Taos Pueblo
El Prado, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo is a community of adobe homes and ceremonial structures built into terraced tiers outside of Taos, New Mexico. Its extraordinary 1,000-year history has rightly earned the site recognition as a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Roughly 1,900 tribal members, known as the Red Willow People, live on Taos Pueblo lands, with 150 people that live within the pueblo year-round.
Taos Pueblo is a sovereign nation with its own government, one of 19 Native American Pueblos in the state. Inhabitants speak English, Spanish, and Tiwa, the native language of four Pueblos, including Taos. Tourism makes up an integral piece of the Pueblo economy, along with arts and crafts, and visitors are warmly welcomed.
Visit the pueblo to learn about its history and see its remarkable buildings in person. Entrance requires tickets, and prices vary by age and number of visitors. Volunteer guides offer tours, typically Thursday through Monday, and rely on gratuities alone for compensation.
Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven dirt surfaces.
The land and adobe structures are tribal homes. When visiting, only enter into buildings that are businesses.
Tiwa Kitchen Restaurant, on the road to Taos Pueblo, is a great stop for native and New Mexican foods, including Blue Corn Frybread and Pueblo Red Chile Stew.
Taos Pueblo lies 3 miles northeast of Taos. From town, head north on Paseo Del Pueblo Norte. This road turns into Highway 64, but keep right at the curve, before you pass the Valero gas station. Pass Taos Mountain Casino on the right, then take a right at the “T” in the road on Day School Road 716/Pueblo Street. Parking will be on the right.
Taos Pueblo is open daily from morning to late afternoon. The last tour usually takes place at 4pm, and all visitors are required to exit by 5pm. Throughout the year, the Pueblo marks tribal-specific celebrations, such as San Geronimo Feast Day on September 30. Some celebrations are open to the public and offer opportunities to observe native ceremonies, including foot races and dances. See the calendar on the Taos Pueblo website for events.
Keep certain rules in mind when taking photographs in and around Taos Pueblo. Photos of tribal members are not allowed without their explicit permission. Be courteous, and always ask before taking someone’s picture. When you purchase your entrance ticket, pay the per-camera fee. Commercial photographers must obtain a permit and pay a fee to the Tourism Office to use Taos Pueblo images for commercial, documentary, or educational use.
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