Travel has always been part of how the Southwest Center understands the region it studies. Since the early days of the Center, carefully curated trips have brought curious travelers to the places that define the Greater Southwest, not as tourists, but as learners. We revived that tradition a few years ago, and have since taken small groups to the Valle del Río Sonora, Álamos, and San Luis Potosí, with destinations both within the United States and well beyond — including Spain and Morocco — already in the works.
Each trip is designed around a simple idea: that a landscape, a community, or a culture reveals itself differently when you are actually standing in it. Our journeys are led by University of Arizona scholars with deep roots in the places we visit, and every itinerary balances discovery with depth, the kind of travel that changes how you see things when you come home.
These trips are open to everyone, and each one includes a contribution to the Southwest Center's work. If there is a destination you think deserves this treatment, we'd love to hear from you.
