree vacation. Enter some basic information about your trip, compare a wide variety of options, and pick the plan that best fits your own personal needs.

DISCLAIMER: The information within this article is intended as a broad summary of benefits and services and is meant for informational purposes only. The information does not describe all scenarios, coverages or exclusions of any insurance plan. The benefits and services of an insurance plan are subject to change. This is not your policy/certificate of insurance. If there is any discrepancy between the information in this article and the language of your policy/certificate wording, the language of the policy/certificate wording will prevail.

The insurance plans available on this website are not specifically targeted towards the destination mentioned in this article. They can provide coverage while traveling away from home, according to the terms and conditions and geographic restrictions applicable to the specific plan.