Hotels in Cortez, CO

If planning a trip to Colorado, don’t miss the chance to see one of the state's most exciting cities, Cortez. As county seat and the most populous municipality of Montezuma County, Cortez is one of the largest towns in Southwest Colorado, secluded near the Four Corners. Tour the area to explore the city’s historic downtown, which stretches several blocks, all lined with boutique shops and tasty restaurants. Named after the Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, you’ll notice the cultural mark Spain left throughout town while strolling the historic streets. Cortez also boasts a great many surrounding attractions right outside top Cortez hotels, such as Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners, making it the perfect jumping off point to explore the greater Colorado landscape.

Staying at Cortez hotels allows for the opportunity to see one of the most striking UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country—Mesa Verde National Park. Located in Montezuma County, Colorado, this incredible American national park encompasses 52,485 acres near the Four Corners region and protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the U.S. As the largest archaeological preserve in the country, it is home to more than 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Spend a day (or two!) discovering the many sites and structures such as Cliff Palace, which is thought to be the largest cliff dwelling in North America.

Take a beautiful ride out through the countryside to reach the entrance of Hovenweep National Monument, resting on land in southwestern Colorado between Cortez and Blanding, Utah, on the Cajon Mesa of the Great Sage Plain. Here, you’ll find shallow tributaries running through the deep canyons into the beautiful San Juan River. Hovenweep is a special historic site as it was home to the six groups of Ancestral Puebloan villages. Now, there is evidence of hunter-gatherers living in the canyons from 8000 to 6000 BC until about AD 200. Later, a succession of early Puebloan cultures settled in the area and remained until the 14th century. With a fantastic visitor center and a nice two-mile loop hike with striking ruins, you’ll have an unforgettable trek through this stunning site!

A trip to Cortez offers all the dining options you’d want while away, plus a few fresh flavors worth trying. With influences from Mexico and Spain, you can expect to find an array of Latin dishes and Spanish cuisine alike, including paella, smoky or stewed meats, fresh salsas like fried chile de árbol salsa and raw chile de árbol salsa with tomato, plus the tastiest tender corn tortillas you’ve ever had. Pop outside your hotel in Cortez and follow your nose to something new each night.

Have a wonderful time exploring Colorado, and don’t forget to check out our other hotels nearby in Montrose, Greely, and Lakewood.