You have probably seen Monument Valley in old Western movies and wondered if those astonishing red-looking mountains were real or just a Hollywood movie set. Well, they are real! And they are located on the Arizona-Utah border, approximately 320 miles away from Phoenix. The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has a total of 29,817 acres of desert landscapes and sandstone buttes. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle with up to four people. You can take a 17-mile self-guided drive in your own car, or book a guided tour in an open-air Jeep or truck. The guided tours are operated by Navajo guides and take you farther into the Valley than you can go in your self-guided vehicle. Some tips: Book your hotel room in advance; there are only a handful of hotels nearby. The Valley drive is on a bumpy dirt road, so be extra careful driving around.
ALL PHOTOS BY OFELIA MONTELONGO
