What to do in Taos: Visit Taos Pueblo
There are lots of great tourist attractions in Taos, but one of the most popular tourist sites in Taos, New Mexico is certainly Taos Pueblo. As the, “only living American Indian Community in the United States that is designated as both a National Historic Landmark and a World Heritage Site,” Taos Pueblo has a lot of history and culture to offer visitors to Taos. Located just 10 minutes from our El Pueblo Lodge hotel, Taos Pueblo is top tourist hot-spot for most of our visitors.
The History of Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is often considered to be the best-preserved Indian Pueblo in the United States and it comes with a rich cultural history for tourists who choose to visit. It is the longest continually habited community since it’s been occupied for over 1,000 years. Archaeologists believe that the main part of the present Taos Pueblo (the four-story adobe structures visible to the public) was built between 1000 and 1450 AD. Today approximately 150 Northern-Tiwa speaking Taos Indians live within the Pueblo year-round. There are also more modern homes outside the old walls but still on Pueblo land. The Taos Indians are now mostly catholic but they continue to practice their traditional religious rites on the Pueblo.
Visiting Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is open to visitors Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. There are guided tours which begin daily at 9:00 am but they aren’t necessary to view the Pueblo. Admission fee to Taos Pueblo costs $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per student (with valid school ID) and is free for children 10 and under. If you get a group of 6 or more adults, the admission fee is reduced to $8.00 per person. There is also a fee if you’d like to bring a camera into the Pueblo. That fee is $6.00 per camera, cell phone or video camera.
Taos Pueblo Art
Many of the residents of Taos Pueblo produce beautiful hand-crafted local art. The skills for creating many of these wares have been passed down through generations and are known only to the artists living in the Pueblo. From sculptures and paintings to handmade buckskin moccasins and jewellery, we highly recommend stopping by the many curio shops to be found in the Pueblo (and bringing some extra money for souvenirs!)
Our Taos Hotel is located very near to Taos Pueblo, making our lodge a perfect spot to stay when visiting the Pueblo and other popular tourist attractions in Taos. If you’re interested in learning about our Taos accommodations, why not contact our Taos hotel staff to learn about our latest rates and specials.
