Best ride ever. Totally worth every penny! Every one is so awesome and happy loving people. Told me yes to rafting in low water level when everyone else said no because I was too big. (400) pounds and let me tel you we only got stuck once where everyone gets stuck. It was the best they really care about people not just the dollar. These guys are very customers friendly and customer service oriented. Most knowledgeable guides out there. Don't ride with anyone else they only care about quick money. But new wave rafting cares about the people more. I'm gonna be back as much as possible. 1000% recommend these guys. Use new wave I promise you won't be disappointed. Also awesome pics too. Man it was the best day of my life these guys treated us so loving and kind. You will regret going to anyone else I promise. read more

Our guide, Socia, was on time, super friendly, and the perfect guide for our family of three (mom, dad, and a nervous 5-year-old). Britt, the owner, met us before we headed out for our float, and we just casually conversed until it was time to go. Our outing coincided with a group of 25 Boy Scouts, so we could've been quickly lost in the shuffle, but Socia held us back and let the kids get way out ahead of us, so we felt like we were all by ourselves for the majority of the trip. She was so considerate and engaging and made it feel like we were on the river with an old friend. At the end of the trip, Britt met us again and hung out while we ate just casually conversing as if once more, we were catching up with an old friend. Thank you, Socia and Britt for the memory of a lifetime! Our little guy hasn't stopped talking about whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande. read more

New Wave Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

Had an awesome day rafting the race course with Orlando! He was extremely knowledgeable about the river, rocks and surrounding wildlife. Best of all he made the entire trip fun! The kids loved rafting, surfing and warming up on the Australia Rock! Thanks Orlando and New Wave! We will be back read more

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Britt, Orlando & Team, thank you for such a memorable day on Rio Chama. My great nephews, nephews and I enjoyed all the special touches your Team adds to make the experience unique. I would highly recommend New Wave Rafting! read more

We had a BLAST on our whitewater rafting trip with New Wave in June 2020. They had just reopened following COVID restrictions, but had taken many proactive steps to make us feel safe and comfortable on our trip. They made accommodations so that my wife and I could have a trip by ourselves to further limit exposure. Our guide, Jesse, was very knowledgeable about the river and the ecology and geology that surrounds it. We did a morning run down the Racetrack course, which is not as intimidating as the name may have you believe. With a couple of good paddlers, a group of any rafting skill level could make it through in a relatively short time. We would heartily recommend a trip with New Wave if you're staying in the Santa Fe or Taos area. In our case, we stayed in Santa Fe, so drove up to the river, and after we finished, we continued the beautiful drive up to Taos and got lunch there before turning back towards our accommodations. read more

New Wave Rafting - Jesse guides as we took a break with a cold beverage (bring a caribiner if you want to bring a small cooler along on your trip) - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

Our family of 6 (ages 12-52) did the Taos Box trip with Elias. Excellent trip and we highly recommend this company to anyone wanting to do the trip. Great adventure and also as our first time Elias made us feel safe in his experienced hands. read more

Elias and Orlando were super skillful and fun guides for our run in the challenging Taos Box section. Great day spent with them. I called and spoke to Britt, the owner, the day before I wanted to raft and he set me up last minute real good. read more

We did the half day racecourse trip April 2019. It was a good time. This is a good, no frills, mom and pop operation. The water level/flow was pretty mellow when we went, so nothing too crazy as far as rapids...Class 3 at most. In fact, since it was so early in the rafting season, this place was the only one that was currently running trips when we went. We actually were staying in Albuquerque when we went. As such, we had to make the two-plus hour drive North from our Albuquerque hotel to their starting point on the river. If you do the same, be careful when you pop their starting point address into your GPS. Ours did not take us to the right place. It's easier to input their main office address (it's different than their starting point), then proceed another 3 or so miles North to the river access/starting point (it's well signed). You park your car in the lot, raft down the river, then they shuttle you back to your car. All in all, it was fun. Around 2.5 hours on the river. Our guide, Britt, was a funny guy and gave us some good information on the area and river. They supply helmets (required), life jackets (required), and water pants, jackets (if you want em). read more

Today was the best.family.day.ever!! We did the Monument Scenic Float with guide Elias Griego and it was amazing. We all were raft newbies, including my 82 y/o Mom. Elias was amazing--so kind and careful with my Mom and his body of knowledge about the River, Northern New Mexico, and wildlife made the trip really fun and interactive. Absolutely worth the money and the time to get up to the Quartzite River Access from Rio Rancho (an even 2 hours). What a great company--I can't recommend them enough. My brother and I can't wait to do a Racecourse trip next year!!! Britt--your website work is outstanding--thanks for stopping by and saying Hi this morning, when we got to the site early. Just a perfect day all around. read more

Britt was super easy to book with and communication/ directions were clear. We had a lovely kayaking trip down the Rio Grande. Highly recommend Britt and this group for your river adventure. read more

New Wave Rafting - Fun-yaks?! Inflatable kayaks:) - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

One of their own employees pulled me out of the raft when he lost his balance. I was stuck under the raft for a long, long time in a Class IV rapid. They pulled their guy out first. I asked the company about it after the fact just trying to understand why the guides acted as they did, and New Wave was sorry that I had had, and I quote, "an out of raft experience," but said they felt like they'd acted appropriately. The guide never threw me a rope. He didn't ask me if I was okay until we were in the van going back to our car. One star, I almost died, do not recommend. read more

This was our second time with NWR and we'll be back again! These guys are friendly, fun and informative. We were on the morning Racecourse, which in late August is easy with just a little class 2 & 3 rapids. It was a great morning with a great guide. read more

Best friend and I did a day trip down the Rio Chama from Chavez Canyon Boat Launch to Big Eddy. It was just the two of us, plus two friends of Britt's who went down most of the way in an inflatable kayak. The trip was fabulous, despite the fact that the wind picked up halfway through the trip and we had to paddle just to move the boat forward. Lunch (yum, and a tablecloth!) was in a heavenly spot. Stops along the way for botany, paleontology and history lessons. Would book again in a heartbeat. Thanks, Britt, John and Janet!! read more

Fun. Wet. Educational. A blast!!! Friends recommended New Wave, and they were spot on. We took our family of five on a 3 hour trip. Neil was our guide. He made the trip so much fun. We had a 7yr old, 11 year old, and 13 yr old. Neil did a great job making it fun for the kids, engaging them, and including them on the trip. He talked about the geology and the geography and the history of the region. It was a blast. I would highly recommend New Wave. And ask for Neil. You won't be disappointed. read more

New Wave Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

A rafting trip with New Wave Rafting is a bucket list experience when visiting the Abiquiu area - and we recommend this activity to all of our adventurous guests. The trip down the Rio Chama is a gentle float and allows you to see the vistas and geologic wonders of the area in a way that is not possible from land. Our guides over the years have always been incredible - safety first, knowledgeable, and able to point out wild life that we would have missed on our own. Highly recommend! read more

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We had a fabulous time on the river with New Wave Rafting! Although the water level was at a historic low, our guide made the trip memorable by telling us about the local landscape, history, and geology. All the staff were very friendly and experienced. The company also made us feel comfortable by following COVID-19 guidelines and taking plenty of precautions. Would absolutely book again on our next trip to Taos. read more

New Wave Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Embudo, New Mexico

My fiancée and I booked a day-long excursion from the Taos Box with Orlando and Elias. We met the guides at a visitors center that was very easy to find based on the directions from the website. From the very first meet-up to the final drop-off, the day was interesting and exhilarating! Elias and Orlando had great chemistry together, and despite the obvious perils of high water, we felt properly cared for in the competent hands of our guides. Orlando's wealth of knowledge in areas such as geology, local topography, and general area culture was very impressive. He regaled us with facts and stories from start to finish. His energy level and excitement were contagious and our 6 man boat was very much alive for the entire trip. This was my first white water trip in my life, (I'm 41) and now, thanks to the excellent experience, I am hooked. We will be back. We will bring friends. Any other company in this area has some healthy competition-to say the least. Try New Wave Rafting first, and you will not regret it! read more

What a wonderful experience. Our family did the float, and it was most pleasant and educational, and fun ! We learned so much from Orlando, and even did some paddling too. We did find some current to have a little bit an adventure. It was just was we were looking for as first timers. We would highly recommend for families with children. Spotted wildlife including deer, long horn sheep, fish, and more. We took a 5 hour run. And it did not feel too long at all. Enjoyed their quaint lunch stop. read more

We did the Taos Box with a group of 10 people. We split into two groups of five, with Britt as our guide and Orlando in the other boat. Four of the five in my raft had no experience, but from the safety talk on the ride up to checking our life jackets and helmets to directions on the river, I felt safe the whole time. Both guides were awesome! They both told us stories about the geology, animals, plants and history of the Rio Grande Gorge. We saw probably 100 big horn sheep along the river, they were everywhere! The Taos Box trip starts out really easy and gets harder as you go, with the last stretch being the most technical, so you get to build up your skills as the day progresses. The lunch break was fun (sandwich supplies and fruit on a small beach, gluten free friendly if you make yourself a lettuce wrap.) Good to know: you don't want to take anything valuable/not waterproof with you. You can leave your car keys in the van, but leave your phones, etc in your room or car. You can take water and sunscreen with you in the raft. They provide helmets and lifejackets. Pro tip: wear long sleeves and shorts/capris that are knee-length. Half our group has sunburned knees/thighs today! Re-apply sunscreen at every stop. read more

Had a great time today here with friends, we did a half day on the racecourse. It was perfect for a fun jaunt down the river, great staff, felt safe and had a blast read more

Rafting doesn't always have to be Class 4 rapids - especially when you're traveling with little ones. We found a rafting "float trip" down the Rio Grande from New Wave. The team was fantastic... from answering questions before the trip to the day of. We had our 4-year-old and a 7-year-old and they loved it. We saw wildlife. It was incredibly quiet on the river and it is one way to see New Mexico that most people probably don't see. Plus, our guide, Joey, was terrific. Next time we're in NM, we'll be back. read more

If I could give negative stars I would. We had to cancel our Father's Day trip due to Covid exposure. I asked for a rain check given the circumstances and was dismissed with a one-liner email. $300 wasted. How disappointing. read more

We had so much fun! Our tour guide was awesome (Sally), the scenery was amazing, lunch was great, and it wasn't so difficult but it wasn't a lazy river. read more

This is a must-do experience while in the Santa Fe area. It is very well organized (be sure to follow the directions on how to get to the meeting spot!) and working with the owner to book tickets was a breeze. Our kids had a great time on the easy float trip - definitely recommended for families with younger children. Highly recommend this business! read more

We went in July 2010 and had a fantastic trip. The whole idea was pretty last minute and the manager was enthusiastic about fitting us in. Or guide, Orlando, was knowledgeable and interesting. He gave us great tips on rafting, as well as historical information about the area. We even got to jump out and float down the river for a bit. Afterwards we were provided with a soda and munchie snack. Orlando also gave us great advice on neat local places to check out. This portion of the river is great for beginners and this outfitter is one I would certainly recommend to others. read more

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My wife & I took a week off & visited northern New Mexico last week. We had a blast with our guide Jessie during a cat 3 rafting expedition. We had the whole river all to ourselves and Jessie knew everything there was to know about the area! The river was low so it wasn't too bad at all for beginners like us. Strongly recommend if you have time. We did the half day trip & finished the day with a visit to a local winery located a couple miles down river. Britt spent plenty of time with me on the phone to book the trip which was best for my wife's expectations! read more

Quick note, the launch point is like an hour from Sante Fe so be sure to plan ahead... The whole experience is very inviting, you feel like everyone there (including those working at competing companys) know each other and are buddies.... Or guide Orlando was that rare breed, the kind that is born cool with hillbilly swagger, where you want to go drink whiskey or something with him so you can be cool also (but don't be mistaken you're not cool: stick to the wine spritzers)... He made the whole experience awesome, I have a feeling the river was pretty tame that day but he navigated it in a way which allowed us to seek out a good deal of adventure and excitement, in fact he was fully ejected from the boat at one point... The experience is dictated by your group, so if you're thrill seekers your allowed to seek some thrills or if your chillers you can chill. Another aspect of the trip which is pretty cool is you get a surprisingly thorough background of the surrounding geology and local history. From the formation and age of the surrounding cliffs to the origins and exploration of the area, in fact the original bridges constructed by said explorers still crisscross the river. Don't be fooled, it looks like a whee river when you pull up but let me assure you she packs a punch! Apparently it hits hardest immediately following the winter months, so if you're brave enough come right when the season starts and you'll supposedly have the opportunity to tackle some of the gnarliest rapids in the entire western hemisphere... or at least the US... or at the very least New Mexico. read more

First of all we did the family calm rafting and it was supposed to be 3 hours long. ( 10:30 -1:30) but we started 30 minutes late and then we finished a little after 12. So we were shorted hours and we paid for all 3 hours and didn't even get the full 3 hours. We won't be going back because it's a waste of money! All the money was probably towards the sandwich supplies because they were good but everyone was shocked when after we finished eating that the tour was over! We were mad about this but most of all we were just misinformed!! read more

My family and I decided to go rafting (the float) for the first time and I am so glad I picked New Wave! Steve was super nice and rearranged some stuff so he could fit us into a busy weekend. And our instructor lady (I wish I could remember her name!!!) was super sweet and informative. Not only did they have the best pricing but they were super accommodating and I absolutely plan to use them again when we try a more challenging option! My whole family was very pleased. Big thumbs up! read more

My girlfriend and I recently (September 18) spent the morning rafting on the Rio Grande with New Wave Rafting. The tour was well-organized, fun, and a beautiful day for being on the river. When calling about reservations, we received return phone calls with explicit information about the tour from the owner, Britt. Our guide,Triston, was very professional, friendly, experienced, and gave all safety information and instructions prior to boarding our raft. He was knowledgeable and shared history from the region, and made the trip a lot of fun! The scenery is breathtaking and it was a beautiful ride down the river! We will definitely book a river rafting tour here again, maybe in Spring when there is more water in the river. I highly recommend this tour if you are thinking of doing river rafting in this area. read more

Great educational, FUN, and safe family and friends ride down the Rio Grande River led by our very experienced, knowledgeable, and entertaining guide, Orlando who led us down some pretty crazy rapids! Thanks for the fabulous day!http://www.southernexposurephoto.com/mp_client/pictures.asp?action=viewphotos&size=thumbnails&thumbpagenum=1&eventid=441902&eventstatus=0&categories=no&keywords2=no&groupid=0&bw=false&sep=false&ckw=false read more

Amazing trip with great guides. The Taos Box ride was full of amazing wildlife and great rapids.

I have to admit that the phrases "whitewater", "lifejacket", and "wear something you can get wet" don't necessarily exude confidence and ease my fear of deep water- I was super scared to go on this trip. I ended up having the most amazing time. Our guides, Ron & Joe, were aces at the job and made the trip very fun. Good crew, good times, great adventure- we will definitely be going back to do the Taos Box with New Wave next season! read more

My family and friends hired New Wave Rafting to take us down the Taos Box in early August 2019. They are super friendly, super invested in you having a good, safe trip, and super knowledgeable about the river and it's geology, flora, and fauna. I had just used another group to do the Racecourse a week earlier and both guides were good, but I prefer New Wave for several reasons. 1. Felt more family friendly and less like sheep in a herd. 2. Air conditioned vans!! 3. Guides were so nice and genuinely showed interest in making the trip as enjoyable as possible, it wasn't just a job to them. There's more, but that should do. . read more

Went for a bachelorette party and it was amazing!! The guide was fabulous and it just made my day!!! I felt safe and yet had a great time!

This is our second time to raft with New Wave, this time we did the Taos Box (4 of us). Britt was an awesome guide. We had a blast. Our only point to mention that wasn't awesome, is that there was a large group with us that had teens who couldn't swim and we ended up doing a rescue for two of them that fell out of their raft and went down a rapid. For the Box, it seems dangerous to have non-swimmers running the course. Other than that, it was a perfect day on the river, complete with sheep and even some rain. Lunch was delicious and New Wave let us pick apples, apricots and peaches from their orchard after we finished for the day. Will definitely use New Wave for all rafting in Northern New Mexico. read more

Rafted the racecourse, had a great time. Had a little picnic and had time for a swim, all during the trip.

Been rafting with New Wave just about every year for the last 10 years or so. Solid business. I love their new equipment. They have their stuff together. Really fun times. Great for kids (over age 13 I think?). Super easy to get to the put in. Thanks New Wave!! See you soon! read more

My wife and I have rafted the rio grande twice over the last several years with New Wave. Both times we had Britt for our guide and Orlando with other groups with us. Both of these guys are hard to beat, both are very knowledgeable about the river and surrounding area with great sense of humor. We had a lot of fun on these trips. All of New Waves people that we had any dealings with were more than accommodating and very friendly. We hope to make another trip with them as soon as possible. Prices for the trips are very reasonable for the memories that you will make, scenery is breathtaking from the river (especially for us west Texans). read more

We did the half-day racecourse today and it was absolutely awesome. Neal was our guide and he was funny, super laid back, yet full of interesting facts about our surroundings. Both my 11 year old son and 14 year old daughter thought this was a the highlight of our southwest trip. We had zero experience with rapids and these proved to be just the right level for us - we got soaked, had a few fast drops that Neal got us through without a scratch, of course. Great fun. Couldn't recommend this outfit more. We will be back! read more