Puye Cliff Dwellings vs. Bandelier?
 

I'm going to be in Santa Fe in mid-May for a wedding. I have time for one half-day excursion outside of the city, on Friday morning. I can't decide between the Puye Cliff Dwellings and Bandelier National Monument. I have read lots about both places, and there are rave reviews for both. What's the real difference, in a nutshell? I know Puye has native guides and visits inside the dwellings, which would be neat. But does Bandelier offer a broader experience? Can you visit ancient dwellings/ruins without a long hike at Bandelier? Help, please??

It's been a couple years since we last visited Bandelier, but I don't remember having to hike much to see the cliff-side dwellings. And they are actually more accessible at Bandelier than at Puye, where you are pretty much restricted to the route and timing of the required tour. To otherwise compare the two, I would say you'd probably be more awestruck by the scenery and dramatic landscapes at Bandelier; it would be a better choice with your camera. But you'll come away from Puye more in awe of the people who inhabited those dwellings. At Puye, my wife and I sometimes felt as if we were walking on sacred ground.

I don't really know, but DD LOVED Bandelier.