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State · Sudoeste (Grand Canyon e Las Vegas)
Novo México
New Mexico mixes indigenous, Spanish and American cultures: Santa Fe of adobe, Taos Pueblo, the Carlsbad Caverns, the dunes of White Sands and the balloons of Albuquerque.
In the photo: Dunes of White Sands
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Novo México
New Mexico (New Mexico) is in the southwestern United States, on the border with Mexico, between Arizona and Texas. It was Spanish and Mexican territory before becoming part of the United States, and the Pueblo peoples have lived in the region for centuries. The capital is Santa Fe; the largest city is Albuquerque.
Santa Fe, founded by the Spanish in the early 17th century, at about 2,100 m elevation, has a downtown of adobe houses around the Plaza, the Palace of the Governors and the art galleries of Canyon Road. Taos, farther north, has Taos Pueblo, an adobe village inhabited for about a thousand years and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Albuquerque, on the banks of the Rio Grande, has the Spanish Old Town, the Sandia Peak tram, and in October the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which brings together hundreds of balloons. In the south, Carlsbad is next to the Carlsbad Caverns, a UNESCO site, with the underground Big Room, and Alamogordo is near White Sands National Park, with white gypsum dunes.
On the table, chile pepper is used in almost everything, and the question red or green? refers to the sauce. The state also has the Chaco Culture site, another UNESCO World Heritage site, far from the main roads.
When to go
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are usually the best times, and the Albuquerque balloon festival takes place in early October. Summers are hot in the south, with afternoon storms from July to September. In Santa Fe and Taos, winters have snow and skiing. The bat emergence at the Carlsbad Caverns usually happens at dusk, from May to October.
Getting there
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is the state's main airport. Connections from Brazil usually involve a stop in another U.S. city. Confirm before booking. Santa Fe is about 100 km from Albuquerque, with the regional Rail Runner train between them. For Carlsbad and White Sands, El Paso airport (ELP) in Texas is closer: about 140 km to Alamogordo and 260 km to Carlsbad.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Novo México
When is the Albuquerque balloon festival?
It usually takes place over nine days in early October, with mass launches early in the morning. Flights depend on the wind and can be canceled. Hotels fill up: book months in advance.
How to visit the Carlsbad Caverns?
By the elevator or via the natural entrance trail, which descends on foot to the Big Room. Entry usually requires a timed reservation in addition to a ticket: check before you go. The bat emergence occurs at dusk during the warm season.
Can you visit Taos Pueblo?
Yes, for most of the year, with rules: the village is inhabited and closes to visitors on ceremony days. Photographing people requires permission. Confirm before you go.
How many days for Santa Fe and Albuquerque?
Three to four days allow you to see downtown Santa Fe, go to Taos and visit Old Town and Sandia Peak in Albuquerque. Carlsbad and White Sands in the south require two more days.