The official website shows 2 types of tours for viewing the dwellings at Mesa Verde NP. The ranger guided costs around $3 pp. The bus guided costs around $40, includes a lunch.

I have a call into the park but thought someone here might have add'l first-hand info regarding what advantages there would be to spending the extra money on the bus tour.

Thanking you in advance.

My wife and I went on the ranger led tours of Balcony House and Cliff Palace last month. The tours were excellent. I think the question is simply that the ranger tours have cut off numbers. Once they are full they take no more. Resevations start at 8 AM at the VC. Once you buy your ticket you meet your guide at the top of the site. I think in the bus tours they pick you up at at central location and drive you around.
We stayed in the park and I would urge you to get up early and tour everything you can before the bus loads arrive.

After a conversation with the reservation person for the park, it would seem that the ranger tours cover the same dwellings as you get with the bus tours, except that the bus takes you from point to point. As we will have a car, we have decided to save the $37 per person, opt for the range tour, and spend the money on a dinner at the Far View Lodge.

I have never done the bus tour but I have done all three of the ranger guided tours and they are all excellent! In two days you should be able to get them all in.

Utahtea

We will be there 2 full days and nights, so we should have plenty of time to get everything done we'd like to do. I was just curious about the tours because the website shows a special which includes breakfast, dinner, and the bus tour. But it doesn't seem that good of a deal to me to include everything. I just didn't know if you could still eat at the Metate Room without having a package. Turns out it's no problem. Too bad I have to wait until September!!

Thanks for the replies.