The Grand Canyon, located in northwestern Arizona in the United States, is one of the most stunning natural attractions in the world. Carved by the path of the Colorado River starting about six million years ago, it stretches 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and one mile deep at its deepest point. The canyon walls consist essentially of horizontal layered rocks and lava flows that reveal a breathtaking tapestry of reds, grays, greens, pinks, browns, and violets across peaks, buttes, gorges, and ravines. The canyon is the focal point of Grand Canyon National Park, created in 1919, and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular natural tourist destinations in the USA, welcoming more than six million visitors every year. Beyond sightseeing to your heart’s content, activities at the canyon include guided tours, hiking, rafting, camping, exploring local attractions, and more. If you’re headed to that region of the country, the Grand Canyon is a can’t-miss destination. But before you go, make sure to purchase visitors medical insurance to protect yourself against any unexpected mishaps that may occur.
Visitors Medical Insurance for Travelers visiting the Grand Canyon – FAQs
If you’re planning a trip to the United States from another country to visit the Grand Canyon, you’re sure to have a great time, but you need to keep your health in mind. Medical costs in the United States are extremely high. If you become sick or injured, the only viable option for affordable treatment is visitors medical insurance.
Do I need visitors medical insurance for the Grand Canyon?
So long as you are not visiting the US on a J visa, visitors medical insurance is not compulsory. But just because it isn’t required doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. In the US, a single night in the hospital could drain your bank account, and week in the hospital could drive you to bankruptcy. It is essential that you have health insurance coverage while visiting the United States, so purchase visitors medical insurance.
Why buy visitors medical insurance before traveling to the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is a rugged and remote place. If you get sick while visiting, there’s high probability that emergency medical evacuation will be required. This can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $250,000. As most people do not have that kind of money to spend, make sure you have visitors medical insurance that offers medical evacuation coverage.
The Grand Canyon’s Most Popular Activities for Travel
The Grand Canyon offers a wide variety of activities for people of all ages, running the gamut from peaceful and relaxing, to hazardous and adventurous. Before your trip, it would be worth your time to research hiking and mountaineering insurance, as well as other hazardous sports travel insurance policies. Even if you don’t plan in advance to participate, you might see how much fun it looks when you get there and change your mind.
Guided Tours
The area offers a number of guided tours by foot, by bicycle, by Jeep, and even by mule. Biking tours include Hermit Road and the Hermit Road Greenway Trail. Mule train rides run from Grand Canyon Village down the Bright Angel Trail on tours varying in length from one hour to overnight. Jeep tours will take you from scenic point to scenic point, top down, wind in your hair, exploring back roads and rocky trails and providing stunning views of nature. If you’re looking for something a little more educational, there are also geology, landscape, and nature eco-tours.
Air Tours
There are also air tours that give you a panoramic, bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon in all its splendor. Multi-passenger airplane tours explore both the North and South Rims of the canyon, and different flights run for different durations, allowing you to pick a tour that best fits your schedule. Helicopter tours soar above the canyon, with guides narrating your journey to provide insights and anecdotes about everything you’re seeing.
Hiking
Maybe you’re looking to get a little exercise. There’s no shortage of hiking trails to get your blood pumping and some fresh air in your lungs. The Bright Angel Trail is a 19-mile, two-day trip that takes you into the canyon and back out again. The South Kaibab Trail, a 14-mile round trip, takes you down Skeleton Point, across the Tonto Trail and through the entrance to the Inner Gorge, and over a narrow suspension bridge. The North Kaibab Trail, also a 14-mile hike, offers more of a challenge for experienced hikers. Finally, the Havasupai Trail, at 10 miles long, lies on the Havasupai Reservation and provides the opportunity to hike into the canyon, spend the night at a beautiful camping spot, and come out again the next day.
Rafting
If you’re really itching for adventure, look no further than rafting along the Colorado River. Most raft trips start at Lees Ferry, near the city of Page, Arizona. Full-canyon trips are available on both motorized rafts (which take 6–8 days) and oar-powered rafts (10–14 days). Half-canyon trips take anywhere between 4 and 9 days, although if you’re looking to start or finish your trip in the middle of the canyon, you’ll have to be prepared to hike out or in. Smaller trips of half a day, one day, or two days are available on both smooth-water and whitewater rafting trips.
Camping and Lodging
Again, the Grand Canyon area offers accommodations for every type of vacation. From upscale inns and quaint cabins, to comfortable lodges, to RV parks with electricity hookups, to a variety of camping sites like grounds with family-friendly amenities like picnic tables and bathrooms or walk-in campgrounds where the only amenities are what you carry on your back, you can pamper yourself or rough it, depending on your personal preference. Wherever you decide to sleep, be sure to make reservations as far in advance as you can manage. Spots fill up fast!
The Different Parts of the Grand Canyon
Given the sheer size of the Grand Canyon, tourists can have vastly different experiences depending on which part they visit. The canyon is divided into three areas: the South Rim and Grand Canyon Village, the North Rim, and the West Rim.
South Rim
The South Rim, located close to the cities of Flagstaff and Williams, is the most popular of the three. It’s open year-round and offers attractions like Grand Canyon Village, Hermit Road and Hermits Rest, and Desert View Drive and Desert View. Grand Canyon Village is home to the park’s headquarters, as well as amenities like hotels and lodges, restaurants, a general store, laundry and shower facilities, a bank with an ATM, and a public garage.
Hermit Road, west of the village, is a driving route along the canyon’s southern rim that runs for seven miles to Hermit’s Rest, a popular lookout point. The road is open to private vehicles only during December, January, and February. Between March 1 and November 30, it’s accessible only by the free Hermit Road shuttle bus, foot, bicycle, or bus tour. Along the route are nine designated viewpoints where shuttle buses stop to let people off and enjoy the view.
Desert View Drive, east of the village, runs for 25 miles and is open to private vehicles year-round. Stopping points along the way include six developed canyon viewpoints, four picnic areas, five unmarked pullout spots, and the Tusayan Museum and ruins site.
North Rim and West Rim
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the least visited of the three areas, seeing only about 10% of all visitors. Its elevation is about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, and due to its remote location and heavy snow, it stays closed during the winter months. The North Rim Facilities and lodgings are usually open between May 15 and October 15 of each year. Even though all roads are closed, hikers and cross-country skiers may enter the area with valid backcountry permits.
Attractions at the North Rim include the North Rim Visitor Center; the Grand Canyon Lodge and Bright Angel Point, just a quarter mile apart; and the North Rim Scenic Drive, featuring Point Imperial and Cape Royal.
The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is home to the Hualapai Tribe, who have lived in the American Southwest for countless generations. The Hualapai Reservation, established in 1883, consists of just under one million acres. The small town of Peach Springs serves as the tribal headquarters, where they operate a hotel, restaurant, and gift shop. They also operate the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that juts about 70 feet over the edge of the canyon and looks down more than 4,000 feet to the ground below. Other attractions include accommodations at the Hualapai Ranch or the Hualapai Lodge, and a one-day Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trip with the Hualapai River Runners.
Before You Travel to the Grand Canyon – Do This
- Pack for the activity – Whether you’re hiking, rafting, or just planning to stop by a few tourist sites, make sure you have the appropriate footwear and clothing for the activity and the weather.
- Book early – Many of the Grand Canyon’s most popular tourist activities book up quickly during peak season. Try to make your booking at least several months in advance.
- Buy appropriate insurance – Compare various visitors medical insurance plans, and purchase a policy that’s appropriate for your trip.