(our guide had already paid the fee and registered us). We parked at the Ponsi Hall community center and went inside to use the restroom and await the tour. It was a gorgeous sunny day with little wind. We drove up the winding road (ok for cars and vans) and enjoyed vistas of the valley dotted with homes and agricultural plots. Walpi, the oldest and most historic, stands above the valley at 300 feet. First Mesa consolidates the towns of Walpi, Sichomovi and Tewa. First Mesa and the Village of Walpi Our first stop was First Mesa. We had a leisurely breakfast at the restaurant at the Hopi Cultural Center and discussed our plans. Touring the Hopi Mesas We asked for a tour to the top Hopi destinations and found that it would take a minimum of a day. Having a local guide will smooth the way for you just like it does when you visit a foreign country. I knew that things were often closed due to the ceremonial calendar, but I, of course, was not privy to that information. Before I toured with Ray, I didn't have a clear sense of where I could go in Hopi and where I could not.
Ray was in the travel business for years and has the licensure to drive groups of visitors. I enjoyed Ray's perspective as a person who has lived both at Hopi (he was born at Bacavi)and in the outside world. He has lectured on the Hopi at Northern Arizona University and is an instructor with Exploritas. Ray has a background which includes time at the Museum of Northern Arizona. In order to choose a guide, consider: - Is the guide native Hopi? - If the guide is driving you, does the guide have commercial insurance and licensure? - Does the guide speak Hopi? We worked with guide, Ray Coin, who has an office behind the Hopi Cultural Center, Sacred Travel & Images, LLC. To gain any understanding of the people, it is imperative that your guide be from one of the Hopi Mesas. Choosing a Guide The Hopi have a unique religion and philosophy. In order to see the most at the Hopi Mesas and to be respectful of the people's privacy, it is recommended that you visit with a guide. Because the Hopi have maintained their religion and culture over the years, they are naturally protective of their practices and their lifestyle. According to Hopi guides, Hopi religion and culture have been practiced for over 3,000 years.
Hopi is the oldest continually practiced culture in the United States. The Hopi people came to the Mesas in ancient times. A visit to the Hopi Mesas, located in northern Arizona, is a trip back in time.
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