Your Authenteco Travel 4-Day Colorado Itinerary
Colorado is one of the United State's prime mountain destinations. Sometimes you'll forget that you're in the U.S., with landscapes so dramatically different from what you're used to in other areas- and that is why it is so magical!
Over the last few years, we have perfected our Colorado itinerary for you to see some of the best mountain towns, experience Monarch Mountain, a local Spa, hot springs, and see Denver- the home of Authenteco Travel!
Most importantly, our itinerary helps you do this sustainably.
When we travel to faraway destinations, our activities usually have the greatest effect on the local environment, culture, and population. With the natural beauty and accessibility to the outdoors, visitors will continue to grow. Most of these tourists stick to the same hot spots, and with Denver reaching 17.3 million overnight visitors, most secret spots aren't so secret anymore. We often think about over-tourism as a faraway issue, but it's very much in our backyards.
This is one of the things Authenteco Travel is proud of. We fight against over-tourism with all of our trips!
How? Through sustainable tourism! On each of our itineraries, we ensure that our travelers won’t impact the local environments and cultures while still seeing exactly what makes that destination incredible.
By traveling to Colorado on an itinerary like this, you contribute to sustainable tourism! Yay, you!
Sustainable travel doesn't mean you'll compensate on the adventure! On an itinerary like this, you will still experience bucket list items such as skiing on beautiful mountain slopes, supporting local artisanal shops and businesses and enjoying your privacy at local but luxurious accommodations. It truly is the perfect itinerary in one of the most adventurous states in the United States.
*** It is important to remember that we customize every itinerary based on our extensive travel surveys, the weather, availability, trip reason, etc. This should act as a general guide to a 4-day couples vacation in Colorado and give you an idea of what your trip with Authenteco Travel might look like! For all trip inquiries, submit your trip request here and we would love to help you plan your perfect vacation!
Colorado Day 1
Welcome to Denver!
Upon landing in Denver, if you look to the East, you will see flat earth for miles. The landscape might trick you into believing your adventures won't be as exciting as you thought. However, if you look to the West, you will see the glorious Rocky Mountains in the distance. Denver is known for its easy access to the mountains and its amazing weather. The city is home to folks looking to strike a balance between city life and outdoor adventure. Denver is full of sunshine and blue skies and is known to have an average of 300 days of sun!
Once you have picked up your rental car, you can choose to explore the city! We recommend heading to the West Highlands neighborhood to grab a bite to eat at Root Down. You can also check out the largest REI in the country for any extra mountain supplies you might need. The REI Flagship store in Denver is also a historic site and one of the greenest buildings in the city! Don't worry if you want to explore more, you will have some extra time to explore Denver on your last day before flying home!
After lunch and exploring Denver (you’ll have an amazing Google Maps full of the best things to do to refer to), continue on to your next destination where you will have the chance of seeing breathtaking views, mountain peaks that dreams are made of, and sleep in the most luxury accommodation for the next few days.
“My husband and I chose Authenco Travel to plan our annual anniversary trip. I was slightly hesitant, because I’m very much a Type 1, detailed oriented, and need good plans to feel comfortable with my day to day life. I could not have been happier with our experience in Colorado from beginning to end. Shelby and Kyle did an amazing job with our itinerary, restaurant reservations/recommendations, flight, car rental, hotel accommodations, etc. Their communication is top notch! It was SO nice going on a vacation and literally not have to worry about a thing! Thank you Authenteco for an unforgettable experience!”
Colorado Day 2
Today you'll get to explore & discover Salida and Hotsprings for a spa day and hot spring adventure.
Begin your morning by relaxing and making your way to Salida. We recommend grabbing a coffee from Howl Mercantile & Coffee and a light bite from Cafe Dawn. From there you can walk the park in downtown Salida on the river and check out some of the fantastic shops. Downtown Salida is a certified designated Creative District! The historic downtown is filled with artisans of every genre, including advertising and architecture, blacksmithing and metal, ceramics/pottery, digital media, fiber arts, videography, fine art, graphic design, murals, music, performing arts, photography, sculpture, and writing.
After wandering around Salida, you'll enjoy a lovely Spa Afternoon and lunch at a famous microbrew… plus so much more before heading to soak at our favorite Hot Springs.
The drives you get to do today are INSANE! You’ll want to make sure your camera is fully charged and ready to capture the very best of Colorado today!
The Hot Springs are one of our secret off-the-beaten-path spots located on an upscale mountain resort just a quick and beautiful drive from Salida. You can spend the rest of the day hopping from the historic bathhouse, creekside hot springs, to the cascading pools that will blog your mind. After relaxing, it's time to head back to Buena Vista to get ready for a romantic dinner!
Colorado Day 3
Ski, ski, ski!
Wake up early around 6 AM and prepare for a bluebird day at Monarch Mountain. Don’t worry- we’ve got everything organised for when you get there.
The best time to arrive at the mountain is 8 AM- we definitely suggest getting there early! Start your day off right with a hearty breakfast. Before leaving Buena Vista we recommend stopping by Buena Vista LaGree's for some high protein snacks and hand/foot warmers. Optionally swing by The Blend at Buena Vista for a delicious cup of brew on your way out of the town.
Now you're off! You will drive to Monarch Mountain for a day of fun! Upon arrival, parking is free and in close proximity to the lodge. In order to pick up your rental equipment head to the Rental and Lesson Center (RLC) building first. It’s the big dome-shaped building to the north of the main lodge.
Since you’ll be shredding the mountain you are going to need some fuel for lunch! Fortunately, there are A TON of options to choose from at Monarch. We recommend grabbing a protein-filled burrito from the Flyby Burrito Truck and taking a moment to warm up and have a drink at one of the awesome cafes and bars in the main section of the lodge.
Once you have had your fill of the beautiful slopes on Monarch Mountain, drive back to Buena Vista. You deserve some free time to chill and relax by the fire back in your luxury Chateau. Since you have had such an active day we recommend a simple dinner. This is where you’ll be able to refer to your amazing Google Map!
Colorado Travel Box from our recent travelers in 2021
Colorado Day 4
Good food, great views, and the best memories!
You've ventured through many mountain towns including Buena Vista, Salida, Nathrop, Monarch, and all the stops on the way from Denver. You've hit the slopes, tasted local food, relaxed to the max with a spa trip, seen the most beautiful vista's in the world, and hopefully made many memories along the way.
For breakfast, we recommend stopping at Brown Dog Coffee Company on your last day before strolling Salida & Buena Vista one more time.
We also recommend Collegiate Peaks Scenic Overlook to take one more moment to soak it all in! On your route back to Denver there a quite a few hikes and activities that you can do along the way. We have a whole range of bucket list items and various hikes you can do!
Want to set off on an unforgettable California adventure like this but don't know where to start? Submit a trip request, and we’d love to help you!
For more information about what destinations we’re sending travelers to, check out our destinations page!
Want to check out more of our itineraries? Check out the itineraries below!
