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World Heritage · Taos, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo
An indigenous community with multi-storey adobe houses, inhabited for about a thousand years at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited under its own rules.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is a community of the Taos people, speakers of Tiwa, about 5 km from Taos town center. The two main clusters of multi-storey adobe houses sit on opposite sides of the Río Pueblo de Taos, a creek that runs down from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. They were built, by estimates, between the 13th and 14th centuries, and the site has been continuously inhabited for about a thousand years.
In 1992 the pueblo was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, as an example of traditional pueblo architecture. Some families still live in the old houses—by tradition without electricity or piped water—while others live nearby and preserve the old houses for ceremonies.
Visits are led by guides from the community and include the Church of San Gerónimo, the ruins of the old church destroyed in 1847, and the cemetery. Many houses open as craft shops, selling bread baked in adobe ovens and jewelry. Residential and ceremonial areas are closed to visitors, and photographing people requires permission beforehand.
The pueblo is a living community: it closes to visitors for about ten weeks between late winter and early spring and may close without notice for ceremonies.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one and a half to two hours.
Best time
In the morning, with the guided visit. Call or check the website before going, especially in late winter and early spring.
How to get there
About 5 km north of Taos town center by paved road, with parking at the entrance.
Tip
Respect signs for restricted areas and ask permission before photographing people. There is an entrance fee, and special rules apply to photography.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Taos Pueblo
When does Taos Pueblo close to visitors?
For about ten weeks between late winter and early spring, and on days of ceremonies, sometimes without notice. Call or check the website before going.
Can you photograph in Taos Pueblo?
There are special rules: generally you may photograph buildings in open areas, but photographing people requires permission, and some areas are off-limits. Follow the guides’ instructions.
Do people still live in Taos Pueblo?
Yes. It is a living community, and some families still live in the old adobe houses, traditionally without electricity or piped water.