About this tour
When Tom from our team ran the Santa Fe Follies Scavenger Hunt, we got a live guide talking us through our phones while we tracked down hidden quirks around the city. It's equal parts detective work, creative interpretation, and a race against teams in other cities — all wrapped up in 2 hours. Santa Fe's colonial streets and art-heavy vibe made a solid backdrop for hunting down oddball clues and hunting for points on a global leaderboard. The whole thing hinges on your phone staying connected and your guide being sharp on the other end.
Highlights
- Remote live host coaching you through a phone call in real time
- Hunt clues blend art, history, and culture with creative interpretation angles
- Race against teams from 300+ cities simultaneously, even solo players
- Points-based scoring feeds into an international leaderboard
- All wheelchair accessible; prams and service animals welcome
- Can extend the hunt at no extra cost if you're on a roll
- Alumni discounts for future adventures with the company
- Off-the-beaten-path Santa Fe gems you'd otherwise miss
What to expect
You'll start with your team and a fully charged smartphone — that's your lifeline. A live guide calls or WhatsApps you with clues, and you're sent to various spots around Santa Fe to solve riddles, interpret art, photograph oddities, and gather intel. The guide feeds you hints, heckles, and encouragement as you move. Tom's experience was straightforward: walk, snap photos, text answers back, rack up points. Santa Fe's compact historic core and art galleries meant clue locations weren't scattered miles apart, which kept the pace brisk without feeling rushed.
The creative angle separates this from typical sightseeing — you're not just looking at things, you're decoding them for points. The leaderboard twist (you compete against teams globally) adds a layer of theatre, even if no one else is hunting in your city that day. Two hours feels snappy; the option to keep going if you're hooked is genuine value.
Good to know
This works for mixed-ability groups because it's a walking hunt at your own speed, fully accessible, and pram-friendly. The live guide angle beats a pre-recorded app — real feedback keeps energy up. Points and a global leaderboard appeal to competitive types and families wanting bragging rights. Quirky Santa Fe (its art, architecture, oddball shops) is a strong fit for this format.
You absolutely need a working domestic phone number and solid data/GPS coverage — without it, the hunt doesn't function. International numbers require WhatsApp setup in advance. Weather can bite (Santa Fe's at altitude and can be cold or hot). Walking is constant, so dodgy knees or poor weather gear will slow you down.
Bring one fully charged smartphone per team with GPS and data enabled. Public transport is nearby if you need it. Service animals and strollers are fine. All surfaces and venues are accessible. Suitable for all fitness levels, but real walking is involved. You must provide correct contact info before the hunt or it won't start.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.