City Name
Temperature
Home » Recent posts » The 5 Best Tours in El Paso for an Authentic Local Adventure

The 5 Best Tours in El Paso for an Authentic Local Adventure

tours-in-el-paso
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Historical Accuracy: We looked closely at how well each guide knows the local stories and the borderland past. That way, you get real facts instead of recycled folklore.

Value for Money: We weighed what you actually get for the ticket price. This helps make sure the experience matches your vacation budget.

Group Comfort: We checked how each service handles the intense desert heat. That meant looking for strong air conditioning or smart evening scheduling.

Route Planning: We examined the specific landmarks included on each journey. This way, you see the most interesting spots without wasting time.

Walking through Sun City always brings a rush of history, culture, and gorgeous desert views. If you’re planning a trip and trying to figure out what to do in El Paso, the right tour can make your whole visit feel special. 

The best tours in El Paso let you soak up the grit of the Old West alongside deep cultural roots. From spooky evening walks to deep dives into historic adobe homes, a good local guide changes everything. 

Below, I round up my favorite tour services that take you through top attractions so you can find the experience that fits your travel style.

How much does it cost to take a tour in El Paso?

A tour in El Paso typically costs $10 to $30 for a standard guided city or historical walk, while specialized, longer, or private experiences run from $40 to $275 per person.

Tour TypeEstimated Cost (Per Person)
Standard guided city or historical tours$10 to $30
Specialized, longer, or private experiences$40 to $275
Self-guided app-based toursUnder $15
Certain local museumsFree

1. El Paso Ghosts: Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls

el-paso-ghosts-ghost-tours-haunted-pub-crawls

Website: https://usghostadventures.com/

Address: 114 W Mills Ave

Contact: (915) 975-7580

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM

Strolling through downtown after dark opens up a whole different side of the city, especially on a walk that digs into Wild West outlaws and the Mexican Revolution. 

I actually joined El Paso Ghosts: Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls last autumn, and the guides blew me away with hidden stories that never made the history books.

These local experts lead you along an intense, landmark-packed route that stretches for about a mile. You get to stand right outside haunted spots like the old DeSoto Hotel and San Jacinto Plaza.

The company pairs national backing with a hyper-local feel, so things stay organized but still feel authentic. 

That said, you’re kept strictly outdoors, so you won’t step inside the locked buildings. The heavy focus on real history might also disappoint anyone hoping for theatrical scares.

Pros

  • Great introduction to downtown landmarks
  • Deep dive into real local history
  • Highly rated local storytellers
  • Perfect evening activity for the desert climate

Cons

  • Strictly restricted to the outdoors
  • More history walk than scare-fest

Customer Reviews

The pacing was perfect

Micah was an absolute pleasure as our ghost tour guide! The pacing was perfect, and her knowledge of the history behind the buildings was phenomenal. The way she transitioned from historical facts to ghost encounters was seamless and captivating. She was incredibly accommodating, I was in a wheelchair with two kids and she made sure we never missed a thing. The pop quizzes with rewards were a huge hit with my kids! Highly recommend, we will definitely be back!

– Fabiola Raygoza | Google Review

She made the whole experience fun

Irene gave us our ghost tour and she was amazing!!! She’s very knowledgeable and she made the whole experience fun! She took us to a few stops and explained the history of each one along with proof of paranormal activity for a couple of the locations which I thought was so cool. She’s an El Paso native, so she’s very familiar with the area and she shared her own ghost experience she had. I would definitely recommend Irene as your guide for your next ghost tour!!!

– Trupti Davis | Google Review

2. Visit El Paso Information Center

visit-el-paso-information-center

Website: https://visitelpaso.com/

Address: One Civic Center Plaza

Contact: (915) 534-0647 | (915) 534-0600

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Getting your bearings in a new destination is so much easier when you lean on an award-winning official tourism authority. 

Visit El Paso Information Center offers in-person support at two handy spots, with branches downtown and at the airport, so you can grab resources the moment you land.

They work as a true cross-border and regional hub, with bilingual help that covers nearby spots and trips into Mexico. On top of that, their platform handles all-in-one digital trip planning through dedicated guides and a mobile app.

They even run specialized programs to support military families, sports groups, and film productions. 

Just keep in mind that they’re not a direct tour operator, so they’ll point you to outside vendors for actual guided bus or walking trips. The airport desk also closes early on weekends, which can complicate afternoon arrivals.

Pros

  • Pre-built touring itineraries
  • Free self-guided tour tools
  • On-the-ground, in-person support
  • Regional and cross-border tour coverage

Cons

  • Not a direct tour operator
  • Restricted weekend hours for airport arrivals

Customer Reviews

The warmest welcome

I could not imagine a warmer welcome than the one I received from UTEP intern Stefan Alvarez. He took an interest in me and my travel plans, generously shared his knowledge and even walked me out the door and down to the plaza before saying goodbye.

– Michael Welch | Google Review

Lovely people working here

Visit El Paso is a great place to find details about everything there is to do in El Paso and the surrounding region. In addition, El Paso Live is also located here and you can get details on hosting your next event at one of their venues. Lovely people working here!

– Crysti Couture | Google Review

3. Longhorn Charter Bus El Paso

longhorn-charter-bus-el-paso

Website: https://www.longhorncharterbus.com/

Address: 4120 Rio Bravo St, Suite 219

Contact: (915) 209-4397

Hours: Available 24/7

Gathering a big group for sightseeing takes serious coordination, and that’s exactly where this massive Texas-wide network of group transportation comes in handy. 

Longhorn Charter Bus offers real 24/7 human support to map out custom routes, so you skip the automated answering machines. They’re fully military and government-approved, which means their standards meet strict federal requirements. 

On top of that, they pack in heat-busting amenities like powerful air conditioning, wireless internet, and onboard restrooms to keep everyone comfortable. I also like how fast they respond if your travel plans suddenly shift. 

Just know they run on an indirect fleet model, so your actual vehicle comes from a local partner network. They also enforce minimum rental time blocks, which can make short trips less cost-effective.

Pros

  • Fully customized sightseeing itineraries
  • Essential comforts for touring
  • No parking or navigation headaches
  • Flexible group sizes

Cons

  • Indirect fleet ownership model
  • Minimum rental time blocks

Customer Reviews

They made booking so easy

Longhorn Charter Bus El Paso is an amazing bus company. They made booking so easy and ensured we got a bus that met all our needs. The trip went flawlessly and the driver was great too.

– Ben | Google Review

4. El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center

el-paso-holocaust-museum-study-center

Website: https://elpasoholocaustmuseum.org/

Address: 715 N. Oregon St

Contact: (915) 351-0048

Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM; Sunday, by appointment only

Deep cultural education is wide open at El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center, since this is the only fully bilingual Holocaust museum in the United States. 

It’s also one of just thirteen free-standing Holocaust museums in the country, which makes for a deeply moving space for reflection.

Admission is 100% free, so there’s no financial barrier for travelers who want to understand this global history. 

The galleries show a strong local connection through survivor archives that highlight personal stories from residents who settled in the desert southwest.

Visitors can also explore an interactive testimony exhibit built alongside the University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation. 

That said, the museum keeps limited weekend and Monday hours, which can make scheduling tight. The graphic content also means there are strict group age limits, so it’s less suitable for families with younger children.

Pros

  • Convenient downtown location
  • Free admission and free parking
  • Fully bilingual experience
  • Rare and highly unique attraction

Cons

  • Limited weekend and Monday hours
  • Graphic content and group age limits

Customer Reviews

It really is educational

Wonderful experience. Very clean facilities with friendly employees. Everything is authentic so it’s an incredible thing to see. It really is educational and is a perfect place to learn about the Holocaust. You can take as long or as little time as you like. They even have educational films and clips on TVs along the way.

– Sam A | Google Review

A must visit

This museum is a must visit if you live in El Paso or are visiting El Paso. I think everyone needs to go to the museum. It is important history that needs to be learned again. We are on the cusp of repeating this horrible history once again. We should, as a society, know better.

– William Brown | Google Review

5. Magoffin Home State Historic Site

magoffin-home-state-historic-site

Website: http://www.visitmagoffinhome.com/

Address: 1120 Magoffin Ave

Contact: (915) 533-5147

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Stepping back into the nineteenth century is easy at Magoffin Home State Historic Site, the only historic house museum open to the public in the region. 

I spoke directly with one of the preservationists working on the site, and they explained how the property blends a rare mix of architectural styles.

It stands as one of the oldest surviving adobe homes in the area, having weathered major floods and decades of urban development. 

Inside, the interiors feel wonderfully authentic, since most of the furnishings are original pieces the family actually used. The site gives you a front-row seat to borderland history, tracing stories of westward expansion and international trade. 

Just note that it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays, which limits weekend availability. Ongoing restoration also means you face the intense desert heat, since the main house is temporarily closed.

Pros

  • Prime downtown location
  • Super wallet-friendly
  • One-of-a-kind local experience
  • Unique hard hat tour opportunities

Cons

  • Limited weekly hours
  • Heat exposure during restoration closure

Customer Reviews

A phenomenal storyteller

A visit to the historic Magoffin Home in El Paso is a must, enhanced by the knowledgeable staff and docents. Martin, in particular, is a phenomenal storyteller, bringing the Magoffin family’s rags to riches story to life through an interactive tour. Discover the pivotal role the Magoffin family played in El Paso’s incorporation into Texas. This is a must-see attraction for both residents and visitors.

– Karla Perez | Google Review

Truly incredible to see

It is truly incredible to see and hear about how the Magoffin family lived through generations in this home. The staff is very knowledgeable about several aspects of the house as well as the family’s personal lives. I had the opportunity to bring my son to a family reading event that included an activity and snacks. I found out about this on their Instagram page, where they often post about camps and events for kids and families.

– Marissa Mendoza | Google Review