My friend Bob had never been to New Mexico before and wanted to see an "iconic" pueblo. Taos Pueblo immediately came to mind and a place that Gayle and I had not been for over 18 years. It was a bit of a drive up (via the High Road), but well worth the time and effort. These multi-story homes are more than a thousand years old. None of the homes in the Taos Pueblo are vacant - five or six families live on the Pueblo full time, while the others live in town (with running water and electricity) but stay in their ancestral home many weeks throughout the year for important celebrations. We about the history of the Taos (or Tewa) people from our guide, Riley. That started at the Saint Geronimo Chapel and onward to the old church grounds, that hold the crumbling ruins of the original San Geronimo Chapel. Built in 1619 by Spanish priests using forced Native labor, it was destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and again in 1847 by the U.S. Army (with women and children inside). In between were information on Pueblo ovens, family ties, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. There were also various shop sprinkled throughout, with a few pleasant surprises, like one run by an established Santa Fe painter, and some nicely done local jewelry and other art. There was a lot to see here and I appreciated the leisurely pace, while being respectful of restricted areas and honoring any cultural-related requests by our hosts. read more

Taos Pueblo - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

've always wanted to visit Taos Pueblo, even though it's quite out of the way. From Santa Fe, it's about a 70-mile drive through winding mountain roads and small towns, which made the trip feel longer than it actually was. When I arrived, a staff member stopped me at a stop sign before I reached the exact location on the map. He explained where to park--either in the main lot or the one just ahead--and pointed out that the admission office is directly across the street, which was helpful. Adult admission is $25. I had seen complaints about the price beforehand, but honestly, I didn't feel that way at all. This isn't a state park or a monument--people are still living here--so the experience feels very real and meaningful. I picked up a brochure at the admission office. The highlights for me were the church (no photography allowed inside) and the cemetery, as well as the famous North House and South House. The air was crisp, and there was the smell of burning wood everywhere, which added to the atmosphere. I also stopped by a small shop selling handcrafted jewelry and decorations. I bought a hummingbird for $20 and was glad I had cash, since the seller told me I'd need to step outside to use Venmo (not sure why--my reception was fine). If you're interested in Pueblo history, this is absolutely a must-visit. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate culture and history, it's a very special place. This lady was selling bread across from the office where they charge admission. It's $5 each absolutely delicious and no additive! Horno style bread," or Pueblo oven bread, is a traditional, dense white bread with a crunchy crust, historically baked in a beehive-shaped, outdoor adobe oven called a horno in the American Southwest. The term "horno" comes from the Spanish word for "oven read more

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$25/person is a lot to ask for. AND they have bowls everywhere inside asking for more donations. Pretty ridiculous and expensive for what you see. It doesn't take long to see the whole outdoor area. Going inside the houses is interesting, but it's mostly people jus trying to sell you things, which didn't make it fun or relaxing to explore the area. I couldn't believe the prices for most of the items. Simple items were priced incredibly high just because of where you were buying it from. I only bought a small bracelet for my niece from the sweetest woman. It was possibly the only shop where I didn't feel like I was being pressured to buy something. She had these beautiful postcards her son makes and you could tell how proud she was of him. read more

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Wow, for the 1 star reviews. Yes $25 bucks is steep but what isnt in our current climate with the economy. We arrived and as we were at the stop sign, a young man motioned us back in which I obliged. He asked if we were here for the tour in which he directly us to park in the lot. We thanked him and proceeded to go pay for the admission fee. It was cold and drizzling but still made the most of it. We walked around and noticed a bunch of people standing so we hurried to joined them. The tour guide Bear is awesome, she provided detail of the community and how life is. At that time, we noticed some of the shops opening for business. There were only a few opened and we went to all of them. I gotta admit, I did buy some items at different vendors as thats what you there to do. Give it a try and dont penny pinch on a cool experience. read more

Taos Pueblo - Bear knows her stuff and glad we were able to join the group. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

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This was a really worthwhile stop. You are given a tour by a native resident of the compound and the adobe homes. You learn how the houses are made and the history of the Pueblo people. Everyone was very welcoming. Be sure to check if they are open before going. A can't miss stop. read more

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We tried to visit the Pueblo on a Monday. As we drove up to the entrance, we were stopped. The woman told us it would be $25.00 for Each of us to visit. Sorry, but $50 seemed a bit much for us. We were told to turn around and No photographs! Disappointed!! I am sure lots of tourists would pay! read more

So cool. Beautiful. I wish I had more time to learn about the Pueblo, but in the time I had, I really enjoyed the experience. read more

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Definitely worth a visit. Very unique experience. Be sure to stop in for fry bread in one of the home kitchens. read more

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As a second grade teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I teach about the Pueblo Nation. What an amazing experience it was to tour the Taos Pueblo community! We arrived after lunch, just before a tour was beginning. I believe that our tour guide's name was Naomi, whose family has homes within the Toas Pueblo community. She was informative and kind. Afterwards, we went into several of the shops, which were run from the community members' pueblos. We bought a magnet from painter and craftsman Francisco Concha. We also bought fry bread from another community member but unfortunately she didn't share her name. I highly recommend this experience for anyone interested in the Indiginous culture. One important suggestion: don't follow Google's directions to get here. You'll be trespassing! Just keep going straight on Veterans Hwy. They need better signage. read more

Beautiful architecture and blue doors. Love having fry bread in one of the homes. It was a perfect day and we got there early, avoiding crowds. Fun place to photograph. Check out Jeralyn's art and Geranimo's oven bread! read more

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Beautiful site, but our visit began with a very negative interaction that overshadowed the experience. My wife and I were really looking forward to visiting Taos Pueblo. We had read a lot beforehand, including the visitor etiquette, and wanted to be respectful. Before even buying tickets, we stopped outside -- still on the public roadway next to the parking lot -- to take a photo of the large UNESCO sign for a friend. A guard standing nearby immediately confronted us and told us we were not allowed to take a photo without paid admission. We explained we were on our way to buy tickets, but his tone was harsh, uncompromising, and he refused to engage further. We apologized and he ignored the apology. We paid the fee immediately, but the interaction left a bad impression that set the tone for the rest of the visit. Even though I liked art in the shops, I didn't purchase any because I felt unwelcomed. Ironically, there are no physical tickets or checks, so the situation felt unnecessary and handled with an unfriendly approach. Also ironically, the friend that we wanted to take the photo for is native American, a member of a tribe in California and our intent was to show him that we honor his heritage. The guard didn't know that of course, but his unfriendliness stung us nonetheless. I understand that the community has rules and wants them followed, and I respect that. But a kinder or more informative approach would have made a huge difference. Instead, it made us feel unwelcome, which was disappointing given how far we travelled to visit and how much we were looking forward to it. The site itself is historic and worth preserving, but I hope future visitors are treated with more warmth and respect. read more

The Taos Pueblo is a living Native American community. The adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. They are passed (never sold) from generation to generation. Families have the responsibility of upkeep (repair and addition of fresh adobe every year). No electricity or running water. If the family no longer inhabits the building, out of respect to the family, it is left as is, unless it becomes dangerous. Amazing to see. Admission is $25 per person/$22 for seniors. I recommend taking the free tour (gratuity to tour guide is welcome). Beautiful artwork and jewelry is available to purchase. Also, some drinks and food items. We bought a slice of berry pie; it was delicious. read more

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Taos Pueblo offers an interesting glimpse into lives and cultures of indigenous tribes in NM. I like that they have a system in place for people to come visit (parking, short walking tours, homes/shops to see...and even nice, clean restrooms!). It's just a lil less than an hour drive from Santa Fe but was worth it to reorient myself with how blessed I am to be living with all the modern amenities we have today. Also appreciative of the tribes for being so welcoming to the tourists like us as well. Overall, I thought it was a good visit. The tours are short and brief enough...probably worth an hour/an hour an a half visit...so plan something else to visit along the way, too! read more

Taos Pueblo - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

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You park directly on ground of the Pueblo for free you walk back across the street to pay the 25 dollar admission fee and they give you a map. The buildings are interesting but a lot of shops signs take away from. The general appearances. The buildings are unique and show typical adobe construction. I was there mid week and quite a few people were there. They do run a tour for your charge leaving from the church about every hour. I did wander in the shops they had very good art from the area. expect at this time of the year, each location, thunderstorm, and some dust. read more

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We had an amazing experience at Taos Pueblo, wandering the grounds and visiting the atmospheric church. It's very moving. This is a truly significant historical place and everyone who visits Taos should come here. Make sure you have a few hours to attend a tour and see everything the village has to offer. The people here are wonderful. Highly recommended. read more

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We a great time visiting this beautiful community. Our friendly tour guide, Flowers, is a member of Taos Pueblo. We recommend taking her tour. We enjoyed her humorous stories and the historical experience she shared. We look forward to returning for San Geronimo Day. read more

It's in a rural area and takes some time to get to it. The parking is free. The admission is $25/person which is a bit steep for what it is. They do offer guided tours at set times (if you get there around that time). The buildings are cool and several shops were open. The prices in the shops were more than we saw anywhere else on New Mexico, however. Bottom line: it's a cool stop but it's really expensive in comparison to other places. I'd choose the Carlsbad Caverns, Bandelier, etc for less money if I only had the time/resources to do one. Tip: the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge isn't far and a pretty view for free. read more

Taos Pueblo - The buildings - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

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Absolutely the best part of our trip to Santa Fe and Taos. A must-go, spiritual, grounding, worth the drive kind of thing. So good meeting the people who actually live here, whose families have lived here for centuries. Did the guided tour for just 10 min to learn a little bit before venturing off on our own to the galleries. Fascinating hearing how they've both resisted and accepted the Catholicism over the years, while still retaining their Nature worship, which the details of are kept very secret and sacred and close to their heart. Of course, the fry bread was the best bread we had all trip, and walked out with a homemade magnet. read more

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June 10, 2023 - Taos Pueblo (Taos, NM) After a somewhat difficult time finding the Taos Pueblo (one or two more signs would have been helpful letting us know we're on the right track), we arrived at this ancient adobe brick pueblo community at about 11 am. Men in yellow safety vests pointed us to the parking area and then to the admissions building where we paid $22 per person as seniors to gain access to the community. Regular admission is $25 person. We were given a two-sided sheet of paper with a map of the community on one side and a description of individual community features on the other. On the right hand side of the path leading to the pueblos is a covered patio with people underneath offering information about guided tours. A sign indicated when the next tour would begin. They run every 20 minutes. Tours are free, but donations are accepted. We thought about attempting the tour on our own, but after immediately being confused about which direction to go, we chose to begin an 11:20 tour starting at the St. Jerome Church. Our tour guide's name was Chinnowa. Chinnowa gave us a thorough description of the community's history, culture, and beliefs. The Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States dating back to around 1100 AD or so. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inhabitants of this community refer to themselves as Red Willow People, in reference to Red Willow Creek that flows from the glacier-fed Blue Lake miles back in the mountains. The Pueblo people hold Blue Lake sacred as the source of their beginning. The term pueblo came from Spanish explorers who used the term to refer to permanent indigenous towns they found in the region. This term continued to be used to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local materials. The structures were usually multi-storied buildings surrounding an open plaza, with rooms accessible only through ladders raised/lowered by the inhabitants, thus protecting them from break-ins and unwanted guests. Chinnowa shared a little about the St. Jerome Church, which was built in 1850. It is named after the Pueblos patron Saint. The Taos Pueblo people have a dual faith based on the beliefs of their ancient ancestors as well as the Catholic Church. When the Spaniards showed up in the early 1600s, they began converting the inhabitants to Catholicism. The conversion was initially accepted by the ancestral inhabitants; however, that changed over time. We saw the ruins of the original St. Jerome Church, which was constructed in 1619 under the direction of Spanish Catholic missionaries using forced labor of the indigenous people. As the Pueblo inhabitants became increasingly unhappy with forced Catholicism, forced labor, and harsh treatment by the Spanish, they revolted in 1680 and destroyed the church in a successful effort to drive out the Spanish. The Spanish regained the area and rebuilt the church around 1692. The church was again destroyed in 1847 during the US government war with Mexico after US Taos Governor Charles Bent was murdered by revolutionaries. The US destroyed the church that included people inside seeking refuge. Remnants of the bell tower are all that remain today. A Pueblo graveyard surrounds the remnants and can only be accessed once a year by the Taos Pueblo people in addition to burials. Our tour continued on to the plaza, which has the Red Willow Creek running through it and includes views of the North House (1 to 5 stories high) with outside ladders leading to different levels, the South House (3-4 stories high), adobe ovens and drying racks in the plaza, and the surrounding adobe wall, which is a remnant of a 10 foot barrier that had corner watch towers and protected the community from enemy tribes. Throughout our tour of the community, we met friendly local artisans selling their crafts - jewelry, pots and baskets, paintings, and other items like tee shirts and blanks. They also have some adobe oven-backed goods. I can't speak for the other tour guides, but Chinnowa brought a wealth of information to our tour. She was very knowledgeable and as a former resident of the community, she could speak from personal experience about what it's like to live in a community with no electricity, running water, or other modern day conveniences. We were happy to show her our appreciation when the tour was over. read more

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A Disturbing and Unsafe Experience - Felt Like a Robbery in Plain Sight Visited May 2025 My husband and I visited Taos Pueblo for the first time, hoping to learn about the culture and history of the community. Sadly, the experience turned out to be deeply unsettling, hostile, and unsafe. From the start, there was very little guidance-just crude, makeshift signs and no informative materials. We walked past a church and two adobe structures, with no context provided. A dance activity was taking place, but no one explained what it was or how we were expected to observe it respectfully. It felt disorganized and unwelcoming. While we stood quietly watching, my phone slipped from my fanny pack without me realizing. A kind woman next to me noticed and let me know, and I bent down to pick it up. Moments later, two men approached, grabbed my phone, and claimed they were taking it. They looked ready to run off with it. I immediately confronted them, speaking loudly and firmly, stating that it was my property, I had done nothing wrong, and demanded they return it. I strongly believe this was an attempt to rob me. There was no reason, no warning, no explanation, just two individuals trying to take my phone. It was a robbery in plain sight, right in front of others. A police officer and what appeared to be the tribal chief arrived shortly afterward. The woman who had witnessed the situation stood up for me and told them she saw the phone fall and confirmed I had not used it. The officer and the chief reviewed my phone and, after confirming that there were no photos or videos taken, returned it to me! At that moment, I could see the chief was visibly embarrassed by what had occurred. I took the initiative to extend my hand to him and said, "I came here to learn about your tribe and to respect your community, and I wish your community had shown me the same respect." He quietly shook my hand and said nothing. This was a deeply disappointing and frightening experience. What should have been an opportunity for meaningful cultural exchange became a moment of public intimidation and attempted theft. I left feeling violated, disrespected, and shaken! I cannot recommend visiting Taos Pueblo based on what happened and sincerely hope the leadership reflects on how this kind of treatment undermines the very purpose of sharing their heritage with others. read more

Great place to visit. The historical significance can't be emphasized enough. Take the student tour so you can ask questions along the way. After that, visit all the shops and find some amazing gifts to take home. Plan for about two hours to really get the full experience. read more

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There is a $25 per person charge that gets you absolutely nothing. You basically walk around shops, which you could do for free in the nearby town. Taking the backroads to get here was the best scenery and far more enjoyable than walking around looking at souvenirs.... read more

I think I had higher expectations on this place. We drove from Santa Fe for a day trip to TAOS. They were open so we didn't run into an issue with that but like others have said I just found the place depressing and not very interesting. read more

Generally boring but the worst part is a necklace and bracelet bought here broke within a few days. Dollar tree quality, very expensive. I fell ripped off, maybe thats the point? ​ read more

My family and I are from out of town and had been wanting to visit Taos Pueblo for some time. Neither Google nor Apple Maps are reliable for directions out here so we went to the Taos Pueblo website and followed the directions posted there when coming from the town of Taos (see attached image). Do not do this, at least as of 4/2/25. Take a firm left on Veterans Highway, not a "slight right" as the directions clearly instruct. The directions took us directly into a prohibited, residential area. We were confronted and re-directed by the War Chief or Tribal Police. We were very apologetic. They then followed us to the area where visitors are allowed. They had clearly radioed ahead, as there was another War Chief or TP vehicle there when we arrived, and a very hostile flagger who yelled at us that we needed to "learn how to follow orders," and directed us to the visitor lot. He then pointed to us and called out to another flagger that "you need to keep an eye on those people." It felt like we were on the verge of being arrested. The website is very clear on where visitors are allowed and not allowed, and we read the rules with the intention of following them to the letter. However, when there is no signage (no sign at the casino directing you to turn left on Veterans Way as of 4/2/25) and the posted directions take you directly into areas where you're not supposed to be, I'm not sure what other outcome there could be. We carried on and toured the Pueblo, which was somewhat interesting. The tour itself was pretty good. Our guide was a young woman who owned a home in the Pueblo and had gone to UNM. She had a lot of interesting history to share, including a bit about how the Nixon administration had been very beneficial to the Pueblo people and restored a large portion of their land. She ironically took pains to emphasize how much more welcoming the Pueblo people are than the more nomadic plains tribes. I won't be putting it to the test. We bought some jewelry from a native artist who told us a lot about living in the Pueblo, and I appreciated how much she shared with us. We went into several other shops and stands. Despite two positive interactions, the veneer of civility here is very thin. I got the sense that the inhabitants were waiting for everyone to pay up and leave. Other reviewers have complained about the $25 entrance fee, but when you see how bleak life is around the Pueblo, it's hard to begrudge them any of that. Overall, this was an unpleasant and hostile experience. I understand that the people here don't want outsiders in their restricted areas and I can completely respect that, but in that case you shouldn't specifically direct outsiders into your restricted areas. I don't blame the residents for being hostile to people who violate the rules, but don't then assist people in breaking those rules. I'm sure that plenty of disrespectful, obnoxious people have come through and caused those rules to be put into effect. I don't begrudge any of the Pueblo people their hostility to outsiders, I would simply suggest that you honor it. There are plenty of other, less overtly hostile places in the area to go if you want crafts, frybread, or anything else made by native people. The Pueblo itself and its history is interesting, but I wouldn't recommend anyone ever pgoing here. I've never been to a more unwelcoming UNESCO site. Nobody wants you here, they certainly don't need you here, and they're happiest when you leave. I can respect that, given their experience with Spanish and American colonization and its aftereffects. You should do yourself and the people of Taos Pueblo a favor and stay away. There are hundreds of amazing things to do in this area that don't involve Taos Pueblo. Stay away. read more

Taos Pueblo - Incorrect directions as of 4/2/25 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

We took the advice to call ahead to confirm they were open before making the trip. The (recorded) tourism line confirmed that we were coming at a time that was open. So we drove up from Santa Fe on the scenic route, which took much of the morning. It was a nice drive, but we came here to see the Pueblo. Which was closed. We asked the stern guy who was waving at us to turn around and go away if it would be closed all day. He said yes. So we left and then really had no plans for the rest of the day. So we called the tourism line again to see if there was any information. It was the same recording as before, telling us it was open 10-4. We were here at about 11:40. So we completely get it. The Pueblo might be closed for any reason or no reason. Perfectly fine. We understood that. They don't owe us anything (although they do advertise to the public to come up and spend their money there.) But why not spend 2 minutes leaving a message on your tourism line that you're closed today? That's my complaint. Automatic one star for an avoidable problem which caused us to waste a day of our brief vacation when we had other things we could have done in Santa Fe. Do you really want to spend the time driving up here, even after the phone line -- which they ask you to call to confirm it's open -- says it's open and then you're out of luck? I would never recommend coming here and taking that chance. read more

My friend and I were in Taos earlier this month and visited the Taos Pueblo. What a fascinating and unique experience! The Pueblo is an inhabited community of Native American Pueblo peoples; we were told that, at the time we visited, about 30 to 40 families were living there. It is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. There are two multi-family dwellings and dozens of single-family dwellings in the Pueblo. We arrived just as the Pueblo opened at 9:00 a.m. and opted to take the guided tour. It was free (although gratuities are very much appreciated) because volunteers from the Pueblo tribe lead the tours. Our tour guide was Sequoia; she doesn't live in the village now but plans to move there in the future so that she can raise her family in the traditional culture. She was a FABULOUS tour guide and gave us in-depth information about the Pueblo, the architecture and the local history. Although the inhabitants of the Pueblo can speak Spanish, they prefer English or their native Tiwa. Eleana in the admissions office was very kind and patient to answer all our questions. The Pueblo is home to the Red Willow people, but all Native American inhabitants of permanent settlements in northern New Mexico and surrounding areas identify as Pueblo people (rather than a specific tribe like the Hopi or Navajo). The language for the Pueblo people is Tiwa (I encountered this in El Paso, written as "Tigua"). She gave us a map of the Pueblo and mentioned the free guided tour; both were very helpful during our visit. After the tour, we stopped by some of the shops in the houses. My favorite was Mirabel's, an eclectic shop where I bought two smoke sticks (bound cedar and white sage branches). The owner of the shop is Bertha, and we stood and talked for a little while before I left. Her grandfather was a medicine man for the Pueblo and had taught her quite a bit about native plants for food and medicine. She was fascinating! We also saw several extremely talented artists working on jewelry and sculpture as we wandered around the shops. We weren't surprised at all to find their work exhibited for sale in the shops in Taos and in Santa Fe. The Pueblo is incredibly beautiful, standing near the foot of Taos Mountain, with Red Willow Creek running through the middle of the community. When we visited, snowmelt had swelled the creek to the level of a river. They had sandbags stacked on the bank to prevent flooding into the community. The signage on the road leading to the Pueblo was a bit confusing; it stated the Pueblo was closed, but that isn't a permanent sign. The residents simply put it up after the operating hours to discourage visitors. (The Pueblo is only open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, but they can't block off the road because of the community members who may be driving to and from it.) We were thoroughly enchanted by our visit to the Taos Pueblo, and it is now one of my "must see" recommendations for any visitor to Taos. read more

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I visited Taos Pueblo a while ago, not during covid times, and have to say that it is a very special place. Parking is pretty scarce, but we found a spot with no problem because we were one of the first groups there. We then went to the small visitor center and bought our entry tickets. From there we waited until the first tour began and were pleased by the experience. The tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable and felt that he really went into depth about the Red Willow people and how they live. At the end of the tour, he informed us that he does not get paid to do the tour and that tips were welcomed. We were then able to walk around the grounds and walk inside any of the pueblos that had open doors. Most of them were selling items like jewelry, art pieces and pottery. There are some really beautiful pieces that you can take home, but at more expensive prices as they handmake everything themselves. All of the people that we came across were so genuine, nice and just had a calming sense about them. You can just tell how differently they view the world, how differently they live and respect mother nature. Taos Pueblo is absolutely worth visiting and I hope it reopens soon so other people can experience what I did. read more

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Sadly, we were very disappointed with this visit. I agree with some other reviewers in that this place is over-hyped and misleading we did not see "real life". It seems that this is a commercial enterprise and a rip-off. We did not feel welcome to say the least. On the positive side-- the significance of the history and the preservation of the buildings is important & the natural beauty surrounding the site is energizing. read more

We were unable to visit the Pueblo because we were met at the entrance by Tribal Police(TP). TP advised us the Tao Pueblo is closed for their quite time for the next month. Therefore, anyone planning to visit Taos Pueblo. Please be advised to give the Natives their privacy for their Observance. Call before visiting. read more

This was for sure one of the most impressive villages my family and I have visited in USA. Located just short drive from the modern Taos, this is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. We visited in late May of 2023, a week after the village re-opened (it was closed for more than 2 years due to Covid-19) and we were not going to miss the chance to see this one of the kind settlement and learn more about Red Willow People. Our tour guide was a young lady, a student, and one of the descendants. She seemed like a lovely person, giving us lots of great points to understand what her people endured in the past 500 + years. How they tried to negotiate to save the village (that was thought to be gold city), accepted christianity but also kept some of their own beliefs and how they refused to leave. Even today, few families remain in the village. Tiwa or Red Willow People built the entire city of adobe (earth mixed with straw and water-technique used in many placed on the planet), they were poured in a bricks that were used to build several feet thick walls. Walls would be plastered with mud, inside and out, and had to be yearly re-plastered, and large timbers from the mountains would be hauled and used as a rooms and building support. They were several stories high, and originally had no doors or windows, they would be entered from the hole on the top. Do walk around and interact with people that let you enter their houses. Several of them are running businesses from their house and you are allowed to enter and look at the merchandise, but be respectful since you are entering someone's home. We bought plenty of hot fried bread (super delicious) and some berry pie (incredible!!). Also several jewelry pieces caught our eyes, luckily we brought enough cash, and we were making sure we spend some money at each place, since we understood they were closed for awhile and this is their livelihood. Amazing place, thank you for keeping it alive for us to be able to walk around these precious streets. read more

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An amazing view into a world we could never comprehend. I met 2 amazing artists and bought a beautiful piece from Aspen Wind.... Thank you for allowing me in your world even for such a short time. You made my soul smile. read more

Highly recommend. We took a day trip from Santa Fe and chose a day forecast to be cooler - turned out we had a couple of sprinkles and made the air so nice. Folks in the pueblo all mentioned how much nicer it was compared to earlier in the week, so go prepared for sun and heat in summer. 1) Plan for cash - many vendors did not take credit cards. There is an ATM at the visitor center which is outside the pueblo proper. 2) Do not touch the water. Seriously, there were signs and everybody said that but we saw several tourists at the river. Just don't. It's not for you. 3) Take the tour: our guide was a university student - personable and earnest and knowledgeable. Highly recommend. Don't forget to tip (do you know tuition?). 4) Coffee - got from the first cafe on the left as we entered the pueblo. So delish, amazing aroma. Normally don't drink coffee black but did here and will again. 5) Ice tea - there was a man making bows at a folding table that had lightly sweetened black tea with herbs. So refreshing. Perfect amount of sugar. Went back for a second cup. 6) Don't barge into places that are not marked as open stores/galleries. Apparently people do this. Do they also just walk into random homes in other cities? I am confused. 7) Do buy the bread if it's available. We bought cheese and fruit later and had a lovely picnic. read more

I recently attempted to visit Taos Pueblo after driving 5 hours but upon arrival we saw a TAOS PUEBLO CLOSED sign. When we drove up to the entrance 3 young staffers were sitting there telling cars they were indeed closed. After circling the site to exit, we pulled in to ask the young staffers if we could at least walk up to the entrance, they said no. No big deal, but when we rolled down our windows to take a picture, one of the three people at the entrance flicked us off. To whoever is running this UNESCO World Heritage Site, please utilize your website to let visitors know you're closed. Secondly, hire staff members that represent what this site means to your culture. Not young people who don't care about their jobs and flick your clients off. Thanks. read more

Yes, I know it's a UNESCO site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. It's a First Nation landmark, for sure, but I have to admit that Jamie W. and I scooted through this pueblo in less than half an hour. I'm pretty certain we weren't the only ones who came and went in short order because a full circuit of the concentrated area doesn't yield much variety beyond the two multi-storied residential red adobe complexes on both sides of the Rio Pueblo. Granted the bigger complex on the north side of the river is photogenic against the backdrop of the snow-capped Taos Mountains (photo: http://bit.ly/2ItUnHI). However, you can't enter the buildings because they house the 150 remaining residents of the pueblo. The random small shops are the only exceptions, and they've been set up mostly to sell local specialties like blue corn frybread (photo: http://bit.ly/2ZFGHiN). The church was attractive and the only building you can actually enter on your own (photo: http://bit.ly/2ZywJQf). Listen, I wouldn't be grousing about the lack of breathless moments to be had here except for the fact that they charge $16 for admission. I assume the money goes into the conservation of these centuries-old buildings and the culture of the Taos-speaking Native American tribe of Puebloan people. Still for that price, a uniquely Tanoan concert and ensemble dance would have been a nice touch or perhaps some interactive exhibits to help us better appreciate what we were seeing. Alas, all we were thinking about was how long the drive was going to be back to Santa Fe. RELATED - Do you know the way to Santa Fe? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2I4mWdq read more

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We tried to go here 3 times before we got into the Pueblo. The first time was in the morning and the Pueblo was closed for a funeral. They told us that they would reopen at 12:30. When we returned at 1 pm, there was no parking so we left..again. We decided to return at 3:30 when there was an hour left before closing. There was plenty of parking then and we joined the 3:40 tour with 8 other people. The informative tour was 20 minutes and then we spent another 30 minutes looking around and going into a few shops. They no longer charge a $6 photo fee but $16 per person plus a tip for the student guide. read more

Taos Pueblo - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

It was cool to be able to see the artists working in their shops. They hand you a map and offer an optional guided tour. I opted out and used the map to read about the history. I enjoyed walking at my own pace. I made a few purchases and talked to the artists. They were very friendly and eager to talk about their work. I would recommend taking some cash because some of the vendors had trouble swiping my card due to the signal. read more

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We truly enjoyed our day at the Taos Pueblo. We took the guided tour which is included in the price of admission. Our tour guide was a college student who was very knowledgeable. There were also several shops inside the Pueblo, which featured local artist. The craftsmanship of the wares was exceptional. We stopped at a house to have fry bread. The woman cooking the Frybread was delightful. And of course, the Frybread was delicious. read more

1st if all our drive to Taps was spectacular, we reached Taos Pueblo but was asked to turn around as they were conducting some funeral.. When we returned back at around 2ish.. they mentioned they had a tour at 2.30 pm near the church porch .. we + few more folks were waiting there pass 2.33 we went and asked where the tour guide we got response the tour left and we were like from where and the starting point was totally different. We roamed around ourself as the next one was at 3 and the way associate replied we went suspicious whether the 3'oclock one will start or not. Beautiful heritage site small cute homes and shopping stations inside homes to explore their culture. read more

I'm really shocked that I haven't reviewed this special place! I've been here twice and would definitely go back. With the admission. Great place! I remember when our tour guide was talking to us and telling us the story of what happened to all the Indians. How they were killed and slaughtered. How some ran to the church because they thought god would protect them like the Christians told them yet they were all killed. We were standing near the grave yard when he was telling us this story and I started to feel this sensation in my body. Can't explain it. I told the Indian tour guide and he told me that was the native Americans speaking to me. I do have Indian blood in me so it may be true. Incredible experience. They also sell fresh watermelon juice too. Amazing place. read more

Taos Pueblo - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Taos, New Mexico